Norwegian Cruise Line has announced new sailings from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. The cruise line has signed a four-year agreement with the JAXPORT Board of Directors for seasonal sailings from Jacksonville from November to April each year until 2028.

Norwegian Cruise Line to set sail from Jacksonville in 2025

From 2025, Norwegian Cruise Line will be offering seasonal sailings from Jacksonville, Florida, making their cruises available to potential guests in the city and its surrounds.

Speaking of the new agreement, David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line, said:

Today marks a new milestone in the relationship between Norwegian Cruise Line and JAXPORT. 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!

About the cruises on Norwegian Gem

Guests will be able to board Norwegian Gem for three, 12-day and two 11-day roundtrip Eastern Caribbean sailings from Jacksonville. Meanwhile, the ship will offer stops at tropical locations including Norwegian Cruise Lines’ private island in the Bahamas.

Moreover, the Norwegian Gem will visit Puerto Plata, the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas and St. Johns and the US Virgin Islands. Other locations include Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan, Basseterre, Puerto Rico and more.

Moreover, the Norwegian Gem will also offer four- and five-day cruises to the Bahamas, including stops in Freeport, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas.

About the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship

Guests sailing on the Norwegian Gem will have access to amenities like the pool, the spa, a casino and arcade, several award-winning specialty restaurants and bars, world-class entertainment, as well as the Splash Academy, the cruise line’s complimentary youth program.

Meanwhile, besides these amenities, guests can enjoy the cruise line’s Free at Sea program. The program offers them six free perks, including free companion airfare, free unlimited open bar and more.

Offers across the cruise line’s fleet

Moreover, guests have many exciting itineraries to choose from across Norwegian Cruise Line’s 10-ship fleet. The cruise line sails to 450 destinations around the world, including Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii and many more.

Speaking on the new agreement with Norwegian Cruise Lines, 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.

Meanwhile, besides the availability of cruises from the port, a 2019 study revealed that the Jacksonville cruise industry has seen over $187 million in annual economic impact, as well as almost 800 jobs. Moreover, 60 percent of travelers surveyed applauded the easy access to the port as their main reason for sailing from Jacksonville. Among those surveyed, around 60 percent of guests said they would “very likely” return to the city for future vacations.

The new seasonal sailings on Norwegian Gem to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean will be ready for booking from February 15, 2024.