Philadelphia officially opened a permanent cruise terminal on the Delaware River on Thursday, marking the city’s return as a cruise port after a 15-year hiatus.
The $60 million PhilaPort Cruise Terminal in Tinicum Township was four years in the making. Norwegian Cruise Line, which signed a seven-year berthing agreement with the port, has committed to 41 sailings per year from the facility. The company began welcoming passengers aboard the Norwegian Jewel from a temporary terminal in April while construction wrapped up.
A ribbon cutting with a Mummer’s string band
A ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, complete with a Mummer’s string band, drew Mayor Cherelle Parker, Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Michael Carroll and other officials, FOX 29 reported. The 16-acre terminal welcomed its first 2,500 passengers, many of whom boarded the Norwegian Jewel without needing to travel out of state.
“Don’t tell this mayor of Philadelphia that you have to drive up to New York or go to Florida anymore,” Parker said. “No more booking those expensive flights. You can just board the ship, and you can have your vacation and start it right here in your own backyard. That’s important.”
The construction redeveloped what was once the Hog Island Dock Terminal Facility, alongside Philadelphia International Airport. Contractors broke ground in December, but harsh, icy conditions on the river slowed the work and pushed the project cost from an initial $40 million to more than $60 million, WHYY reported.
Jobs, wages and the $300 million projection
PhilaPort estimates the terminal will support 2,185 direct and indirect jobs, generate $108 million in wages and produce about $300 million in annual economic output for Pennsylvania. The facility is also projected to yield $12 million in state and local tax payments.
“Every ship that comes through here brings thousands of people into the region, staying in our hotels, visiting our restaurants and attractions, and supporting jobs right here on the waterfront,” PhilaPort CEO Rich Lazer said.
Robert Kwortnik, a cruise industry expert at Cornell University, cautioned that the economic projections may be optimistic. The figures appear to assume the terminal alone will generate about 1,700 jobs and $85 million in wages regardless of the number of sailings, which “seems high for a cruise port that will see just 40 to 50” departures per year, he told WHYY.
Still, Kwortnik said the publicity value may matter more. “It’s putting Philadelphia on the map once again as a destination,” he said.
Norwegian Pearl arriving in November
The Norwegian Jewel is offering seven-day Bermuda cruises and 11-day Canada and New England voyages through September. Norwegian Executive Vice President Daniel Farkas said the Norwegian Pearl will take over in November with itineraries through April 2028, including trips to Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Canada. The Norwegian Gem is set to begin sailing from Philadelphia in summer 2028.
The agreement with Norwegian runs through March 2033. Lazer said the cruises are selling out and that PhilaPort’s goal is to add more departures in the coming years.
Philadelphia previously hosted a busy cruise terminal at the Navy Yard in the 2000s, but the recession and rising fuel costs reduced demand. The Delaware River Port Authority shut down that terminal in 2011. No additional cruise lines beyond Norwegian have been confirmed for the new facility.