Norwegian Viva Moves to Miami, Cancels San Juan Sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line is moving Norwegian Viva to PortMiami for the 2027-28 winter season and canceling the Prima-class ship’s planned San Juan departures in late 2027 and early 2028. Guest notices identified affected sailings from Nov. 1, 2027, through Jan. 23, 2028. The ship will shift from a Southern Caribbean program to Bahamas getaway cruises from Miami. Booked guests will receive full refunds within 30 business days and a future cruise credit equal to 10% of the original fare.

The change removes Norwegian Viva from a planned Puerto Rico homeporting program alongside Norwegian Prima and adds another large ship to NCL’s PortMiami schedule. Norwegian is directing guests who still want to sail from San Juan toward Norwegian Prima itineraries.

Refunds and San Juan alternatives

The 10% future cruise credit is valid for sailings departing through 2027, according to Norwegian’s notice to guests. The line also provided alternative cruise options to passengers booked on the canceled sailings.

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

Norwegian Prima will continue to operate round-trip Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan. Norwegian told affected passengers that those sailings include “many of the same highly requested destinations” and use the same departure port originally selected by guests.

What changes in the deployment

Norwegian Viva had been scheduled to sail from San Juan on Sundays between November and April on seven-night itineraries calling at destinations including Aruba and Curacao.

Built in 2023, Norwegian Viva is a roughly 143,000-GT Prima-class ship with capacity for 3,195 guests at double occupancy and 1,506 crew.

Norwegian Viva will join a broader NCL lineup in South Florida for 2027-28. Norwegian Aura and Norwegian Luna are scheduled to operate weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from PortMiami, while Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Gem are slated for theme charters and longer 10- and 11-night sailings to the Southern Caribbean and Central America. Norwegian Joy is scheduled for three- and four-night Bahamas cruises.

Great Stirrup Cay is part of the new Miami program

From PortMiami, Norwegian Viva will sail Bahamas getaway cruises that include Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s roughly 270-acre private island in the Berry Islands. NCL said the island project includes a ship pier, the Great Life Lagoon pool area with two swim-up bars, and Vibe Shore Club, an adults-only area.

The private-island program is still expanding. Great Tides waterpark is scheduled to open in September with 19 waterslides, a dynamic river and additional water features.