The Port of Philadelphia has officially broken ground on a new 16-acre cruise terminal, which will sit adjacent to the Philadelphia International Airport. The homeport along the Delaware River is expected to open in April 2026, just in time for the hosting of any special events surrounding the United States 250th anniversary.
The cruise terminal represents a partnership between the Port of Philadelphia, Norwegian Cruise LIne Holdings and Energy Transfer Marketing and Terminals. The agreement for the sale of the site in Tinicum Township, formerly known as the Hog Island Dock Terminal Facility, was completed in November for an undisclosed amount.
Jeff Theobald, Philaport executive director and CEO, said, “This is a unique opportunity, and we are fortunate to have two outstanding partners in Energy Transfer and Norwegian Cruise Line, both of whom see tremendous potential in Philadelphia. It took a lot of hard work to bring this agreement together, and Energy Transfer and Norwegian Cruise Line were committed every step of the way. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are ready and excited to welcome cruise passengers this spring.”
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) and PhilaPort entered a 7-year berthing agreement in which NCLH has exclusive use of the terminal through March 2033. NCLH’s three brands–Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas–will homeport at Philadelphia with an initial commitment of 41 sailings per year. Cruise operations are expected to generate about $300 million annually for Pennsylvania’s economy as well as more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Daniel Farkas, NCLH’s EVP, general counsel and chief development officer stated, “Together with PhilaPort, we’re expanding access to exceptional cruise experiences, connecting guests to world-class destinations with the convenience of sailing from a city rich in American history. As we prepare to launch in 2026, this terminal represents the next wave in our commitment to innovation, regional growth and delivering an unmatched guest experience from ship to shore.”
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel will begin sailing from the new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal at 4 Atlantic Avenue on April 16, 2026. She will begin by sailing 7- to 9-day cruises to Bermuda which includes overnight calls at the Royal Naval Dockyard. In September, she will begin sailing 10- to 11-day sailings to Canada and New England which includes ports in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bar Harbor, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Boston.