By
Alex Smith |
PortMiami in Florida, is one of the world’s largest and busiest cruise ports and is therefore known as the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’. The seaport operates as a landlord port and partners with 23 cruise line companies, including Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Virgin Voyages.
The port’s success has grown further in recent years, as it experienced its busiest ever cruise season in 2023. PortMiami’s annual economic impact has increased from $41.4 billion in 2016 to $61.4 billion in 2023, according to a new study conducted by consulting firm Martin Associates. The total economic activity accounts for 3.9 per cent of the $1.6 trillion gross domestic product for the state of Florida. The study also shows the number of jobs supported by the seaport’s cruise and cargo activity has grown from 334,500 to 340,078, including 29,423 direct local jobs.
“PortMiami is not only one of Miami-Dade County’s most important economic engines; its economic impact is also felt regionally and globally,” says Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County. “This report confirms the seaport’s vital role in supporting good-paying local jobs and contributing to the growth of our community, in addition to our commitment to resilience and reducing our carbon footprint with shore power and our net zero plan.”
In the past three years, the port has opened three new cruise terminals: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pearl of Miami; Carnival Cruise Line’s Terminal F; and Virgin Voyages’ Palm Grove. Currently under construction is MSC Cruises’ Terminal AA, which will open in 2024. The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners has also approved Royal Caribbean Group’s new Cruise Terminal G, which is expected to open in late 2027.
The port has also become the first large cruise port on the US eastern seaboard to construct shore power facilities at five cruise berths. From 17 June 2024, visiting cruise ships have been able to turn off their diesel generators and plug into landside electrical power while docked. The shore power was developed in a partnership between Miami-Dade County (PortMiami), Carnival Corporation, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Group, Virgin Voyages, and Florida Power & Light Company.
“The seaport continues to play a critical role in the economic vitality of our region,” says Hydi Webb, director and CEO of PortMiami. “We will continue to invest in our infrastructure to ensure that PortMiami remains a world-class cruise and cargo port. I want to thank all the seaport’s partners for their unrelenting support. Our continued growth and success are a result of strong collaborations.”
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed. Subscribe for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.