MSC Cruises and PortMiami are building a new cruise terminal that will be capable of hosting MSC’s newest World Class ships. The new Cruise Terminal AAA is expected to be completed by 2022.
MSC Cruises and Miami-Dade county signed the new agreement, which covers the new terminal’s construction, as well as an agreement for extended preferential berthing rights from Saturdays to Saturdays and Sundays. Additionally, the new terminal — which is projected to be completed by October 2022 — will be able to accommodate MSC Cruises’ next-generation World Class cruise ships. Still under construction, the new class of vessel will be capable of carrying up to 7,000 guests.
The agreement comes as MSC has been expanding its Miami-based fleet to grow its presence in the North American cruise market. The MSC Seaside, which just debuted late last year, sails year round from Miami to the Caribbean from the recently completed Terminal F. MSC Divina also sails seasonally to the Caribbean from October through March, and MSC Armonia will join MSC Cruises’ North American-based fleet beginning year-round cruises to Havana, Cuba, in December 2018. In addition, as of November 2019, MSC Meraviglia, the company’s largest ship with the capacity to carry 5,714 cruise guests (4,488 at double occupancy), will join the other three ships at PortMiami.
MSC Cruises currently has two World Class ships on order from STX France, with an option for two more. Powered by eco-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG), the new ships will be the largest class in MSC’s fleet. The design will be based around a “Y” shape structure that the cruise line said will enable panoramic sea views and increase the proportion of balcony cabins. The ships will also have G-shaped bows, vertically positioned at a 90 degree angle, in order to improve stability. The ships will also incorporate family-friendly villages, a panoramic aft, and a glass pool lounge.
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