Florida’s enthusiastic cruise market is witnessing a notable post-pandemic recovery and is heating up just in time for the Sunshine State’s warm-weather winter season.
So the cruise industry giants are bringing some of their biggest and newest ships to Florida’s largest ports (which also happen to be three of the busiest in the world). Port Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades.
Port Everglades leads the way with the arrival of three new ships: Celebrity Excel, Disney Destiny and Star Princess. Port Miami is rolling out the red carpet for Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, Oceania Allura, and the refurbished Queen Elizabeth, one of four Cunard Line ships operated by Carnival UK.
Port Canaveral will welcome Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas this summer, welcoming ships from MSC, Celebrity and Princess in its first season homeporting on Florida’s Space Coast.
port everglades
Port Everglades is preparing to welcome three new ships from three different brands for an exciting winter cruise season.
The 3,260-passenger Celebrity Excel features several new spaces, including The Bazaar, while Edge class favorite Magic Carpet is retained as an external platform that serves as a disembarkation platform or as a dining and entertainment venue. The ship will sail for the first time from Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 9, with a four-night preview cruise before sailing week-long itineraries to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico for an average of $749 to $1,994 per person.
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Destiny is the company’s seventh ship and third in the Wish class. The 144,000 gross tonne ship can accommodate 4,000 passengers and is themed around heroes and villains, which is reflected in the venues and entertainment throughout the cruise experience. The ship will depart port on November 20th, making its maiden voyage with scheduled four- and five-night itineraries to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean. Starting prices range from $1,964 to $7,330 for two people.
Princess Cruises’ newest ship, the 177,800 gross ton Star Princess, is the cruise line’s second Sphere-class ship and will arrive in Florida in early November as a sister ship to the Sun Princess, which also continues to depart from Fort Lauderdale. The Star features similar architectural details to the Sun Princess. A spherical atrium called The Piazza, a changing theater space called The Arena, and a top-deck glass entertainment facility called The Dome. Star will celebrate its maiden voyage on Nov. 7, before embarking on a week-long itinerary to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Starting prices range from $3,211 to $9,805 per person.
Princess will also welcome three ships to its winter sailing lineup: Caribbean Princess, Enchanted Princess and Majestic Princess.
Celebrity has five ships sailing from Fort Lauderdale this winter season: Ascent, Eclipse, Reflection, Silhouette and Summit.
Fort Lauderdale will be home to four Royal Caribbean ships in the coming months: Allure of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Radiance of the Seas.
Holland America regularly stations in Fort Lauderdale with four ships: Eurodam, Koningsdam, New Statendam, and Rotterdam.
Disney Dream will continue to operate three-, four- and five-night Bahamas cruises this winter season with the new Disney Destiny.
Chris Ison/Associated Press
The 16-deck, 2,068-passenger Queen Elizabeth ocean liner was renovated this year and sails from Port Miami during the winter months. (Chris Ison/Associated Press)
port miami
Headlining Port Miami’s winter sailing season are Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady and Oceania Allura, both in their maiden seasons.
The 110,000 gross tonne Brilliant Lady can accommodate 2,770 passengers and offers adults-only cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from six to 12 nights. Average starting price is $1,225 to $2,280 per person. The ship will begin sailing from Miami on October 17th.
The 1,200-passenger Oceania Arula brings luxury and fine dining to South Florida with itineraries ranging from seven to 26 nights and destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico. The ship will depart from Miami on November 16th, with prices starting at $2,599 to $9,699 per person.
Cunard’s 2,000-passenger Queen Elizabeth was launched in 2010 as an Art Deco luxury ship and returned to service after a three-week refurbishment in Singapore earlier this year. The ship will set sail from Miami on October 16, with nine- and 12-night Caribbean itineraries starting from $529 to $1,399 per person.
Royal Caribbean will continue to operate cruises from Miami to the Caribbean and Bahamas on board Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas. The company is welcoming Independence of the Seas from the UK to Miami and Symphony of the Seas from New Jersey to Miami, both arriving in late October.
Norwegian Cruise Line is offering its newest ship, Aqua, for week-long Caribbean cruises from Miami this winter, as well as five other home ships: Encore, Getaway, Jewel, Joy, and Pearl. Norwegian Joy will be operating alternating itineraries departing from Port Miami and Port Canaveral in the coming months.
Carnival has five ships: Celebration, Conquest, Horizon, Magic, and Sunrise, which homeport in Miami and sail to destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.
During the winter months, MSC will continue its World America voyage, and in November will welcome Seaside and Divina (both currently completing their Mediterranean duties).
Celebrity Beyond continues to sail week-long itineraries to the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer luxury cruises from Miami in the coming months on three of its ships: Grandeur, Splendor and Mariner.
port canaveral
While Port Canaveral’s biggest cruise news this summer was the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, there are a number of notable developments heading into the cruise port’s winter season.
MSC Grandiosa, a 181,541 gross tonnage megaship with a capacity for 6,300 passengers, will debut in Port Canaveral in December and sail along the MSC coast. The Grandiosa flies itineraries to the Bahamas and Caribbean from three to 14 nights, with prices starting from $229 to $1,251 per person.
The cruise line’s second Edge Class ship, Celebrity Apex, will arrive in Port Canaveral in early November for its first homeport season. The ship will sail week-long itineraries to destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas, with average fares ranging from $776 to $1,734 per person.
Princess Cruises is expanding its reach this winter with the first Sky Princess service to Port Canaveral. Once the new Star Princess arrives in Fort Lauderdale, the cruise line will move the Royal Class Sky Princess to the Space Coast, where it will sail six-, eight- and 14-night Caribbean itineraries. Starting prices range from $2,975 to $15,104 per person.
Norwegian Joy alternates home ports between Port Canaveral and Port Miami during the winter. Meanwhile, Norwegian Prima, which also features a go-kart track on its top deck, continues to fly week-long itineraries to the Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean continues its weeklong Caribbean itineraries with short itineraries from Port Canaveral on Utopia of the Seas and its new Icon class Star of the Seas. The cruise line also continues to operate Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral on Explorer of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas.
Carnival will homeport Port Canaveral with five ships this winter: Freedom, Glory, Mardi Gras, Vista, and Venice.
This winter, Disney Cruise Line will sail short itineraries in the Bahamas on Fantasy and Wish, as well as week-long Caribbean cruises on Treasure.
new destination
As multiple cruise lines expand their fleets, Royal Caribbean announces a new private destination in the Bahamas and Norwegian is upgrading Great Stirrup Cay.
Royal Caribbean’s first beach club, announced for 2023, is scheduled to open in Nassau this fall. Vacationers can now book a day pass to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. We will welcome our first revenue guest on December 27th.
A short soft boat ride from the harbor will take you to three areas: a family area, a party area and a relaxing area. Visitors will find two beaches and three pools, including the world’s largest swim-up bar. Food and drinks are available at 3 beach grills and 10 bars.
By the end of this year, Norwegian Cruise Line will welcome upgrades to Bahamian destination Great Stirrup Cay, including a brand new pier, 28,000 square foot heated pool with swim-up bar, and a children’s splash area. The destination, which won’t open until summer 2026, will feature a massive waterpark with 19 water slides, an 800-foot-long “dynamic river,” a cliff-jumping experience, and a family slide with four slides at once.
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First Published: October 10, 2025 7:00am EDT
