Carnival Panorama vs Carnival Firenze

[MsSoCalCruiser]

I just now started researching so I thought maybe I could ask you for some help if you have time. Which would you choose? Have you figured out what the differences will be? Four long time friends that are 60+ years. We like staying busy and we like good/decent food. We usually cruise Princess but there are no local itineraries during the time we want to go. Thank you! 

Edited December 4, 2023 by MsSoCalCruiser

[stobe1]

No one can really answer that question since Carnival has not yet taken ownership of Firenze. 

 

I can say that Spirit class ships (of which Pride is one) tend to be one of the most popular classes of ships in the Carnival fleet. Venezia, which is the sister ship to Firenze, gets mixed reviews and people seem to either love it or hate it.

Edited December 4, 2023 by stobe1

[stobe1]

Edit: I read your post too quickly and mistook the Panorama for the Pride. My mistake.  It was too long after and I was unable to edit my original post.

 

My comment still stands about the Pride. Panorama is a Vista class ship and is also mostly well reviewed. If you end up booking Panorama and can afford it, go with a Havana area cabin. You will get exclusive access to your own pool, hottubs and bar that noone else on the ship can access.

Edited December 4, 2023 by stobe1

[MsSoCalCruiser]

@stobe1 thank you for your helpful replies. I really appreciate your help. 

[DukeASUGirl]

There aren't any reviews yet of Firenze, but you can see what people are saying about Venezia, since it will be very similar.

 

One major difference between these two itineraries is length. Firenze is a 5-day cruise, and Panorama is a 7-day cruise. Panorama goes to Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. (I did this cruise this past summer on Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas, and hated Mazatlan, so personally would never go back there again.) 

 

Panorama has had a bit of issues, and in fact they just canceled 4 weeks worth of sailings, whereas Firenze will be brand new then. 

 

FWIW, I'm taking my Girl Scout troop on Firenze in June as their middle school graduation trip.

[edspec]

Firenze Havana area is called Terrezzo and doesn't have the pool and hot tubs.  Also open to all from 7 pm, like Havana area was at the beginning.

 

Firenze does 7 day itineraries, I've been looking at one over Labor Day.

[stobe1]

37 minutes ago, DukeASUGirl said:

There aren't any reviews yet of Firenze, but you can see what people are saying about Venezia, since it will be very similar.

 

One major difference between these two itineraries is length. Firenze is a 5-day cruise, and Panorama is a 7-day cruise. Panorama goes to Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. (I did this cruise this past summer on Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas, and hated Mazatlan, so personally would never go back there again.) 

 

Panorama has had a bit of issues, and in fact they just canceled 4 weeks worth of sailings, whereas Firenze will be brand new then. 

 

FWIW, I'm taking my Girl Scout troop on Firenze in June as their middle school graduation trip.

For the record, Firenze won't be brand new. She will be new to Carnival, however. She is being transferred/bought from Costa.

[Saint Greg]

I’ve done two weeks on Panorama and two weeks on Venezia, Firenze’s sister ship. I also just got back from my first Princess cruise last month.
 

Panorama and Firenze are both vista class ships so the layout is basically the same. Panorama is going to be your typical carnival ship. Firenze is going to be a bit more classy. Assuming it’s the same as Venezia, many of the normal carnival venues will be replaced with Italian themed ones. MDR menus will always include Italian options. There will be Italian themed events and parties. 
 

I think if you want the typical carnival experience, go with panorama. If you’re interested in something a little different with an Italian theme, go within Firenze.

 

[n6uqqq]

I found a youtube video of the Firenze. My first impression is that it is a bit more elegant imho than your typical Carnival ship. I have a couple of 5 days booked next November for a really good deal.

 

 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

Thank you all so much for your helpful replies. I really appreciate it! 

[RobinCruiser]

I'm booked on the Firenze Sept 14th. 7 Day Mexican Riviera cruise. I liked the price and the date worked for me. Also looking forward to exploring a new to me ship.

 

[Larry Berg]

We just spent a week on Panorama 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise and loved it. Now we booked a similar cruise with Firenze Mexican Riviera to the same ports. I'll report back later, but I suspect it's going to be great! And whoever said those Terrazza rooms in the back of Firenze (that are like the Havana on Panorama) was wrong about having no spas, there are two private ones back there.

[jimbo5544]

4 hours ago, Larry Berg said:

We just spent a week on Panorama 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise and loved it. Now we booked a similar cruise with Firenze Mexican Riviera to the same ports. I'll report back later, but I suspect it's going to be great! And whoever said those Terrazza rooms in the back of Firenze (that are like the Havana on Panorama) was wrong about having no spas, there are two private ones back there.

If there only was a pool…..   This ship has def caught my interest.

[JGB]

My wife and I have cruised both and for us it is Firenze by a head.

Being gamblers having a stand alone non smoking casino is a major plus.

We were never disappointed with the food, on the Panorama we were disappointed once or twice. The Java Cafe on the Firenze being on Lido deck we found very inconvenient. On the Panorama it is on deck 3. We love the cove balcony which both have. We found the Firenze decor slightly more to our taste and the crew on the Firenze were incredibly friendly and accommodating. Example, we had any time dinning, on the first night we were given a table with direct window view, I asked if we could have that same table for next evening, the Host reserved it for each night of the cruise.

Never had a bad cruise just some were better than others.

jgb

[csm5986142]

On 12/4/2023 at 12:48 PM, DukeASUGirl said:

One major difference between these two itineraries is length. Firenze is a 5-day cruise, and Panorama is a 7-day cruise.

 

This was the deciding factor for us, we chose Panorama when we wanted an 8 day itenerary and Firenze when we wanted 5 days.

