Costa by Carnival development

[tidecat]

Costa Venezia's cruises from December 1, 2022 have now been canceled, leaving a five month gap between her last revenue sailing for Costa and her first for Carnival. Will her Carnival deployment begin earlier? Will this be a more involved rebranding? Is this a defensive move in an era of supply and labor shortages?

 

Five months still seems excessive even for a massive drydock. The Destiny/Sunshine and Triumph/Sunrise conversions we're nowhere near that long.

[shof515]

when is the first sailing for carnival?

[tidecat]

It was originally announced as April 2023.

[Guest BasicSailor]

Five months meaning a major overhaul. What are they doing to the Costa brand and this ship?

[DallasGuy75219]

17 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

Five months meaning a major overhaul. What are they doing to the Costa brand and this ship?

These weren't to be major overhauls and total rebranding like Luminosa.  The original press release made it sound like they were doing the minimum possible to sail for carnival, presumably so they could go back to Costa in the near term and/or on short notice.

[DrSea]

I haven't been following closely with this. Is Costa coming to the US market under the branding of CCL? Or is CCL just borrowing the ship? 

[DallasGuy75219]

23 minutes ago, DrSea said:

I haven't been following closely with this. Is Costa coming to the US market under the branding of CCL? Or is CCL just borrowing the ship? 

Kinda in the middle. Carnival's spin was introducing CCL's pax to a new brand/ experience, but in reality it's just making use of Carnival Corp. assets that would otherwise go unused in the near term.  Thus the minimal/nonexistent effort to convert them to full Carnival standards (I know, an oxymoron) before putting them into service in North America.

[DrSea]

1 minute ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Kinda in the middle. Carnival's spin was introducing CCL's pax to a new brand/ experience, but in reality it's just making use of Carnival Corp. assets that would otherwise go unused in the near term.  Thus the minimal/nonexistent effort to convert them to full Carnival standards (I know, an oxymoron) before putting them into service in North America.

I lol'ed pretty hard reading the bolded. Savage. Always appreciate your humor. 

 

Do you know if sailing with them will give you CCL VIFP points or Costa points? or both?

[DallasGuy75219]

Just now, DrSea said:

Do you know if sailing with them will give you CCL VIFP points or Costa points? or both?

I don't recall that being specified, but I expect Carnival VIFP points.  Carnival's typical passenger isn't of the mindset to fly to Europe for cruise, so a don't think one cruise with Costa points (or however their frequent cruiser cruiser program works) is going to motivate them to fly to Europe to take more cruises to get status with Costa.

[DrSea]

7 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

I don't recall that being specified, but I expect Carnival VIFP points.  Carnival's typical passenger isn't of the mindset to fly to Europe for cruise, so a don't think one cruise with Costa points (or however their frequent cruiser cruiser program works) is going to motivate them to fly to Europe to take more cruises to get status with Costa.

Your savagery really makes my day. 

[mz-s]

It takes at least 5 months of neglect for the Costa ships to get as rusty as the average Carnival vessel. Don't want Carnival guests to be spoiled, after all.

[CruisingWalter]

On 9/9/2022 at 2:35 AM, DrSea said:

I haven't been following closely with this. Is Costa coming to the US market under the branding of CCL? Or is CCL just borrowing the ship? 

 

Costa By Carnival means leaving the ships basically as is, in the Costa livery and all internal Italian designs intact. NO addition of Carnival 'fun ship' elements. The only change is slated to be the change of the crew and operation from Costa to Carnival. Basically a more 'refined' ship for Carnival guests. 

[pirate4me2]

On 9/9/2022 at 3:08 AM, DrSea said:

I lol'ed pretty hard reading the bolded. Savage. Always appreciate your humor. 

 

Do you know if sailing with them will give you CCL VIFP points or Costa points? or both?

You will get CCL VIFP points

[Moviela]

The Luminosa is in drydock. It's getting the hull painted with the new design, and the stack changed to Carnival colors. The piano bar is out, and is being converted to Limelight lounge for comedy. The casino has new fruit machines, and a Red Frog bar is being fitted. New internet equipment, but no Guy's. Deck 9 aft pool is being changed to serenity with new furniture. The Spa is changing to Carnival Brands. The spa guests will no longer have an exclusive dining room. Guest cabins will have the 220v receptacle which is for Italian plugs changed to the Australian type I receptacle, and the shower curtains will be changed to the clingy style so Carnival passenger will feel at home. (just kidding about the shower)

[Colorado Beach Bum]

3 minutes ago, Moviela said:

The Luminosa is in drydock. It's getting the hull painted with the new design, and the stack changed to Carnival colors. The piano bar is out, and is being converted to Limelight lounge for comedy. The casino has new fruit machines, and a Red Frog bar is being fitted. New internet equipment, but no Guy's. Deck 9 aft pool is being changed to serenity with new furniture. The Spa is changing to Carnival Brands. The spa guests will no longer have an exclusive dining room. Guest cabins will have the 220v receptacle which is for Italian plugs changed to the Australian type I receptacle, and the shower curtains will be changed to the clingy style so Carnival passenger will feel at home. (just kidding about the shower)

There is still a piano bar on the new deck plans. 

