NCL Summer 2028 Cruises: 450+ Voyages Now Open

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened bookings for its Summer 2028 season, giving travelers an early look at more than 450 cruises spanning 20 ships, 25 homeports and nearly 150 destinations across 51 countries.

The new season is built around destination-focused cruising, with NCL saying approximately 80% of voyage days will be spent in port. Average port calls will exceed 10 hours, while 175 overnight stays and late departures across 53 destinations will give passengers more time to explore after the ship docks.

For travelers who like to plan summer vacations well in advance, the early opening also provides more choice of staterooms, itineraries and departure ports. The Summer 2028 schedule includes everything from short Bahamas cruises to longer European, Alaska and South Pacific adventures.

Great Stirrup Cay Gets a Bigger Role in Summer 2028

Great Stirrup Cay will be one of the highlights of NCL’s Summer 2028 schedule. The cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas will offer guests access to Great Tides Waterpark, which features 19 waterslides, including dueling Master Blaster slides, tube slides and other water attractions.

Families can use interactive water areas and children’s experiences, while adults can relax at the Vibe Shore Club. Norwegian Aqua will spend its first full summer season offering three- and four-night roundtrip Bahamas cruises from Miami, pairing the private-island experience with the ship’s Aqua Slidecoaster, entertainment and Mandara Spa.

Newer Ships Take on the Caribbean

Norwegian Aura will offer seven-day roundtrip Eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami, visiting Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Great Stirrup Cay.

The ship is designed with multi-generational travel in mind and will feature Ocean Heights, NCL’s first open-air activities complex. Dedicated spaces for younger travelers include Adventure Alley, Little Explorer’s Cove and the Teen Hangout.

In the Western Caribbean, Norwegian Prima will return to Galveston, Texas, for seven-day roundtrip cruises calling at Harvest Caye in Belize.

Travelers wanting a longer Caribbean itinerary can look at Norwegian Luna’s 10-day repositioning cruise from Miami to New York City in May 2028. The sailing will include inaugural visits to Aruba, Curaçao and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Norwegian Escape will offer alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida, including Great Stirrup Cay. NCL says guests can combine sailings back-to-back to explore more of the Caribbean during one vacation.

Norwegian Jewel Heads to Morocco and the Baltics

Norwegian Jewel will have an unusually diverse European season in 2028. During a 12-day roundtrip Canary Islands cruise from Barcelona, the ship will make its debut in Morocco with calls at Casablanca and Agadir. The itinerary also includes Arrecife in Lanzarote and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The ship will also operate two Atlantic Europe itineraries, including an 11-day repositioning cruise between Barcelona and London in May and a nine-day roundtrip voyage from London in September.

In the Baltic region, Norwegian Jewel will offer seven-, nine- and 10-day cruises between London, Copenhagen and Helsinki, along with five roundtrip sailings from Copenhagen. Destinations include Tallinn, Riga and Klaipeda.

Chase the Midnight Sun in Northern Europe

Norwegian Getaway will offer 10- and 11-day cruises between London and Reykjavik during the midnight sun season. The itineraries will visit destinations in Norway, Iceland, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.

New calls for NCL include Grundarfjörður in Iceland and Vik in Norway, which will mark the cruise line’s first visit to Vik. Later in the season, Norwegian Getaway will operate three Baltic Sea cruises, including its first turnaround in Helsinki and a maiden call at Klaipeda, Lithuania.

More Mediterranean Choices

Norwegian Dawn will make first-time calls at Zadar, Croatia, and Cagliari, Sardinia, during a series of 10- to 11-day Mediterranean voyages. The cruises will use different embarkation and disembarkation ports, including Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome and Venice.

With very few sea days, travelers can visit destinations ranging from Marseille and Salerno to Koper and Kotor during a single vacation.

Norwegian Viva will continue offering nine-, 10- and 12-day European cruises between Rome, Venice, Barcelona and Istanbul. Some itineraries include overnight stays in Istanbul and late departures from Santorini, Mykonos and Livorno.

Norwegian Pearl will return with seven-day Greek Isles cruises between Venice and Athens, while Norwegian Epic will offer nine- to 12-day roundtrip Greek Isles itineraries from Rome. Norwegian Star will sail the British Isles and Northern Europe, including Belfast, Newhaven for Edinburgh and Invergordon, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.

Alaska Cruises Offer Weekend Departures

NCL’s Alaska program will run from April through October 2028 with four ships. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy will operate seven-day roundtrip cruises from Seattle’s Pier 66, with departures on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Glacier sightings will be featured on every sailing, while Norwegian Joy will also offer longer nine- to 11-day itineraries. Norwegian Jade will return with seven-day cruises between Vancouver and Whittier, featuring scenic cruising through either Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier.

Travelers can extend their Alaska vacation with NCL Cruisetours, which include inland experiences such as Denali National Park and the Alaska Railroad.

Bermuda From Three Northeast Homeports

Norwegian Gem will make its Philadelphia debut in April 2028 as NCL returns to the city for a fifth consecutive season. The ship will offer seven-day Bermuda cruises featuring overnight calls at Royal Naval Dockyard.

Norwegian Luna will also sail five- and seven-day Bermuda cruises from New York City, while Norwegian Breakaway will offer weeklong departures from Boston with additional calls at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

South Pacific Voyages Stretch Across the Region

Norwegian Spirit will operate immersive South Pacific voyages from April through October 2028, with homeports including Sydney, Lautoka in Fiji, Papeete in French Polynesia and Honolulu.

The 11- to 13-day itineraries will connect destinations across New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Hawaii. Calls include Bora Bora, Moorea, Raiatea, Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Apia.

Why Booking Early Matters

NCL’s Summer 2028 schedule gives travelers an unusually broad selection of cruise lengths and destinations, with voyages ranging from three to 14 days. The emphasis on longer port stays, overnight calls and late departures is particularly significant for cruisers who want more time exploring destinations instead of simply making a brief daytime visit.

NCL is also promoting its End of Summer Sale through August 18, 2026, with 50% off all cruises and $750 in onboard credit per stateroom on select sailings. The promotion can be combined with the Free at Sea package, which includes unlimited open bar, specialty dining meals, excursion credits and Wi-Fi.

With Summer 2028 now open for booking, travelers can compare the new itineraries well ahead of the season and choose among NCL’s different ships, departure ports and destination-heavy cruise options while availability is broader.