An estimated 3.8 million passengers sailed on multi-day cruises from North American ports, including San Juan, in 1991. (Additional American passengers sailed from overseas ports.)

Passenger traffic was up at all homeports largely due to increased demand for three- and four-day cruises. Vancouver, meanwhile, posted another record for Alaska sailings.

While Miami continues to dominate as homeport for multi-day cruises, Port Canaveral posted more than a million three- and four­-day passengers. Together with Port Everglades, these three Florida ports command 59 percent of the entire North American cruise busrness.

Among the major multi-day homeports is also San Juan, which ranked third in passenger traffic in 1991. In addition, San Juan is also the third most popular port of call.

On the West Coast, Los Angeles is the main homeport, followed by Vancouver and San Diego.

Ports of Call

The Bamahas ports of Nassau and Freeport attracted the most cruise passengers including seven-day, three- and four-day, and one­-day passengers. The U.S. Virgin Islands, meanwhile, posted the most passengers on seven-day and longer cruises.

While Western Caribbean ports, including Jamaica and Cozumel, showed gains in 1991, popular Eastern Caribbean ports posted mixed results, with San Juan and the U.S. Virgin Islands posting the strongest increases.

On Mexico’s Western Coast, Ensenada saw a remarkable increase in passenger traffic which can mainly be attributed to three- and four-day, and one­-day cruises.

In Alaska, Hajnes, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway and Whittier posted healthy increases in passenger traffic.

On the East Coast, Quebec noted a healthy increase along with Sydney, Nova Scotia, and the city of St. John’s, New Foundland.

Port Development

Most U.S. ports are in the midst of expansion or have plans for future development.

In Miami, the five-lane flxed expansion bridge was recently completed. In addition the port is in the midst of a $100 million channel-deepening project. lt has also invested $10 million in preliminary designs for a direct tunnel link to the interstate highway system.

At Port Everglades, terminals no. 21 and 24 have been enlarged to handle the increased passenger traffic expected this year with the new ship additions including the Regal Princess and the Costa Classica. The two-floor $3.2 million terminal no. 25 will be completed this spring to co-incide with the arrival of the Zenith.

Port Canaveral has also built a new state-of­ the-art $14 million terminal and is upgrading existing facilities at terminals no. 2, 3 and 4.

Tampa is planning on building the Garrison Seaport Center, complete with an aquarium, music dome and two cruise terminals.

St. Petersburg, which is hoping to capitalize on cruises to Cuba once it opens up, is revamping an existing terminal and building a new terminal by 1995.

Key West is enlarging its dock this year to provide deeper draft and is also planning to build a separate cruise pier in the future.

In New York, the port authority is inviting engineering and consulting firms to submit bids for revamping of its cruise terminal.

West Coast Development

San Diego is building to keep up with its growth. Construction will begin late this year on a new International Cruise Center which will double the pier so that it can handle four to five ships simultaneously. The Cruise Center will have three terminals and will increase space from 30,000 to 150,000 square feet.

San Francisco is planning a major harbor development project with its Scandinavia Center. The $180 million complex will include a cruise terminal, two 1,000-foot berths, a hotel restaurants, and shopping complex.

Caribbean Development

The Port of Philipsburg, St. Maarten, is constructing a passenger terminal which will include a shopping mall. When completed, four cruise ships will be able to dock simultaneously.

Martinique is also in the midst of building a cruise ship terminal, slated for summer completion.

St. Croix will construct a $15 million two-berth cruise ship dock in Fredriksted, north of the existing facility.

Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, will see a new cruise terminal next year as part of its port renovation program.

Trinidad and Tobago will continue its waterfront development next year when it commences construction of a cultural complex.

In Cozumel, a $16 million cruise ship pier is planned and in Playa del Carmen, a new cruise ship dock will be constructed.

In the Bahamas, Nassau is embarking on the third phase of its development plan, a $50 million shopping complete in the port area. Freeport is also upgrading its facilities; it recently renovated two passenger terminals and plans to build a fourth this year.