PortMiami sets new cruise passenger record and announces exciting developments for the future
PortMiami has reached an extraordinary milestone by welcoming a record number of cruise travelers for the 2024 fiscal year. The port recorded 8,233,056 passengers between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, surpassing its former benchmark of 7,299,294 passengers from the previous fiscal year. This remarkable achievement highlights PortMiami’s ongoing success and solidifies its position as a key global leader in the cruise industry.
Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava praised it's accomplishments, emphasizing how the port continues to play an integral role in shaping Miami’s skyline and boosting the local economy. She also noted the port’s dedication to fostering sustainable growth, ensuring that PortMiami continues to be an innovative and environmentally conscious hub for cruise travel.
PortMiami's expanding presence in the global cruise industry
PortMiami’s 12.79% increase in cruise passengers from the previous year is a testament to the port’s continuous growth and success. Hydi Webb, Director and CEO of PortMiami, expressed her appreciation for the cruise lines, Miami-Dade County officials, and the port’s community for their support, contributing to PortMiami's continued success as the preferred departure point for cruise passengers. She emphasized that the port’s leadership team remains committed to ensuring an outstanding experience for travelers and further enhancing its reputation as the best cruise destination.
The upcoming 2024-2025 cruise season promises to bring even more excitement to PortMiami with the fresh additions to the fleet. These include Explora II from Explora Journeys, Resilient Lady from Virgin Voyages, and the MSC Cruises World America. Additionally, the port will expand its infrastructure with the opening of the MSC Cruises’ Cruise Terminal AA, which is set to become the biggest cruise terminal globally. The construction of a new terminal for Royal Caribbean International, Terminal G, will begin by the summer of 2025, marking another significant step in PortMiami’s growth and expansion.
PortMiami's ongoing infrastructure developments ensure that the port will remain a dominant player in the cruise industry and continue to attract a global audience. These advancements not only cater to the increasing demand for cruise services but also reflect the port's dedication to providing world-class facilities and services for cruise lines and passengers alike.
A commitment to sustainability and innovation
In addition to the impressive passenger growth, PortMiami has also taken significant steps towards sustainability with the introduction of shore power. This innovative technology allows cruise vessels for to power up using electrical grids instead of running their engines while docked, minimizing pollution and sound disruption. This historic milestone, launched on June 17, 2024, makes PortMiami the first prominent cruise port on the U.S. East Coast to provide shore power at five of its cruise berths. This development is a major step toward enhancing the environmental sustainability of the cruise industry, and it is the result of a collaboration between several cruise lines and Miami-Dade County, alongside Florida Power & Light Company.
The shore power project reinforces PortMiami’s role as an environmental leader within the cruise industry, ensuring that it continues to operate in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. As cruise lines increasingly seek to reduce their environmental impact, initiatives like shore power are essential for the port's long-term success and its efforts to create a more sustainable tourism experience.
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