Philadelphia Set to Welcome Cruise Ships Back Home as New Terminal Set to Open Next Spring
As the city of Philadelphia gears up to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year, a new development is poised to bring back a beloved and historic industry: cruises. A state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal is set to open beside Philadelphia International Airport in April, marking the first time the region has seen major cruise ships depart since over a decade ago.
The new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal, which spans 16 acres of land, was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line for an undisclosed sum from Energy Transfer Marketing and Terminals. The terminal will serve as an exclusive homeport for Norwegian Cruise Line's brands, with a seven-year berthing agreement that includes four years as the primary cruise operator in Philadelphia.
According to PhilaPort spokesperson Sean Mahoney, the new terminal represents a significant investment by Norwegian Cruise Line in the city's potential for growth. "They see the future in Philadelphia and they see the market," Mahoney said. "After four years, we have the ability to branch out and have other lines call Philadelphia."
The terminal is expected to generate 2,185 direct and indirect jobs and approximately $300 million in annual economic output in Pennsylvania. Norwegian Cruise Line has already announced plans for 41 voyages scheduled over the next two years, with destinations including Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.
While some industry experts cited competition from other ports as a reason for the decline of Philadelphia's cruise industry in the past, Mahoney disputes this claim. "If you look at competing ports, even in New York it's four hours to get out to the open ocean," he said. "In Baltimore, it's 12 hours... You're going to be cruising and seeing the lower part of the Delaware River. We don't see that as a negative at all."
The return of cruises to Philadelphia is expected to be a major boon for tourism during the city's anniversary celebrations. With major events like the World Cup and MLB All-Star Game scheduled, cruise passengers will be able to experience the city's vibrant atmosphere while enjoying the comforts of a floating resort.
As construction on the terminal nears completion, officials are optimistic about the potential for further growth in Philadelphia's cruise industry. "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are ready and excited to welcome cruise passengers this spring," said PhilaPort's executive director and CEO, Jeff Theobald. With Norwegian Cruise Line and other lines already expressing interest in making calls at the terminal, it seems that Philadelphia is poised to reclaim its place as a premier cruise destination.
As the city of Philadelphia gears up to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year, a new development is poised to bring back a beloved and historic industry: cruises. A state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal is set to open beside Philadelphia International Airport in April, marking the first time the region has seen major cruise ships depart since over a decade ago.
The new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal, which spans 16 acres of land, was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line for an undisclosed sum from Energy Transfer Marketing and Terminals. The terminal will serve as an exclusive homeport for Norwegian Cruise Line's brands, with a seven-year berthing agreement that includes four years as the primary cruise operator in Philadelphia.
According to PhilaPort spokesperson Sean Mahoney, the new terminal represents a significant investment by Norwegian Cruise Line in the city's potential for growth. "They see the future in Philadelphia and they see the market," Mahoney said. "After four years, we have the ability to branch out and have other lines call Philadelphia."
The terminal is expected to generate 2,185 direct and indirect jobs and approximately $300 million in annual economic output in Pennsylvania. Norwegian Cruise Line has already announced plans for 41 voyages scheduled over the next two years, with destinations including Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.
While some industry experts cited competition from other ports as a reason for the decline of Philadelphia's cruise industry in the past, Mahoney disputes this claim. "If you look at competing ports, even in New York it's four hours to get out to the open ocean," he said. "In Baltimore, it's 12 hours... You're going to be cruising and seeing the lower part of the Delaware River. We don't see that as a negative at all."
The return of cruises to Philadelphia is expected to be a major boon for tourism during the city's anniversary celebrations. With major events like the World Cup and MLB All-Star Game scheduled, cruise passengers will be able to experience the city's vibrant atmosphere while enjoying the comforts of a floating resort.
As construction on the terminal nears completion, officials are optimistic about the potential for further growth in Philadelphia's cruise industry. "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are ready and excited to welcome cruise passengers this spring," said PhilaPort's executive director and CEO, Jeff Theobald. With Norwegian Cruise Line and other lines already expressing interest in making calls at the terminal, it seems that Philadelphia is poised to reclaim its place as a premier cruise destination.
! I mean, who doesn't love cruises? And to think they're going back after being away for so long... it's like a big party for our city 
. Plus, the fact that it's creating jobs and economic growth is just awesome 
. My kids have always loved the ocean and ships, this is like a dream come true for them too 
. And can you imagine all the fun they'll have exploring the city while on vacation? I'm already making plans to take my own kiddos on a family cruise ASAP!
I can imagine how awesome it'll be to have those big ships docked and all sorts of activities happening right by the airport. The city's gonna look even more lively next year when they're celebrating their 250th anniversary. I'm thinking it's a win-win for tourism and jobs, too. Not sure about the competition thing though... seems like some other ports are kinda far away from open ocean, but still 
think its gonna be lit for tourism next year especially with all those events happening. 250th anniversary and all 
guess competition from other ports wasnt the main issue after all 
.
. I mean, think about it, 41 voyages over two years? That's like, a lot of tourists, right? And what about the environmental impact? We're already seeing all the pollution from them old oil tankers, now we gotta worry about cruise ships too? 
Plus, have you seen how crowded Philly can get during peak season? It's already a nightmare, add in 5,000 passengers and it's gonna be a total mess 
. And what about the jobs? Yeah, they're gonna create some, but at what cost to our quality of life? I'm not so sure this is all it's cracked up to be... 
. And it's cool to see Norwegian Cruise Line investin' in the city - maybe they'll even have some sick shore excursions 
. I'm hopin' the terminal will bring in some major revenue for PA and create tons of jobs 
. Competition from other ports might've been a thing, but Mahoney's right, Philly's still got it 
. Can't wait to see what the future holds for PhilaPort and cruise ship passengers alike 
can u believe philly is gettin back into the cruise game?! like they're bringin back this historic industry after so long. 16 acres of land for the new terminal? mind blown! 
but competition from other ports is a thing... 
maybe this is the start of something big for philly
. 16 acres of land is a huge space, i wonder how many jobs this new terminal will create 
. competition from other ports might've held us back before, but now it seems like we're leveling up 
. can't wait to see the impact this has on tourism and events like the 250th anniversary celebrations 
i'm so hyped about this new terminal and all the jobs it's gonna create 
The fact that they're not just stopping at one line, but also leaving the door open for other cruise operators to join them, shows that there's room for everyone to thrive. And who knows, maybe this will inspire more tourism and economic growth in the area? 