Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Fall/Winter 2019 & 2020 Cruise Itineraries
Right on the heels of its Norwegian Bliss New York announcement, Norwegian Cruise Line has just unveiled cruise itineraries for fall and winter 2019/2020. This new release comes with news of Norwegian Bliss sailing the Bahamas, Southern, and Western Caribbean, Norwegian Getaway cruising from New Orleans, and Norwegian Epic homeporting from the island of Puerto Rico for a full cruise season. Norwegian Escape will also return to the city of her christening, Miami. There’s lots of excitement to look forward to – and many vacations to be planned! These new itineraries open for sale tomorrow, January 17th for returning guests and Thursday, January 18th for the general public.
Read on for a full list of sailings for Norwegian Cruise Line’s fall and winter 2019/2020 cruise season.
Norwegian Cruise Line Winter 2019/2020 Cruises
Bahamas & Florida Cruises
The all-new Norwegian Bliss, launching summer 2018, will lead the youngest fleet sailing to the Bahamas from the Big Apple for the winter 19/20 season. The newest and largest ship sailing from New York, Norwegian Bliss’ winter 19/20 itineraries will offer guests the most cruise options and widest range of itineraries, with 18 different cruises including seven and eight-day Bahamas & Florida sailings, along with longer 12 and 14-day cruises to the Southern and Western Caribbean during the heart of winter, providing a warm-weather respite during the coldest months of the year.
Norwegian Bliss will homeport in the heart of Manhattan beginning on November 24, 2019, and set sail each Sunday to the warm turquoise waters of Bahamas & Florida, bringing guests the best of beaches, theme parks and sunshine on seven and eight-day cruises, with calls in Orlando and the Beaches (Port Canaveral); Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay, which is currently undergoing enhancements that will include a luxury lagoon area for Haven guests, a new zip line and more; and a call to the popular tropical island of Nassau, Bahamas.
Norwegian Gem, fresh from a bow-to-stern enhancement in late 2015 that brought new décor and new venues like the popular Sugarcane Mojito Bar and O’Sheehans Neighborhood Bar & Grill, will kick off the 2019 holiday season with an eight-day Bahamas & Florida cruise from New York on December 13, 2019. This popular family-friendly itinerary includes an overnight stay and two days in Orlando and the Beaches (Port Canaveral), a day at Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay, and a call in Nassau, Bahamas.
Those looking for a quick winter getaway to ease into the New Year over a long holiday weekend can sail away on Norwegian Dawn from Tampa for a five-day Bahamas & Florida cruise departing January 16, 2020. This one-of-a-kind itinerary features sun-drenched ports and white sand beaches, with calls in Key West, Nassau Bahamas and Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, which recently debuted enhanced facilities, new dining options, premium cabana furnishings and more family-friendly amenities.
Caribbean Cruises
On December 1, 2019, Norwegian Bliss will begin a 12-day journey to the Southern Caribbean, calling on the region’s most iconic destinations including San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; and St. John's, Antigua. Norwegian Bliss will also offer a 14-day Southern Caribbean cruise on January 19, 2020, that will additionally call in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Guests looking to cruise to the tropical rainforests and stunning dive sites of the Western Caribbean on an extended 14-day vacation at sea aboard Norwegian Bliss have two departure dates to choose from: January 5 and February 2, 2020. This spectacular itinerary includes it all, from theme parks to Mayan ruins, with calls in Orlando & the Beaches (Port Canaveral); Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; Harvest Caye, Belize; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Guests cruising from New Orleans will have the opportunity to experience some sisterly love with Norwegian Breakaway in 2018 and Norwegian Getaway in 2019. For the first time ever, Norwegian Getaway will sail a mix of seven, nine and 12-day cruises to the Western Caribbean from New Orleans beginning November 8, 2019. After fun in the French Quarter, guests can hop aboard the youngest and largest ship sailing from New Orleans for a journey to sun and sand with calls on Costa Maya, Mexico; Harvest Caye, Belize; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica on her nine-day voyages.
With her mermaid hull guiding the way, Norwegian Getaway’s seven-day Western Caribbean cruises will visit Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Harvest Caye, Belize. Those looking to explore deeper into the wonders of the Western Caribbean can opt for Norwegian Getaway’s 12-day cruise, which will feature calls on Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Harvest Caye, Belize.
For the first time ever, guests will have the opportunity to experience a full cruise season from San Juan aboard the popular Norwegian Epic. From December 8 through March 15, Norwegian Epic will be the youngest contemporary ship and largest ship homeporting in San Juan. The incredible ship will sail the Southern Caribbean on seven-day voyages with calls featuring sapphire blue waters and warm winter sun in Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Castries, St. Lucia; and Basseterre, St. Kitts as well as Bridgetown, Barbados; St. John's, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on 10- and 11-day cruises. With 22 dining options and 20 bars and lounges, Norwegian Epic will offer guests more options than any other ship cruising from San Juan.
