As fall brings a chill to the air, Caribbean cruise season begins to heat up. The high-demand cruise region holds about a 40 percent share of the global cruise market and traveler interest in sailing around its tropical islands shows no sign of cooling.
Royal Caribbean added three ships to its Caribbean fleet in 2024 including its new Icon of the Seas, which currently holds the title of largest cruise ship in the world. Carnival Cruise Line continues to expand its megaship presence in the Caribbean as well.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line making major itinerary and port changes
But these two cruise giants are not the only cruise lines sailing large ships in the region. Norwegian Cruise Line just deployed two of its largest ships to begin new Caribbean sailings for the fall/winter 2024-2025 season, and its two newest ships, Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, are set to join the Caribbean fleet in 2025 and 2026.
Princess Cruises is also sailing new Caribbean itineraries this fall and winter on its newest and largest ship Sun Princess, which made its U.S. debut in Fort Lauderdale in mid-October.
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Princess has added new homeports.
Image source: Princess Cruises.
Norwegian kicks off new Caribbean cruises from New Orleans and Port Canaveral
Norwegian Getaway, the second ship in the Norwegian Breakaway Class, which has a passenger capacity of just under 4,000, is now sailing seven-day round-trip cruises to the Western Caribbean from New Orleans. Passengers can take in the picturesque Caribbean views from The Waterfront, a quarter-mile wrap-around promenade featuring a variety of restaurants, bars, and lounges.
On the top deck, Norwegian Getaway offers adventurous onboard activities, including a sports complex, ropes course, and the Aqua Park, which features five multi-story waterslides, two swimming pools, four hot tubs, and two drop slides, the Free Fall, and the Whip.
Related: Norwegian Cruise Line is leveling up its onboard activities
An even larger Norwegian cruise ship, 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic, returned from its summer season in Europe to sail seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Fla., this fall and winter.
Norwegian Epic was the cruise line’s first ship to debut studio staterooms and The Haven by Norwegian, luxurious modern suites with first-class amenities and exclusive access to private courtyard, lounge and restaurant areas. Norwegian Epic also features adults-only Posh Beach Club and Spice H2O venues and offers thrills in the Aqua Park along with a variety of onboard activities and shows.
Both Norwegian cruise ships’ new Caribbean itineraries offer passengers more opportunities to island hop and visit multiple Caribbean ports of call, including Norwegian’s private destinations, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize.
Sun Princess elevates the Princess cruise vacation in the Caribbean
After sailing an inaugural season in the Mediterranean, Princess Cruises’ new Sun Princess ship crossed the Atlantic to make its U.S. debut and begin its first Caribbean season in mid-October. Now through early April 2025, the 4,300-passenger ship is sailing a range of seven- and 14-day cruises from Fort Lauderdale offering both Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
More passengers than ever are able to enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean from their cabins on Sun Princess, which features more balconies than any other Princess ship.
For a higher level of luxury, passengers can book a new Sanctuary Collection suite, mini-suite or balcony stateroom. New for the inaugural Caribbean season, Sun Princess’ Sanctuary Collection offers luxury benefits like exclusive access to a private top-deck space and a private restaurant, premium amenities and service, and more.
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Designed to take the Princess cruise vacation to a new level, Sun Princess features new entertainment and culinary experiences in innovative, elevated venues, plus expanded shipboard shopping and the cruise line’s largest-ever casino. The specialty and high-end dining experiences on the ship include 30 restaurant and bar venues with a variety of celebrity collaborators.
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