Carnival Captain Francesco La Farina Dies After Cancer Battle

Captain Francesco “Ciccio” La Farina, whose Carnival Cruise Line career spanned 27 years, died on September 26, 2026, after a battle with cancer. His friend Jorge Solano announced the death on Facebook and said the captain’s family was at his side in his final hours.

La Farina joined Carnival in April 1999, according to his LinkedIn profile. His commands included Carnival Glory, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Magic, and tributes have come from former colleagues, crew members and passengers who sailed with him.

In a statement to Cruise Radio, a Carnival spokesperson said La Farina had earned “the respect and admiration of colleagues across our fleet through his professionalism, steady leadership and kind nature.” The company also offered condolences to his family, loved ones and shipmates.

Former colleague Trevor Nugent recalled working alongside La Farina at several stages of his career, including his service as safety officer, staff captain and captain. “Very great man, very humble and respectful,” Nugent wrote, adding that he would be “surely missed.” Former crew member Suri Asih shared a photograph of La Farina and expressed pride in having served on his crew.

Linda Spanky Warhaftig, writing on Facebook about Carnival’s response to La Farina’s illness, said she could not disclose the details. “It was impressive what Carnival did and the amount of assistance they provided,” she wrote.

In 2024, with La Farina in command, strong winds at Ocho Rios, Jamaica, pushed Carnival Magic into the pier. The vessel temporarily left the berth with some passengers still ashore, and the voyage was delayed overnight. No injuries were reported. Onboard services continued operating, and La Farina kept guests informed about the situation.

Warhaftig also recalled that he enjoyed walking around the ship and talking with passengers. “He genuinely loved mostly everything about being a ship Captain,” she wrote.