TINICUM TOWNSHIP, Pa.
(WPVI) — The much-anticipated inaugural cruise from the new PhilaPort cruise terminal is scheduled to set sail in just weeks.
But the facility near Philadelphia International Airport in Tinicum Township is nowhere near ready, raising concerns and questions for thousands of travelers.
Video from Chopper 6 shows the PhilaPort still a construction zone with no terminal.
Norwegian Cruise Line and PhilaPort tell the Troubleshooters that check-in for that inaugural voyage will now happen from a temporary facility, but the ship will still set sail as scheduled from this port.
“I enjoy cruising,” said Robert McNutt from Toweamencin, Pennsylvania.
McNutt told us he has been especially excited for his next cruise hosted by YouTuber La Lido Loca.
It is scheduled to set sail out of the brand new PhilaPort cruise terminal.
“I said to my wife, ‘Let’s go see where this cruise port is so we know exactly where we’re driving to.’ And we drove up, and there’s nothing there, and there is nothing there,” he said. “There’s a little sign on the side of the road, cruise terminal, and it points into that area where all that construction is.”
Walter Biscardi is a travel agent who booked about 200 people on the inaugural voyage.
“The biggest question is one, where are we gonna sail out of? Two, how is all this infrastructure going to work? Because there’s gonna be 6,000 people on April 16th.”
In part, PhilaPort told the Troubleshooters, “There will be no delay for cruise passengers. The first scheduled sailing of the Norwegian Jewel will depart Philadelphia as planned on Thursday, April 16.”
The statement went on to say, “Construction has been impacted by extreme winter weather conditions…” and “the embarkation process for the initial sailings will operate from a temporary facility.”
McNutt says he’s not worried.
“They’ll get it done. I’ve gone on another cruise where they had to put a tent up for us to get checked in through ….other ships and other companies have handled it well,” said McNutt.
Norwegian Cruise Lines says it is finalizing plans and will communicate to guests how to board and disembark as soon as that information becomes available, which it anticipates will be within the next week.
Read the full statement released by Norwegian Cruise Line:
“We are excited to bring cruising back to Philadelphia for the first time in many years, opening up cruising in this destination and to the broader Mid-Atlantic region. Given the absence of cruising in the market for quite some time, we are working closely with our partners at PhilaPort to prepare the facility to welcome our guests.
The terminal project is progressing; however, the permanent facility is taking longer than anticipated due to adverse weather conditions in the Philadelphia area this winter. As a result, the embarkation process for the initial sailings will operate from a temporary facility while final development work is being completed, supported by operational plans designed to ensure a smooth guest experience.
We are finalizing those plans and will communicate embarkation and disembarkation details with impacted guests as they become available, which we anticipate will be within the next week. The safety and security of our guests remain our top priority, and once onboard, our crew will deliver the exceptional vacation experience our guests expect from us.”
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