Norwegian Gem to Sail Bermuda Cruises From Philadelphia in 2028
Norwegian describes the deployment as its fifth consecutive Philadelphia season, after regular oceangoing departures returned in April 2026 following a fifteen-year absence.
Norwegian Cruise Line will deploy Norwegian Gem from Philadelphia in April 2028, replacing Norwegian Pearl on a series of seven-night Bermuda cruises. The voyages will include overnight calls at Royal Naval Dockyard and a visit to Norfolk, Virginia.
NCL describes the deployment as its fifth consecutive Philadelphia season. Regular oceangoing departures returned to the city in April 2026 after a 15-year absence, initially aboard Norwegian Jewel.
Gem takes over the Bermuda schedule
The 93,530-gross-ton Norwegian Gem was built in 2007 and accommodates 2,394 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 1,070. The 965-foot ship has 15 decks.
Norwegian Pearl will continue operating Philadelphia departures through April 2028, including Bermuda, Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries, before Gem assumes the Bermuda program. The change will allow Pearl to return to Europe for Mediterranean cruises.
The overnight stay at Royal Naval Dockyard gives passengers a second day in Bermuda and access to ferry connections across the Great Sound, including service toward Hamilton. The former naval base also contains the National Museum of Bermuda, shops, restaurants and transportation links to other parts of the island.
NCL’s Philadelphia homeport serves a drive market that includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and parts of Maryland.
Three Northeast gateways to Bermuda
Norwegian Luna will operate five- and seven-night Bermuda cruises from New York in 2028, while Norwegian Breakaway will return to Boston for seven-night voyages that also visit Halifax, Nova Scotia. Luna carries about 3,500 passengers, while the 3,900-passenger Breakaway was refurbished in 2025.
The Bermuda deployments form part of NCL’s wider summer 2028 schedule, which includes more than 450 voyages aboard 20 ships. The three- to 14-day cruises will depart from 25 homeports and call at nearly 150 destinations in 51 countries.
NCL has scheduled 175 overnight stays and late departures across 53 destinations. Ships are expected to spend approximately 80% of each sailing in port, with the average call exceeding 10 hours.
“With the Summer 2028 voyages now on sale, guests can take advantage of a greater selection of destination-rich itineraries,” Norwegian Cruise Line President Marc Kazlauskas said.
Philadelphia builds around renewed cruise service
Philadelphia departures use the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex. PhilaPort is also developing a 16-acre cruise terminal in Tinicum Township next to Philadelphia International Airport, with access from Interstate 95. The facility is designed to handle midsize ships carrying approximately 3,000 passengers.
NCL remains the only cruise line offering regular voyages from Philadelphia. Its seven-year berthing agreement calls for at least 41 voyages annually, while PhilaPort projects that renewed cruise operations could generate about $300 million in annual economic activity and support more than 2,000 jobs.
PhilaPort expects the new terminal to provide capacity for additional cruise lines once construction is complete.
See current Norwegian Gem fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
