Port Everglades is reopening four fully reconstructed, expanded and modernized cruise terminals in time for the first eight-ship cruise day this season, Saturday, November 17, 2012.

Cruise Terminals 2, 19, 21 and 26 are part of a $54 million renovation project that transformed existing facilities into modern, world-class, guest-friendly cruise terminals, capable of processing both debarking and embarking cruise passengers simultaneously. 

“Our goal in the design and reconstruction of these terminals was to deliver a seamless curbside to ship guest experience,” said Steven Cernak, Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director.  “We fully expect our returning cruise guests to be wowed when they enter the new terminals and experience seamless boarding in first-class facilities.”

November 17, 2012 is the first of six days during Port Everglades’ cruise season, November through April, where eight cruise ships will be berthed at the same time requiring the use of all cruise terminal facilities in the Port.  The other dates are: December 1, 2012; December 22, 2012; January 6, 2013; March 17, 2013; and, April 6, 2013.

The renovated cruise terminals, which were completed well ahead of schedule and under budget, can accommodate ships of various sizes and capacities.  All terminals allow embarking and debarking guests to be processed simultaneously, and have separate and larger baggage halls, improved ground transportation areas, covered waiting areas outdoors and colorful Florida-inspired artwork. 

“Port Everglades has made a significant investment that will be readily apparent to our guests who have sailed out of the Port on Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn,” said Giora Israel, Carnival Corporation Senior Vice President of Global Ports Development, who was one of a group of Carnival Corporation executives who recently toured the newly renovated cruise terminals.  “The new terminals are also appreciated by our shore staff.  They are looking forward to working in an environment that is designed to expedite check in and traffic flow.”

Port Everglades committed to modernizing the terminals as part of an agreement, finalized in April 2010, between Carnival Corporation and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, the governing body for Port Everglades. The landmark agreement, one of the largest in Carnival’s history, calls for a minimum of 25.5 million cruise guests from multiple Carnival Corporation brands to sail to and from Port Everglades over the initial 15-year term, which will potentially produce almost half-a-billion dollars in Port revenue.

Broward County’s Public Works Department, Seaport Engineering & Construction Division is overseeing the renovations. Moss & Associates is the general contractor, and Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. is the terminal architect and project construction administrator.

Construction work for the cruise terminal created an estimated 1,000 construction jobs, equating to $40.7 million in personal income and $3.7 million in state and local taxes, according to an economic impact study by nationally recognized maritime research firm Martin Associates.