Customers are eager to cruise again, as evidenced by the number of around-the-world cruises scheduled through 2027. But that doesn’t mean shorter cruises aren’t popular either: In fact, several major cruise lines are offering cruises of less than a week now and for the next few years.
Here are some things you should consider booking for your clients.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line sails year-round from Long Beach, California, offering two- to six-night (and even seven- and 14-night) cruises on the Carnival Radiance and Carnival Firenze.
Carnival Breeze will sail from Galveston, Texas, on four- and five-night cruises to Mexico. During the same time frame, Carnival Legend will sail from its homeport in Texas on four- and five-night cruises to Cozumel, Mexico, and sometimes Progreso.
RELATED: Carnival Jubilee celebrated in Texas
Carnival Valor will sail four- and five-day cruises from New Orleans to Progreso, Cozumel and Costa Maya.
Carnival will send three ships — Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunrise — on long weekend getaway trips from Miami to the Caribbean, some of which will showcase the brand’s new Celebration Cay private island. Carnival Paradise will sail four- to six-day voyages from Tampa to Celebration Cay and more.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is enhancing its winter 2024-2025 lineup with the introduction of faster sailings from Florida. MSC Divina will depart Miami for three- to four-night trips to Nassau, the Bahamas and the private island of Ocean Cay.
MSC Seashore will be sailing additional three- and four-night voyages from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Ocean Cays.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore will sail five-night cruises from Los Angeles to Los Cabos and Ensenada through 2026. From New York, Norwegian Joy (2024) and Norwegian Aqua (2025) will sail four-day cruises to Bermuda.
Three ships will be sailing from Florida to the Bahamas this year: Norwegian Sky will sail on three- and four-night voyages from Miami; Norwegian Jade will sail on three- and four-night voyages from Port Canaveral; Norwegian Joy will sail on three-night cruises from Miami; and Norwegian Epic will sail on three-night voyages from Port Canaveral.
Next year, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Getaway will sail to the Bahamas from Miami, while Joy and Norwegian Gem will sail on two-night cruises from Miami.
Gem will also offer three- and four-day cruises from Miami and Jacksonville through 2026. In 2025, Norwegian Jewel and Aqua will offer four-day cruises from Tampa and Miami, respectively, and Jade will also depart Miami for a four-day trip to the Bahamas.
In 2026, Norwegian Breakaway will sail three- and four-night voyages from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas, and Joy will also sail four-day voyages to the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is leading the charge for shorter trips from 2024 to 2026. From 2024 to 2025, the line will sail shorter trips with eight ships. In Florida, Allure of the Seas will sail three- to four-night cruises from Port Canaveral and Miami to the Caribbean. Independence of the Seas will sail five-night Western Caribbean and four-night Eastern Caribbean routes, many of which are highlighted by Perfect Days on CocoCay.
Each season, Enchantment of the Seas departs on 4- or 5-night cruises from Tampa, Grander of the Seas departs on 4- or 5-night cruises from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Liberty of the Seas departs on 3- or 4-night getaways from Fort Lauderdale, and Voyager of the Seas departs on 4- or 5-night itineraries from Port Canaveral.
Royal Caribbean is also planning four- to five-night trips aboard Mariner of the Seas from Galveston in 2024 and 2025 to destinations such as Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.
Navigator of the Seas will continue on a four-day, three-night voyage from Los Angeles to Catalina Island and the Mexican Riviera.
By 2025-2026, Royal Caribbean will pivot to the new Utopia of the Seas, which will sail three- to four-night weekend trips from Port Canaveral to CocoCay and Perfect Day in Nassau. Wonder of the Seas will sail its own three- to four-night routes from Miami to the same destinations.
Florida sailings will be rounded out with three- and four-night cruises on the Freedom of the Seas from Miami, three- and four-night cruises on the Liberty and Jewel of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, four- and five-night cruises on the Explorer of the Seas from Port Canaveral, and four- and five-night cruises on the Enchantment from Tampa.
Meanwhile, Mariner will continue to operate four- to five-night getaways from Galveston to Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan, Honduras, while Navigator will expand three- to six-night options from Los Angeles and Quantum of the Seas will introduce three- to six-night getaways to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas.
Royal Caribbean will then send the Liberty out of Bayonne, New Jersey, on a series of four-, five- or more-night voyages to the Eastern Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England.
