Port Report

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ship is heading to Miami thanks to a new cruise terminal.

See what’s heating up in Miami.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. HAS announced plans to construct and operate a dramatic new cruise ship terminal at PortMiami. The striking new structure will serve as homeport to Royal Caribbean International cruise ships, including one of the line’s 5,400-passenger Oasis-class ships (which include Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas,

Harmony of the Seas, and two more, yet-to-be named ships set for delivery in 2018 and 2021.)

“We are truly excited to be working with Miami-Dade County and PortMiami to create not just another cruise terminal, but a truly iconic building,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “This new terminal is a symbol of our commitment to Miami, the city where our company first started almost 50 years ago. We can’t wait to bring an Oasis-class ship to PortMiami.”

After a global competition between five of the world’s leading architectural firms, Broadway Malyan was selected to design the new terminal because of their creative thinking and cutting-edge design.

The 170,000-square-foot terminal, which is scheduled to open late 2018, is already nicknamed the “Crown of Miami” because of its distinct shape: The design evokes the points of the symbolic headgear when viewed from the water; the “M” of Miami when viewed from the eastern or western approaches; and a sense of waves rising or ships passing when viewed from the terminal side. At night, the terminal’s lit facade will make a striking impression, providing a dynamic addition to the port’s landscape.

“This public-private partnership will have an estimated economic impact of $500 million and generate approximately 4,000 jobs,” said Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade County mayor, adding that the expansion will make PortMiami Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise port in the world.

Currently, PortMiami welcomes approximately 750,000 Royal Caribbean passengers annually, representing about 15 percent of its overall passenger traffic. Once the new cruise terminal is completed, it is anticipated that Royal Caribbean will generate at least 1.8 million passengers at PortMiami — representing no less than 30 percent of the port’s projected

traffic.• passenger

At night, the terminal’s lit facade will provide a dynamic addition to the port’s landscape.