Florida’s hot cruise market, which has seen a notable post-pandemic rebound, is picking up just in time for the mild-weather winter season in the Sunshine State.

Accordingly, big names in the cruise industry are bringing some of their largest and newest ships to Florida’s largest ports, which happen to be… The three busiest in the world: Port of Miami, Port Canaveral and Port Evergladesin that order.

Port Everglades leads the way with the arrival of three new ships: Celebrity Excel, Destiny Disney and Star princess. PortMiami is rolling out the red carpet for Virgin Voyages Wonderful ladythe Oceania Allura And renewed Queen Elizabethone of four Cunard Line ships operated by Carnival UK.

Port Canaveral saw the arrival of Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas This summer she will welcome ships from MSC, Celebrity and Princess for her first season on Florida’s Space Coast.

Port Everglades

Port Everglades is gearing up for an exciting winter cruise season as it prepares to welcome three brand-new ships from three different brands.

The 3,260-passenger Celebrity The ship sails from Fort Lauderdale for the first time on November 9 on a four-night introductory cruise before sailing week-long itineraries to the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico with average prices ranging from $749 to $1,994 per person.

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Destiny is the company’s seventh ship and third in its Wish class. The ship has a capacity of 144,000 gross tons and seats 4,000 passengers with a heroes and villains theme playing throughout the venues and entertainment throughout the cruise experience. The ship will make its maiden voyage from port on November 20 before sailing on regular four- and five-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean. Starting prices range from $1,964 to $7,330 for two guests.

Princess Cruises’ newest ship, the 177,800 gross ton Star Princess, arrives in Florida in early November as the cruise line’s second Sphere-class ship and sister ship to Sun Princess, which will continue to sail from Fort Lauderdale as well. The Star features architectural details similar to the Sun Princess: a spherical atrium called The Piazza, a transforming theatrical space called The Arena and a glass entertainment venue on the upper deck called The Dome. Star celebrates its maiden voyage on November 7 and then begins sailing week-long itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Starting prices range from $3,211 to $9,805 per person.

Princess also welcomes three more ships to its winter sailing lineup: Caribbean Princess, Enchanted Princess and Majestic Princess.

Celebrity has five ships sailing from Fort Lauderdale this winter: Ascent, Eclipse, Reflection, Silhouette and Summit.

Fort Lauderdale will host 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 will have a regular presence in Fort Lauderdale with four ships: Eurodam, Koningsdam, New Statendam and Rotterdam.

Disney Dream will continue sailing three-, four- and five-night Bahamian cruises this winter season alongside the new Disney Destiny.

Port of Miami

The headliners of PortMiami’s winter sailing season are Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady and Oceania Allura, both in their inaugural season.

The 110,000 gross ton Brilliant Lady seats 2,770 passengers and offers adults-only cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas, ranging from 6 to 12 nights. Average starting prices range from $1,225 to $2,280 per person. The ship begins sailing from Miami on October 17.

The 1,200-passenger Oceania Allura ship brings luxury and upscale cuisine to South Florida with itineraries ranging from seven to 26 nights and destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico. The ship begins sailing from Miami on November 16 with prices ranging from $2,599 to $9,699 per person.

Launched in 2010 as an Art Deco-inspired luxury cruise ship, Cunard’s 2,000-passenger Queen Elizabeth returns to service after an accident. Three-week renewal In Singapore earlier this year. The ship begins sailing from Miami on October 16 with nine- and 12-night Caribbean cruises starting at $529 to $1,399 per person.

Royal Caribbean will continue to sail guests to the Caribbean and the Bahamas from Miami on the ships Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas. The company welcomes Independence of the Seas to Miami from England and Symphony of the Seas to Miami from New Jersey, both arriving in late October.

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering its newest ship, Aqua, for week-long Caribbean cruises from Miami this winter, along with five other locally built ships: Encore, Getaway, Jewel, Joy and Pearl. Norwegian Air will swap departure routes from Port Miami and Port Canaveral in the coming months.

Carnival has five ships — Celebration, Conquest, Horizon, Magic and Sunrise — based in Miami and sailing to destinations in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Throughout the winter, MSC will continue to sail Global America while welcoming Seaside and Divina – both of which are currently concluding their Mediterranean duties – in November.

The Celebrity Beyond ship continues to sail week-long voyages to the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering luxury cruises on three of its ships – Grandeur, Splendor and Mariner – from Miami in the coming months.

Port Canaveral

While the biggest cruise news at Port Canaveral occurred this summer with the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, there are a number of developments worth highlighting for the winter season at the cruise port.

MSC Grandiosa, a 181,541 gross ton, 6,300-passenger megaship, makes its Port Canaveral debut in December to sail alongside MSC Seashore. The Grandiosa will sail on cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, with durations ranging from three to 14 nights and priced from $229 to $1,251 per person.

Celebrity Apex, the cruise line’s second Edge-class ship, arrives in early November for her first season at Port Canaveral. The ship will sail week-long itineraries to destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas with average fares ranging from $776 to $1,734 per person.

Princess Cruises is expanding its reach this winter by bringing Sky Princess to Port Canaveral for the first time. With the arrival of the new Star Princess in Fort Lauderdale, the cruise line will move the Royal-class Sky Princess to the Space Coast for six-, eight- and 14-night Caribbean itineraries. Starting prices range from $2,975 to $15,104 per person.

Norwegian Joy alternates its home port between Port Canaveral and Port Miami throughout the winter, while Norwegian Prima, which also features a go-kart track on the upper decks, continues to sail week-long itineraries to the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean continues to sail short itineraries from Port Canaveral on Utopia of the Seas and week-long Caribbean cruises on the new Icon-class Star of the Seas. The cruise line also continues to sail Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral aboard Explorer of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas.

Carnival will have five ships porting to Port Canaveral this winter: Freedom, Glory, Mardi Gras, Vista and Venezia.

This winter, Disney Cruise Line is sailing short itineraries in the Bahamas aboard Fantasy and Wish while sailing weeklong Caribbean cruises aboard Treasure.

New destinations

As many cruise lines’ fleets grow, Royal Caribbean unveils a new private destination in the Bahamas and Norwegian updates Great Stirrup Cay.

The first of Royal Caribbean’s beach clubs, unveiled in 2023, is scheduled to open in Nassau this fall. Vacationers can now book day tickets to Royal Beach Club Paradise Islandwhich will welcome its first guests on December 27.

After a short boat ride from the port, guests can enjoy three areas: one for families, one for parties and a relaxation area. Visitors can find two beaches and three pools, including what will be the world’s largest swim-up bar. Food and drink offerings can be found at three beach grills and 10 bars.

By the end of this year, Danish Cruise Line will welcome guests to see upgrades to the Bahamian destination Great Stirrup Cay, including a brand-new dock, a 28,000-square-foot heated pool with swim-up bars, and a kids’ splash zone. Not opening until summer 2026, it will be the destination It boasts a huge water park With 19 water slides, an 800-foot “dynamic river,” a cliff jumping experience, and a family slide that can accommodate four sliders at once.

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