Proposed deal will see cruise company berthing ships in US port until 2026 and a terminal renovation
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a new long-term homeporting agreement with Florida’s Port Everglades, which includes the renovation of Cruise Terminal 25.
The cruise company’s current agreement with Port Everglades expires on 31 December 2017, while the new agreement will become effective on 1 January 2018 and expire on 30 September 2026. There is also an option to extend it for four years, followed by another five years.
As part of the new agreement, Royal Caribbean will base ships at the port in Broward County and Cruise Terminal 25 will be renovated to meet the cruise line’s needs by 31 October 2018. The final agreement must be approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.
“Our cruise line customers are becoming more sophisticated in the way they think about the guest experience, as we saw when Royal Caribbean partnered in the construction of Cruise Terminal 18 for its Oasis class of ships,” said Steven Cernak, chief executive at Port Everglades. “We value the company’s partnership and confidence to bring the newest ships from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises to Port Everglades.”
Royal Caribbean International’s newest Oasis-class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, will begin homeporting at Port Everglades in November 2016. Meanwhile, sister brand Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship Celebrity Edge will begin sailing from there in autumn 2018.