Fact Sheet

CruisePhilly 2006

The Philadelphia Cruise Terminal

Photo courtesy of the Delaware River Port Authority

General Details

PROJECT NAME: CruisePhilly

PROJECT TAGLINE: Travel Smart

PROJECT GOAL: To establish Philadelphia as an active cruise port by securing more home ported vessels and more port calls, which will spur economic development with increased jobs, tourism and related spending on hotel stays, sightseeing and shopping and highlight Philadelphia as a destination.

KEY AGENCY: The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), under the branding name “CruisePhilly,” and The Port of Philadelphia and Camden (PPC), operate and manage the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier 1. The PPC, a department of the DRPA, directs a comprehensive marketing campaign to develop cruise line business and maximize its regional economic impact.

KEY PLAYERS:

• John J. Matheussen, CEO, DRPA
• Elizabeth Murphy, Director, COO, DRPA

FACILITY NAME: Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier 1

FACILITY LOCATION: 5100 S. Broad Street, located in the Philadelphia Naval Business Center, the former Philadelphia Navy Yard and the nation's oldest naval facility.

FACILITY AMENITIES:

• Easily accessible (within one-mile of I-76 and I-95 and 10 minutes from the airport)
• Secure, affordable parking lot ($10 per day)
• Historically registered facility
• Convenience of Port – passengers who sail from the Port of Philadelphia and Camden rate their experience as one of the highest among U.S. ports

CAPITAL INVESTMENTS: To date, DRPA has invested $15 million in capital investments

WEB SITES:

• www.cruisephilly.com for cruise information
• www.gophila.com for destination information

2006 Season Details

NUMBER OF SAILINGS: 36 cruises

SEASON DATES: Cruises departing Philadelphia: April 25-October 28 (See www.cruisephilly.com for current schedule.)

ACTIVE CRUISE LINES: Cruise lines sailing from Philadelphia include: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas will make an unprecedented 26 sailings in 2006. The ship, which was refurbished in 1999, accommodates 2,020 passengers and features all of the amenities available on RCCL’s newer ships such as an Italian restaurant, Latin-themed lounge, specialty coffee house and rock climbing wall.

NCL’s Norwegian Crown returns to Philadelphia for the fourth consecutive year. For the first time, the ship will make all of its nine sailings during the peak spring and summer months. The ship, launched in 1988, boasts 527 cabins and an intimate atmosphere.

DESTINATIONS SERVICED: Bermuda

PASSENGER AMENITIES: The PPC offers two pre-and post-packages for cruisers. “Freestyle Philly” for NCL passengers and “CruisePhilly First” for RCCL passengers

NUMBER OF CRUISERS: More than 131,000 people are expected to pass through the cruise terminal this year.

TOP SITES VISITED: Independence National Historical Park, Valley Forge, the Amish Country, the Brandywine Valley, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation and the city’s foods and neighborhoods.

ECONOMIC IMPACT: In 2006, more than 131,000 passengers are expected to visit the port, generating nearly $35 million in business revenue and $8 million in employment income.

For information on cruising from Philadelphia or the special pre- and post-cruise packages, visit www.cruisephilly.com or call (856) 968-2052. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676, or visit www.gophila.com.

The Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier 1 is operated by the Port of Philadelphia and Camden, a department of the Delaware River Port Authority. DRPA also owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross bridges, the PATCO High Speed Line, the AmeriPort Intermodal Rail Center and the RiverLink Ferry.

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CONTACT:

Danelle Hunter, DRPA
(856) 968-2253

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