Malta Business Journal Logo
Hospitality|Tourism

NCL’s 2028 Summer Plans: Mediterranean Shifts, Malta Not in Spotlight

NCL’s 2028 Summer Plans: Mediterranean Shifts, Malta Not in Spotlight

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2028 deployment reveals new Mediterranean ports in Croatia and Sardinia, but Malta is not among the highlights.

EV
Editorial Staff12 August 2026

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened sales for its Summer 2028 season, deploying 20 ships across 25 homeports with over 450 voyages to nearly 150 destinations. The announcement, includes a strong focus on the Mediterranean, with new calls in Zadar, Croatia and Cagliari, Sardinia, and a debut in Morocco. Malta, however, is not featured in the company’s press release.

NCL president Marc Kazlauskas said the season offers “almost 80% of voyages spent in port” and “greater selection of destination-rich itineraries.” He added that the season brings together “some of our most exciting voyages yet.”

“Almost 80% of voyages spent in port, said NCL president Marc Kazlauskas.”

The End of Summer Sale, running through August 18, 2026, offers 50% off all cruises and up to $750 in onboard credit on select sailings. The promotion is combinable with the Free at Sea package, which includes unlimited open bar and specialty dining.

Beyond the Mediterranean, NCL is strengthening its presence in the Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda, and the South Pacific. Four ships will serve Alaska, while Bermuda will see a fifth consecutive season from Philadelphia with the regional debut of the Gem. The Spirit will continue homeporting in Sydney, Fiji, French Polynesia, and Honolulu.

For Malta’s cruise tourism stakeholders, the absence of the island from the highlighted Mediterranean calls may be a point of concern. While NCL’s 150 destinations likely include many ports not individually named, the focus on new Croatian and Sardinian calls suggests a strategic shift. Ports such as Zadar and Cagliari are competing directly with Malta for Mediterranean itineraries, and the press release did not mention any Maltese calls.

The broader Mediterranean deployment includes voyages from Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Lisbon, and Istanbul, with the Dawn making first-time calls to Zadar and Cagliari. The Jewel will debut in Morocco with calls to Casablanca and Agadir. The Getaway will sail Northern Europe itineraries with inaugural calls in Iceland and Norway.

NCL’s 2028 summer season runs from April through October, with over 175 overnight stays and late departures across 53 destinations. The company is betting on early planning and aggressive discounts to capture bookings nearly two years in advance.