What’s new in 11 U.S. cruise port cities in 2023

Sail away on just-what-you-need vacations at cruise ports around the country. Here is a look at ports in 11 cities—what’s new and where in the world their ships will take you.

Sailings are all about Alaska, with cruises departing from April to October. Seven cruise lines homeport 14 ships, led by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) with 4.

For the first time in a decade, Celebrity is cruising a full season, with Celebrity Solstice through May and Celebrity Eclipse in the fall. Royal Caribbean sails year-round; Princess Cruises and NCL seasonally. Cruise Mexico, Hawai‘i, and the Pacific Coast.

Carnival owns and operates this cruise terminal, with year-round sailings on Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance, and seasonal cruises on Carnival Miracle. Cruise Mexico, Catalina Island—and new for 2023, Alaska and Hawai‘i.

For the 2022–2023 season, Disney is nearly tripling its Disney Wonder cruises (from 19 to 55) and will bring in Disney Magic for fall sailings. After a long absence, Princess is back with Diamond Princess, but only through February.

Five other cruise lines homeport ships here, with Holland America leading the pack with 7. Cruise Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America, the South Pacific, Hawai‘i, the Pacific Northwest, and California’s wine country.

In November 2022, construction wrapped up on the port’s third cruise-ship terminal, a $125 million home for Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.

In December 2022, NCL was scheduled to sail into town with its new Norwegian Prima, and Princess was set to return after a 6-year absence with Ruby Princess and, coming this March, Regal Princess. All 4 ships will cruise seasonally.

Come fall, Carnival will add year-round sailings on the new Carnival Jubilee. These 4 lines, plus Disney, will homeport 13 ships in 2023. Cruise the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Panama Canal.

Carnival sails year-round with Carnival Glory and Carnival Valor; while Disney (Disney Magic), NCL (Norwegian Breakaway), and Royal Caribbean (Radiance of the Seas) operate seasonally. Cruise the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. Additionally, American Cruise Lines, American Queen Steamboat Company, and Viking Cruises offer Mississippi River cruises.

By the end of 2022, the new Carnival Celebration was scheduled to start sailing year-round out of Terminal F (redesigned and expanded at an estimated cost of $170 million). And in December 2023, MSC Cruises plans to open its new $350 million megaterminal for the MSC Divina, MSC Magnifica, and new MSC Seascape.

In all, 17 cruise lines homeport 56 ships at the world’s busiest cruise port. Cruise the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and other destinations. 

Port Everglades’ Terminal 4 is undergoing a $35 million renovation for Disney, which adds a second Florida homeport here come November 2023, with Disney Dream cruising year-round. Viking is nearly doubling its sailings (from 10 to 17), and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection arrives in February, offering cruises on Evrima.

In all, 8 companies homeport more than 30 ships, two-thirds from Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Pick from Caribbean, Panama Canal, and transatlantic cruises.

The world’s second-busiest cruise port, Port Canaveral has just added the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, to its homeport fleet for year-round sailings. And in 2023, Marella Discovery, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaside, and Norwegian Prima join the fleet seasonally—a fleet of 13 that also includes Carnival and Disney ships. Cruise the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

Carnival Legend and Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas homeport year-round. Cruise the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada’s East Coast, the Caribbean, New England, and the Southeast U.S.

This spring, Carnival Venezia and MSC Meraviglia start sailing year-round out of the Big Apple, where 7 cruise lines homeport 13 ships at 2 ports (in Brooklyn and Manhattan). Pick from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, transatlantic, and New England cruises.

Dallas-based Don Nichols is the former editor-in-chief of Private Clubs magazine.