Norwegian to Homeport Prima and Viva from San Juan in 2027/28

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened sales for its winter 2027/28 season, outlining more than 370 voyages scheduled between September 2027 and April 2028 and confirming the return of its Free at Sea Plus add-on package.

The deployment spans cruises from two to 22 days, covering 144 destinations in 47 countries across the Bahamas, Caribbean, Bermuda, the Mexican Riviera, and the Asia-Pacific region, including Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Longer time ashore built into the winter schedule

NCL said the program emphasizes additional time in port, citing an average port stay of 9.5 hours. The cruise line also highlighted 71 late departures across 31 ports and 70 overnight calls during the season.

Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., said the itinerary design is intended to give travelers more flexibility: “Our itineraries are designed for flexibility and choice. With longer port stays, overnight calls, and our award-winning onboard experiences, guests can explore at their own pace and personalize every moment.”

Homeports span the U.S., the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific

For winter 2027/28, the line plans departures from 15 homeports across multiple regions.

• U.S. homeports include Miami, Port Canaveral (Orlando), Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Galveston, New Orleans, and Los Angeles.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico, is scheduled as a Caribbean homeport for the season.
• Asia-Pacific homeports include Tokyo and Yokohama, Seoul (Incheon), Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, and Auckland.

San Juan expands with two Prima Class ships

A central shift in NCL’s winter plan is San Juan, where Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva are scheduled to homeport during the season. NCL said it is the first time two of its newer Prima Class ships will sail from Puerto Rico.

Norwegian Prima: Saturday departures through late April 2028

Norwegian Prima is scheduled to sail seven-day itineraries with Saturday departures from Nov. 13, 2027, through April 22, 2028. The route includes Road Town (Tortola), Philipsburg (St. Maarten), Bridgetown (Barbados), Castries (St. Lucia), Basseterre (St. Kitts and Nevis), and St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands).

Norwegian Viva: Sunday turnarounds early in the season

Norwegian Viva is set to operate Sunday departures from San Juan from Nov. 14, 2027, through Jan. 23, 2028. NCL described Viva’s sailings as more southbound, with ports including Aruba and Curaçao.

Florida remains a major hub across three ports

NCL’s Florida program places seven ships across Miami, Port Canaveral, and Jacksonville, with options ranging from short Bahamas sailings to longer Caribbean and Panama Canal itineraries. Many of the Florida itineraries include Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private destination in the Bahamas.

Miami: short Bahamas trips and longer voyages to the Caribbean and Panama Canal

From Miami, Norwegian Joy is slated to operate three- and four-day Bahamas sailings between November 2027 and April 2028. Norwegian Jewel is planned for 10- and 11-day itineraries to the Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal from November 2027 through January 2028.

Norwegian Luna is scheduled to run seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings from October 2027 through April 2028, with Great Stirrup Cay included on every itinerary.

Port Canaveral: weekly and mixed-length itineraries

From Port Canaveral (Orlando), Norwegian Aqua is set to operate seven-day Western Caribbean cruises with Sunday departures from October 2027 until April 2028. NCL said the itinerary includes the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, and Great Stirrup Cay.

Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled to offer a mix of four- and five-day Bahamas and Caribbean voyages between November 2027 and March 2028. Norwegian Epic is slated to sail seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries departing on Fridays.

Jacksonville: Norwegian Dawn returns for a second season

Norwegian Dawn is scheduled to return to Jacksonville on Nov. 19, 2027, beginning the ship’s second season from JAXPORT. Through April 2028, the ship is planned to operate four- and five-day Bahamas itineraries with calls to Freeport, Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay.

Additional U.S. departures: Philadelphia, the Gulf Coast, and Los Angeles

Beyond Florida, NCL’s winter schedule also includes sailings from Philadelphia, plus weeklong itineraries from Galveston and New Orleans and Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles.

Philadelphia: itineraries up to 12 days

NCL said it is continuing plans for Philadelphia following the restart of cruise operations from the port in April 2026. During the winter 2027/28 period, Norwegian Pearl is scheduled to sail five- to 12-day itineraries from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex between October 2027 and April 2028.

The schedule includes Bermuda cruises featuring overnight stays at the Royal Naval Dockyard, plus Bahamas itineraries that include calls at Jacksonville and Port Canaveral along with Grand Bahama Island, Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay. Longer itineraries extend to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, with ports including Road Town (Tortola), St. Thomas, San Juan, Puerto Plata, Philipsburg (St. Maarten), Bridgetown (Barbados), and St. John’s (Antigua and Barbuda).

