Action News 6abc reported that the PhilaPort remains a construction zone with no terminal. Still, Norwegian Cruise Line and PhilaPort officials said that check-in for the inaugural sailing will take place from a temporary facility. The ship, however, will set sail from the port as scheduled.
Walter Biscardi, a travel agent who booked approximately 200 people for the inaugural cruise, told 6abc that “the biggest question is, one, ‘where are we gonna sail out of?’ Two, ‘how is all this infrastructure going to work?’ Because there’s gonna be 6,000 people on April 16.”
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Norwegian Cruise Line told 6abc the company is finalizing its cruise plans and will communicate to guests how to board and disembark as soon as this information is available, which Norwegian believes will occur within the next week.
In a media statement, Norwegian Cruise Line officials said, “We are excited to bring cruising back to Philadelphia for the first time in many years, opening up cruising in this destination and to the broader mid-Atlantic region. Given the absence of cruising in the market for quite some time, we are working closely with our partners at PhilaPort to prepare the facility to welcome our guests.
“The safety and security of our guests remain our top priority, and once onboard, our crew will deliver the exceptional vacation experience our guests expect from us,” the statement continued.