NCL from Philadelphia

[MalvernPa]

NCL is going to start sailing from Philadelphia in 2026. I wish Disney would offer cruising options from the northeast.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/crui...ine-announces-philadelphia-as-a-new-homeport/

 

[auntlynne]

Know anything about Philly cruise port / general area?

The cruise seems like a nice itinerary:

Sea day
Bermuda - arrive 10 am overnight
Bermuda - depart 3 pm
Sea Day
Charleston
Sea Day

You get a bit of history and British colonial charm, architecture.

7 nights on the NCL Jewel, MV 2005. It’s somewhere between DCL Magic and Dream class as far as size/ getting around. (Double occupancy = 2350 guests). Refurbished in 2022.

Offered April - August 2026. PP price in interior starts at $1197 Balcony $1897 (highest week is $400 more.)

With NCL’s ongoing offer (just call it standard), you can get a specialty meal for the price of gratuities ($12). Drinks package is also price of 18% gratuity ($153). And an included package of WiFi.

With the new rules - the price shown includes taxes

I wouldn’t recommend it for DCL- only cruisers, but for those who were missing the opportunity to sail from NYC, this seems like a reasonable option. And a chance to go to Bermuda with an overnight port.

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks for the heads’ up

 

[Pens Fan]

Thanks for this! I love having a cruise port within easy driving distance. Looks like they are also going to be doing a New England / Canada run up to Quebec City. Having done that route on NCL before I can say that is a fabulous itinerary. I also love that the Bermuda ones are stopping in Charleston. We will definitely be keeping this in mind for the future.

NCL Jewel class ships can be nice for port heavy itineraries. They are lovely ships, but do lack the entertainment offerings you'll find on any other cruise line's larger ships (or any DCL ship). Still, we loved our cruises on the Gem and Jade. The food and service were good to great and we went to some amazing ports. I would be happy to sail on that class of ship again as long as there weren't a ton of sea days.

 

[auntlynne]

@Pens Fan

I had narrowed my search to Philly > Bermuda.

Your post got me to widen it to the Jewel for April - Oct.

There’s an alternate Bermuda itinerary of 9 nights that adds a day + night in Bermuda and stays overnight in Charleston.

And there are New England to Quebec runs in the Fall. Including Bar Harbor! If the locals will allow. But it is not a mega-ship, so maybe.

I also cruised Jade to S Caribbean last December. Definitely not DCL entertainment, but the guests were nice and they had my favorite - trivia.

Plus there are stairs into the pool!

 

[Anna131517]

This is such great news! I’m not a huge NCL fan after our last cruise with them but if they’re close with good itineraries I will definitely consider doing one of these! I actually really like the Jewel class ships because of their family suites.

 

[Pens Fan]

@Pens Fan

I had narrowed my search to Philly > Bermuda.

Your post got me to widen it to the Jewel for April - Oct.

There’s an alternate Bermuda itinerary of 9 nights that adds a day + night in Bermuda and stays overnight in Charleston.

And there are New England to Quebec runs in the Fall. Including Bar Harbor! If the locals will allow. But it is not a mega-ship, so maybe.

I also cruised Jade to S Caribbean last December. Definitely not DCL entertainment, but the guests were nice and they had my favorite - trivia.

Plus there are stairs into the pool!

We did almost that exact New England to Quebec City cruise on the Gem back in 2018 except it started in Quebec City and ended in NY. It was a terrific cruise and all of those ports are fantastic. For anyone not familiar with Quebec City - it's like stepping into Europe in the middle of Canada. We loved it and I'd highly recommend extending the trip with a few land days there.

We also fell in love with Charleston the one time we've been there. So having the option of taking a cruise there out of Philly is really exciting for me - especially the one that overnights there. We live about an hour east of Pittsburgh so being able to jump on the the Turnpike and be in Philly in a few hours is a great option for us. I hope this sticks around.

 

[auntlynne]

We did almost that exact New England to Quebec City cruise on the Gem back in 2018 except it started in Quebec City and ended in NY. It was a terrific cruise and all of those ports are fantastic. For anyone not familiar with Quebec City - it's like stepping into Europe in the middle of Canada. We loved it and I'd highly recommend extending the trip with a few land days there.

We also fell in love with Charleston the one time we've been there. So having the option of taking a cruise there out of Philly is really exciting for me - especially the one that overnights there. We live about an hour east of Pittsburgh so being able to jump on the the Turnpike and be in Philly in a few hours is a great option for us. I hope this sticks around.

I did the NYC - Quebec City & then return. It was the Joy during leaf season. Which I just realized these are, too. We had an overnight in QC on the first leg. It is a beautiful city.

Breakfast view from buffet. One of the nicest port areas I have seen. Notice the funicular incline railway from lower level to the hill on which the large Fairmont Hotel sits.





I haven’t found a cruise line that I enjoy as much as DCL (overall), but others have offered itineraries, more dining options - and better prices (that do make up for any differences). Service is fairly even across the industry for my purposes. Maybe different styles (some have stealth room stewards, but they get the job done).