Following a year and a half stay in New York, Norwegian Escape will return to the city of her Christening, Miami, on November 23, 2019, and sail seven-day Western Caribbean cruises through April 18, 2020. The 4,200 guest Norwegian Escape features 27 dining options, 21 bars and lounges, as well as the largest Aqua Park and Ropes Course at sea. The ship’s seven-day Western Caribbean cruises will visit Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and the incredibly popular Harvest Caye, Belize. Harvest Caye is a new Belizean port-of-call that features the only cruise ship pier in Belize, a two-story Flighthouse with zip lines and suspension bridges, a street-style local artisan market and opportunities for guests to visit mainland Belize on excursions to the Mayan Ruins, rafting and more.
Norwegian Breakaway will extend her stay in the Sunshine State by repositioning from Miami to Port Canaveral, arriving on November 23, 2019. As one of the second largest ships to homeport in Port Canaveral, Norwegian Breakaway will spend her winter 2019/2020 season sailing seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries every Saturday. The perfect vacation for the young and young at heart, guests can experience the bustling theme parks and excitement of Orlando then head to the coast for a relaxing cruise vacation aboard the beautiful Norwegian Breakaway, which features 27 dining options, more dining options than any other ship departing from Port Canaveral.
The ship’s Western Caribbean cruises will offer guests an array of beautiful, tropical destinations including Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. During Norwegian Breakaway’s Eastern Caribbean sailings, guests will cruise to some of the most popular ports of call in the region including St. Thomas, USVI; Tortola, BVI and Norwegian’s very own exclusive, private island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
Norwegian Dawn will round-out the line’s deployment in the Sunshine State with her return to Tampa, with cruises departing from the west coast of the peninsula from November 24, 2019, through March 22, 2020. The recently renovated Norwegian Dawn will sail primarily seven-day Western Caribbean cruises where guests will be able to explore a variety of ports-of-call including Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and the beautiful Harvest Caye, Belize.
Norwegian Gem will return to the Big Apple for her winter 2019 season from November 22, 2019, to March 16, 2020. Norwegian Gem will sail a variety of 10 and 11-day Southern Caribbean itineraries and one 14-day cruise from New York with ports-of-call that will include some the Caribbean’s most sun-kissed destinations including Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. John’s, Antigua; St. Thomas, USVI; and Castries, St. Lucia.
Canada & New England Cruises
Norwegian Escape’s year and a half stay in the Big Apple would not be complete without her venturing into the fall foliage and the quintessential colonial sites in Canada & New England. Throughout the month of September 2019, Norwegian Escape will offer four roundtrip seven-day cruises from Manhattan to the picturesque Canadian coastline, with calls in Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Panama Canal Cruises
Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Gem, two ships which underwent extensive bow-to-stern renovations as a part of the Norwegian Edge® program, will both offer a selection of bucket-list cruises through the Panama Canal. Norwegian Gem will cruise from New York to San Francisco on a 20-day journey departing on January 4, 2020, and then back from the Bay City on a 21-day cruise to the Big Apple departing on January 24.
Along these incredible coast-to-coast voyages, guests will experience: the sun and fun of the Caribbean with stops in Curacao and Aruba; the vibrant culture and cuisine of South America in Colombia; the adventure and eco-wonders of Central America with calls in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala; the warm hospitality of Mexico; and the fun and fare of Southern California.
Norwegian Dawn will sail a one-of-a-kind 15-day cruise from New York to Tampa through the Panama Canal, departing on November 9, 2019. The unique open jaw sailing aboard Norwegian Dawn will feature calls on Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Santa Marta and Cartagena, Colombia; a daytime transit of the Panama Canal, followed by calls in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Roatán, Bay Island, Honduras; Harvest Caye, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico.
Norwegian Dawn will also sail a 14-day roundtrip Panama Canal cruise from Tampa departing on December 1, 2019 with stops in some of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean and Central America including George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, among others.
South America Cruises
Guests looking to explore the stunning beauty, vibrant culture and adventure of South America can do so on the newer and larger Norwegian Star, which replaces Norwegian Sun, beginning December 2019. Norwegian Star will sail South America for the winter season in 2019 and 2020, offering 14-day sailings from Santiago (San Antonio), Chile; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The East-bound itineraries depart from Santiago on December 21, January 18 and February 15 while the West-bound departs from Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 4, February 1 and February 29, 2020.
These spectacular journeys offer guests jaw-dropping scenery, from volcanos to alpine lakes, waterfalls and glaciers to wildlife viewing, ancient cave paintings and more, with calls in Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, and Punta Arenas, Chile; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia, Argentina. During these bucket list cruises, guests will also sail the Patagonic Channels, majestic Chilean Fjords, the famous Strait of Magellan; Beagle Channe, Canal Moraleda and a bucket list sail around Cape Horn.
“We are delighted to unveil this curated rich mix of our guests’ favorite itineraries with new deployment to exotic destinations that will bring new ships and new experiences to almost all of our homeports,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “Whether a guest has sailed with us many times in the past or they are a first-time cruiser, there is something new for everyone to experience in 2019 and 2020 aboard a Norwegian cruise.”
What do you think of these new winter cruise itineraries? Sound off in the comments!