Global cruise company Royal Caribbean has entered into a deal with Miami-Dade County to build and operate a new cruise terminal at PortMiami, on land leased from the county.
The proposed 170,000ft² terminal, nicknamed ‘Crown of Miami’, will be designed by architectural firm Broadway Malyan.
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The terminal project, to be built with an investment of $200m, is expected to be completed by 2018.
Once completed, the new terminal will serve as homeport to Royal Caribbean International ships, including a 5,400-passenger Oasis-class ship.
The newly signed deal will go before the Miami-Dade County board of county commissioners next month for approval.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said: "This public-private partnership will have an estimated economic impact of $500m and generate approximately 4,000 jobs.
"Royal Caribbean has been an important part of our world-class community for almost 50 years, and this expansion will once again make PortMiami Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise port in the world."
Additionally, Royal Caribbean has committed to adding a 20,000ft² innovation lab to its corporate headquarters located at PortMiami in order to continue to generate the company’s vessels.
Currently, PortMiami receives around 750,000 Royal Caribbean passengers annually, representing about 15% of its overall passenger traffic.
Upon completion of the new cruise terminal, Royal Caribbean is expected to generate at least 1.8 million passengers at PortMiami, representing nearly 30% of the port’s projected passenger traffic.
Royal Caribbean Cruises currently owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50% joint venture.
The company operates a combined total of 47 ships, with an additional 12 on order.
Image: Royal Caribbean’s proposed terminal at PortMiami. Photo: courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
