Key Aspects:
- A critically ill passenger was transferred from Carnival Firenze to first responders near Long Beach, California, on August 25, 2026.
- Long Beach Fire Department safety crews brought the passenger ashore before transporting them to a local hospital.
- The medical emergency altered the ship’s 4-night itinerary, with visits to Catalina Island and Ensenada rescheduled for the following two days.
A 4-night Baja Mexico cruise aboard Carnival Firenze was disrupted by an urgent medical crisis early on the morning of August 25, 2026. The 135,156 gross-ton ship had departed the previous evening from the Port of Long Beach in California.
The vessel was heading towards her first scheduled stop at Catalina Island off the California coast when an unidentified passenger became seriously ill. The crew called for assistance, and Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responded at approximately 7:00 am.
“While sailing to Catalina Island, California, Carnival Firenze’s medical team immediately responded and provided care to a guest experiencing a medical emergency,” Carnival said in a statement to KTLA News.
Fire Department Marine Safety crews met the ship near the Long Beach Sea Buoy. They then coordinated with the ship’s crew to transfer the passenger to a lifeguard rescue boat.
Photos and video shared on Instagram by the Long Beach Fire Department show the response vessel alongside Carnival Firenze as the transfer took place. From there, the passenger was brought to shore, where the Long Beach Fire Department transported them to a local hospital.
LBFD described the passenger as “critically ill,” though the exact nature of the illness has not been released. There has also been no word on the passenger’s current condition. We at Cruise Hive wish them a speedy recovery.
Medical Emergency Forces Itinerary Adjustment
The ship was originally set to visit Catalina Island on August 25 and Ensenada on August 26, followed by a sea day before returning to Long Beach on August 28. However, Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that, due to the emergency, the itinerary had to be adjusted.
Neither of the cruise’s scheduled ports was cancelled, however. Instead, Carnival shifted both calls by one day, allowing the voyage to retain its planned destinations while accommodating the emergency.
The visit to Catalina took place on August 26, while the visit to Ensenada took the place of the previously scheduled sea day on August 27. The scheduled return to Long Beach on August 28 does not appear to have been impacted.
Carnival Firenze’s Long Beach Run Ends In 2027
Originally Costa Firenze before entering Carnival’s service in 2024, Carnival Firenze offers 3- to 7-night cruises to Mexico from the Port of Long Beach. The ship has been based in Southern California since joining the Carnival fleet.
She has sailed year-round from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal alongside other Carnival vessels, such as Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance. Carnival Firenze will remain based in Long Beach through early 2027 before relocating to the East Coast with a series of South America voyages.
