CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE TO BRING COSTA VENEZIA TO THE U.S. IN 2023, COSTA FIRENZE IN 2024, TO SAIL AS PART OF THE CARNIVAL FLEET

Carnival Cruise Line – proudly known as America’s cruise line announced today in a press release that they are teaming up with Costa Cruises – Italy’s favorite cruise line – creating a new concept for Carnival’s North American guests when COSTA® by CARNIVAL® debuts in the spring of 2023 and Costa Venezia TM   joins the Carnival fleet sailing from New York. Costa Venezia will be followed by Costa Firenze TM arriving in the spring of 2024 to sail from Long Beach.

Carnival will operate the ships, which will marry the great service, food and entertainment that Carnival’s guests enjoy with Costa’s Italian design features. “Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze will bring Carnival’s guests the ambiance and beauty of Italy,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.  “We’re going to invite our guests to Choose Fun with Carnival, Italian Style!”

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to operate two additional beautiful Vista class ships in the U.S. and bring a unique experience to those who love the culture, food and vibe of Italy,” said Duffy.  “There are lots of ways we plan to create an immersive fun experience for our guests who choose to sail on these ships, which have beautiful Italian-design elements, dining and retail that will deliver Carnival fun leveraging the spirit of Italy from our sister line Costa Cruises.”

Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Cruises, said, “We are excited to see these iconic ships make their debut in the U.S. under the leadership and operation of our sister brand.  Costa providing the beautiful ship with its’ Italian design and Carnival delivering FUN, Italian Style!”  Zanetti said that Costa will be informing clients impacted by this news.

Duffy said that the ships will continue operating their regular Costa itineraries until they are assigned to Carnival for dry dock work and deployment.  Deployment and itinerary plans are being finalized, with the Venezia announcement coming soon given the spring 2023 launch date. Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze are sister ships to Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama, weighing 135,500 gross tons and accommodating up to 5,260 guests. 

MEET THE ZONES ON CARNIVAL CELEBRATION

MEET THE ZONES

Carnival Celebration introduces themed zones.  Each area is uniquely inspired to create a different atmosphere.   The themed zones aboard Carnival Celebration are:

THE GATEWAY

When you are cruising on Carnival Celebration there’s just so much destination to be found… even right on board. That’s because here, in The Gateway zone, “international flavor” isn’t just an expression, but a way of life! Design, décor, cuisine and even the entertainment is inspired by grand locations, landmarks from around the world. There is a rotating selection of these vistas brilliantly displayed right on the innovative LED windows and ceiling, plus theme nights that match — including Abroad in Europe, Far East Voyage and Mexico Lindo — which each feature food, drinks and entertainment to match. But every moment is a special occasion thanks to onboard spots that are proud to import their flavor from all over. We’re talking restaurants and bars like Latitudes with its old-school railway station vibe, The Golden Jubilee featuring a unique mix of great drinks and live music, plus Emeril’s Bistro 1397,which is deliciously all over the map. And don’t miss the chance to sip a little cocktail magic at returning fan-favorite Alchemy Bar. 

820 BISCAYNE

We’re at home anywhere we sail… but you can only have one hometown, and for Carnival that is unmistakably Miami. So, it’s not hard at all to locate the inspiration for 820 Biscayne on Carnival Celebration. If you are wondering about the nameplate, that’s the address where it all got started — but nobody has to wonder where all the fun, flavor and good looks you will find in this zone were sourced. After all, it’s so authentically Miami… just check out the art deco designs, neon splashes and great flavors… On that note, there’s Bar 820 for tropical cocktails and Cuban coffee, plus Deco Deli serving up a selection of classic sandwiches… Cuban faves included. While Miami isn’t quite known as a pizza town, but you will find the crew serving up the cheesy stuff 24 hours a day at Miami Slice. Like any cosmopolitan center, dining quality and variety counts big, that’s why they’ll find Cucina del Capitano and Rudi’s Seagrill restaurants in the neighborhood.

CELEBRATION CENTRAL

Celebration Central is designed to make an impression… and that’s good because it’s going to be your first one! You can count on Carnival Celebration’s atrium to set the vacay vibes for your whole cruise. Look up and you’re honestly in for an eyeful — floor-to-ceiling windows, 14-foot LED screens, a ceiling of 1,400 color-changing lights… everything points to BIG FUN happening in here. And even if you’re just passing through, know that you’ll definitely be back later. Center Stage features a rotating selection of live entertainment, while Tropicale Bar serves up great drinks with a nostalgia chaser nodding to our first ship to sport the iconic red, white and blue funnel. Aquaria Bar features an ocean-themed glass mural pulled from Carnival Victory that’s now a two-deck high decorative wall. (Also: great drinks here too!) Then there’s fan-faves, from cups of comfort at JavaBlue Café to great eats at Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki, and some very entertaining reasons to come back, like Piano Bar 88, The Punchliner Comedy Club and more.

THE FRENCH QUARTER

If “big” and “easy” sound about right for your vacation, you might just make the French Quarter on Carnival Celebration your home zone. The French Quarter is lined with bars and eateries worthy of their namesake, spots serving up everything from small plates to classic Hurricane cocktails straight from the bayou. Just steps away there’s entertainment inspired by the world-renowned Crescent City nightlife.  You’ll find a hot jazz club in this zone — plus you won’t be far from bars, lounges and some funky little shops and one of these spots is being designed in partnership with a name you definitely know!

SUMMER LANDING

Go ahead and call Summer Landing “the greatest chill spot at sea”!!!  Know what goes great with chilling outdoors? BBQ, you can find Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse in this zone to make sure it always tastes like summer here, courtesy of freshly-smoked faves designed by Guy Fieri.  and there’s even original Parched Pig™ beers brewing just a few feet from the tap?

