The JAXPORT Board of Directors has unanimously approved a four-year agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line adding a second seasonal cruise operation from Jacksonville, Florida beginning November 2025.
Norwegian Gem will homeport at the Port of Jacksonville from November to April every year through 2028. She will sail seasonal cruises to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. The agreement will mark the first time a NCL ship will homeport in Jacksonville. The agreement is expected to boost Jacksonville’s tourism revenue in large part to the more than 98 million people living within driving distance of the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal.
“Today marks a new milestone in the relationship between Norwegian Cruise Line and JAXPORT,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We look forward to Norwegian Gem’s arrival to Jacksonville in November 2025, and welcoming guests from the area, as well as neighboring cities and states, on board to deliver them an exceptional vacation. Thank you to the entire JAXPORT team for the partnership and welcoming us into your city!”
Norwegian Gem will offer three 12-day and two 11-day roundtrip Eastern Caribbean voyages that will call on NCL’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas and St. John’s, US Virgin Islands; Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and more. She will also sail four- and five-day cruises to the Bahamas with ports of call in Great Stirrup Cay, Freeport, and Nassau.
JAXPORT CEO Eric Green said, “Expanding our popular cruise program provides passengers throughout the Southeast U.S. and beyond with even more reasons to choose Jacksonville for their next vacation. We thank Norwegian Cruise Line for their partnership and look forward to working with them to attract more tourism, and the jobs and economic impact it supports, to our community.”
Guests aboard Norwegian Gem will enjoy amenities like a spa, a pool with panoramic views, award-winning restaurants and bars, world-class entertainment and so much more. Bookings for Norwegian Gem’s sailings out of the Port of Jacksonville open on February 15, 2024.