Finally, the wait is over!

Scheduled to debut in 2019, the 133,500-ton Carnival Panorama will set sail from Long Beach. This is HUGE news because the West Coast has not seen a new ship for a long time, in fact, USA TODAY reports that it has been 20 years since a new ship has been based in Los Angeles. Has it really been that long?

Sure we had mega ships in port before. Who can forget Carnival Splendor and Royal Carribean’s Mariner of the Seas? But those ships left and what remained were ships mostly catering to the seasonal cruise market (aka ships that sail Panama Canal transits, ships that head north to Alaska for the Summer, and the older ships sailing shorter itineraries to Ensenada and back).

The 3,960-passenger Carnival Panorama will make Long Beach its home, which will be great because the ship is the destination. The West Coast cruise market needs a new ship to ignite some excitement back into the market (in my opinion).

Carnival President Christine Duffy in Long Beach, California officially unveiled the enhancements to the newly upgraded Long Beach cruise terminal and made the annoucnement about Carnival Panaorama.

“This is a momentous occasion for both Carnival and the City of Long Beach – not only are we celebrating the grand re-opening of this magnificent cruise terminal, but also demonstrating our commitment to the West Coast with the deployment of the spectacular new Carnival Panorama in 2019 and the announcement of an exciting new port development project in Ensenada,” said Duffy. “The West Coast is an important market with vast growth potential and these initiatives further demonstrate the confidence in our future success in Long Beach. We are very much looking forward to having Carnival Panorama homeported here beginning next year.”

“The expansion of the terminal and arrival of this exciting new ship is great news for the city of Long Beach, underscoring Carnival’s longstanding commitment to our community while adding additional opportunities for growing our economy and promoting all that our wonderful city has to offer,” said Robert Garcia, mayor of Long Beach. “Carnival has been an excellent partner for 15 years and we look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

Carnival Panorama to the West Coast

In 2019, Carnival will make history when it deploys its third Vista-class ship, the 3,960-passenger Carnival Panorama, on seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, providing an exciting new seagoing vacation option to this vital and fast-growing market.

Like its name implies, Carnival Panorama will include venues offering both indoor and al fresco experiences, including the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Library Bar, and Bonsai Sushi, along with open-air attractions like the groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction SkyRide, a massive WaterWorks aqua park, and the SportSquare recreation area.

Also featured will be a vibrant Havana section with tropics-inspired staterooms and its own Cuban-themed bar and pool, Family Harbor featuring extra-roomy accommodations, the Family Harbor Lounge, and Ocean Plaza, a spacious dining and entertainment venue with indoor and outdoor seating. Other innovations unique to Carnival Panorama will be announced in the near future.

Reservations for Carnival Panorama are expected to open in late March 2018. Additional information on Carnival Panorama is available at www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-panorama.