Port Canaveral is expanding to keep up with record-breaking passenger demand and bigger cruise ships, unveiling plans for a larger terminal and a new parking garage.
As part of the project, Canaveral Port Authority will nearly double the size of Cruise Terminal 5 from 90,000 square feet to 170,000 square feet.
It is also building a 13-storey parking garage next to Cruise Terminal 6 that will add 3,700 parking spaces to the port’s existing capacity.
The expansion comes as Port Canaveral continues to experience surging demand, with more than 80 percent of cruise guests using the port for their trips.
Port Canaveral is building a 13-storey parking garage next to Cruise Terminal 6 as part of its expansion
"Every investment we make is focused on ensuring the port can continue to support the level of guest experience and operational efficiency our cruise partners expect from us, while readying ourselves to meet future business commitments," said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral's CEO.
"Projects like these intentionally align with a business strategy that underscores our role as an economic driver for our port community, supporting growth and new business opportunities at the local and regional level."
Combined, the two projects represent a $175 million investment – $78m for the terminal expansion and $93m for the parking garage.
Cruise Terminal 5 will accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships, carrying up to 5,600 passengers.
Port to remain operational
"When this terminal was built, it was a very large facility for the size of the ship that was being ported at the time," said Murray (via Spectrum News 13).
"Now the ships are two-and-a-half to three times larger, so we have to have a facility that can handle that volume.”
Port Canaveral will remain operational while the work is carried out, "given the volume of passengers to the port now", Murray added.
The project is due to be completed in December.
Images courtesy of Port Canaveral
