Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
04/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/16/2026 15:26
Governor Shapiro Celebrates Inaugural Call of the Norwegian Jewel, Marking Official Return of Cruise Service to the Port of Philadelphia
April 16, 2026 - Philadelphia, PA
Governor Shapiro Celebrates Inaugural Call of the Norwegian Jewel, Marking Official Return of Cruise Service to the Port of Philadelphia
Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger celebrated the inaugural call of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)'s cruise ship, the Norwegian Jewel, at the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort). Alongside local business and community leaders, the Governor celebrated NCL becoming the first cruise line to sail from PhilaPort in 15 years.
Since day one of his Administration, Governor Shapiro has invested in the Commonwealth's tourism industry to support high-quality jobs for Pennsylvanians, grow our economy, and attract more visitors. With NCL's launch of the Norwegian Jewel, the Commonwealth has gained yet another key economic driver in its $84 billion industry.
"As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Pennsylvania is at the center of the action - and I'm excited to welcome Norwegian Cruise Line as the newest addition to our Commonwealth's fast-growing tourism industry," said Governor Shapiro. "Tourism is big business in Pennsylvania, supporting 500,000 jobs and contributing $84 billion to our economy across the Commonwealth. That's why my Administration has made it a priority to invest in and support PhilaPort's expansion, so we can create jobs, attract more visitors, and bring incredible offerings like cruises from Norwegian Cruise Line to the people of Pennsylvania."
Speaker List:
Jason Krimmel, Chief Intemational Sales & Marketing Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line
Marc Kazlauskas, President, Norwegian Cruise Line
Dan Farkas, General Counsel & Secretary, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Michael Pearson, PhilaPort Board Chairman
Governor Josh Shapiro
Mayor Cherelle Parker
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania published this content on April 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 16, 2026 at 21:26 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]