Another cruise line is starting to sail from Philadelphia in the next year or 2. I think Royal Caribbean should, too.

[LECruiser]

I learned today that another cruise line (NCL, I believe) is going to start cruising out of Philadelphia. I think Royal Caribbean ought to start doing this, too.  

[smokeybandit]

Pretty big gamble by NCL and maybe more so Philly, since there essentially isn't a cruise terminal there anymore so Philly is sinking a lot of money into getting something stood up in the next 18 months.

[Gilley]

I’m a philly girl, so I’m looking forward to this. 

[PhillyLady]

I have driven to Baltimore, MD, NJ, NY, and even took the train down to Jacksonsville, FL for a cruise, as well as flown everywhere else.  

I never got around to taking a cruise ship out of Philly previously, so I suppose when they start two years from now I should make an effort!  For once in my life local transportation will be a breeze!

 

 

[twangster]

Where are they sailing to?  What do the itineraries look like?

[twangster]

https://www.fox29.com/news/port-philadelphia-will-serve-norwegian-cruise-line-homeport-2026

The Norwegian Jewel, with the capacity to accommodate over 2,300 guests, will homeport in Philadelphia starting in April 2026 through October.

The ships will make two dozen stops in the city during that time, and will offer seven-to-nine-day voyages to Bermuda. 

The cruise line says from September to October, the Norwegian Jewel will embark on 10 and 11-day voyages to Canada and New England.

[smokeybandit]

7 minutes ago, twangster said:

Where are they sailing to?  What do the itineraries look like?

Bermuda and canada (quebec) routes, 7 and 9 nighters.

[RCIfan1912]

What bridges and how high are they that ships have to deal with in Philly? I think its cool. We live 30 minutes from Cape Liberty NJ so its just so convenient so I'm happy for people close to Philly that can now just go there. Not sure Royal will follow with Cape Liberty so close but I guess its possible. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

I've sailed on the Jewel.  Horrible casino.

[smokeybandit]

4 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

What bridges and how high are they that ships have to deal with in Philly? I think its cool. We live 30 minutes from Cape Liberty NJ so its just so convenient so I'm happy for people close to Philly that can now just go there. Not sure Royal will follow with Cape Liberty so close but I guess its possible. 

I believe the new "terminal" is downstream of the lowest bridge which limited the previous terminal. 2nd bridge is 188 feet, so similar to baltimore. 

[Sweety]

7 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I've sailed on the Jewel.  Horrible casino.

Not for me.

[smokeybandit]

Every casino is terrible to me. They all take my money and never give any back

[Gilley]

4 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I believe the new "terminal" is downstream of the lowest bridge which limited the previous terminal. 2nd bridge is 188 feet, so similar to baltimore. 

I’m hoping for a discovery class in Philly’s future.  

[ScottD]

The Jewel has apparently been completely re-vamped in the last year or so. It's almost like a new ship...the re-do actually consisted of them REMOVING the waterslides!  I work for the port in Philadelphia (well on the Jersey side, but I am directly across river and it's the same company) so I'm REALLY excited about this. The terminal will be just South of the Walt Whitman bridge, so they only have to get under the Commodore Barry and the Delaware memorial bridge.  I think before when Royal sailed from here, they went from the Navy Yard, which at least had a little terminal area- not quite sure what the plan is leaving right from the port...not much there, and even parking is a bit off site. 

[Fuzzywuzzy]

They are evicting the SS United States from it's berth in Philly, that frees up another parking space.

[smokeybandit]

On 8/9/2024 at 5:54 PM, Fuzzywuzzy said:

They are evicting the SS United States from it's berth in Philly, that frees up another parking space.

SS US is up river from where they're building the terminal.

[Matt]

13 hours ago, Fuzzywuzzy said:

They are evicting the SS United States from it's berth in Philly, that frees up another parking space.

Do the rats that live there on that ship go with the ship, or will new tenant assume their lease?

[smokeybandit]

50 minutes ago, Matt said:

Do the rats that live there on that ship go with the ship, or will new tenant assume their lease?

Conveyance depends on the rats' passport status. Since it'll be an open loop cruise, birth certificates won't work.

[USCG Teacher]

15 hours ago, Fuzzywuzzy said:

They are evicting the SS United States from it's berth in Philly, that frees up another parking space.

Unfortunately, Pier 82 is not a viable site for a cruise ship for a myriad of reasons (cargo/warehousing on site, lack of parking & infrastructure, upriver of the 135ish foot Walt Whitman Bridge, etc.).

[ScottD]

I'd assume they are going to the berth along the side of the port, where the auto ships dock and unload. But really not sure, I thought maybe they would go to the SS United States dock,  there is a warehouse next to that they they've somewhat renovated and easy access from the street. Still not sure what the parking situation will be unless they plan on shuttling people over. 

[smokeybandit]

21 minutes ago, ScottD said:

I'd assume they are going to the berth along the side of the port, where the auto ships dock and unload. But really not sure, I thought maybe they would go to the SS United States dock,  there is a warehouse next to that they they've somewhat renovated and easy access from the street. Still not sure what the parking situation will be unless they plan on shuttling people over. 

They're building the terminal here:

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/wGVJntN37rGqYLSB7

 

SS US is just north of the Walt Whitman bridge.

[USCG Teacher]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

They're building the terminal here:

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/wGVJntN37rGqYLSB7

That makes perfect sense.  Royal & Carnival used the piers just down river closer to the mouth of the Schuylkill River when they shifted operations to Philly out of NYC for a while post-9/11.

[rjac]

On 7/18/2024 at 8:42 AM, Gilley said:

I’m a philly girl

How about that, we have a celebrity on the message board, Gilley the Philly Filly!

[ScottD]

16 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

They're building the terminal here:

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/wGVJntN37rGqYLSB7

 

SS US is just north of the Walt Whitman bridge.

That makes sense- we were talking at work ( I work where those large solar panels are just below and above the WW bridge on the Jersey side) about them using the auto processing lots, and that's exactly where you have marked off.  Those large lots are where the autos are staged when rolling off the Ro-ro ships... practically part of the Navy yard.