Tag Archives: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Shifts Viva to PortMiami, Cancels Puerto Rico Season

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Norwegian Shifts Viva to PortMiami, Cancels Puerto Rico Season

Norwegian Cruise Line will redeploy the Norwegian Viva to PortMiami for the 2027-28 winter season, cancelling the Prima-class ship’s previously planned Southern Caribbean cruises from Puerto Rico.

In a notice sent to guests, Norwegian advised that all itineraries the Norwegian Viva was set to operate from San Juan between late 2027 and early 2028 have been cancelled. The 2023-built vessel will instead offer getaway cruises to the Bahamas, joining the remainder of the company’s PortMiami-based fleet.

“We are committed to providing exceptional vacation experiences, both aboard our ships and by taking our guests to some of the most coveted destinations in the world,” Norwegian stated.

“Although we try to maintain original itineraries as much as possible, modifications are occasionally made to optimize voyages due to changes in port availability,” the company continued.

Guests affected by the cancellation will receive a full refund within 30 business days, in addition to a ten percent Future Cruise Credit (FCC). Norwegian said the FCC is being offered as a token of appreciation for guests’ patience and can be used for sailings departing through 2027.

For those wishing to explore other options from San Juan, the company said it will offer similar alternatives onboard the Norwegian Prima, which will continue to operate round-trip itineraries through the Southern Caribbean.

“These itineraries include many of the same highly requested destinations, as well as the same convenient and accessible departure point you originally chose,” Norwegian said.

The company also noted that the Prima and the Viva are sister ships and offer the “same high-quality amenities and experiences.”

From PortMiami, the Norwegian Viva will sail getaway cruises to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, which is currently undergoing a major enhancement project that includes the construction of a ship pier.

“At NCL’s premier destination, our guests will get to enjoy ‘The Great Life’ in a completely new way,” the company explained.

“These recent improvements include the Great Life Lagoon, a large pool area with two aquatic bars, as well as the Vibe Shore Club, an adults-only area,” Norwegian stated.

The company also highlighted its new Great Tides waterpark, which is scheduled to open on the private island this September. Norwegian said the attraction will feature 19 water slides, in addition to a dynamic river, water features and more.

“Everything was designed to make your shore stay just as memorable as your experience onboard,” the company added.

The Norwegian Viva had originally been scheduled to sail from San Juan every Sunday between November and April, joining the Norwegian Prima for seven-night cruises to destinations such as Aruba and Curaçao.

In addition to the Norwegian Viva, the Norwegian Aura, the Norwegian Luna, the Norwegian Jewel, the Norwegian Gem and the Norwegian Joy are scheduled to sail from PortMiami in 2027-28.

As the newest and largest ships in Norwegian’s fleet, the Aura and the Luna will offer weeklong voyages to the Western and Eastern Caribbean. The Jewel and the Gem will operate a series of theme charter cruises, in addition to longer ten- and 11-night itineraries to the Southern Caribbean and Central America.

Completing the company’s lineup in South Florida, the Joy will offer three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas.

Norwegian Cancels Joy Cruise Due to Charter

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NoNorwegian Cancels Joy Cruise Due to Charter

Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled the cruise that was set to take place onboard the Norwegian Joy on April 12, 2027.

According to a statement sent to booked guests, the sailing will no longer go ahead due to a full-ship charter.

Sailing roundtrip from PortMiami, the vessel was set to offer a five-night cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico.

In addition to Cozumel, the itinerary included a visit to the company’s private island destination of Great Stirrup Cay, as well as two days of cruising in the Caribbean.

Norwegian said that guests will receive a full monetary refund of the fare paid for the cruise, which will be automatically returned to the original form of payment. In addition they will be getting a future cruise credit (FCC).

“We recognize this change wasn’t part of your original travel arrangements, and as a token of our appreciation for your patience, we’re pleased to offer you a 10 percent discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit,” the company added.

The FCC can be used toward any of Norwegian’s published sailings through December 31, 2027, the statement added.

The company also said that its teams are available to book guests on alternative sailings, suggesting three similar cruises departing from Miami.

Highlighted cruises include two departures of the Norwegian Viva, sailing on April 13 and April 18, 2027.

The first sails to the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic over the course of five nights, while the second is a seven-night cruise to the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Norwegian also suggested a four-night cruise to the Bahamas onboard the Norwegian Getaway on April 12, 2027. All of the options also include a visit to Great Stirrup Cay.

Following its new charter sailing, the Norwegian Joy is scheduled to reposition to the West Coast ahead of a summer season in Alaska.

Joining the Norwegian Bliss, the Norwegian Encore and the Norwegian Jade, the vessel offers a series of seven-night cruises departing from Seattle.

More Information

A full-ship charter for a Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vessel generally ranges from £1 million to over £12 million ($1.3 million to $15+ million USD) for a week, depending on the ship’s size, age, and itinerary. Chartering requires covering the equivalent of all stateroom fares, food, entertainment, and a 10% or higher initial deposit. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Considerations for Full-Ship Charters:

  • Costs: Rates often base on roughly $150–$200+ per passenger per day, plus taxes and gratuities, which on a 4,000-passenger ship can exceed several million dollars in total.
  • Capacity & Timing: Costs vary based on the ship class and season; smaller or older ships (e.g., Norwegian Sky) cost less than larger, modern vessels (e.g., Norwegian Encore).
  • Payments: A non-refundable deposit is required at signing, typically with the full balance due 90 days to several months in advance.
  • All-Inclusive Nature: The charter fee covers food, entertainment, and standard amenities, but usually excludes alcohol, spa treatments, and special excursions.
  • Process: Companies like NCL Corporate Incentives handle these, requiring advanced planning (often 12–18 months). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

For exact pricing, you must submit a request for proposal directly to Norwegian Cruise Line’s charter department.

Norwegian Targets Marketing Overhaul with New Leadership, Leaner Spend

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Norwegian Targets Marketing Overhaul with New Leadership, Leaner Spend

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is moving to rebuild its marketing function at the Norwegian Cruise Line brand, bringing in new leadership and cutting overall spending, said Chairperson and CEO John Chidsey.

Speaking on the company’s first quarter 2026 earnings call, Chidsey acknowledged that marketing underperformance has been a significant part of the brand’s occupancy shortfall, and that correcting course will require both new personnel and a more disciplined approach to how dollars are allocated.

“We are looking to bring in new leadership in marketing at NCL and better align that function with revenue management, deployment, and sales,” Chidsey said. “This work is critical and will strengthen the business over time, but it may result in some near-term variability in top-line performance as we work through these initiatives.”

NCLH recently completed a search for a new chief people officer, and Chidsey said the company is continuing to build out its revenue management team, noting that new hires across both functions have not yet fully gelled, contributing to the wide guidance range the company issued for the full year.

On the spending side, NCLH expects to reduce marketing outlays as part of a broader spending cutback.

Chidsey said the company had lost its way on marketing efficiency, saying that spend had grown disproportionate to results over the past several years.

“Our spend increased dramatically, and we’re not nearly as efficient as our competitors,” Chidsey said.

CFO Mark Kempa offered a stark data point on the inefficiency, noting that NCLH had been spending approximately twice as much per berth as competitors.

“It’s about putting the dollars to work in the right places versus volume,” Kempa said.