The Costa by Carnival concept will debut in 2023 when Venezia joins the Carnival fleet sailing from New York, followed by Firenze in 2024, which will offer sailings from Long Beach.

The two vessels will continue operating their regular Costa itineraries until they are assigned to Carnival for dry dock work and deployment.

Deployment and itinerary plans are being finalised, with the Venezia announcement coming soon given the spring 2023 launch date. 

Costa Cruises is currently informing its trade partners and guests about the changes and will communicate shortly which ships will replace Venezia and Firenze on their planned itineraries.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said the two vessels will bring Carnival’s guests the "ambiance and beauty" of Italy.

"This is an exciting opportunity for us to operate two additional beautiful Vista class ships in the US and bring a unique experience to those who love the culture, food and vibe of Italy," she added.

Meanwhile, Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Cruises, said: "We are excited to see these iconic ships make their debut in the US under the leadership and operation of our sister brand."