MSC Cruises Unveils World’s Largest Cruise Terminal at PortMiami: A Game-Changer for Tourism and Sustainability
In the ever-evolving landscape of cruise tourism, PortMiami has consistently set benchmarks, but the latest development is setting a new standard. MSC Cruises is nearing the completion of what will be the world’s largest cruise terminal, a state-of-the-art facility with an impressive price tag of $450 million. This ambitious project is not just a testament to MSC Cruises’s commitment to enhancing Miami’s cruise sector but also a beacon of modernity and sustainability.
The new MSC Cruises terminal at PortMiami is poised to be a marvel of modern architecture and operational efficiency. Designed by the renowned firm Arquitectonica, the terminal sprawls over a significant footprint at the bustling port. Its completion is highly anticipated later this year, promising to elevate the passenger experience to unprecedented levels.
Key features of the terminal include:
Capacity to Welcome Thousands: On a daily basis, the terminal will handle 36,000 guests across its three cruise berths. This capacity is not just impressive; it’s transformative, designed to streamline operations and enhance passenger comfort from arrival to embarkation.
Ample Parking Facilities: With a parking garage that can accommodate 2,400 cars, visitors will find easy access and secure parking, making their travel experience smoother right from the start.
Environmental Considerations: In a significant nod to sustainability, the terminal incorporates shore power connectivity. This feature allows docked ships to draw electrical power from the land, significantly reducing the emission of pollutants and underlining MSC’s commitment to environmental stewardship in its operations.
MSC Cruise’s investment in Miami extends beyond the colossal terminal. The company recently announced the construction of a new $100 million headquarters in Overtown, signaling its long-term commitment to the region and its economic health. This facility will not only create jobs but also stimulate local economic activity, fostering community growth and development.
Adding to the excitement, MSC Cruises has revealed plans for a grand naming ceremony for its newest flagship, the MSC Cruises World America, scheduled for April 9, 2025. This event, to be held at the new PortMiami facility, is expected to be a landmark occasion, attracting cruise enthusiasts and dignitaries alike.
As MSC Cruise’s new terminal moves closer to completion, it heralds a new era not just for PortMiami but for the entire cruise industry. This facility is set to become a central hub for international travelers and a model for future cruise terminal developments worldwide. With its blend of capacity, innovation, and sustainability, MSC Cruises new PortMiami terminal is not just a gateway to the seas but a doorway to the future of cruising.
MSC Cruises USA Breaks Ground on PortMiami Terminal
MSC Cruises USA has recently broken work on an extensive cruise terminal at PortMiami as it expands operations at the congested port. The cruise line is based in Switzerland but the US locations are currently in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, and now Miami.
The terminal building itself rises 4 stories and will spread over 490,000 square feet. The building itself will cost $350 million. Once the project is complete in 2023, the capacity of the terminal can hold 36,000 passengers daily. The terminal can hold 3 cruise chips at once and it will include the MSC Seascape (a 2,270 cabin).
The project will also have a 2,400 space parking garage and lot. MSC Cruises utilizes LNG (liquified natural gas) powered ships. The ships can also connect to shore power while docking which creates a more fuel-efficient ship.
According to the President of MSC Cruises USA, Rubén Rodriguez, “Our new terminal at PortMiami represents MSC Cruises’ commitment to growing in North America and will help drive our expansion in South Florida and beyond.”
Arquitectonica is the designer of the building while Italy-based Fincantieri Infrastructure is listed as the developer for the project. The old renderings for the terminal included a separate building for the USA headquarters for the cruise line but the plans transitioned into more space for customers. There are talks of leasing office space in other areas of Miami.
PortMiami has seen a lot of construction over the past year. Larger cruise lines are expanding their fleets like Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, and Virgin Voyages.
Here Comes The Money: Miami Gets Its First Ship From the New Panama Canal
Say hello (and probably goodbye by now, it’s been a few days) to the MOL MAJESTY, the first neopanamax ship to dock at the Port of Miami after coming through the newly expanded Panama Canal. July 9th was the day the gigantic girl galumphed into the port and hauled herself over to its new gantry cranes, and Miami saw the beginning what all that tunnel digging, dredging, and etc. was all about. The ships are getting much bigger, says the Miami Herald:
“The 991-foot MOL Majesty, which has a 6,724 TEU (the equivalent of a standard 20-foot container) capacity, arrived in PortMiami just before dawn and already was offloading cargo by the time 11 a.m. festivities began at the port. The event ended with a BBQ under an old cargo crane. The original canal can only handle 5,000-TEU ships, while the new locks can accommodate ships carrying up to 14,000 TEUs.”
Royal Caribbean’s Giant New Cruise Ship Terminal at The Port is Officially A Go
Miami-Dade County Commissioners have officially approved a deal with Royal Caribbean Cruises to build a new terminal capable of handling the world’s largest cruise ships at the Port of Miami. The vote was unanimous, reports TRD, and the architecturally dramatic, 170,000 square foot ‘Crown of Miami’ as Royal calls it is moving forward. Completion is expected by 2018.
Broadway Malyan Beat Out Zaha, Bjarke to Design Royal’s Gigantic New Terminal
Renderigs via The Next Miami.
Royal Caribbean’s gigantic new cruise ship terminal coming to PortMiami, which was announced last night, is the result of an international design competition in which five firms participated, including Zaha Hadid Architects and Bjarke Ingels. Back in March, Travel Weekly published short descriptions of each of the five proposals (H/T: The Next Miami). The other participating teams included Aedas, Asymptote Architects, and of course the winners, Broadway Malyan (renderings for which can be seen below and above).
This is how Travel Weekly described the other four designs:
Aedas – A giant, bright blue Transformers toy.
Bjarke Ingels Group – Inspired by Lincoln Road, with canopies stacked atop each other, along with a park and trees inside the terminal.
Zaha Hadid – “very futuristic,” with a concert hall inside.
Asymptote – draped with “a billion LED lights” for a different display every night.
The Next Miami quoted Royal Caribbean Cruises as saying, about the winning design:
The 170,000-square-foot terminal is nicknamed the ‘Crown of Miami’ because of its distinct shape. The design evokes the points of the symbolic headgear when viewed from the water; the ‘M’ of Miami when viewed from the east or western approaches; and a sense of waves rising or ships passing when viewed from the terminal side. At night, the terminal’s facade will be lit ensuring that the building makes a striking impression and providing a dynamic addition to the PortMiami landscape.
World’s Biggest Cruise Ships Coming to Gigantic New PortMiami Terminal
Via Royal Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean Cruises and Miami-Dade County announced a deal yesterday night to bring Royal’s Oasis class cruise ships, currently the world’s largest, to the Port of Miami along with a dramatic and huge new Terminal A to accommodate them, reports the Miami Herald. Designed by international architecture firm Broadway Malyan, the crown-shaped terminal (they’re calling it the ‘Crown of Miami.’ We’re sensing a theme here.) has two jaunty wings that will enclose soaring interior spaces. Inside, two propellers spinning overhead will greet passengers as they enter the concourse. The dock will have space for vessels up to 1,300 feet in size (Oasis class ships are nearly 1,200 feet long) and a parking garage will contain space for 1,000 cars.
Paid for almost entirely by Royal Caribbean (the county is pitching in $15 million for new roads approaching the $247 million terminal), the new terminal is predicted to have a vast economic impact, indirectly creating a whopping 4,000 new jobs and injecting $500 million annually into the local economy. It will also, finally, bring the world’s biggest cruise ships back to the world’s biggest cruise port.
The Miami-Dade County Commission must vote on the deal before it becomes final. Once that happens, the new terminal should be ready for business by 2018.
