NCL revives Philadelphia as a homeport for 2026 spring-fall cruises

On April 16, 2026 Norwegian Jewel will commence seven- to nine-day cruises to Bermuda featuring overnights at Royal Naval Dockyard.. The ship will depart from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex, where plans are under way with the government to develop a facility to handle passengers.

Canada/New England

Following the Bermuda series through Aug. 27, Norwegian Jewel will operate 10- and 11-day Canada/New England cruises alternating embarkation ports between Philadelphia and Québec City. The itineraries include calls at Saguenay, Charlottetown, Halifax, Bar Harbor and Boston.

No major ships since 2011

Philadelphia had some calls from NCL, Crystal and a few other lines in the 2006-2011 period but business tailed off and the Delaware River Port Authority discontinued cruise operations though Blount Small Ship Adventures made some stops after that. 

Mid-Atlantic customer access

NCL said Philadelphia will provide residents in the mid-Atlantic region more access to cruising, and NCL will be the only line sailing from Philadelphia through Oct. 17, 2026.

'We remain committed to delivering more experiences for our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us,' NCL President David Herrera said. 'We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the US mid-Atlantic region.'

'Philadelphia has so much to offer as the birthplace of freedom and the home to much of our nation’s history,' added Jeff Theobald, executive director and CEO of PhilaPort. 'We look forward to connecting cruisers with our world-class city.  This new service rounds out the portfolio of services offered at PhilaPort, and we look forward to this next phase of growth.'