Cue the Rocky theme… Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will homeport in the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) for the first time in years during its 2026 season.
The cruise line revealed the move as it unveiled its 2026 spring/summer itineraries, which include voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, New England and Canada.
As the only cruise line sailing from Philadelphia through October 2026, the new homeport will give residents in the US Mid-Atlantic region easier access to cruise holidays – like NCL’s seven-to-nine-day cruises to Bermuda on the Norwegian Jewel, which commence on 16 April 2026.
The Philly cruises will depart from the city’s future SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2026 season includes nearly 250 itineraries across nine ships. The voyages will depart from various US and Canadian ports between April and November 2026, calling at 30 destinations.
Guests can expect an average of 10 hours in port, providing ample time to enjoy the beaches and culture of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda, the fall foliage of Canada and New England, or the wilderness of Alaska.
NCL says its new itineraries are designed to offer a blend of adventure, relaxation and cultural immersion.
“Our new 2026 spring/summer deployment further meets the vacation demands of our guests with more shorter cruise offerings to fun-in-the-sun destinations, such as the Bahamas and the Caribbean, as well as a variety of longer itineraries to bucket list destinations, such as Alaska,” Norwegian Cruise Line President David J. Herrera stated.
With its prime location and rich history, Norwegian Cruise Line says Philadelphia could become a major new hub for travellers seeking memorable cruise experiences.
“We remain committed to delivering more experiences for our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us,” Herrera remarked.
“We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.”
PhilaPort Executive Director and CEO Jeff Theobald said the port was “extremely excited to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line, one of the world’s premier cruise lines”.
“Philadelphia has so much to offer, as the birthplace of freedom and the home to much of our nation’s history, we look forward to connecting cruisers with our world class city,” he added.
“This new service rounds out the portfolio of services offered at PhilaPort, and we look forward to this next phase of growth.”
Among the highlights of NCL’s spring/summer 2026 deployment are:
- New Bermuda, Canada and New England homeports and itineraries
- Norwegian Jewel: First-ever Bermuda season from Philadelphia (16 April – 27 Aug 2026), then 10- and 11-day Canada and New England itineraries between Philadelphia and Québec City.
- Norwegian Breakaway: Seven-day Bermuda voyages from Boston starting 19 April 2026, with overnight stays in Bermuda and Halifax. Late August to mid-October 2026, seven-day Canada and New England itineraries.
- Norwegian Aqua: Five- and seven-day Bermuda itineraries from New York City with overnight stays in Bermuda.
- A longer continuous Bahamas season
- Norwegian Getaway: Nearly 40 short cruises (three- to four-night) from Miami to Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.
- New Caribbean cruises
- Norwegian Prima: Seven-day sailings from Port Canaveral to Eastern and Western Caribbean, visiting Montego Bay, George Town, and Puerto Plata.
- The youngest fleet in Alaska
- Norwegian Encore, Bliss, and Joy: Seven-day voyages from Seattle; Norwegian Joy offers nine- to 10-day itineraries.
- Norwegian Jade: Seven-day open-jaw sailings between Vancouver and Whittier with no days at sea.
New brochures
Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line launched two new brochures, the Hawai’i Cruising Guide and the Asia Pacific Cruising Guide to help agents inspire their clients to embark on a tropical Hawaiian island escape or closer-to-home adventure in 2024, 2025 or 2026.
Closer to home, NCL will add 24 new port-intensive cruises across Asia Pacific, bringing a total of 85 voyages from September 2024 to March 2026 – the most it has ever had in the region.
