Norwegian Jewel Completes First Season in Philadelphia; New Ships Coming

Norwegian Cruise Line brought cruising back to Philadelphia after the port went without a cruise ship for 15 years.

Starting on April 16, 2026, and running straight through October, Norwegian Jewel has been busy sailing area residents to Bermuda, Canada, and New England, and it’s been a huge success for the local market.

Now, Norwegian Jewel has been moved to PortMiami after offering its last sailing out of Philly on October 17, but more NCL ships will be coming to the Delaware River port soon.

Strong Numbers for a Maiden Season

Between April and October, Norwegian Jewel carried over 50,000 passengers out of PhilaPort.

But the best part for cruising in this region is that about half of those travelers (around 25,000 people) came directly from the local tri-state drive market of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Airfare’s aren’t cheap right now, so offering a drivable cruise port for this many people is big both for the port and for travelers who want more options than just flying to Florida to hop on a cruise.

Long-Term Commitment

Norwegian Cruise Line isn’t going anywhere. They are fully committed to making Philadelphia a long-term homeport.

The cruise line signed a 7-year exclusive agreement with PhilaPort that runs all the way through March 2033.

When Jewel set sail on its first trip on April 16, PhilaPort’s new 15.5-acre dedicated cruise terminal near Philadelphia International Airport was still under construction. By August, the terminal officially opened to guests, making boarding smoother than ever.

In a recent report by the Business Journal, Norwegian Cruise Line President Marc Kazlauskas talked about how well the city and port handled the inaugural run:

“It just seemed like we were already destined to have a good season because we started off on such a good note.”

Norwegian Pearl Arrives This Fall; 2 More to Follow

Starting in mid-November 2026, Norwegian Pearl (same class as Jewel) will take over the Philadelphia homeport, offering new winter trips to The Bahamas and the Eastern and Southern Caribbean in addition to Bermuda.

Bermuda sailings will be 7 days in duration and cruises on Pearl to the Caribbean and Bahamas will range from 8- to 11-nights.

The 2,394-passenger Pearl brings a few upgrades for local travelers, including 16 dining options, 15 bars and lounges, a full-sized bowling alley inside Bliss Ultra Lounge, and NCL’s exclusive, luxury complex, The Haven.

The ship will operate out of Philadelphia through October 2027. And then in 2028, two more sister ships will join the city’s rotation:

• Norwegian Gem: Another Jewel-class ship carrying about 2,400 passengers.
• Norwegian Dawn: A Dawn-class ship built in 2002, carrying around 2,340 guests.