First cruise from Philadelphia: questions and answers

These are the questions people ask before a first cruise from Philadelphia, answered from PhilaPort's and Norwegian Cruise Line's own pages. All 82 sailings on our schedule are Norwegian's, on Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Dawn, so Norwegian's rules are the ones that apply.

Which terminal do cruises from Philadelphia leave from?

The PhilaPort Cruise Terminal at 4 Atlantic Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153. PhilaPort says it sits next to Philadelphia International Airport and tells drivers to use Entrance A. Norwegian's letter to guests of 7 August 2026 gives the same address.

Heading south on I-95, PhilaPort says to take Exit 14 for Bartram Avenue and Essington Avenue, a route it gives through 2027. Heading north, take Exit 15. The terminal guide shows where the building sits.

What time should I arrive for a cruise from Philadelphia?

Not before 9:30am, and within the check-in window you picked in your MyNCL account. PhilaPort says the terminal does not open before 9:30am and that guests who come earlier may be asked to leave the area and return later.

Norwegian's boarding page sets the latest times:

• With Online Check-In done, arrive at least 1 hour before the embarkation time on your cruise documents. Without it, arrive at least 2 hours before.
• Everyone must be checked in and on board 1 hour before the departure time on the documents. Norwegian says late guests will not be permitted to sail.

The day-by-day itineraries we hold show a 4pm departure from Philadelphia on every sailing except Norwegian Dawn on 5 September 2028, listed at 5pm. A 4pm sailing means on board by 3pm.

How do I get to the Philadelphia cruise terminal?

By Uber, Lyft or taxi, dropped off by a friend, on a Norwegian airport transfer, or by car to the off-site lot and its shuttle. PhilaPort says there is no passenger parking at the terminal itself.

• Drop-off. Cars stop in front of the embarkation area. PhilaPort says vehicles cannot reach the terminal before 9:30am.
• From the airport. Norwegian's transfers run between Philadelphia International Airport and the terminal, for guests who bought them. PhilaPort says to ask Norwegian about availability and prices. The airport guide compares the options.
• The night before. See hotels near the terminal.

Where do I park for a cruise from Philadelphia?

At the Clarion Hotel Philadelphia International Airport, 76 Industrial Highway, Essington, PA 19029, which runs a free shuttle to and from the terminal. Norwegian's letter of 7 August 2026 gave $16 a day per vehicle. PhilaPort's page of 7 October 2026 says to ask the hotel for current rates.

Both recommend paying ahead. PhilaPort says the hotel takes prepayment by phone at 610-521-9600, 9am to 3pm every day. After the cruise, the same shuttle takes you back to your car. The parking guide has more.

How do online check-in and luggage tags work?

Check in online through MyNCL between 21 and 3 days before you sail, then print your luggage tags and attach one to each bag. PhilaPort and Norwegian both say physical tags are not mailed. Norwegian says clearly labeled bags help it deliver luggage to your stateroom on time.

At the terminal, you leave checked bags outside before you go in. Inside come security screening and check-in, then the ship.

What should I pack in my carry-on?

Medications, travel documents and whatever you need for the first few hours. PhilaPort and Norwegian both say you cannot get at checked luggage until it is delivered on board, and Norwegian's packing page says that can take a few hours after embarkation.

Other points from Norwegian's packing page, read on 3 November 2026:

• Irons, steamers, firearms, weapons of any kind and explosive substances are banned.
• Restaurants require shirts and footwear. Norwegian gives shorts with a collared shirt as an example of what works and asks that swimwear stay at the pool.
• Pack layers and closed-toe shoes for shore days.

Can I bring alcohol on a Norwegian cruise from Philadelphia?

Only wine and champagne, in sealed or corked bottles, brought by guests 21 or older. Norwegian charges corkage of $15 for a 750 ml bottle and $30 for a 1,500 ml magnum, by its policy page on 3 November 2026. Liquor, beer, water, soda and juice are not allowed.

Box wine is banned too. The exception for water is factory-sealed purified or distilled water for medical devices or infant formula. Guests with a beverage package pay no corkage. Alcohol bought in port or in the ship's shops is stored and handed back on the last night or the morning you leave.

You must be 21 to buy or drink alcohol on U.S. sailings. Norwegian lets guests aged 18 to 20 drink beer and wine in international waters only if a parent signs a waiver at Guest Services.

What does a Norwegian cruise fare include?

Your cabin, meals in the complimentary restaurants, regular coffee, tea, iced tea and water, and the onboard entertainment except dinner and lunch theater shows. Norwegian's list of extras includes the service charge, specialty restaurants, alcohol, sodas, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, spa services, laundry and the medical center.

Norwegian also lists government taxes, port expenses and fees as extra. The fares on our schedule already include them. The lowest starting fare we list was $549 per person on 3 November 2026, for the cheapest cabin listed with two sharing, taxes and port fees included. Add parking and the service charge below when you compare.

How much is Norwegian's daily service charge?

