Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship has launched its first-ever Caribbean cruises from New York City. The new Carnival Venezia is home-porting at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. 

It’s the product of a new initiative by Carnival to deploy Italy’s Costa Cruises ships in the United States market. 

This summer, the ship will be alternative between four, five, six and eight-day sailings to the Caribbean and Bermuda, along with several northeastern ports. 

Comedy legend Jay Leno is the godfather of the ship. 

“By highlighting his own Italian heritage, Jay is helping us celebrate the Italian theming guests will experience when they cruise on this beautiful ship,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’ve heard great reviews from guests who sailed on the ship’s transatlantic crossing, and now I am so happy to welcome our first guests joining us from New York to enjoy what’s in store for them.”

In September, Carnival will launch a mix of eight and 12-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean and The Bahamas. 

That will include stops in destinations like St Thomas, San Juan and Aruba, along with Carnival’s private destinations in The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos.