Norwegian Cruise Line will dispatch Norwegian Gem to Philadelphia in April 2028. According to Cruise Industry News, the ship will run a season of seven-night Bermuda voyages that feature overnight stays at the Royal Naval Dockyard and a stop in Norfolk, Virginia.
Norwegian Gem accommodates about 2,400 passengers. It’s one of the smaller ships in the fleet. Onboard amenities span a main pool deck, the Spice H2O section for adults, the Mandara Spa, and multiple dining venues and bars.
The 2028 season marks the fifth consecutive year the cruise line has operated from Philadelphia, according to CaribJournal.com, continuing service that launched in April 2026. That program ended a 15-year absence of regular oceangoing departures from the city.
Norwegian Jewel brought back cruises to Philadelphia in 2026. Norwegian Pearl will keep running departures through April 2028 with Bermuda, Bahamas, and Caribbean itineraries before Norwegian Gem assumes the Bermuda schedule.
Philadelphia provides the company with a homeport that’s within driving distance of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of Maryland. Ships leave from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex.
The overnight stay stands as a defining aspect of the itinerary. Ships remain docked at the Dockyard after most day visitors have departed, which allows passengers to catch ferries across the Great Sound, explore Hamilton, reach South Shore beaches or linger near the western tip of the island.
A second day opens up more opportunities. Guests can wander different sections of Bermuda instead of rushing through the island in a few hours. The former British naval base now contains shops, museums, eateries, ferry terminals, and the National Museum of Bermuda.
Norwegian Cruise Line will also position Norwegian Luna in New York for five- and seven-night Bermuda voyages in 2028. That ship debuted in 2026 and carries roughly 3,500 passengers. It boasts the Aqua Slidecoaster, a waterslide and roller-coaster hybrid, along with an outdoor Ocean Boulevard promenade.
Norwegian Breakaway will head back to Boston for another season of week-long Bermuda cruises that call at Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ship holds about 3,900 passengers and underwent a refurbishment in 2025.
The three-port strategy reflects a rising emphasis on departures that start closer to where passengers reside. Instead of flying to Florida before embarking on a warm-weather getaway, travelers throughout the Northeast now have multiple choices leaving from regional terminals.