By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. dedicated a new cruise terminal at Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, US.on 24 October.
During the ceremony, the executives dedicated the terminal to Art on the Working Waterfront, unveiling ten photographs that capture the ‘unique energy and character’ of historic New York Harbor. The images were taken by photographer and International Longshoreman Association member John Bacaring. Following the unveiling, the officials and executives previewed the new terminal.
The dedication ceremony marked the next phase of the development of the Bayonne cruise port’s second cruise terminal, which is due to welcome its first guests when Royal Caribbean International’s newbuild Quantum of the Seas sails into New York Harbor on 10 November 2014. It was attended by Bayonne Mayor James Davis; Richard Larrabee, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s director of port commerce; and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s president and COO Adam Goldstein, and vice president of port operations Juan Trescastro.
“By working together, Royal Caribbean and the port authority have been able to bring this world class terminal on line which can service the newest generation of large cruise ships,” said Larrabee. “We look forward to continuing passenger growth with the arrival of the Quantum Class vessels to the harbour in 2014 and 2015.”
Located at 4 Port Terminal Boulevard adjacent to the port’s first cruise terminal, the new facility was built as part of a joint initiative between Royal Caribbean and the port authority. The first phase of the US$55 million port expansion includes a new, state-of-the-art guest terminal, with a 125,000 sq ft check-in, customs and immigration area, and luggage processing space, as well as a 950-vehicle parking area. The pier will also be improved.
Goldstein said: “The planned state-of-the-art cruise terminal at Cape Liberty will perfectly complement our Quantum-class ships, which will be the most technologically advanced ships in the world, and help generate jobs and grow the cruise industry regionally.”
Opened in May 2004, Cape Liberty Cruise Port is located 15 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and seven miles south of Manhattan. The port has served as the year-round base of Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas, and a seasonal homeport for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit.
From November, Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas will be based at the port offering itineraries to the Caribbean and Bahamas, while Liberty of the Seas will homeport at Cape Liberty in summer 2015. In winter 2015, Cape Liberty will serve as the homeport for Quantum of the Seas’ sister ship Anthem of the Seas, after she has completed her inaugural European season.
“Being the sole cruise port in the entire state of New Jersey highlights one of the many unique qualities of Bayonne,” said Mayor James Davis. “Without question, by establishing working relationships with entities like Royal Caribbean, the possibilities are endless for the future of the city.”