Norwegian Cruise Line to sail from JAXPORT beginning in 2025

3 MIN READ

Today, the JAXPORT Board of Directors unanimously approved a four-year agreement for a three-year cruise operation with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) to provide passenger cruise service from Jacksonville, Fla., beginning in November 2025. The 2,394-guest capacity Norwegian Gem will homeport in Jacksonville, Fla. from November to April every year through 2028, offering seasonal cruises to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

When Norwegian Gem arrives at JAXPORT in November 2025, it will mark the first time NCL homeports in Jacksonville, Fla. The city is a growing drive-to cruise market, with more than 98 million consumers 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 sail immersive tropical getaways each year, offering three 12-day and two 11-day roundtrip Eastern Caribbean sailings from Jacksonville, Fla. calling to the tropical destinations of Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas and St. John’s, U.S. Virgin Islands; Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and more. The ship will also sail a series of four- and five-day cruises to The Bahamas, calling to Great Stirrup Cay, Freeport, and Nassau, Bahamas.

Sailings will be available to book beginning Feb. 15, 2024, on ncl.com.

“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,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “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.”

The cruise industry in Jacksonville, Fla. is responsible for nearly 800 jobs and more than $187 million in annual economic impact for Northeast Florida, according to a 2019 study. Sixty percent of travelers surveyed cited easy access to the port as the primary reason for cruising out of Jacksonville, Fla. And more than three-quarters of passengers surveyed said they would be “very likely” to return to Jacksonville, Fla. for a future vacation.

Norwegian Gem’s amenities include a magnificent spa, pool with panoramic views, a variety of award-winning specialty restaurants and bars, world-class entertainment, an arcade and casino, Splash Academy, NCL’s complimentary youth program, and more. To provide travelers with the best value at sea, Norwegian’s Free at Sea offer provides guests with six free perks including free unlimited open bar, free companion airfare and more. NCL has an endless number of sailings for cruisers to choose from across its 19-ship fleet as the Company sails to 450 destinations around the globe including Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and more. 

JAXPORT is a full-service international cargo and cruise seaport in Jacksonville, Fla. In addition to a passenger cruise terminal, the port also owns, maintains, and markets three cargo terminals and two intermodal rail yards along the St. Johns River. The JAXPORT Cruise Terminal is located just minutes from major interstates, including I-10 and I-95, with fast access to and from Jacksonville International Airport.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line’s award-winning 19-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

Click here for images of Norwegian Gem and click here for b-roll footage. 

Click here to download more high-resolution images

View JAXPORT terminal parking information here.

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About Norwegian Cruise Line

As the innovator in global cruise travel,  Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 57 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 19 contemporary ships sail to 450 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, club balcony suites, and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian.

Norwegian Cruise Line is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.

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