The Savannah Bananas Are Taking Over a Norwegian Cruise Ship
If you thought Bananaland at Sea couldn’t get any bigger, think again.
The Savannah Bananas have officially announced Bananaland at Sea 2028, and it’s their most ambitious cruise yet. The third edition of “The Greatest Cruise In Sports” sets sail on Norwegian Joy on January 14, 2028 — a 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage departing from PortMiami in Miami, Florida.
Presale is open now, with a $100 savings per person if you book before December 11, 2026. And if history is any guide, this one won’t last long.
Who Are the Savannah Bananas (And Why Is Everyone Talking About Them?)
If you haven’t heard of the Savannah Bananas yet, here’s the quick version: they’re a trick-shot baseball entertainment team out of Savannah, Georgia, and they’ve become one of the most viral sports brands in the world.
Their games — called Banana Ball — feature choreographed dances, outrageous trick plays, players climbing into the stands, and a rulebook designed entirely around keeping fans entertained. Videos of their games regularly rack up tens of millions of views on social media. Celebrities show up. Parents bring their kids. Grandparents cry. It’s that kind of experience.
The Savannah Bananas aren’t just a baseball team anymore. They’re a touring entertainment company that sells out arenas across the country. Their World Tour has played in front of over a million fans. Getting tickets to a Banana Ball game on land is already an event. Getting on a ship with all six teams? That’s a different level entirely.
All Six Teams. One Ship. Nonstop Chaos.
This isn’t just a Savannah Bananas cruise — all six Banana Ball teams will be on board:
- The Savannah Bananas (the originals)
- The Party Animals (their longtime rivals)
- The Firefighters
- The Texas Tailgaters
- The Loco Beach Coconuts
- The Indianapolis Clowns
That’s the entire Banana Ball universe packed onto one Norwegian Cruise Line ship for seven nights. Players and cast members will be walking the same halls, eating in the same restaurants, and participating in events throughout the voyage — not just performing on a stage and disappearing backstage.
Why Norwegian Joy Is a Perfect Match
Norwegian Joy isn’t just any ship — it’s one of the most activity-packed vessels in the Norwegian fleet, and it’s a particularly fitting choice for the Savannah Bananas brand.
Built in 2017 and refurbished in 2019, Norwegian Joy carries up to approximately 3,900 passengers and is packed with onboard entertainment options. Among the highlights:
- Go-kart racetrack on the top deck — one of the only cruise ships in the world with this feature
- Two-level competitive laser tag arena
- Aqua Racer waterslide
- Galaxy Pavilion — a virtual reality and gaming complex with paid-access simulators
- Full casino
- Multiple pools and hot tubs
- Mandara Spa
- Numerous dining venues ranging from casual to specialty
The combination of a go-kart track, laser tag, VR gaming, and a waterslide on the same ship as the Savannah Bananas is, frankly, a lot of fun in one place.
Norwegian Joy sails year-round and is well-regarded for its entertainment-forward design. Norwegian Cruise Line has hosted other themed experiences on Joy in the past, and it’s easy to see why the Bananas chose this ship specifically.
What’s the Entertainment Lineup?
Organizers describe Bananaland at Sea 2028 as featuring “nonstop fun, unforgettable performances, epic competitions, player interactions, and all the singing, dancing, and shenanigans you can handle.” Based on what’s been announced, here’s what’s on the schedule:
- Bananaland at Sea — The Show: A full live performance from the Savannah Bananas and cast
- Banana Ball Feud: A Family Feud-style game show featuring players
- Banana Ball Jeopardy: Another game show format with players involved
- Banana Ball Trivia: For the fans who know their Banana Ball statistics
- Player Panels: Q&A sessions and behind-the-scenes conversations with players and cast
- Adults-Only Events: Not everything is family-friendly, and they’ve committed to keeping the evenings interesting for the grown-ups on board
- Kids’ Activities: There will be programming specifically for younger fans as well
This is not a concert cruise where one act plays one show and disappears. The Banana Ball teams are expected to be woven throughout the entire seven-day experience — think organized chaos from sunrise to late night.
