In just a few months, the City of Brotherly Love will gain two new siblings: the Norwegian Jewel and the Norwegian Pearl. For the first time in nearly two decades, cruise ships will depart from Philadelphia.
The new port, run under the umbrella of PhilaPort—Philadelphia’s cargo port authority—is set to open this April. It is a joint venture between PhilaPort and Norwegian Cruise Line, and will be located on sixteen acres of land between Philadelphia’s airport and the Delaware River.
Travelers can now enjoy cruising without flying to Florida’s ports. On April 16, the Norwegian Jewel will embark on a seven-day round-trip cruise to Bermuda. Later, the two ships will trade voyages to the Caribbean, and then travel north to New England and Canada, reaching as far as Québec City.
The new terminal will also attract visitors from nearby areas looking for an alternative to long-distance air travel. Its location adjacent to the airport makes it ideal for those flying in to transfer to their vacation destinations, while leaving ample opportunity to drive or take a quick taxi and quickly reach the heart of Philadelphia. Locals will benefit from this new addition, too: a quick, airport-hassle-free travel option is now practically in their backyards.
“For students or anyone close by looking for something interesting to do this summer, a cruise just a short drive away may be the perfect option.”
As with any new project, the question of traffic always comes up. As the new port is set to be next to the airport, most travelers will use I-95 to access it. This stretch is already burdened with traffic congestion, which the addition of another major attraction will only add to. Those looking to avoid the traffic congestion are out of luck. SEPTA’s Airport Line runs infrequently, and SEPTA currently has no plans to extend it to the new cruise terminal, rendering public transit largely impractical, save for the implementation of bus routes. An increase in travelers, however, will benefit the city economically, which could allow the city to invest more in infrastructure that supports the new travelers and existing residents.
For students or anyone close by looking for something interesting to do this summer, a cruise just a short drive away may be the perfect option.
You must be logged in to post a comment.