Carnival Cruise Line wants to bring sister brand Costa Cruises’ Italian experience to North America by branding two new ships Costa by Carnival.
In what may signal a softening of the cruise market in Europe, the two-year old Costa Venezia will join the Carnival fleet in 2023 sailing from New York. Meanwhile, the one-year old Costa Firenze will begin Pacific cruses from Long Beach, California in the spring of 2024.
Carnival scrapped seven older ships from its fleet during the pandemic, so the additions gives the line more options for itineraries.
And they offer a European vibe, although rooted in Carnival’s all-American style. Carnival will operate the ships, which have design features honoring their Italian namesake cities, but will add the service, food and entertainment that Carnival passengers enjoy, the line says.
“Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze will bring Carnival’s guests the ambiance and beauty of Italy,” Carnival President Christine Duffy said. ‘We’re going to invite our guests to “Choose Fun with Carnival, Italian Style.”‘
The two Costa ships are sisters of Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama, each carrying up to 5,260 passengers.
Both ships will continue operating their regular Costa itineraries until they are assigned to Carnival for dry dock refitting. Deployment and itinerary plans are being finalized, with the Venezia announcement coming soon, Carnival says.
The move follows the announcement that Costa Luminosa will be renamed Carnival Lumnosa and operate in Australia starting in November, 2022 and in Alaska in 2023.
Industry watchers suggest offering an Italian-style product to Americans is Carnival’s answer to the growing presence of MSC Cruises in the U.S. market. MSC Meraviglia is starting year round service from New York in 2023.
