Carnival’s new Firenze cruise ship is filled with upcharged options. But if you look past them, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their complimentary activities.
The company’s second Italy-themed ship came highly anticipated. In early April, Firenze’s naming ceremony “triggered a step up in bookings,” Josh Weinstein, the president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Line’s parent company, Carnival Corp, told analysts in late June.
Two weeks after the ceremony, Carnival Firenze set sail on its maiden voyage from its homeport in Long Beach, California, marking the 27th vessel to join the cruise line’s fleet.
This boost in bookings might not come as a surprise after seeing its prices.
New cruise ships generally command an inflated fare. But it seems the new 5,245-guest Firenze ignored this tradition, with 2024 fares currently starting at almost $360 per person for a four-night cruise.
Not too bad, given all of its amenities.
Firenze is more than just another towel animal-toting Carnival cruise.
In 2022, Carnival acquired Firenze and its sister ship from Costa Cruises. Firenze then underwent a two-month refresh to be outfitted with the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” theme.
If you’re an American who loves campy European-themed venues — think a cheaper version of the Venetian in Las Vegas — Firenze could feel like an Italian getaway. The theme is hard to miss, from the white statues to the giant photos of Florence, Italy.
I went on Firenze’s four-night cruise about two weeks after its maiden voyage.
I previously wrote a less-than-glowing review of Carnival Firenze, although I was impressed with the vessel’s complimentary activities, a rarity on many popular cruises.
Norwegian’s newer ships, for example, have $10 mini-golf courses and VR arcades that cost $29 for an hour of play. Similarly, Royal Caribbean’s new ultra-giant, ultra-popular Icon of the Seas has a $49-per-person ropes course that can be completed in less than a minute.
Carnival Firenze also has a mini-golf and ropes course — but they’re both free, albeit not as exciting or modern as the cruise line’s competitors.
Unfortunately, the arcade isn’t free. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a complimentary one anywhere.
Like Icon of the Seas, brave guests must be harnessed in before walking Firenze’s ropes course.
But unlike Royal Caribbean’s adrenaline-pumping walkway, Firenze’s course takes several minutes to complete. And while it’s less showy and dramatic than Icon’s, it is free to go on as many times as you’d like — and for that, a better deal.
Want to keep the adrenaline going? Carnival’s new ship has waterslides near the children’s water playground.
Nearby, there’s also cornhole, a giant chess set, and an outdoor sports court for an afternoon of shooting hoops. If you’re lucky, you can also claim one of the open-air foosball tables.
If not, there’s an indoor foosball table near the ping pong table and a collection of board games and books.
Speaking of indoor-outdoor options, Firenze has two pools, one outside and another under a glass roof.
The latter is also home to the makeshift nighttime movie theater, so long as viewers are OK with paying $4 for popcorn and the background sound of screaming children at the pool.
If you want to escape the kids, Firenze has the obligatory cruise ship spa, casino, and boutiques.
Or go to the adult-only outdoor lounge outfitted with rows of lounge seats, two hot tubs, and, most importantly, no children in sight. It’s also where you’ll also find the ship’s salad bar — one of Firenze’s 15 dining options.
Of the 15 restaurants, eight venues are complimentary
But there are some caveats.
Some included options, like the pizza kiosk and buffet, have up-charged items. Others, like the aforementioned salad bar and grill stand, remained frustratingly closed until the last day of my cruise.
But if you don’t consider these stipulations, Firenze’s free-to-upcharged restaurant ratio isn’t abnormal. About half of competitor Icon of the Seas’ 21 dining venues also cost extra.
Carnival Firenze’s specialty options include an empanada stand and classics like sushi, teppanyaki, and Italian restaurants.
Travelers ready to splurge on food could pay as little as $1.50 for an empanada or almost $50 for a steakhouse dinner.
Dining at the free buffet but eyeing the up-charged chicken wings? They’ll be $5 for six pieces. Having breakfast at the free main dining room? A fresh juice will be $5.
Want a dinner lobster roll from the seafood shack? It’ll be another $18.
During the day, the seafood shack serves as a complimentary chicken stand, joining eight other free options.
Cruisers can live out their “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” dreams at the Guy Fieri-branded burger counter, where heavy accouterments like fried mozzarella slabs and onion rings are commonplace.
Or, head up a deck to Il Mercato for grab-and-go Italian sandwiches.
Firenze has two main dining rooms for a more formal sit-down dinner. Just note that the dinner buffet serves the same menu as these restaurants. And while the food is fine, it’s not great — and I did find a piece of plastic hidden in my pasta.
As with any mass-market cruise ship, alcohol isn’t free.
Cocktails are about $13, while beers and seltzers are about $9. But if you can’t cruise without booze (it is Carnival, after all), the new ship has plenty of venues for your needs.
Bars like Piano Bar 88 and Tuscan Lounge have live music.
Amari offers options that fit the ship’s Italian theme, like aperitifs, digestives, and Negroni sbagliatos (“stunnin’!”).
Meanwhile, Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge is great for guests who want to sip a beer, watch sports, and surround themselves in American military garb.
If you enjoy doing karaoke, you’ll love karaoke night at the stylish and contemporary Moda Bar and Lounge.
And if you crave Aperol spritzes the moment the sun comes out, you could find yourself frequently visiting the bubbly-forward, new-to-brand Frizzante.
While not technically a bar, the coffee shop also sells boozy milkshakes and floats for almost $12.
But then again, everything at JavaBlue Cafe has a price tag, from the $4.50 latte to the icy $7.25 frappe. And if you want a sweet treat with your pick-me-up, it’ll be $4 for a doughnut or cupcake.
(If you don’t want to pay for caffeine, the buffet has free black coffee, Bigelow’s green tea, and Lipton tea.)
It wouldn’t be a cruise without live entertainment, either.
The atrium hosts musicians and singers dressed in Venice Carnival — or “Eyes Wide Shut” — style masks, while the smaller Limelight Lounge is the go-to for stand-up comedy. There’s also an interactive “Deal or No Deal” game show, although participation costs $25.
But if we’re talking about traditional theater shows, my four-night cruise included the cheesy “Dear Future Husband” song-and-dance production and the interactive “What’s Age Got To Do With It?” game show.
If laughter from the crowd indicates success, the game show — which sources participants from the crowd — was a hit.
A show where half the players are children is sure to be entertaining.
Is the entertainment better on Norwegian and Royal Caribbean’s newest ships? Yes.
Does Carnival Firenze have as many pools as its competitors’ latest vessels? No.
But is Firenze’s mini-golf and ropes course free? Yes.
Plus, with four-night voyages starting at almost $90 a night, Firenze’s 2024 itineraries are both shorter and cheaper than several other new cruise ships on the market. (Norwegian Viva’s cheapest 2024 itinerary is more than $1,520 per person for an 11-day sailing, while Icon of the Seas starts at almost $1,770 per person for eight days.)
So, if you can resist the enticing upcharges, Carnival’s new Firenze could be a great pick for families looking for a cheap and fun vacation at sea.