Key Aspects:
- Instead of leaving Miami on August 24, 2026, Norwegian Getaway will stay in the Florida port overnight.
- The purpose of the delay is to assist PortMiami in testing its shore power system.
- Even with the delayed departure, there will be no impact to the ports on the 4-night itinerary.
Norwegian Getaway won’t be making as quick of a “getaway” from PortMiami as it expected during an upcoming voyage, but it’s for a very good reason.
On August 24, 2026, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship will begin a 4-night sailing to the Bahamas. But instead of departing from her Florida homeport at 4 p.m. as planned, the ship will stay in PortMiami overnight.
Thankfully, the change of plans won’t impact the ports on the itinerary and won’t significantly disrupt the embarkation process.
The purpose of the delay is so the 145,655-gross ton vessel can assist with the commissioning, or testing, of PortMiami’s shore power system.
“As part of PortMiami’s continued efforts to enhance its sustainability initiatives, Norwegian Getaway will participate in the commissioning of the shore power system,” Norwegian Cruise Line wrote in a letter to guests, which was shared on Facebook.
“This technology allows ships to connect to the local electrical grid while in port, reducing emissions and supporting a cleaner environment. To accommodate this work, Norwegian Getaway will remain in Miami overnight before setting sail,” the cruise line added.
As far as passengers are concerned, embarkation day should feel like a normal start to a cruise vacation.
The biggest difference is that only one gangway will be available for guest access during the boarding process to accommodate the commissioning activities.
Normally, the terminal used by Norwegian Cruise Line (Terminal B) uses two symmetrical passenger boarding bridges.
In the letter, NCL said that guests should still plan to arrive at the cruise port at their assigned check-in times, and that team members will be on site to make the process run smoothly.
Additionally, guests will not be able to disembark in the evening after boarding the cruise ship. Passengers will be required to stay onboard, as they would if they were already heading out to sea.
No Impact to Norwegian Getaway Ports of Call
Thankfully, the up to 3,903 guests booked on the August 24 sailing won’t be significantly impacted by the late departure.
Cruise Hive confirmed that there will be no change to the port calls on the itinerary as a result of this delay, which is surely a relief for impacted passengers.
The Breakaway-class ship is now scheduled to depart Miami at 3 a.m. on August 25, which was already supposed to be a sea day. This leaves plenty of time to arrive in Nassau as planned at 8 a.m. on August 26.
For context, Nassau is only around 180 nautical miles from PortMiami, which is a distance that Norwegian Getaway can cover in about eight to 10 hours.
“While the timing of your voyage has been adjusted, all scheduled ports of call remain unchanged, and you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the sun-soaked beaches, crystal-clear waters, and island experiences that await in the Bahamas,” Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed.
The second and final port call, which is a visit to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas on August 27, is also unimpacted.
Both PortMiami and Norwegian Cruise Line have taken great pride in pursuing ambitious sustainability initiatives. PortMiami is the first major cruise port on the US Eastern Seaboard to offer shore power capability at five berths.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Conquest made history as the first ship to plug into shore power in Miami in June of 2024.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, meanwhile, has also committed to working with port authorities in Seattle to improve sustainability and decarbonization efforts within the port as part of a long-term lease amendment.