Our Firenze cruise is not until February, but we have been Panorama several times and it's one of my favorite Carnival ships (out of 34 carnival cruises).  It is one of the most clean, well-maintained ships I have been on.  Last summer we were on Panorama and her Sister ship, Vista, within weeks of each other, and it was amazing what a difference good maintenance makes.  Vista was in terrible shape by comparison.  

[lasvegascruising]

My vote goes to the Panorama.  I did not care for the Firenze over all.  I did not like the Lido deck.  I like the more open type of Lido deck.  Our Firenze cruise was a really nice time but when comparing ships, I prefer the Panorama. 

[Larry Berg]

10 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

If there only was a pool…..   This ship has def caught my interest.

There's a pool on the Lido deck, and another pool on the back of deck 10 and Serenity has some nice whirlpools.

[Larry Berg]

3 hours ago, csm5986142 said:

 

This was the deciding factor for us, we chose Panorama when we wanted an 8 day itenerary and Firenze when we wanted 5 days.

Our Firenze cruise is not until February, but we have been Panorama several times and it's one of my favorite Carnival ships (out of 34 carnival cruises).  It is one of the most clean, well-maintained ships I have been on.  Last summer we were on Panorama and her Sister ship, Vista, within weeks of each other, and it was amazing what a difference good maintenance makes.  Vista was in terrible shape by comparison.  

Firenze now does the 7-night cruise, too. We are booked for early September for the Mexican Riviera, same one Panorama's done. We did that one a few weeks ago. What a fantastic trip! So good, we're doing it again on another Carnival ship!

[Larry Berg]

2 hours ago, lasvegascruising said:

My vote goes to the Panorama.  I did not care for the Firenze over all.  I did not like the Lido deck.  I like the more open type of Lido deck.  Our Firenze cruise was a really nice time but when comparing ships, I prefer the Panorama. 

Hey, we're from Las Vegas also! I'm glad to hear your opinion. So, the pool is smaller on Firenze? The entire Lido deck is smaller? Interesting. We found it rather crowded on Panorama!

[jimbo5544]

2 hours ago, Larry Berg said:

There's a pool on the Lido deck, and another pool on the back of deck 10 and Serenity has some nice whirlpools.

Understand, but on CCL ships that have Havana rooms there is a pool just for those who stay in those rooms between the hot tubs on the 5th floor.

Edited June 27 by jimbo5544

[tonit964]

I was on the Panorama last October and I’m on the Firenze in August.

I’m really looking forward to this ship. I understand the layout is pretty much the same.

 

I’m a little skeptical of the lido deck design and how it’s more “closed in”, we’ll see how it is. 

[Larry Berg]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Understand, but on CCL ships that have Havana rooms there is a pool just for those who stay in those rooms between the hot tubs on the 5th floor.

Yes, it's just the hot tubs on the Firenze at Terrazza Moda.

[lasvegascruising]

Hi Larry Berg.  There is just something different about the Firenze Lido deck.  If feels...shrunk.  Deck 11 over hangs the Lido deck in a way I do not care for.  I like the wide, open space of most Lido decks.  Mind you, we cruised on the May 16 sailing, and it was still on the cool side in Long Beach all the way to Cabo.  I posted on another thread that this arrangement will be perfect for the "cold months" out of Long Beach (with the dome that covers the Lido deck).  We have cruised on 12 different Carnival Cruise ships and Firenze is not in my top choices.  We love the Vista & Panorama, maybe the Horizon someday and the Dream class (all three) the most. We did have a very nice time on the Radiance out of Long Beach.  That is one I would do again.  We will say that the balcony cabin bathroom was very nice on the Firenze.  When I opened the door, I was pleasantly surprised.  Very pretty.  Nice shower with the door and the vanity is very different from every other.  Not as much storage but really beautiful.  I truly believe that one has to experience for themselves.  I have my favorites and my hubby loves all of them.  Have a wonderful cruise and be sure to report back your thoughts.

[Larry Berg]

2 hours ago, lasvegascruising said:

Hi Larry Berg.  There is just something different about the Firenze Lido deck.  If feels...shrunk.  Deck 11 over hangs the Lido deck in a way I do not care for.  I like the wide, open space of most Lido decks.  Mind you, we cruised on the May 16 sailing, and it was still on the cool side in Long Beach all the way to Cabo.  I posted on another thread that this arrangement will be perfect for the "cold months" out of Long Beach (with the dome that covers the Lido deck).  We have cruised on 12 different Carnival Cruise ships and Firenze is not in my top choices.  We love the Vista & Panorama, maybe the Horizon someday and the Dream class (all three) the most. We did have a very nice time on the Radiance out of Long Beach.  That is one I would do again.  We will say that the balcony cabin bathroom was very nice on the Firenze.  When I opened the door, I was pleasantly surprised.  Very pretty.  Nice shower with the door and the vanity is very different from every other.  Not as much storage but really beautiful.  I truly believe that one has to experience for themselves.  I have my favorites and my hubby loves all of them.  Have a wonderful cruise and be sure to report back your thoughts.

We got an ocean suite so the balcony should be nice. We had the largest room on Panorama, 7378. That was amazing. I hope we like our trip on Firenze. I'll let you know mid September!

[Mike45LC]

This is sort-of off-topic, but it still is Panorama vs. Firenza.  

 

I hated the off-site parking for the Panorama, and decided that I will probably use a local hotel's "park and sail" arrangement for my next Panorama cruise.  

 

Do passengers on the Firenza out of Long Beach use the on-pier parking structure or do they also get sent out to off-site parking?  Thanks in advance!