 

[msmayor]

NCL is going to start sailing from Philadelphia in 2026. I wish Disney would offer cruising options from the northeast.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/crui...ine-announces-philadelphia-as-a-new-homeport/

I thought Disney had some itineraries that left from NY...

Philadelphia is a tougher port for most ships because of the bridges - there just isn't as much clearance for today's larger ships to navigate, and the bridges needed to sail under to get to the Atlantic from Philly don't open for ship traffic.

 

[MalvernPa]

I thought Disney had some itineraries that left from NY...

Philadelphia is a tougher port for most ships because of the bridges - there just isn't as much clearance for today's larger ships to navigate, and the bridges needed to sail under to get to the Atlantic from Philly don't open for ship traffic.

Disney is not offering NYC in 2024 and 2025. Hopefully in 2026?

The bridges on the Delaware River do have height restrictions.

 

[auntlynne]

Disney is not offering NYC in 2024 and 2025. Hopefully in 2026?

The bridges on the Delaware River do have height restrictions.

and @msmayor

I think Tampa has a similar situation with the Sunshine Bridge. These Jewel-class ships are perfect for the height limitation.

Seems Magic could fit under, too. And DCL could add some variety. They have sailed both NE & Bermuda before. I wonder how those bookings did?

Sailing out if NYC (Manhattan) is definitely a great way to start a cruise. The skyline, Lady Liberty, and passing under the V Narrows Bridge!

Such good memories this thread brings to my mind.

 

[Mango7100]

We did almost that exact New England to Quebec City cruise on the Gem back in 2018 except it started in Quebec City and ended in NY. It was a terrific cruise and all of those ports are fantastic. For anyone not familiar with Quebec City - it's like stepping into Europe in the middle of Canada. We loved it and I'd highly recommend extending the trip with a few land days there.

We also fell in love with Charleston the one time we've been there. So having the option of taking a cruise there out of Philly is really exciting for me - especially the one that overnights there. We live about an hour east of Pittsburgh so being able to jump on the the Turnpike and be in Philly in a few hours is a great option for us. I hope this sticks around.

We just returned from a Montreal and Quebec City trip and it was as close to Europe as you can get without actually going overseas. We loved it! Quebec City was more the cobblestone/wandering around. Montreal was the urban vibe but still had Old Montreal which was great.The small island near Quebec City Ile d’Orleans is a great way to spend the day at all the farms. We went strawberry picking, went to a chocolatier, tasted maple syrup, and had wine on a black currant farm. The cruise ships dock right in Old Quebec City so very easy to explore.

 

[MillauFr]

Maybe they could sail up river to Port Jervis.

 

[msmayor]

Sailing from the northeast is attractive to many up here because it eliminates flights...but it really is problematic for a lot of lines unless they are selling itineraries that are 10+ days.

Getting anywhere is going to take at least a day and a half from the NY/NJ area, and in a typical 7-day trip the furthest you're going to get is the Bahamas. For a lot of people, that's more a throw-away port (been there, done that). You want to go deeper into the Caribbean you need 10-11 days minimum, and a lot of families with school-age kids just can't take that much time. Bermuda is attainable in 1.5 days at sea, but it has very limited availability as far as dock space and is not considered a year-round port.

It's just hard to get enough variety in the itineraries to get repeat cruisers. It's great, though, if you are looking to go north to Canada as the FL ships don't touch that market.

Sailing from the northeast in the cold months is a crapshoot. Way too cold to be on deck until you get at least to the Carolinas, and even then...seas can be unkind in the winter months of a nor'easter is blowing up the coast.

 

[vakamalua]

We did the Quebec City -NYC itinerary with DCL on a Halloween cruise. Spent three nights in Quebec City at the Frontenac before. Great Time! Too bad they no longer sail from NYC.

 

[Ronneeaght]

I texted my husband as soon as I saw the announcement today. I’d like to do Treasure in 2025 if we can swing the more expensive trip (IP aligns perfectly with my favorites). After that if DCL doesn’t come back to NYC (or Philly!!! didn’t even know that was a dream I could have!!!) in 2026 we’ll be mighty tempted by these NCL cruises. We loved our two trips to Bermuda and throwing in Charleston is a very sweet cherry on top.

 

[emilymad]

NCL has never been a cruise line that interests me but this is fantastic news. I would very much consider giving it a try. Any of these itineraries look great for what would be our home port.

 

[MalvernPa]

NCL has never been a cruise line that interests me but this is fantastic news. I would very much consider giving it a try. Any of these itineraries look great for what would be our home port.

We would not have considered NCL, but if Disney does not have any NYC cruises in fall of 2026, we would seriously consider the NCL cruise from Philadelphia.

 

[Ashleynoelle123]

I would be THRILLED to look at a DCL ship from my Philly condo everyday! I hope DCL starts cruising out of Philly...here's hoping!

 

[ArielRae]

Is anyone familiar where we would be parking our cars for a Philly cruise? Is there a parking garage or lot for these up coming sailings?