What is your cancellation policy?

Full refund if your ship's call is cancelled or the port is closed for any reason. Full terms and conditions are available on our website.

Carnival Firenze in Manta

Shore Excursions & Port Guide — January 12, 2027

Docks 09:00

Arrival into the Port of Manta

All Aboard ~17:00

Departs 18:00 — we build in a safety margin

5,000+ Guests Aboard

One of the largest calls of the season — book ahead

Carnival Firenze arrives in Manta, Ecuador, on January 12, 2027, docking around 09:00 and departing at 18:00. With more than 5,000 guests aboard, it is one of the largest ships ever to call at this port — which makes planning ahead the difference between a memorable day in Ecuador and a long line for a bus. Narwell Tours is a locally owned, licensed operator based here in Manta, and this page honestly tells you what to expect and how to make the day count.

What a Big-Ship Day in Manta Means

Manta is a mid-size working port, not a purpose-built cruise terminal. When five thousand guests come ashore at once, taxis, beach spots, and large ship-organized buses fill quickly. Independent small-group tours leave directly from the terminal, move faster, and reach places a 50-seat coach does not go. On a call this size we schedule extra vans and guides in advance — booking ahead matters more for Firenze than for any other ship this season.

Carnival Firenze Shore Excursions and Guide Manta Ecuador

Your Realistic Time Ashore

With all aboard typically an hour before the 18:00 departure, count on roughly 09:30 to 16:30 as your practical window ashore after disembarkation. That fits a rich half-day or a compact full-day tour; it does not fit long-distance trips. We tell you this plainly so nobody sells you an itinerary that runs against the clock.

Explore Excursions That Fit the Firenze Schedule

All our shore excursions run as small groups of no more than 12–14 guests. Private versions are available for couples, families, and groups

Guaranteed Return-to-Ship Timing

Every itinerary is built backwards from your all-aboard time with a generous margin, and our guides track the clock all day. In over thirteen years operating in this port we have never had a guest miss a ship — and on a Carnival-size call, we add extra buffer, not less.

Check our Guaranteed Return to Ship Policy HERE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manta worth getting off the ship for?

Yes — but for its culture and coast, not for the port itself. The fish market, the hat weavers of Montecristi, and the Pacoche forest are the reasons to come ashore. Guests who wander only the port area tend to go back aboard early.

Do I need cash?

Ecuador uses the US dollar. Small bills are useful for the market and artisan purchases.

What if Carnival changes the port times?

We monitor every call. If the ship shortens the day, we adjust the itinerary; if the call is cancelled, you pay nothing.

How far in advance should I book?

For this call, as early as you can. A 5,000-guest day is the one occasion in Manta where waiting until the gangway means missing out.

Where do we meet our guide?

Inside, at the cruise terminal in Manta — look for the Narwell Tours sign. We track your ship’s arrival, so if Firenze docks early or late, we adjust and wait for you.

What’s your cancellation policy?

Full refund if your ship’s call is cancelled or the port is closed for any reason. Read our full Terms & Conditions HERE

Do you accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies?

Yes — let us know when you book. Lunch on the full-day tour can be adjusted for vegetarian, gluten-free, or other common restrictions.

Where do our tours start?

Tours start inside the cruise terminal, but getting there takes an extra step on a ship this size: Carnival runs a complimentary shuttle from the disembarkation area to the terminal gate, about a 5-minute ride. Because Firenze carries over 5,000 guests, the shuttle operates on a turn system — you’re given a boarding time when you disembark. Reserve your turn as early as possible; if you wait, you can end up well behind in line and lose time from your tour window.

With 5,000+ passengers, will I be stuck in long lines all day?

The shuttle turn system is the one bottleneck — reserve your spot early, and it moves fairly fast. Once you’re through the terminal and with us, you’re in a small group of 12-14, not with the rest of the ship.

How many other Firenze passengers will be in my group?

Groups stay capped at 12-14 guests regardless of how many people are aboard — that’s fixed by us, not by ship size.

Anymore Questions? Contact Us!

We Will Gladly Help

Blog

Independent Shore Excursions vs Cruise Line Tours in Manta: An Honest Local’s Guide

A Manta-based operator's honest comparison of independent shore excursions versus cruise line tours — price, group size, the return-to-ship question, and when each option is genuinely the better choice.

Cruise ship at Port of Manta Ecuador 2025 2026 season

Blog

Explore Manta, Ecuador: Shore Excursions & Day Tours for the 2026-2027 Cruise Season

Every cruise ship calling at Manta in the 2026-2027 season, with arrival and departure times and passenger counts — from Crown Princess and Oosterdam to the 5,078-guest Carnival Firenze.

Manta Ecuador coastal experiences shore excursion

Blog

Start Your Year in Ecuador: 7 Experiences You Can Only Have in Manta

Seven things you can do in Manta and nowhere else — from howler monkeys in the coastal forest to hats woven by hand in Montecristi, gathered as a starting point for a year in Ecuador.

Blog

Port of Call Manta: What is it like?

What to expect from a port day in Manta — the award-winning cruise terminal, the working tuna port behind it, and how far the forest, the beaches and the Panama hat weavers really are from the gangway.