PortMiami Approves Norwegian Cruise Line Terminal
Miami-Dade County has given the green light for construction to begin on the sleek new terminal for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) terminal, designed by Miami-based architecture firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners.
The county will invest up to USD 100mln to build 166,000-square-foot terminal at PortMiami, augmented by funds coming from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Commissioners also agreed to advance project costs not to exceed an additional $65m.
The terminal will be able to accommodate ships with up to 5,000 passengers, feature indoor and outdoor waiting areas, faster embarkation and disembarkation technology, expedited security screening and include a new parking garage, a valet area and lounge.
This new agreement guarantees the county a minimum of 1.3 million Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian) passenger moves annually, solidifying Miami as its exclusive homeport in South Florida.
This Minimum Annual Guarantee is expected to generate approximately $24 million in gross revenues starting Fiscal Year 2018, with an increase of three percent annually throughout the life of the agreement.
“Investing in PortMiami's infrastructure positions Miami as a global destination for visitors," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "The construction of a new cruise terminal with the capacity to berth an additional 5,000-passenger cruise ship represents thousands of jobs and increased opportunities for our community. We are grateful for Norwegian Cruise Line's continued partnership.”
"PortMiami is proud to be recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World, welcoming more passengers than any other port in the world," said Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Economic Development and Tourism Committee Rebeca Sosa.
"Norwegian Cruise Line's partnership is a big win for the growth and expansion of tourism in Miami-Dade County. We are honored by our partner's commitment to PortMiami and Miami-Dade County."
“We are excited to partner with Miami-Dade County, the architects at Bermello Ajamil & Partners, and the team at NV2A and Haskell to create a modern and innovative terminal that will soon welcome guests to a premium experience that begins even before they embark and fully immerse themselves in what it means to cruise with Norwegian,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
With the increase in cruise calls, approximately 155 new direct full-time jobs will be created.
