A dedicated cruise terminal at the port of Miami is to be created to handle MSC Cruises’ ships.
The exclusive new PortMiami building will be capable of handling two mega cruise ships at the same time, allowing the line to conduct two turnarounds simultaneously, handling up to 28,000 passenger movements a day.
MSC Cruises will design, build, operate and maintain a large building that will host two cruise terminals as well as two ship berths.
Work is due to start early next year for planned completion by late 2022 when the company will transfer all its PortMiami operations to the new facility.
The cost has not been disclosed.
But MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vagosaid: “With another 13 cruise vessels due to join our fleet in the next eight years, our ambition is to have our most innovative ship classes represented at PortMiami, bringing a wealth of choice to our North American as well as international guests.
“In particular, the new terminal – which will be one of the most innovative the industry has seen – will ensure that we can provide our guests an enhanced end-to-end, high-quality experience while both embarking and disembarking, thus adding to their ability to fully enjoy every moment of their vacation.”
MSC Cruises currently operates four vessels out of PortMiami – MSC Seaside and MSC Armonia year-round; MSC Divina seasonally; and MSC Meraviglia from the autumn.
The new cruise facilities are expected to bring one million passengers through PortMiami each year.