Friday was a special day for Carnival Cruise Line and PortMiami as construction officially started on upgrading the Terminal F facility which will cater for the new Carnival Celebration cruise ship.
A Big Moment for Carnival’s Home!
With Carnival Cruise Line on hold at the moment, it doesn’t mean projects and plans for the future should also be on hold. On Friday, Carnival Cruise Line celebrated the breaking ground of its expansion for Terminal F. The ceremony took place under sunny blue skies outside the current terminal.
There was even a surprise visit from the Carnival Dream too. The ship sailed past which offered a special moment not just for those at the even but for the small number of essential crew members onboard.
Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, said:
“We are proud of Carnival’s role in making Miami the cruise capital of the world, and today marks the continuation of an incredible 50-year partnership with PortMiami and Miami-Dade County. This expanded terminal built specifically for Carnival Celebration will make an incredible addition to the existing facilities at our largest embarkation port. My most sincere thanks to Mayor Levine Cava and all of the Miami-Dade officials who made this day possible”
In September 2019, Miami-Dade County approved the expansion plan for the terminal which you can read about here.
With Miami being home to Carnival Cruise Line and a long history cruising out of PortMiami, it’s a major milestone as the cruise line is committed to the cruise capital of the world.
Expansion Details of Terminal F
Terminal F at PortMiami is being expanded so it can cater to the larger cruise ships. The 471,000-square-foot facility is set to be completed by the time the Carnival Celebration debuts in 2022. The upgrade is estimated to cost $170 million.
Once upgraded, Terminal F will be Carnival’s largest in North America. There won’t just be added room as the current buildings will get a fresh new look that blends into the newly expanded areas.
At night, the terminal will be illuminated with continued LEDs that will be seen from the MacArthur Causeway. The terminal will get busy with the larger cruise ships and Terminal F has been designed to make sure it can handle the increase in passenger numbers.
Also Read: Miami Cruise Terminal Guide – What You Need to Know
Celebrations’ Homeport
The giant sister ship to Mardi Gras is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The ship will debut in November 2022 out of the newly upgraded terminal and it will help mark Carnival’s 50th anniversary year.
The ship is set to be identical to Mardi Gras and once completed will be 180,800 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,374 at double occupancy. The inaugural sailing is currently scheduled for November 6, 2022.
Main Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
