Norwegian Prima Itinerary

What Norwegian Prima's Autumn Caribbean and Bahamas Season Is Actually Like

Autumn on Norwegian Prima is a ship changing jobs mid-season. She spends the first half of November sailing short Florida runs, then relocates to San Juan for weekly southern Caribbean cruises. That makes the sailing you pick matter more than usual. Our database doesn't record port lists for these sailings, so the routes below come from third-party listings. Confirm them with Norwegian before you book.

Weather and seas

The Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30, so yes, the weather gets a say. Fox Weather's long-run math is roughly one named storm every other November and a hurricane about every three years. Fox Weather names the western Caribbean as the most likely birthplace for a November storm, but it also lists the rest of the Caribbean and the waters northeast of Puerto Rico. So San Juan is not conveniently off the map. Watch the forecast in the week before you sail, and don't take it personally if a cloud has opinions.

San Juan runs about 84°F by day and 72°F at night in November, according to weather2travel. The sea is around 82°F, so swimming is easy. It is not dry, though. November averages about 7.0 inches of rain over 19 days with some rain, and December about 5.9 inches over 21 days. Bring a sense of humour and an umbrella. Early-winter fronts can make the open Atlantic off Florida lumpier than the sheltered Bahamas stops suggest.

What the ports are worth

• Great Stirrup Cay: Norwegian's private island. It's a beach day with nothing to plan, which suits the short sailings and anyone whose only goal is a lounger and a cold drink.
• Nassau: Easy, and busy. Expect crowds when several ships are in, and pick your plan before you step off the gangway.
• Puerto Plata: The only foreign-flavour stop on the 3-night sailing, and a good one. The Mount Isabel de Torres cable car is the classic outing, so go up and feel smug about the view.
• Tortola and St. Thomas: Beach-first ports (Cane Garden Bay and Magens Bay). Pack the towel, leave the itinerary spreadsheet at home.
• Curaçao and Aruba: The best for staying out late. The Dec 20 listing shows 8 p.m. departures at both, which means dinner ashore is actually on the table.

Which length suits whom

The 4-night is a first-timer's sampler and the easiest one to take time off for. Jetsetter's Nov 8 listing shows $305 per person for an inside cabin and $435 per person for a balcony. Fares move, so check the live price before you get attached.

The 3-night is the oddball. It's a one-way trip, so you need a flight home from San Juan. Cruiseweb lists it from $579 per person, taxes and fees included.

The 7-nights are the real season. The Nov 15 itinerary lists a port on every day except embarkation and disembarkation, so it suits people who want to see as many islands as possible. The Dec 20 listing has two sea days, which is better if you want to use the ship you paid for. It has 3,219 passengers, 142,500 tons and 20 decks, so there's plenty to use. Our Prima ship page has more detail.

Seasonal quirks

The Nov 22 sailing runs through Thanksgiving (Nov 26). The Dec 20 sailing is in St. Thomas on Christmas Day. The Dec 27 sailing covers New Year's. Expect more families on all three. Don't assume November is the bargain, though. Jetsetter lists the Nov 15 sailing at $572 per person inside and $1,210 per person for a balcony, while Dec 20 is $568 inside and $708 for a balcony. Compare your exact date before you decide.

What to pack

Think warm, humid and occasionally soggy. Here's the short list:

• Light layers, because you will sweat and you will not apologise.
• A packable rain jacket for those showers.
• Reef-safe sunscreen.
• Water shoes for rocky beaches, unless you enjoy limping.
• A sweater for the heavily air-conditioned dining rooms, which can feel like a meat locker after a beach day.

Check the alcohol rules before you pack drinks.

On cleanliness, Prima scored 99 out of 100 on her most recent CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection, on June 3, 2026. The CDC counts 86 or higher as satisfactory, and a ship that scores 85 or lower fails. The CDC inspection lookup has the full report.