NCLH and PhilaPort inaugurate Philadelphia's new cruise terminal

(8:59 a.m. EDT) — Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) and PhilaPort marked the official opening of Philadelphia's new cruise terminal with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

This follows Norwegian Cruise Line's return to Philadelphia earlier this year, when it became the first cruise brand to sail from the city in over 15 years.

The ceremony brought together state and local leaders, community partners and business stakeholders to mark the completion of the facility.

As part of the celebration, NCLH announced $50,000 in donations to the Greater Philadelphia communities as part of its Sail & Sustain program, with $20,000 going to Tinicum Township's local fire department and the remaining $30,000 to three local Boys & Girls Clubs.

"Today we celebrate being part of this community," said Daniel Farkas, executive vice president, chief development officer and general counsel at NCLH. "Through our global Sail & Sustain program, we believe in investing in and strengthening the communities we serve. As we establish a long-term presence in Greater Philadelphia, we're proud to support the first responders, young people and families who call this region home while creating new opportunities for tourism and economic growth."

Originally expected to open in April 2026, the new cruise terminal is part of NCLH's seven-year agreement with the port, through March 31, 2033. The line began sailing from Philadelphia in April, using a temporary setup as construction work on the cruise terminal continued.

The company said the new terminal is projected to generate approximately 2,185 jobs and nearly $300 million in annual economic output across Pennsylvania.

"PhilaPort's new cruise terminal is a critical component of our broader economic development strategy—creating good jobs, generating new economic activity, and strengthening the economies of Philadelphia and the entire region," said Rich Lazer, executive director and CEO at PhilaPort.

"Our partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line will establish Philadelphia as a welcoming and accommodating destination for the cruise industry, attracting more visitors to our region, and creating new opportunities for residents and businesses across Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey."

Norwegian Jewel is sailing from Philadelphia through Sept. 26, 2026, with Norwegian Pearl set to arrive in November 2026. The Pearl will offer cruises from five to 14 days to Bermuda, the Caribbean, Bahamas, as well as Canada and New England through April 2028.

The cruise line recently announced new week-long Bermuda and Atlantic Coast sailings from Philadelphia aboard Norwegian Gem in summer 2028.

The terminal's official opening has drawn comments from travelers on Cruise Critic community message boards.

Many members welcomed the return of cruise services to Philadelphia, as it gives them an option closer to home.

"This is great news. Looking forward to adding Philly to the list of embark/disembark sites to go to," said yellowsuby03.

Another passenger also appreciated the convenience of having another homeport "just a bit more than an hour from home." The same cruiser also preferred the smaller ships sailing from the port, adding: "But the best part is that I don't have to sail on some giant ship when cruising from Philadelphia," said njhorseman. "I much prefer the Jewel class to the newer NCL ships."

The terminal's proximity to the airport also caught the attention of some travelers.

Tomk3212 said: "I wasn't aware that the new terminal was gonna be near the airport! Makes sense as I would NOT want to have to drive into the downtown like we have to do in NYC. I hope it works out well; Philly could use a good shot-in-the-arm economically…"

The topic of available parking also came up, along with the options for those who will drive to the port.

One member explained that there are no plans to include dedicated parking, adding: "There is sufficient long term parking in the area because the port is beside the airport. I see this as a plus since lots owned by cruise port typically have higher rates and less 24/7 security than privately operated long term parking."