USA. MSC Cruises has broken ground on its new US$350 million “mega” cruise terminal in the Port of Miami. When completed at the end of next year, it will be the largest such terminal in North America.
The terminal will be a four-storey building with four embarkation decks. It will be able to accommodate up to 36,000 passenger movements a day, and feature enough berthing space to serve three latest generation ships simultaneously.
MSC Cruises said the project will allow it to further its presence in the North American market and attract more international travellers for holidays at sea in the Caribbean.
A partnership between MSC Cruises and Italian ship builder Fincantieri was announced in July last year, whereby the latter’s infrastructure division would construct the state-of-the-art facility. The facility which will feature design work by global architecture firm Arquitectonica.
The new terminal will be able to accommodate MSC Cruises’ largest and most environmentally advanced cruise ships, including its current flagship, MSC Seashore, and the line’s future liquified natural gas-powered ships.
Most ships at berth at the new Miami terminal will be able to plug in to the local power grid, in line with PortMiami’s plans to enable shore power connectivity.
MSC Cruises Managing Director – UK and Ireland Antonio Paradiso said: “The new terminal in Miami represents our commitment to enhance our attractive Caribbean Sea sailings for guests from the UK and Ireland who will enjoy the experience before they have even stepped on board one of our ships.
“It’s also part of our larger ambition to deploy some of our most modern and environmentally advanced ships in Miami, all of whose itineraries will call at our stunning Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve private island.”
The Moodie Davitt Report will bring you details of the terminal’s planned retail and food & beverage offering in due course.
