Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship will debut with a new way to shop! Through a partnership with Effy Jewelry, guests aboard Carnival Firenze will be able to browse the jewelry selection using a new type of artificial technology. 

New Digital Kiosk Adds Convenience To Onboard Shopping Experience

Effy Fine Jewelry can be found on all 27 of Carnival’s ships, but the shopping experience onboard Carnival Firenze will be quite different from the rest. 

The Vista-class cruise ship will debut later this month with a 7-night Mexican Riviera itinerary out of Long Beach, California, which embarks on April 25, 2024. Guests onboard the inaugural sailing will get the first opportunity to try out a new digital kiosk to shop at Effy. 

The kiosk, which is meant to make it easier to browse Effy’s selection of more than 100 rings, allows guests to browse ring designs and zero in on which pieces appeal to their taste. It also uses artificial reality to allow guests to “try on” rings virtually – eliminating the need to wait in long lines at the jewelry displays or being out of luck if the ring in question isn’t in stock. 

“Showcasing Effy’s timeless pieces in this way, leveraging technology, creates a truly innovative and personal shopping experience for our guests. Our guests love Effy jewelry, and this new virtual component gives them the ability to quickly visualize how several perfectly sized pieces will look in a fraction of the time it might take to try on multiple items throughout the store,” said Luis Terife, Carnival’s vice president of onboard guest commerce.

While Carnival Firenze will be the first ship to offer the new kiosk, it won’t be the last. The cruise line will be adding the kiosks to additional ships in the near future, although they have not yet specified which ones. 

The New and Improved Carnival Firenze

Cruise lines have two ways to expand their fleets: They can build a new cruise ship from scratch or purchase a ship from another company. In the case of Carnival Firenze, Carnival Cruise Lines acquired the ship from its sister company, Costa Cruises. 

Carnival officially took possession of the 4,126-passenger ship in a small ceremony in Cadiz on February 2, 2024. Originally named Costa Firenze, the 135,136-gross ton vessel entered service fairly recently, officially launching in 2021. Even so, the ship has been undergoing a full transformation in Cadiz, Spain, over the past two months. 

Now that the remodel is complete, Carnival Firenze is on its way to Long Beach, California. At the time of this writing, the ship was sailing in South America, off the coast of Chiloé Island in Chile, making its way to its new homeport. Beginning on April 25, 2024, the ship will offer round-trip cruises to the Mexican Riviera and Baja Mexico, which will range from 4 to 7 nights.

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Beyond the Effy Kiosk, the “Fun Italian Style” ship, which was inspired by the rich history and artistry of Florence, Italy, has other upgrades to delight guests. The ship will feature both new and old restaurants and diverse entertainment options, much of which is inspired by the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Italy. 

For example, the Palazzo and Medici Restaurant will present passengers with an upscale dining experience meant to be reminiscent of Florence’s eateries, offering gourmet Italian dishes.

After dinner, the Teatro Rosso, which was inspired by the opulent theaters of Italy, will host an array of performances, from musicals to comedy shows. Meanwhile, the Tuscan Lounge will celebrate the ship’s Italian heritage with live music and themed events.

For guests who really want to relax and unwind on their vacations, the cruise line is also introducing the exclusive Terrazza staterooms, which are only found on Carnival’s two Italian-themed ships (Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia), and come with elevated amenities like private decks, all day lounging options, and whirlpools. 

Carnival Cruise Line Captain Niccolo De Ranieri and his team on Mardi Gras received well-deserved recognition for a daring rescue the team performed in June 2022, saving 16 lives in strenuous weather conditions that would eventually become Tropical Storm Alex.

The honor was presented to Ranieri on behalf of his team as part of the Association for Rescue at Sea annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Mardi Gras Team Honored for Extraordinary Rescue

Carnival Cruise Line Captain Niccolo De Ranieri accepted the Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award during the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) annual awards ceremony on Tuesday evening. The award was presented in recognition of the ship’s outstanding rescue of 16 migrants in distress early on the morning of June 3, 2022.

At the time of the rescue, the 181,808-gross-ton cruise ship – then the newest and largest vessel in the Carnival fleet – was sailing north of Cuba in the Florida Strait as part of a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, returning to Port Canaveral. The ship was also working to keep ahead of severe weather that would eventually develop into the first named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.

Those challenging weather conditions made the rescue effort exceptionally hazardous, but Captain De Ranieri and his team did not hesitate to take all necessary steps to bring the 16 refugees to safety, using the cruise ship itself as a windbreak to shelter the rescue operation.

Once aboard the cruise ship, the refugees were all provided with food, water, and medical care as needed, as well as fresh clothing.

“Receiving this award is a humbling reminder of the responsibility we have as mariners. I’m proud of my team’s brave and coordinated efforts during this rescue,” said Captain De Ranieri. “It’s an honor to be recognized, and I’m thankful those 16 people were brought to safety.”

As is customary with such rescues, the refugees – 11 men and 5 women – were then turned over to authorities as soon as possible.

A Noble Maritime Duty

All cruise ships, as well as other vessels, are bound by the Safety Of Life At Sea agreements (SOLAS) and the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, which requires that assistance be offered to anyone in danger at sea, so long as it can be done without serious harm to the assisting ship, crew, or passengers.

While the June 2022 incident was not the first time Mardi Gras participated in such a rescue, the exceptional nature of the weather conditions and the efficiency with which the large cruise ship offered aid speaks well of the skill and dedication of her master and her crew.

Mardi Gras is not the first Carnival cruise ship team to be honored for lifesaving efforts. AFRAS has been awarding this type of recognition since approximately 2004, with the more formalized Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award beginning in 2017.

In August 2004, the Carnival ship Holiday was recognized for the rescue of five Mexican fishermen.

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Carnival Ecstasy was honored in 2021 for a rescue of an injured yacht crewmember during the industry shutdown in November 2020 near Great Stirrup Cay, while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols throughout. Carnival Elation was similarly honored for a rough seas rescue during Hurricane Irma in September 2017, after the cruise ship was rushed out of dry dock ahead of the impending storm.

In addition to Carnival ships, vessels from Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, TUI Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line have also received awards from AFRAS.

A variety of lifesaving awards and other recognition are also presented to United States Coast Guard members and vessels as well as other maritime ships and associated teams for their dedication to safety and preserving life.