If you’re one of the nearly 4 million passengers expected to pass through Port Everglades this year, expect to be impressed. Exciting projects are in progress at this popular Port, most of which will allow for larger ships and improved services to passengers.
Carnival recently completed an extensive, multi-million dollar redesign and upgrade of the port’s Cruise Terminal Two so guests can begin their personalized experience as soon as they enter the building.
This retrofitted terminal is mostly used by the company’s Princess brand. New features include a movie theater and more comfortable boarding areas, enhancing guests’ experience as they prepare for boarding. In addition, Port Everglades has the first cruise terminal in the world specially equipped for Carnival’s new Ocean Medallion interactive wearable technology service.
Over at terminal 25, renovation is underway, completely expanding the footprint of the building, adding a second-floor check-in and waiting area and improving the traffic circulation. The new state-of-the-art facility is expected to be ready at the end of 2018, in time for the arrival of Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, the Celebrity Edge.
The Celebrity Edge, which will hold 2,918 passengers, is considered a “futuristic” ship. It is the first ship in Celebrity Cruises’ new class of ships in nearly a decade. The ms Nieuw Statendam is Holland America Line’s newest Pinnacle-class ship. This 2,650 passenger ship will begin sailing from Port Everglades in December 2018.
There will also be four more cruise ships operating out of Port Everglades in the summer of 2018, a time when cruise traffic has traditionally been slower, according to Ellen Kennedy, spokesperson for the Port.
Improvements for Cargo Ships
Meanwhile, work is continuing on the South Port Turning Notch Extension project, the largest project at the port. The entire project, projected to cost about $500 million, will lengthen the existing deepwater turnaround area for cargo ships from about 900 feet to 2,400 feet, allowing for five new cargo berths. Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes will also be added to serve the existing Southport container berths. The crane rails will be extended to the full length of the existing Turning Notch berth to utilize the existing cranes.
Port Everglades is the number one seaport in Florida by revenue — $161.7 million — and the number one container port in Florida, and number 10 in the nation by volume. It is the number one seaport in Florida for exports, with $11.7 billion in exports, and $10.4 billion in imports. It is the home port to the world’s largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean’s 5,400 passenger Oasis-class ships. It holds the world’s record for the most cruise guests in a single day – 55,885 guests arrived and departed from Port Everglades on March 13, 2016.
All of this is great news for Hollywood in terms of increased economic development for the city and surrounding area. Hotels, restaurants, and stores should see increased activity and income, ultimately leading to more job opportunities and business development for the city.
