As demand for Caribbean cruises continues to rise, Norwegian Cruise Line made a strategic decision to cancel a number of exotic cruises scheduled for late 2025 and early 2026 to make way for more Caribbean itineraries.
In letters sent to passengers booked on the canceled cruises, the cruise line said these kinds of cancellations allow Norwegian “the opportunity to introduce enhanced voyages that accommodate strong guest demand and provide a more immersive experience.”
The cancellations to scheduled winter itineraries in South America, Antarctica, Africa and the Indian Ocean on Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn make way for the two ships to sail a range of in-demand Caribbean cruises from a new Florida homeport beginning in late 2025.
Related: Norwegian Cruise Line cancels sailings, here's why
This change comes after the cruise line deployed bigger ships to sail Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Fla., and New Orleans for the winter 2024 – 2025 season.
Now, as Norwegian shuffles ships for winter 2025 – 2026, the cruise line is more than doubling its Caribbean cruise options from another popular Florida port.
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Image source: Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Norwegian replaces entire Tampa cruise schedule for winter 2025 – 2026
To introduce a wider variety of Caribbean itineraries and shorter cruise lengths, Norwegian reworked its entire winter cruise schedule from Port Tampa Bay for 2025 – 2026. Norwegian Jewel is currently the only Norwegian ship that offers round-trip Caribbean cruises from Tampa, sailing mostly 12- and 14-day itineraries. Norwegian Jade also offers two Panama Canal itineraries departing from Tampa in early 2025.
Instead of offering a similar cruise schedule from Tampa for winter 2025 – 2026, the cruise line is sending Norwegian Jewel to Miami and introducing a completely new lineup of Caribbean itineraries from Tampa next year.
From PortMiami, Norwegian Jewel will sail cruises to the Bahamas, the Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal from November 2025 to April 2026, while redeployed ships Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star offer new Caribbean cruise options from Tampa. The new itineraries offer more options for shorter cruises than Norwegian has typically offered from Tampa.
Related: Norwegian, Princess Cruises offering new Caribbean getaways
Norwegian Dawn will begin sailing from Tampa on Nov. 16, 2025, following a transatlantic voyage from Barcelona, Spain. The ship will start its winter season with a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise visiting Key West; Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Honduras; and Harvest Caye, Norwegian’s resort-style destination in Belize.
Along with seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries, Norwegian Dawn will offer 10-day Southern Caribbean cruises and four-day Bahamas itineraries from November 2025 through March 2026. After its Caribbean season, the ship will return to Europe with a transatlantic sailing to Portugal departing Tampa on April 5, 2026.
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Norwegian’s new cruises from Tampa include more four- and five-day Bahamas itineraries
Norwegian Star will join Norwegian Dawn in homeporting in Tampa for the winter 2025 – 2026 season, following a transatlantic voyage from Lisbon, Portugal. Norwegian Star will begin its winter season sailing from Tampa on Dec. 5, 2025 with a 10-day Caribbean cruise with stops in the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Curaçao, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.
Norwegian Star’s winter cruise itineraries from Tampa also include a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, four- and five-day Bahamas and Key West cruises, and a 12-day Caribbean cruise featuring eight ports including the Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. The ship will conclude its Caribbean season in April 2026 with a transatlantic cruise visiting Key West, the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten before crossing the Atlantic to return to Lisbon.
Related: Norwegian Cruise Line shares hundreds of new itineraries
Norwegian’s winter 2026 – 2027 Caribbean itineraries from Tampa are also available to book. Norwegian Dawn is scheduled to return to Tampa to sail seven-day Western Caribbean cruises from November 2026 through March 2027. Norwegian Sky will also sail from Tampa during the winter 2026 – 2027 season offering a variety of Southern Caribbean, Bahamas and Panama Canal sailings.
As Norwegian reworks its cruise offerings from Tampa and Miami for the winter 2025 – 2026 season, the cruise line is also redeploying one of its ships from Miami, Norwegian Jade, to the West Coast. Instead of sailing Panama Canal and Caribbean itineraries from Miami and Panama City from October 2025 to February 2026, Norwegian Jade will offer Mexican Riviera and West Coast cruises from San Diego.
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