Carnival Firenze Delays Port Calls After Medical Evacuation

Carnival Cruise Line revised a four-night Carnival Firenze itinerary after the ship returned to waters off Long Beach, California, to transfer a critically ill passenger ashore on Aug. 25. The response delayed calls at Catalina Island and Ensenada by one day, but the voyage retained both destinations and its scheduled return to Long Beach.

The 135,156-gross-ton ship had departed Long Beach on Aug. 24 and was sailing toward Catalina when its medical team responded to the emergency. Carnival Firenze carries up to 4,126 guests.

Emergency crews transfer passenger ashore

Long Beach Fire Department Marine Safety crews met the ship near the Long Beach Sea Buoy at about 7 a.m. Lifeguards and firefighters moved the passenger from an open tender platform to a smaller boat and transported the patient to shore.

“The guest was subsequently transferred to first responders for transportation to an onshore hospital for treatment,” a Carnival spokesperson told KTLA.

The fire department said its Urban Search and Rescue personnel coordinated the operation with marine safety crews. Video of the response showed emergency personnel positioned beside the ship during the transfer.

Catalina and Ensenada calls rescheduled

Carnival informed passengers of the change and used the original sea day to preserve both scheduled port calls. Aug. 25 became a medical evacuation and sea day, Catalina Island moved to Aug. 26, and Ensenada shifted to Aug. 27.

The change did not extend the cruise. Carnival Firenze remained due back in Long Beach on Aug. 28.

Built by Fincantieri in Marghera, Italy, the ship was completed in 2020 and entered service as Costa Firenze in 2021. It later began operating for Carnival from Long Beach.

CruiseMapper listed the ship’s next departure for 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 28, beginning a three-night round-trip cruise from Long Beach with a call at Ensenada.