PortMiami breaks ground in readiness for Symphony of the Seas, now on sale
Royal Caribbean International has broken ground today on the new PortMiami Terminal A, which will be the homeport of Symphony of the Seas, the line’s next ship to be launched.
Itineraries for the 6,780-passenger ship, which will claim the title of the biggest cruise ship in the world when she launches next April, are on sale from today.
Symphony will spend her inaugural season sailing in the Med. She will make her way to Miami in early November to begin seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries on Saturday November 17 from the state-of-the-art Terminal A.
The 170,000-square-foot terminal, scheduled for completion for the arrival of Symphony and sister ship Allure, which has just 28 fewer staterooms, will be the most innovative cruise facility in the US.
Currently, PortMiami welcomes approximately 750,000 Royal Caribbean passengers annually, representing about 15% 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 30% of the port’s projected passenger traffic.
The new terminal is being dubbed the Crown of Miami, owing to 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 east or western approaches; and a sense of waves rising or ships passing when viewed from the terminal side. At night, the terminal’s facade will be lit ensuring that the building provides a dynamic addition to the PortMiami landscape.
Royal Caribbean International also revealed today it has committed to a multi-year agreement with the Bahamas, to help grow tourism to the destination, rapidly increase the cruise line’s employment of Bahamian nationals and invest in hospitality training to develop talent in the country.
A major part of this will include major enhancements to Coco Cay, the line’s private island destination in the Bahamas. New opportunities have been promised for vendors and craftsmen to promote the culture of the Bahamas to visitors.