Galveston and New Orleans: Western Caribbean weeklong sailings

Norwegian Escape is scheduled to homeport in Galveston, operating seven-day itineraries with Saturday departures between November 2027 and April 2028. Norwegian Getaway is set to sail similar weeklong Western Caribbean cruises from New Orleans on Sundays during the same period.

Both ships are planned to visit ports such as Cozumel, Roatán (Islas de la Bahía, Honduras), and Harvest Caye, NCL’s private destination off the coast of Belize.

Los Angeles: Mexican Riviera roundtrips

From Los Angeles, Norwegian Encore is scheduled to offer seven-day roundtrip Mexican Riviera voyages between October 2027 and April 2028, departing on Sundays. Ports of call include Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.

Asia and the South Pacific: longer itineraries and multiple overnights

NCL’s winter deployment also includes nine- to 14-day sailings in Asia and longer itineraries in Australia and New Zealand, including overnights and first-time calls highlighted by the cruise line.

Norwegian Jade: Japan and Southeast Asia itineraries from multiple regional homeports

Norwegian Jade is scheduled for nine- to 14-day itineraries between October 2027 and April 2028, departing from homeports including Tokyo and Yokohama, Seoul (Incheon), Hong Kong, and Singapore. The program includes more than 20 ports in Japan, including Okinawa, Hakodate, Kagoshima, and Akita, and NCL said itineraries incorporate cultural stops such as Kobe and Kyoto.

NCL also listed an overnight stay in Kobe, with select itineraries including an overnight in Hong Kong. Six sailings between Singapore and Hong Kong are also planned, with calls including Ko Samui, Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Kota Kinabalu, and Coron and Puerto Princesa.

Norwegian Spirit: a fifth consecutive season in Australia and New Zealand

Norwegian Spirit is set for its fifth consecutive season in Australia and New Zealand between December 2027 and April 2028. The ship is scheduled to homeport in Sydney, Auckland, and Singapore, offering itineraries from eight to 21 days.

The season includes NCL’s first-ever call at Esperance, along with overnight stays planned in Fremantle, Adelaide, and Melbourne.

Great Stirrup Cay upgrades and expanded package options

NCL is linking many Bahamas and Caribbean sailings to Great Stirrup Cay, where it has outlined new guest amenities. The private destination is slated to add a new pier, an oversized heated swimming pool, and the Great Tides Waterpark.

Alongside the winter deployment rollout, NCL confirmed the return of Free at Sea Plus, priced from $49.99 per person per day. NCL said the add-on expands on its Free at Sea program with additional beverage and connectivity options, including unlimited Starbucks drinks, streaming Wi-Fi, bottled water, a 50% discount on additional specialty dining cover charges, and unlimited open bar access at Great Stirrup Cay. NCL also listed premium beverage inclusions such as wine and champagne by the glass from its signature collection, plus examples of spirits that include Patrón Añejo and The Macallan 12 YO, along with additional drink options including energy drinks and fresh juices.

NCL stated that Free at Sea Plus is intended to be used alongside the standard Free at Sea inclusions, which include specialty dining, an onboard open bar, high-speed Wi-Fi powered by Starlink, and shore excursion credits. The cruise line also said it plans to stop honoring its regular beverage packages at the cruise port starting in March 2026.

Free at Sea Plus becomes available starting Dec. 18, 2025, and can be added to sailings departing from Feb. 1, 2026, onward. With winter 2027/28 itineraries now on sale, NCL’s schedule centers on expanded Caribbean homeporting in San Juan, a heavy concentration of departures from Florida, and longer-distance options across Asia and the South Pacific.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is Norwegian Cruise Line’s winter 2027/28 season scheduled to operate?

The deployment runs from September 2027 through April 2028, with some ship schedules starting in October or November 2027 depending on the homeport and itinerary.

Which ships will homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during winter 2027/28?

Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva are scheduled to homeport in San Juan, marking the first time NCL has based two Prima Class ships there during a season.

What enhancements has NCL outlined for Great Stirrup Cay?

NCL said Great Stirrup Cay is slated to add a new pier, an oversized heated swimming pool, and the Great Tides Waterpark.

How much does Free at Sea Plus cost, and when can it be added?

Free at Sea Plus is priced from $49.99 per person per day. NCL said it becomes available starting Dec. 18, 2025, and can be added to sailings departing from Feb. 1, 2026, onward.

What headline itinerary features did NCL cite for the winter 2027/28 program?

NCL said the schedule is built around longer time in port, with an average port stay of 9.5 hours, plus 71 late departures across 31 ports and 70 overnight calls.