Norwegian Cruise Line has announced it is adding two more mega-ships to sail Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from US ports.
Citing guest demand for warm-weather destinations, the cruise line is repositioning Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic to New Orleans and Port Canaveral, respectively, following their deployments in Europe. Bookings for these new series of Caribbean cruises will open next month, February 2024.
“The Caribbean continues to be a hotspot for our guests all around the world, especially during the fall and winter seasons. We are constantly looking to provide our guests with the best vacation possible especially from accessible homeports, and it was a no-brainer to bring two of our largest ships to sail more picturesque, tropical cruises from New Orleans and Port Canaveral, Fla,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.
When bookings open in February 2024, the 4,000-guest Breakaway-class Norwegian Getaway will offer 7-day itineraries with ports of call at the cruise line’s private island Harvest Caye in Belize as well as Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. This Western Caribbean series will sail from New Orleans beginning October 20, 2024.
The 4100-guest Epic-class Norwegian Epic will sail from Port Canaveral beginning October 30, 2024 and offer various 7-day itineraries in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Depending on the departure date, ports of call will include the cruise line’s private island Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas as well as St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
With this addition of Caribbean itineraries aboard Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic, 12 of Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 ships will be sailing the Caribbean during the last part of the fall 2024 and winter 2025 seasons. Sailing from Miami are Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Pearl, and Norwegian Escape. While Norwegian Prima will sail from Galveston, Texas, Norwegian Viva from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Norwegian Jewel from Tampa, Florida.