Terminal F is set to open in October 2022 and will be the line's largest facility in North America
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Cruise Line is to fully renovate and significantly expand Cruise Terminal F at Florida’s PortMiami to accommodate its Excel-class cruise ships, which will be the largest in its fleet and will be powered by LNG.
Following approval from the Miami-Dade County Commission, Carnival has shared its plans to work with Miami-based design firm Berenblum Busch Architects to create a terminal with a simple and open layout. The terminal will be equipped with various technologies, such as facial recognition systems, to make the embarkation process quicker and safer.
Terminal F is set to open in October 2022 to coincide with the arrival of Carnival’s second Excel-class ship (yet to be named) and is one of three dedicated to the line’s operations in Miami. Once renovated, it will be Carnival’s largest terminal in North America.
As part of the agreement, Carnival has also secured berthing rights at Terminal F for 20 years, with the option of two additional seven-year extensions.
“With today’s approval, we will move quickly on a plan to remodel and expand Terminal F so that it will accommodate the most innovative class of ship to join our fleet,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Over the last several months, we have had very constructive discussions with PortMiami and Miami-Dade leaders about our plans for Miami and our goal to enhance and grow our capacity and operations in our hometown. Everyone is very excited about Miami being home to our next LNG ship in North America and the sister ship to Mardi Gras, which arrives next August and is generating tremendous enthusiasm.”
Carnival’s first Excel-class vessel, Mardi Gras, will be delivered in August 2020 and homeport at Port Canaveral after inaugural sailings from Europe and New York.