PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the first time in 15 years, a cruise ship is setting sail from the Port of Philadelphia.
The 965-foot-long Norwegian Jewel, built in 2005 and refurbished last year, is scheduled to depart at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Mayor Cherelle Parker and other officials are set to mark the occasion hours before the ship leaves.
The Jewel, which came from Miami, arrived at PhilaPort’s temporary terminal site along the Delaware River near the airport around 5:30 a.m. The PhilaPort cruise terminal’s permanent site in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, is still under construction, as the harsh winter weather caused delays.
Norwegian Cruise Line signed a seven-year berthing agreement with PhilaPort to operate as Philadelphia’s exclusive home port. There are seven- to nine-day cruises from Philadelphia to Bermuda on the Jewel scheduled in the spring and summer. In the fall, the ship will sail north to New England and Canada.
The return of cruising to Philadelphia and the construction of the port are creating more than 2,100 jobs and providing an annual economic boost of $300 million, officials said.
Return of cruising and construction of PhilaPort promise a $300 million economic boost, officials say
Return of cruising and construction of PhilaPort promise a $300 million economic boost, officials say
