Beginning in November 2025, Norwegian
Cruise Line will set sail from Jacksonville, Florida to the Bahamas and
Eastern Caribbean.
The four-year agreement signed with the JAXPORT Board of
Directors enables the 2,394-passenger Norwegian Gem to sail from Jacksonville
from November to April every year through 2028.
“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
sailings from Jacksonville, calling on 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, with port stops in Great Stirrup
Cay, Freeport, and Nassau, Bahamas.
The ship’s amenities include a stunning 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.
In addition, Norwegian’s Free at Sea program provides guests
with six free perks including free unlimited open bar, free companion airfare
and more. Cruisers can choose from an endless number of itineraries across NCL’s
19-ship fleet sailing to 450 destinations around the globe including Europe,
Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and more.
JAXPORT CEO Eric Green said in a statement, “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.”
According to a 2019 study, the Jacksonville cruise industry has
provided nearly 800 jobs and more than $187 million in annual economic impact
for Northeast Florida. Sixty percent of surveyed travelers cited easy access to
the port as the primary reason for cruising out of Jacksonville. And more than
three-quarters of passengers said they would be “very likely” to return to
Jacksonville for a future vacation.
Sailings on the Norwegian Gem’s Bahamas and Eastern
Caribbean seasonal sailings will be available for booking beginning Feb. 15,
2024.
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