With the debut of the Carnival Firenze last week, Carnival Cruise Line said its position as the leading cruise line in California was solidified.
The 5,000-guest Firenze is sailing year-round from Long Beach, joining the 5,100-passenger Carnival Panorama and the nearly 4,000-passenger Carnival Radiance.
Next year, Carnival said it will embark more than 750,000 guests from Long Beach on 200-plus sailings, an increase of 100,000 more guests compared to 2019.
Like sister ship Carnival Venezia, the Firenze is a former Costa ship bringing "Carnival Fun Italian Style" to the fleet. The Venezia debuted last year for Carnival.
Hollywood actor Jonathan Bennett served as the Firenze's godfather in an April 24 ceremony before the ship embarked on its maiden voyage the following day, a seven-day cruise calling in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.
The 2020-built Firenze recently finished a 49-day drydock that integrated Carnival Fun Italian Style features into the ship's design. Notable additions include specialty restaurant Il Viaggio and a top-deck "street party" called Festa Italiana.
The ship will sail a variety of itinerary lengths, with three- to seven-day Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera cruises open for sale now through the spring of 2026.