New terminal will enable Norwegian to bring a minimum of 1.3 million guests to Miami every year
By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Miami-Dade County has formally approved plans for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) to build a new passenger terminal for its Norwegian Cruise Line brand at PortMiami in Florida, US.
County commissioners will invest US$100 million in the terminal construction project, which will kick off with a ground-breaking ceremony on 28 April 2018. The building is expected to be completed by autumn 2019, just in time for Norwegian’s newest Breakaway Plus-class ship, Norwegian Encore, to begin her inaugural homeporting season in Miami.
Boasting a spiralled, multi-level façade inspired by a nautilus (a pelagic marine mollusc), the terminal will be designed by Miami-based firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners. It will be almost 166,500 square feet and accommodate ships carrying up to 5,000 passengers. The facility will have indoor waiting areas, a lounge and service area for large groups and charters, and new technology to support faster embarkation and disembarkation processes, as well as expedited security screening and luggage check-in. There will also be an outdoor waiting area, a parking garage and a valet parking area with direct access to the terminal and lounge.
The new terminal will be constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver standards to optimise energy performance, indoor air quality, water efficiency. The building will also be built using local materials and resources.
“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 CEO of NCLH.
As part of its new agreement with Miami-Dade County, NCLH has also committed to bringing a minimum of 1.3 million Norwegian Cruise Line passengers to PortMiami every year. This Minimum Annual Guarantee is expected to generate approximately US$24 million in gross revenues starting in the 2018 financial year, with an increase of 3% annually throughout the agreement. Meanwhile, the increase in cruise calls is expected to create around 155 new direct full-time jobs.
“Investing in PortMiami’s infrastructure positions Miami as a global destination for visitors,” said Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Mayor. “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.”