Where You’re Going: The Ports
PortMiami — Departure
Norwegian Joy departs from PortMiami on January 14, 2028. Miami is well-served by major airlines, and PortMiami is one of the busiest and most passenger-friendly cruise terminals in the world. Most guests arriving the night before stay in the Miami or Brickell area, with the port just a short Uber or rideshare away.
San Juan, Puerto Rico — Two Days
The cruise spends two full days in San Juan, which is an unusually generous port call and a major draw for this itinerary. San Juan’s Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to colorful colonial architecture, Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro), the 500-year-old fort that overlooks the bay, and one of the most walkable and photogenic waterfronts in the Caribbean.
Two days gives passengers plenty of time to explore beyond the quick tourist circuit — you can visit El Morro on day one and spend day two in the city’s restaurants, beaches, or on an organized excursion. San Juan is also an easy self-guided port; you don’t need a ship excursion to have a great experience here.
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas — Norwegian’s Private Island
The final port of call is Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Berry Islands chain of the Bahamas. Norwegian has been investing heavily in Great Stirrup Cay over the past several years, and the island now features:
- Multiple beach areas
- Water sports rentals (kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling gear)
- The Dip & Squeeze Frozen Lemonade Stand and other food and beverage options
- A zip line and other adventure activities
- Norwegian’s over-the-water bungalows (bookable at an additional cost)
- A coral reef perfect for snorkeling just offshore
A private island day typically means a quieter, more controlled beach experience compared to a busy port. For a cruise already packed with organized events, a Great Stirrup Cay day might end up being the most relaxing on the itinerary — or the Bananas will find a way to turn it into something completely unexpected. Probably both.
Cabin Pricing: What Each Category Gets You
Here’s the full pricing breakdown per person for Bananaland at Sea 2028:
| Cabin Type | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Inside | $1,750 |
| Oceanview | $2,100 |
| Balcony | $2,700 |
| Club Balcony Suite | $3,350 |
| Suite | $4,000 |
| The Haven | $5,350 |
A few things worth knowing about these categories:
An inside cabin on Norwegian Joy is comfortable and well-sized by cruise ship standards. Given how packed the event schedule will be on this cruise, many guests won’t spend much time in their cabin during the day, making inside cabins a reasonable value pick for Bananaland at Sea specifically.
A balcony cabin is always a nice upgrade for a Caribbean cruise — there’s something about sipping coffee at sea with an ocean view that justifies the premium for a lot of travelers.
The Haven is Norwegian’s ship-within-a-ship luxury experience. Haven guests get a private courtyard, pool, restaurant, bar, and concierge service, along with a separate check-in and boarding process. For $5,350 per person, you’re getting a meaningfully different cruise experience with priority access to everything on board.
Book before December 11, 2026 to save $100 per person through the presale.
This Is the Third Bananaland at Sea — Here’s What That Means
Bananaland at Sea 2028 is the third edition of this cruise. The first two sold out, which is not a small thing — Norwegian Joy holds nearly 4,000 passengers. When something sells out at that scale, twice, the demand is real.
Guests who sailed on either of the previous two Bananaland at Sea cruises are automatically assigned the Earliest Booking Time and do not need to sign up for the presale. If you’re a returning Banana Ball sailor, check your email — you should be getting early access.
For everyone else, the presale at BananalandatSea.com is your best path to getting on board before cabins start disappearing. The $100 savings sweetens an already competitive price point for a themed cruise of this scale.
Is This the Right Cruise for You?
Bananaland at Sea is not a traditional cruise vacation. If you’re looking for a quiet week at sea with spa days and long dinners, this probably isn’t it. But if you want seven nights of organized entertainment, athlete and performer interactions, Caribbean sun, and the kind of memories that end up in your group chat for years — this is an unusually strong offering.
It’s also worth noting that the January 2028 departure puts it firmly in peak Caribbean season, with warm weather and generally calm seas.
The combination of an entertainment brand with genuine mass appeal, a well-equipped ship, two strong ports, and a private island day makes Bananaland at Sea 2028 one of the more interesting themed cruises announced so far for that year.
How to Book
- Presale: Visit BananalandatSea.com/presale to sign up
- Save $100: Book before December 11, 2026
- Returning sailors: Check your email — you already have earliest booking access
💬 Would YOU do this cruise? Drop a comment below and tag someone who needs to be on this ship. 🍌🚢