LA PIAZZA

This zone stands for atmosphere and flavor, and it starts with Cucina del Capitano, which brings your party together for an evening of Italian favorites served family-style, while Pizzeria del Capitano makes delizioso happen for them 24 hours a day atop a base of imported Italian flour and fresh mozzarella. You will find Piazza Panini where the handhelds are hot and pressed, plus Bar della Rosa, where you’ll sip authentic espresso drinks by day and classic Italian cocktails when the sun goes down. All this flavor and flair we’ve got in here may practically transport you straight to Italy… but don’t forget that so much of it can be enjoyed outdoors, where the sea breeze is just bellissimo.

LIDO

Aboard Carnival Celebration this poolside zone features even more delicious and fun ways to spend a day. Everybody looks to Lido for variety, and with tons of casual dining spots you will discover new experiences among the flavors that keep them coming back. They can take in a Dive-In Movie at the pool and they’re not far from signature Carnival favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack, and BlueIguana Cantina taco spot. And for folks hoping we haven’t forgotten: yes, Lido is absolutely home to fan-favorite Swirls, the free soft-serve spot cranking out the cool 24 hours a day!

THE ULTIMATE PLAYGROUND

Don’t let the name fool you — this zone is ages everybody and up. Of course, The Ultimate Playground starts with BOLT, the first rollercoaster at sea, an all-electric thrill ride that puts the power of speed in your hands. But that’s only the beginning — this playground has the largest Carnival WaterWorks ever with three huge spiraling slides, plus SportSquare is here featuring an entire mini-golf course, full-court basketball and a ropes course and more.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE BREAKS GROUND ON NEW CRUISE PORT DESTINATION ON GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND

THE BAHAMAS, May 12, 2022 – With a strong showing of validation of the cruise industry’s return and optimism, and reflecting a long-standing partnership between Carnival Cruise Line and The Bahamas, Carnival, in cooperation with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Government of The Bahamas, today held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new cruise port destination on Grand Bahama Island.  

Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy; Bahamas Prime Minister The Honourable Philip Davis; Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister The Honourable I. Chester Cooper; Minister for Grand Bahama The Honourable Ginger Moxey; and The Grand Bahama Port Authority Acting Chairman Sarah St. George; along with Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald and representatives from Carnival Corporation and the local community used ceremonial shovels to officially mark the beginning of construction.

“With the start of this Carnival project, Grand Bahama is now on the better side of reaching its true economic potential,” said The Honourable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas. “This investment will provide much needed jobs but will also signal new hope for the island’s recovery.”

The new Carnival Grand Bahama cruise port destination, expected to open in late 2024, is being developed on the south side of the island and will continue to serve as a gateway to Grand Bahama while also offering guests a uniquely Bahamian experience with many exciting features and amenities, along with business opportunities for the residents of Grand Bahama.

“As we celebrate our 50-year partnership with The Bahamas, today’s groundbreaking on our incredible new Grand Bahama destination represents an opportunity to collaborate with the government and people of Grand Bahama – to contribute to the local economy through job and business opportunities, meaningfully engage with local communities, and further expand our experience offerings for our guests who will have a breathtaking new port of call to enjoy,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.  “Our sincere thanks to the government of The Bahamas and The Grand Bahama Port Authority for their continued support as we begin construction.  Our guests already love The Bahamas, and we are certain this new project will give them even more reason to want to visit.”

The Grand Bahama Port Authority Acting Chairman Sarah St. George commented: “The new Carnival cruise port destination will have a monumental impact on our island’s economy, including a panoply of new business opportunities, a huge surge in tourist visitors, as well as increased activities for established businesses.  It is transformational in the true sense of the word.  We are immensely grateful to Carnival for choosing Freeport and Grand Bahama for this flagship project.  Today, we mark this incredible achievement made possible by the efforts of Carnival with The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Port Group Limited, the Grand Bahama Development Company and Freeport Harbour Company, and the Government of The Bahamas. A project of this magnitude is only possible through genuine collaboration. Grand Bahamians have withstood life-changing challenges, particularly in recent years. Despite these, Carnival never wavered in their commitment to building their next cruise port in Freeport.  We are very proud to have played our part to the best of our ability towards making this a reality.”

The cruise port development includes a pier able to accommodate up to two Excel-class ships simultaneously welcoming guests to a stunning white-sand beach The Bahamas are known for. Guests will be able to explore and enjoy Grand Bahama by way of sea, via a dedicated shore excursion dock, or by land, via the dedicated ground transportation hub.  The cruise port itself will also feature an area designated as a nature reserve and an interior pool feature, along with many Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options for guests to enjoy.

“The Carnival groundbreaking is very significant to the residents of Grand Bahama. This development signals opportunities for creatives, vendors, and small and medium sized businesses, and represents our commitment to collaboration with local and international partners for the betterment of our island,” said The Honourable Ginger M. Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama.

The cruise pier will allow Grand Bahama to welcome guests from Carnival’s larger ships, such as the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras, which debuted in 2021 as the line’s largest and most innovative ship and North America’s first cruise ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Carnival Celebration, sister ship to Mardi Gras, which will begin sailing from Miami later this year.

Added Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investment and Aviation The Honourable I. Chester Cooper: “The cruise port is an integral part of our plan to restore Grand Bahama to economic viability. Carnival will play a critical role in stimulating our economy and shining a light on Grand Bahama as a rejuvenated and premier destination in our country and the region. We believe the excitement of what is happening on Grand Bahama will be contagious.”

Today’s event was an important next step as construction gets underway.  Additional details on the design, features and the name of the cruise port destination will be revealed over the coming months as Carnival finalizes its plans to maximize the fun for their guests and the opportunities to partner with local businesses and other stakeholders.