It’s official: Philadelphia is back as a home port for cruise ships.
On Wednesday, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will offer sailings from Philadelphia to Bermuda in the spring of 2026, becoming the first major cruise line to base a ship in the city in years. The Miami-based cruise brand also announced plans to begin sailings from Philadelphia to Canada and New England after 2026.
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The line said the trip will take place on the Norwegian Jewel, a 2,376-passenger vessel currently based on the West Coast to Alaska. Unveiled in 2005, she is one of the oldest of Norwegian’s 19 ships.
“We are committed to providing our guests with more experiences to create unforgettable memories so they can have a better vacation with us,” said Norwegian Cruise Line President David Herrera. In a statement. “We are especially proud to partner [the port of Philadelphia] to begin cruising in this area, making it more accessible to the US Mid-Atlantic region.”
A few small cruise ships have made stops in Philadelphia in recent years. However, it has not seen large cruise ships operated by Norwegian since 2011. Even then, ships visiting Philadelphia did so on voyages from other home ports.
Philadelphia has long been one of the only major cities on the US East Coast that has not served as a cruise ship hub. Cruise ships currently depart from Boston; New York City; Baltimore; Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; and multiple ports along Florida’s east coast.
Norwegian said the new trips to Philadelphia will include:
- Seven and nine night cruises to Bermuda from April 16, 2026 to August 27, 2026
- 10- and 11-night voyages to Canada and New England starting September 5, 2026 and ending in early October 2026
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Bermuda sailings will include a multi-day visit to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda as well as a stop in Charleston.
Voyages to Canada and New England would bring stops in ports such as Boston; Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick; Halifax and Sydney in Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Saguenay, Quebec.
Fares for Bermuda cruises will start at $1,197 per person based on double occupancy. Fares for trips to Canada and New England will start at $1,441 per person.
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Norwegian said the trips will depart from Philadelphia’s Southport Marine Terminal, a new port complex that opened in 2019; Currently used by ships importing automobiles to the US, plans are currently underway with the local government to develop a facility at the Southport terminal to welcome cruisers in 2026.
According to Norwegian, it will be the only cruise line sailing from Philadelphia until October 17, 2026.
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