Royal Caribbean will have preferential berthing rights at the new US$100 million facility until 2026
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Port Everglades in Florida is to invest more than US$100 million to completely renovate Cruise Terminal 25 as part of a new long-term agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL).
Replacing RCCL’s current agreement which ends in 2017, the new deal will give the company preferential berthing rights for cruise ships from its various cruise brands until 30 September 2026. It also includes options to extend the terms for an additional four years, followed by an additional five years. Currently, both Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises sail from Port Everglades.
Originally built in 1992, Cruise Terminal 25 will be upgraded to enable it to cater to the new generation of large cruise ships.
“Renovating Cruise Terminal 25 was already part of our Master/Vision Plan, and was scheduled to begin this year,” said Steven Cernak, Port Everglades’ chief executive and port director. “Giving preferential berthing rights to RCCL allows us to build a facility that meets its expectations for the new generations of larger cruise ships and for the new Celebrity Edge, which is scheduled to homeport at Port Everglades beginning in December 2018.”
RCCL also has preferential berthing rights at Cruise Terminal 18, which was completed in 2009 to welcome Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas and her sister ships Allure of the Seas in 2010 and Harmony of the Seas in 2016.