The cruises are coming to Philadelphia and I’m thrilled! Philadelphia will once again become a port city for the cruise industry when Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) sails into the city this year with the NCL Jewel and the NCL Pearl. The city last saw a passenger cruise ship in 2011 before the cruise terminal closed so the announcement by Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) was welcomed news to the city and cruise lovers in the tri-state area who can drive to a port rather than fly to Florida thereby reducing their travel costs. What’s not to love about lowering travel expenses while also creating jobs for the area. It’s a win-win for everyone.
2026 is shaping up to be a winning (and crowded) year for Philadelphia as we host the MLB All Star Game, FIFA World Cup, NCAA March Madness (first and second rounds), the PGA Championship and the historic 250-year celebrations (the Semi quincentennial) of the USA’s founding which are among the larger and well-known events. The city will be buzzing all year long as more folks discover what I’ve always known, Philadelphia is an underrated city. Philadelphia has something for everyone.
NCL Jewel In Philadelphia
Norwegian Cruise Lines will base the Norwegian Jewel in Philadelphia and start sailings in April 2026. Sailing with 7-, 9-, 10- and 11-day itineraries which are both round trip Philadelphia and one-way sailings to Canada.
- Spring/Summer sailings (April to August) will be roundtrip from Philadelphia to Bermuda with one stop in Charlestown, South Carolina.
- Fall sailings (September and October) will be one way from Philadelphia to Quebec City, Canada with stops in Boston, Bar Harbor (Maine), Charlottetown (Canada) and Halifax (Canada) and reverse.
As someone who likes sea days the sailings to Bermuda hits a nice spot with beaches and the historic Charleston. I also love traveling in the Fall so the sailing to Canada during leaf changing and sweater weather is a nice idea. Both cruise itineraries offer something for everyone from bikinis to fall boots.
NCL Pearl in Philadelphia
Norwegian Cruise Lines will also base the Norwegian Pearl in Philadelphia for sailings starting in November 2026. The NCL Pearl will be the gateway to Bermuda and Caribbean and an exciting way to escape the snow and cold of Philadelphia in winter.
- Initial sailings will be 5-day roundtrip to Bermuda which consists of two days at sea and two days (overnight) in Bermuda
- Sailings will then vary (time & ports) from 10 & 11 days to the Dominican Republic and St. Thomas with port such as Tortola (BVI), St. Thomas (USVI), San Juan (PR) and Puerto Plata (DR).
- 2027 sailings that I looked at also include an interesting itinerary to Florida and Bahamas with stops in Jacksonville (Florida), Orlando (Cape Canaveral, an hour from Disney World) and two stops in Bermuda (Great Stirrup Cay and Royal Dockyards)
Solo Cruise on NCL Jewel and NCL Pearl from Philly
Neither ship has solo studios or a dedicated solo lounge, however, each has a daily solo meetup by the activities team so you can meet other solo travelers. And NCL does offer a few “solo rates” which are less than 200% on the inside, ocean view and balcony cabins. When browsing the website, you’ll see “solo inside”, “solo ocean view” and “solo balcony” as options once you choose the category. The cabins are generally same size for 1 or 2 people whereas the solo studios on other ships are one person max in the cabin. I suggest you also find the Facebook group for your specific sail date to meet other passengers in advance.
Philadelphia Pre/Post Cruise Visit – Food, Art & Hotels
It’s a unique city to visit for a day or two pre/post cruise so hopefully you’ll add time to explore near and far. Most of the center city is walkable (Liberty Bell, Constitution Center, Reading Terminal, Franklin Institute, Barnes Collection, Rodin Museum, Calder Gardens and the Philadelphia Museum of Art with “Rocky Steps”) but also accessible by the Philly PHLASH bus which includes a route to the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest in the nation.
Every local is proud of our food and we’ll ask JEET? aka “Did you eat”? because we are conditioned to feed you all day everyday and make sure you go home with food or treats.
Top tip – Pack your stretchy pants and appetite because you will be spoiled with choice from food carts, food trucks, farmers markets, pizza joints to our award-winning chefs and restaurants which now includes three Michelin starred options. Every neighborhood is full of flavor and its overwhelming to figure out where to start.
A few great resources to start your food adventures in Philly –
- Reading Terminal Market (includes Pennsylvania Dutch aka Amish stands)
- A food tour with Tiny Table Food Tours
- Follow Philly Publicist on Tik Tok for food (he loves food!) and event information
- The Philadelphia Bakery Guide highlighting 30 bakeries in the city (a few of my favorites made the list while others didn’t which says a lot about the plethora of bakery options throughout the city).
The exciting part of cruise ships coming to Philadelphia is that more folks will discover what I already know about my city – it’s a wonderful place to visit the history, the arts (gems include The Barnes Foundation, Rodin Museum and the quirky Magic Gardens), enjoy iconic Philly foods, drink the local beers and spirits (McGillian’s is a must pub stop), take in a sporting event to revel in our highs and lows of being a Philly sports fan (CHEAT Code – when you see anyone in an Eagles jersey all year round, a simple “Go Birds” will suffice).
Did I mention tax free shopping on most clothing/shoes? Center City has many boutiques such as Benjamin Lovell Shoes, as well as national shops along Walnut & Chestnut Streets. Shopaholics will want to explore the behemoths of King of Prussia Mall and Philadelphia Outlet Mall to spend the day. Also new to Philadelphia is Netflix House in King of Prussia which offers minigolf, virtual reality, escape rooms and other experiences tied to Netflix series/brands for kids of all ages. The KoP mall can be 30 mins to more than an hour from the Philadelphia Cruise Port depending on the day. There is no direct public transit from Center City so a car or taxi will be required so plan accordingly.
As for hotels – there are so many great options in the city from the luxury Four Seasons in the sky to boutique hotels and many options in between. I’ve done staycations at many such as: The Logan Hotel, Kimpton Palomar and Westin and recommend those centrally located hotels downtown (20-30 minutes from the cruise port). If you choose to stay near the cruise port/airport its harder to navigate without a car and parking in town can be quite expensive ($35-40 for the day and up to $60-70 overnight at some hotels).
NCL Cruise from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia cruises can be booked with your travel agent or direct on the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) site now through 2027 to take advantage of the various deals on offer. NCL now offers pricing to include “free at sea” which includes drinks, specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi and tour credits. You will pay the gratuities on the drinks and restaurant packages but have the option to opt out of one or both “free at sea” offerings to lower costs if you won’t use them. Included WIFI is for limited minutes so additional “unlimited” or “streaming” services will be extra expense.
While I’ve sailed on all the mainstream cruise lines, I’ve found myself drawn to NCL more lately as they have long embraced the solo traveler with their revolutionary solo cabins introduced more than a decade ago and their decision to add “solo pricing” in categories beyond the studio cabin. My last few cruises have been on NCL so I’m happy to recommend them as an option for your next cruise. While neither ship is the newest class like Prima or Aqua, the older ships do have their own charms so do your research on what’s best for you and your family.
Summary – NCL Sailing from Philadelphia
Philadelphia has long been the middle child between NYC and DC but 2026 is giving us the spotlight and I hope you get a chance to experience all the fun on offer including the new cruise ship itineraries from NCL. Bringing two ships, NCL Jewel and NCL Pearl to Philadelphia as the exclusive cruise line for a few years is a strong investment in our city and residents which is very much welcomed new business and jobs in my opinion. Just remember to pack those stretchy pants and say “go birds” as you run up the Rocky Steps at the Art Museum!