[Moviela]

8 minutes ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

There is still a piano bar on the new deck plans. 

A tiny one on deck 2 aft. It replaces a bar. They also ditched the cigar lounge. Smoking indoors is not allowed in Australia.

[Colorado Beach Bum]

5 minutes ago, Moviela said:

A tiny one on deck 2 aft. It replaces a bar. They also ditched the cigar lounge. Smoking indoors is not allowed in Australia.

Does Carnival still have any ships with indoor cigar bars?  I remember they did years ago but I thought all were all long gone. 

[DrSea]

1 hour ago, pirate4me2 said:

You will get CCL VIFP points

makes sense 

 

2 hours ago, WheresWalter said:

 

Costa By Carnival means leaving the ships basically as is, in the Costa livery and all internal Italian designs intact. NO addition of Carnival 'fun ship' elements. The only change is slated to be the change of the crew and operation from Costa to Carnival. Basically a more 'refined' ship for Carnival guests. 

thanks for the clarification. I have seen some pics and the ships were very gaudy. Seems like they would fit in the CCL fleet. 

[tidecat]

50 minutes ago, DrSea said:

makes sense 

 

thanks for the clarification. I have seen some pics and the ships were very gaudy. Seems like they would fit in the CCL fleet. 

Joe Farcus also designed a number of Costa ships, although he was not involved with the Vista/Venezia class for Carnival or Costa.

[DrSea]

1 minute ago, tidecat said:

Joe Farcus also designed a number of Costa ships, although he was not involved with the Vista/Venezia class for Carnival or Costa.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. 

[mz-s]

1 hour ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

Does Carnival still have any ships with indoor cigar bars?  I remember they did years ago but I thought all were all long gone. 

 

On some ships the bars are still there but they're nonsmoking now.

[CarnivalShips480]

@Dancer Bob 

 

[CarnivalShips480]

Carnival will make these two Carnival ships and rename them Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze.

 

Why do I say this when we heard they would be Costa ships in Carnival's fleet? Take a look at these Carnival owned websites:

 

About CCL (carnivalgrandport.com) 

go down to Carnival facts. Says this: 

UPCOMING SHIPS:

Carnival Luminosa – 2022; Carnival Celebration – 2022; Carnival Venezia – 2023; Carnival Jubilee– 2023; Carnival Firenze – 2024

 

50 Years of Fun: Carnival Cruise Line’s History | Carnival Cruise Line News (carnival-news.com)

For 2022 it says: Plans to launch a new concept: “Choose Carnival, Italian Style,” were also announced with two additional ships from sister brand Costa Cruises joining the Carnival fleet, Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze.

 

Also notice how it says "Choose Fun, Italian style" and not "Costa by Carnival" so the ships would just be Italian, not Costa anymore.

[CruisingWalter]

32 minutes ago, CarnivalShips480 said:

Carnival will make these two Carnival ships and rename them Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze.

 

Why do I say this when we heard they would be Costa ships in Carnival's fleet? Take a look at these Carnival owned websites:

 

About CCL (carnivalgrandport.com) 

go down to Carnival facts. Says this: 

UPCOMING SHIPS:

Carnival Luminosa – 2022; Carnival Celebration – 2022; Carnival Venezia – 2023; Carnival Jubilee– 2023; Carnival Firenze – 2024

 

50 Years of Fun: Carnival Cruise Line’s History | Carnival Cruise Line News (carnival-news.com)

For 2022 it says: Plans to launch a new concept: “Choose Carnival, Italian Style,” were also announced with two additional ships from sister brand Costa Cruises joining the Carnival fleet, Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze.

 

Also notice how it says "Choose Fun, Italian style" and not "Costa by Carnival" so the ships would just be Italian, not Costa anymore.

 

They've been saying "Choose Fun, Italian Style" since they announced "Costa By Carnival." That's the tagline for the two ships. It was literally in the Press Release announcing Costa By Carnival. They are going to remain Costa ships.

 

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’re going to invite our guests to Choose Fun with Carnival, Italian Style!”

 

https://ca.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/carnival-to-launch-costa-by-carnival-marrying-italian-ships-with-carnival-fun.html

[CruisingWalter]

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

On some ships the bars are still there but they're nonsmoking now.

 

I know NCL has them, including the new PRIMA. I'm not sure who else has them anymore.