The Norwegian Gem will make its debut in Philadelphia in 2028, taking over Norwegian Cruise Line’s year-round operations from Pennsylvania.
According to a recent announcement, the vessel will arrive at its new homeport in April 2028, kicking off a series of seven-night cruises to Bermuda.
The weeklong itineraries will feature visits to Norfolk, in addition to overnight calls to Royal Naval Dockyard.
Norwegian said that the cruises were designed to give guests more time to enjoy Bermuda’s attractions, such as its pink-sand beaches, waterfront dining and island culture.
With the arrival of the Norwegian Gem, the Norwegian Pearl is scheduled to return to Europe for summer cruises in the Mediterranean.
Two additional ships are scheduled to offer Bermuda cruises in 2028, with the Norwegian Luna sailing from New York City and the Norwegian Breakaway sailing from Boston.
Norwegian’s recently announced 2028 deployment also includes itineraries in Northern Europe, Alaska, the South Pacific, the Canary Islands and more.
The new schedule will also mark the company’s third consecutive summer season and continued year-round service in Philadelphia.
Norwegian returned to the homeport earlier this year, marking the return of cruising to Pennsylvania following a 15-year hiatus.
The Norwegian Jewel became the first ship to sail from the new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal, launching a series of seven-night cruises to Bermuda last April.
Check-in and disembarkation operations are initially taking place in a nearby hotel, as the terminal’s new building faces significant construction delays due to adverse weather conditions.
Later this month, the Jewel is scheduled to offer itineraries to Canada and New England before repositioning to PortMiami for the winter.
The Norwegian Pearl is then scheduled to take over the company’s year-round operations in Philadelphia, offering five- to ten-night winter cruises to the Caribbean and Bermuda.
The 2006-built ship will continue to sail from Philadelphia during the summer of 2027, operating weeklong cruises to Bermuda.
