Norwegian Cruise Line plans service out of Jacksonville (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Jaxport’s board of directors voted Tuesday afternoon to approve an agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) to start offering service from Jacksonville.
This is the first time in Jacksonville history that Norwegian Cruise Line will homeport a ship in the city, Jaxport CEO Eric Green said.
The agreement allows Norwegian to start providing seasonal passenger cruise service from Jacksonville in November 2025.
The 2,394-guest capacity Norwegian Gem will have its homeport in Jacksonville from November to April every year through 2028, offering seasonal cruises to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.
Passengers can start booking sailing on the Norwegian Gem as soon as Feb. 15.
Previously, Jaxport accommodated the Norwegian Gem during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Jacksonville is a growing drive-to-cruise market with 98 million consumers living within driving distance of Jaxport’s Cruise Terminal.
Norwegian Cruise Line, which is headquartered in Miami, has a footprint in much of Florida and provides service nearby with the Norwegian Epic out of Port Canaveral.
The Norwegian Jade is set to arrive at Port Canaveral in July 2024.
Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line