Norwegian Escape Launches Winter Caribbean Cruises From New Orleans

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Escape has arrived in New Orleans to begin a winter season of Western Caribbean cruises from Louisiana. The ship’s first departure of the season sailed on October 25, 2025, launching a schedule that runs through mid-May 2026.

Across the deployment, Norwegian Escape is set to operate a series of seven-night itineraries to ports in Mexico, Honduras, and Belize, with two longer 14-night sailings planned for February 2026 that expand into the Southern Caribbean and Central America.

Western Caribbean itineraries from the Port of New Orleans

Sailing roundtrip from New Orleans, Norwegian Escape’s standard winter itinerary features weeklong calls at Cozumel in Mexico; Roatan in Honduras; Costa Maya in Mexico; and Harvest Caye, Norwegian Cruise Line’s destination in Belize. Norwegian Escape is scheduled to remain homeported in New Orleans until mid-May 2026, operating 24 additional voyages after the October 25 sailing.

Two 14-night sailings in February expand the routing

In addition to the seven-night pattern, the winter plan includes two 14-night cruises in February 2026 that reach beyond the Western Caribbean. The longer voyages add ports in the Southern Caribbean and Central America, including George Town in the Cayman Islands, Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, and Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.

Repositioning voyage from New York saw itinerary changes tied to a speed limitation

Before beginning the New Orleans season, Norwegian Escape completed a 14-night repositioning cruise from New York City. Norwegian Cruise Line told guests that minor mechanical issues affecting the ship’s propulsion system meant a slight reduction in sailing speed, leading to itinerary adjustments during the voyage.

In a message to passengers, the company said, “We know how much anticipation and preparation go into creating the perfect getaway,” adding that changes are sometimes needed to “optimize your voyage or accommodate certain circumstances.” Norwegian also told guests it was making decisions “with your experience at the heart of it.”

Ports dropped, Cabo Rojo added, and shore-side time adjusted

Norwegian said the revised plan removed planned calls in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and George Town, Grand Cayman. “Due to a required adjustment that slightly reduces our sailing speed,” the line said, the ship substituted an extra day at sea and added Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic.

The updated port lineup for the repositioning cruise included Puerto Plata and Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic; St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Willemstad in Curaçao; Oranjestad in Aruba; Falmouth in Jamaica; and Cozumel in Mexico. Norwegian also said it adjusted the timing of some port visits to maximize time in port where possible.

How the line handled shore excursions

For guests who booked shore excursions through Norwegian Cruise Line for ports that were removed, the company said those tours would be automatically cancelled and refunded as a full monetary credit to passengers’ onboard accounts. For ports that remained on the schedule but had revised arrival or departure times, Norwegian said it worked to align excursions with the updated schedule and would cancel and refund tours that could not be adapted.

Ship details and what comes after the New Orleans season

Norwegian Escape entered service in 2015 after being built by Meyer Werft in Germany, and it was the first vessel delivered in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway-Plus series. The ship measures 164,998 gross tons and has a guest capacity of 4,200.

After completing its New Orleans schedule in mid-May 2026, Norwegian Escape is set to reposition to Miami for a summer season of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries, before transitioning to a fall deployment in the Northeast.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long will Norwegian Escape sail from New Orleans in the 2025-26 winter season?

The ship’s New Orleans schedule begins with an October 25, 2025 departure and is set to run through mid-May 2026.

Which ports are included on the seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from New Orleans?

The weeklong itineraries are scheduled to visit Cozumel, Roatan, Costa Maya, and Harvest Caye in Belize.

What ports are scheduled on the two 14-night sailings in February 2026?

The longer voyages add destinations beyond the standard weeklong pattern, including George Town in the Cayman Islands, Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, and Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.

What changed on Norwegian Escape’s repositioning cruise from New York City, and why?

Norwegian Cruise Line adjusted the itinerary because a propulsion-related speed limitation required a slight reduction in sailing speed. The line dropped planned stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and George Town, Grand Cayman, added an extra day at sea, and included a new call at Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic.

What happens to shore excursions when ports are removed from an itinerary?

Norwegian Cruise Line said excursions purchased through the line for removed ports would be cancelled automatically, with full refunds issued as monetary credits to guests’ onboard accounts. The company also said it works to align excursions with revised port times where possible and cancels and refunds tours that cannot be adapted.