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Port of Philadelphia will serve as Norwegian Cruise Line homeport in 2026

By and
Published  July 17, 2024 12:12pm EDT
Travel
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Norwegian cruise line coming to Port of Philadelphia in 2026

The Norwegian Jewel which has the capacity to accommodate over 2,300 guests, will homeport in Philadelphia starting in April 2026. FOX 29's Greg Payne has the inside scoop.

PHILADELPHIA - A massive 2026 in Philadelphia is getting even more exciting as Norwegian Cruise Line announced Wednesday it will launch from the Port of Philadelphia.

The port has not been a homeport for cruises in nearly 15 years, and the nearest stops since for cruise goers have been Baltimore and New York City. 

Norwegian Jewel Downtown Philadelphia

The Norwegian Jewel, with the capacity to accommodate over 2,300 guests, will homeport in Philadelphia starting in April 2026 through October.

The ships will make two dozen stops in the city during that time, and will offer seven-to-nine-day voyages to Bermuda. 

The cruise line says from September to October, the Norwegian Jewel will embark on 10 and 11-day voyages to Canada and New England.

"With all eyes on Philadelphia as we prepare to host our country’s 250th birthday in 2026, the Port will continue to help support and grow Philadelphia tourism to create economic opportunity for our region, workers, and businesses," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said. 

Over the next 18 months, the cruise line says the port will prepare "for this new chapter of cruising from the city." They believe the nearby hotels, restaurants and historical attractions will help boost the local economy. 

"This means tourism travel to our city, jobs for our workers at PhilaPort, and simply put, broader economic opportunity for Philadelphia," Mayor Chrelle Parker said.

"Cruising has become increasingly popular and is booking months and months in advance so to have a local port here in Philadelphia where locals can cruise in and out of is an exceptional option," said Jana Tidwell, AAA Spokesperson.

Officials say in 2023, Philadelphia welcomed 1.1 million international visitors, with more than 548,000 visitors coming from Canada alone. Canadian visitors spent over $171.2 million.

"I think it’s great for the city of Philadelphia, it’s an opportunity for us to showcase the city of Philadelphia on the world scale so I think them choosing the city of Philadelphia is a win for us today," said Council President Kenyatta Johnson.

Philadelphia is slated for a historic 2026, with the city set to celebrate America's 250th birthday and host popular sporting events like the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, and the PGA's 108th Championship.