Norwegian Cruise Line has opened reservations for over 450 voyages across its fleet of 20 ships for the 2028 season, including new voyages departing from Galveston, Texas. The End of Summer promotion offers travelers up to 50% discounts on booking through August 18, 2026, and some sailings include onboard credits of up to $750, enhancing early booking incentives.
Norwegian Ships Returning to Galveston in 2026-2028
The Norwegian Prima, with a passenger capacity of nearly 3,200, will conduct a series of seven-day cruises to the Western Caribbean from Galveston, featuring calls at Norwegian’s private island resort, Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Viva is scheduled to return to Galveston
on October 31, 2026, embarking on seven-day itineraries including Cozumel, Mexico, Roatán, Honduras, and Harvest Caye. Viva’s last Galveston sailing for the season will begin on April 3, 2027. Additionally, Norwegian Escape is set to commence Galveston sailings in November 2027.
Port of Galveston Lease and Terminal Sharing
In October 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line and the Port of Galveston signed a 10-year lease with multiple renewal options, securing the company’s presence at the Texas port. Norwegian shares the newly constructed Terminal 16 at Galveston with MSC Cruises, which operates year-round sailings from this terminal.
Carnival’s 2027 Cruise Cancellations and Market Response
Carnival cancelled several summer and fall 2027 cruises from Galveston aboard the Jubilee,
creating a market gap. This prompted Norwegian and other cruise lines to announce expanded itineraries for the summer 2028 season, aiming to attract travelers seeking Caribbean and Bahamas options departing from Texas.
Investor Outlook on Norwegian Cruise Line
Bank of Montreal Capital Markets assigned Norwegian Cruise Line a “market perform” rating and a $21 per share target in a recent report. Norwegian ranks fourth in investor appeal, behind Viking, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival. The report noted that Norwegian “raises the most questions in the cruise space” due to lagging results compared to peers, activist shareholder involvement, and operating in a challenging competitive environment. It described Norwegian
as occupying “a narrower premium niche that may be limiting growth,” while recognizing its appeal as a premium cruise line positioned between Royal Caribbean and Viking. The firm highlighted Norwegian’s commitment to launching 16 new ships by 2037 and investments in private island resorts as factors supporting potential growth.
