By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) has broken ground for a new US$55 million cruise passenger terminal at Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, US.
Entering into the agreement with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, RCL will improve the port’s pier and construct a new terminal building with a 125,000 sq ft check-in, customs and luggage processing space, as well as a 900-car parking structure.
Scheduled to be completed in November 2014, the new facilities will be erected adjacent to the current cruise terminal and will accommodate ships of various lengths, including the line’s new Quantum-class.
In November 2014, Royal Caribbean International’s latest newbuild Quantum of the Seas will be based at the port for her inaugural season sailing to the Caribbean and Bahamas. Next summer, Liberty of the Seas will homeport at Cape Liberty and will become the line’s largest cruise ship to sail to Bermuda. In winter 2015, Quantum of the Seas’ sister ship Anthem of the Seas will be deployed at the port after she completes her maiden season in Europe.
“The planned state-of-the-art cruise terminal at Cape Liberty will perfectly complement our Quantum-class ships, which will be the most technologically advanced ships in the world,” said Adam Goldstein, president and COO of RCL. “We are glad to work with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to develop world-class facilities for vacationers to embark on the most innovative cruise ships for an experience that can only be found on Royal Caribbean.”
Opened in May 2004, Cape Liberty Cruise Port already serves as a year-round base for Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas and a seasonal homeport for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit.
“The City of Bayonne welcomes the expansion of Royal Caribbean’s Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal along with the related construction and permanent jobs, enhanced tourism and commerce that will be created as Royal Caribbean expands their home port at the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor,” said Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith. “Its plans fully complement our plans to develop Harbor Station South as a full service retail, and commercial destination with flagship hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues close to the port.”