$20 per guest per day in Club Balcony Suite and below, and $25 per guest per day in The Haven and suites, for bookings made on or after 1 January 2023. Norwegian charges it for every guest aged 3 and older, by its page on 3 November 2026.

For two guests in a standard cabin that is $40 a day, or $280 over seven days, by our arithmetic. You can prepay it until 24 hours before sailing, and Norwegian says it is fully refundable if you cancel. If a service problem is not fixed on board, Norwegian says you can adjust the charges.

Are drinks and Wi-Fi included on Norwegian?

Water, regular coffee, tea and iced tea are included, along with some juices at the breakfast buffet. Alcohol, sodas and internet access cost extra. Norwegian says Wi-Fi prices appear in the Internet Café or on your device when you log in, and the charges go on your onboard account.

Norwegian's package for drinks and Wi-Fi is Free at Sea. Its page describes an open bar, specialty dining meals, a Wi-Fi allowance and shore excursion discounts, and Norwegian's FAQ says the beverage package covers every guest 21 and over in the stateroom. The all-inclusive guide goes through what it includes. Check MyNCL to see what your booking has.

How many sea days are there before the first port?

One on most Bermuda sailings and on every Canada sailing, two or three on the Caribbean trips, up to two on the Bahamas trips and five on the crossing to Barcelona. These come from the day-by-day itineraries we hold for each sailing.

Route	Sea days before the first port	First port
Bermuda, April to August	1	Royal Naval Dockyard, about 10am or 11am on day 3, staying overnight
Bermuda, other months	1, or 3 on 13 November 2027	Royal Naval Dockyard
Caribbean	2 or 3, or 1 on 28 March 2027, which calls in Bermuda first	Puerto Plata, Tortola, St. Maarten, San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua or St. Kitts
Bahamas	2 before Nassau, 1 before Jacksonville, none on 20 March 2027, which calls at Norfolk on day 2	Nassau, Jacksonville or Norfolk
Canada and New England	1	Boston, or Portland, Maine on 31 August 2028
Europe	5	Ponta Delgada in the Azores

Every Caribbean itinerary also has three sea days in a row, on the way down or the way back. The round trips arrive back in Philadelphia at 7am or 8am.

Can I take a baby on a cruise from Philadelphia?

Yes, if the baby is at least 6 months old on boarding day, or at least 12 months old when the cruise has 3 or more days in a row at sea. That longer rule covers every Caribbean itinerary on our schedule, the crossing to Barcelona and the Bermuda sailings of 6 and 13 November 2027.

Norwegian also requires anyone under 21 to share a stateroom, or a connecting one, with a guest aged 21 or older. The documents guide covers what children carry.

How do I avoid seasickness on a cruise?

Avoid the parts of the ship that move most, such as the bow, keep the horizon in view, and avoid reading. That is the advice in the CDC Yellow Book 2026, which adds that alcohol and smoking increase motion sickness and that lack of sleep makes it worse.

On medicines, the CDC says they work best taken before the motion starts, not after symptoms begin. Meclizine and dimenhydrinate are its options for mild to moderate motion, and their most common side effect is drowsiness. A scopolamine patch takes 6 to 8 hours to start working. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before you sail, since the ship's medical center is on Norwegian's list of extras.

Can I leave the cruise early in Norfolk or Boston?

No, except in an emergency. Norwegian says joining or leaving the ship outside the published embarkation and debarkation ports is not permitted, and that doing so may break the Passenger Vessel Act, also called the Jones Act, which carries a fine per person.

In every port, you must be back on board 1 hour before the ship's departure, by ship's time. Norwegian says that if you miss the ship, rejoining it is at your own expense.

What happens on the last morning in Philadelphia?

The ship docks at 7am or 8am in the itineraries we hold, and PhilaPort expects disembarkation between about 7:00am and 9:30am. Allow extra time to leave the ship, collect your luggage and clear the terminal before you set off.

• If you parked at the Clarion, take the free shuttle back to the hotel.
• If you bought a Norwegian airport transfer, staff direct you to it.
• For Uber, Lyft, a taxi or a friend, use 4 Atlantic Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153 as the pickup address. PhilaPort asks you not to request the ride until you are off the ship with your luggage, because waiting space for vehicles is limited.

Do I need a passport for a cruise from Philadelphia?

Not for a round trip, if you are a U.S. citizen. Norwegian accepts a state-certified birth certificate with a government photo ID on cruises that start and end in the same U.S. port. The one-way sailings to Quebec City and Barcelona need a passport book, and Norwegian recommends one for everybody.

5 sailings on our schedule end in Quebec City and 1 in Barcelona. The documents guide covers Bermuda, the Bahamas, children and non-U.S. citizens.

Where do I start if I have not picked a cruise yet?

Start with the full schedule, which lists 82 sailings from 21 November 2026 to 17 October 2028. Bermuda accounts for 49 of them. The shortest trip we list is 5 nights, and the cruise length page groups sailings by nights. For the lowest fares on our list, see cheap cruises.