Carnival Cruise Line is ramping up the promotion of its upcoming fleet additions, including the former Costa Firenze and Costa Venezia (from sister brand Costa Cruises), which will be renamed Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia, and the Carnival Luminosa, formerly Costa Luminosa.
There may be some confusion as to how these new additions will fit into Carnival’s existing fleet. Here’s what we know so far.
Carnival Luminosa Is Open for Bookings
First off, Carnival Luminosa (formerly Costa Luminosa) is now open for bookings. Currently available departures are slated between November 2022 and April 2024, with alternating routes between Australia and Alaska.
The ship has been fully renamed and repainted in the line’s new livery. However, the smokestack shape is not Carnival’s signature “whale tail,” but the former Costa cylindrical variety, which is also historically significant to Carnival.
“To truly make Luminosa feel part of the Carnival Cruise Line family, we are adding our beautiful new livery to her hull, of course, and are keeping her throwback funnel design that once adorned some of our most iconic earlier vessels,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’ll be adding some Carnival features in the upcoming dry dock and adapting some existing features to align with Carnival’s casual style, but ultimately, our crew will make everyone feel right at home as soon as they join the ship.”
Featured Carnival favorites onboard Luminosa will include Playlist Productions, The Punchliner Comedy Club, Limelight Lounge, Piano Bar 88, Alchemy Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Chef’s Table, Bonsai Sushi Express, Seaday Brunch, Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, Cloud 9 Spa and more.
Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia Will Be Permanent Additions to Carnival’s Fleet
As reported in June 2022, Costa Firenze and Costa Venezia were originally meant to join the “Costa by Carnival” brand while maintaining their names and livery, presumably as a temporary offering. But instead, they will officially be renamed Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia and receive a variant of the current Carnival Cruise Line paint scheme.
Firenze and Venezia will operate under the marketing banner and hull label of “Carnival Fun Italian Style,” and vessel livery will include a blue forward swoosh paired with a yellow accent band that mirrors their smokestacks (still rendered with the Costa logo).
This inconsistency has prompted followers of Adolfo Perez’ Facebook page to believe there are two separate product lines, with Luminosa being the only permanent transfer of the three Costa Cruises ships. However, Perez, who is senior vice president of global sales and trade marketing for Carnival, cleared up the confusion.
"They are all part of the permanent Carnival fleet,” he said. “Luminosa did get the funnel and some interior updates. The Firenze and Venezia are basically brand new. You can expect a Carnival Cruise [Line] experience on all three. It’s our crew and all Carnival team members onboard.”
He further explained that Firenze and Venezia were once slated for a Costa Asia deployment in the Chinese market. Since that is no longer happening, and the Carnival brand is receiving so much demand, a shift was made accordingly.
With that being the case, Carnival Venezia will begin sailing from New York City in the spring of 2023, and Carnival Firenze will depart from Long Beach, Calif. in 2024.
“Just like their Carnival sisters, fun will be at the heart of Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze, but they will also carry a unique experience — incorporating the spectacular Italian atmosphere and rich culture they embody,” Duffy added.
Travelers can now register online to stay up to date on all the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” offerings, itinerary details and promotions to come.
