PortMiami announced yesterday, December 11, 2023, it has set a record-breaking year in activity during Fiscal Year 2023 by welcoming 7,299,294 passengers.
From October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023, the Cruise Capital of the World experienced almost a 7% increase in cruise passenger totals. The port’s previous record was during the 2019 Fiscal Year with 6,823,816 passengers welcomed.
“Congratulations to the entire PortMiami team and its partners on its busiest cruise year ever,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “PortMiami continues to drive our economy forward, creating opportunities for residents and businesses across our county. The Port is an industry leader, which is future ready and committed to innovative, efficient, and sustainable growth.”
The port not only broke its own single-day record during the 2023 season, but it also will be welcoming eight new cruise ships during the 2024 season. Those ships include Oceania Cruises’ Vista, Carnival’s Carnival Venezia, Scenic Eclipse II, Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity, MSC Cruises’ Explora 1, Norwegian’s Norwegian Viva, Regent’s Seven Sea Grandeur and Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
PortMiami recognizes that dedicated partnerships and new business development have contributed it to its post-pandemic recovery. The port has opened three new cruise terminals: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Cruise Terminal B, the Pearl of Miami; Carnival Corporation’s Cruise Terminal F; and Virgin Voyages; Cruise Terminal V, the Palm Grove. Additionally, MSC Cruises’ Terminals AA/AAA are under construction and will open in 2024 and Royal Caribbean Group’s new Cruise Terminal G has recently been approved and is expected to open in late 2027.
Also under construction is shore power–a partnership between PortMiami, its cruise partners (Carnival Corporation, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group, and Virgin Voyages) and Florida Power & Light Company. Shore power is expected to be completed in 2024 and will be available at five cruise terminals with the ability to plug in three chips simultaneously. This allows the cruise ship to turn off its primary engines while docked which reduces air emissions.
Looks as if the 2024 Fiscal Year is already shaping up to be an exciting one!