By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Board of Commissioners has approved Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd (RCL) plans to build a new cruise terminal at its facility in Bayonne this summer.
RCL will fund the US$70 million cruise terminal building, which will feature a 36,000 sqft check-in terminal, a 60,000 sqft luggage area, a parking deck, additional parking and berth improvements.
Passenger volumes at the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal have grown steadily over the past three years – from 393,000 passengers in 2010 to 476,000 in 2012 – and are expected to reach around 600,000 after the new building opens in October 2014.
“The cruise industry is one of this region’s most rapidly growing markets and this private sector investment will enhance our ability to generate significant revenues from the waterfront property we own,” said David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority. “With the region’s largest vessel scheduled to dock at this port facility, we will be able to grow the jobs and economic activity that the cruise business has generated for this region for many decades.”
The line will also base its new 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas vessel at Bayonne from 2014 to offer cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida and Bermuda. It has also signed a five-year extension on its operating agreement with the Port Authority and will manage the terminal until 2043.