New port will welcome cruise ships to Philadelphia for the first time in 20 years

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's been 20 years since a cruise ship has docked in Philadelphia. That's about to change as construction begins on the first cruise port to be in Philadelphia in two decades. It comes just in time for what's expected to be a big year for the cruise industry.

"In 2026, more than 21.7 million Americans will be cruising," said Jana Tidwell of AAA.

People in the Philadelphia area are among those dedicated cruisers, but travel experts at AAA know that just getting to the ship is a journey for locals.

"Locals to the Philadelphia area would either have to fly to Florida, Miami, Port Canaveral, or drive to either Bayonne, New Jersey, or down to Baltimore," said Tidwell.

Now, though, a cruise ship will be right in Philadelphia's backyard.

The Port of Philadelphia announced it is breaking ground on a new cruise terminal building. It'll be on a 16-acre site adjacent to Philadelphia International Airport. The land was purchased from Energy Transfer Marketing and Terminals.

The new facility will mark the first time in 20 years that Philadelphia will have a terminal for a cruise ship.

"What we're doing is bringing cruising back to the port of Philadelphia," said Sean Mahoney, the senior marketing director for Port of Philadelphia / PhilaPort.

"We're a world-class city, and to reach our full potential, you need all these world-class attributes," he said.

Norwegian Cruise Line has the exclusive deal to cruise in and out of the port for the first four years, with about 40 sailings each year. Other cruise lines may offer services in the last three years of the port's initial seven-year contract.

Destinations will include Bermuda, Charleston, and eventually the Caribbean.

"Ultimately, it's going to be a great success for the region," said Mahoney.

Cruise operations and the new terminal are projected to generate 2,185 jobs and a big economic boost.

"It's just under $300 million in economic output," said Mahoney.

PhilaPort has already begun assembling materials in the 3 years that it took to get the project off the ground. The company plans to work quickly to have the port ready to welcome ships next April. That's also just in time for a host of visitors coming to Philadelphia for special events in 2026.

"There's so much to do on a cruise ship, which makes this welcome news for travelers out of this area," said Tidwell.

The first cruise is set for Bermuda on April 16, 2026.

Mahoney says the cruise line has already seen strong sales for the inaugural trips.