Carnival’s New Cruise Terminal in Miami to Open for Celebration Naming

Posted on 22 May, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival Cruise Line is progressing on the project of transforming PortMiami’s Cruise Terminal F in its largest cruise terminal in North America.

Set to open in November, the facility is being redesigned and expanded in order to serve as the homeport of Carnival’s second Excel-class ship, the Carnival Celebration.

According to Christine Duff, Carnival Cruise Line’s President, the new terminal will be ready in time for the ship’s inaugural festivities.

“We are very excited that we’ll be opening the redesigned Terminal F for Carnival Celebration’s naming ceremony,” she said during a press conference in Miami in late April.

“It’s a great way to celebrate Carnival,” Duffy added, mentioning the cruise line’s 50th-anniversary festivities.

According to her, like the new Carnival Celebration, the redesigned terminal will also get memorabilia from past Carnival ships.

Also celebrating the company’s milestone anniversary, the new build will feature the Golden Jubilee, a lounge and entertainment area equipped with items and art pieces retrieved from the line’s retired ships, including the recently recycled Fantasy-class vessels.

When completed, Terminal F will become the third cruise terminal dedicated to Carnival operations at PortMiami.

As part of the renovations, the facility is receiving facial recognition technology and other elements which will be used to move guests through the embarkation process.

Originally signed in September 2019, the expansion agreement includes a commitment by Carnival to keep ships at Terminal F for 20 years, with the option of two additional seven-year extensions.

The LNG-powered Carnival Celebration is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

After being delivered later this year, the 183,900-ton cruise ship will become Carnival’s largest vessel, along with its sister ship, the 2020-built Mardi Gras.

Following a transatlantic crossing, the 5,200-guest ship is set to launch service from Miami on Nov. 21, kicking off a year-round program of weeklong Caribbean itineraries.

Carnival Freedom Makes Line’s First Call to Grand Turk Since Resumption

Posted on 20 December, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

The Carnival Freedom arrived in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, on Dec. 15, marking the line’s first time back to the port since resuming service.

According to a press release, the 2,974-guest Freedom is on a six-day Eastern Caribbean cruise that departed PortMiami on Dec. 12, and featured ports include Half Moon Cay and Amber Cove.

“We are delighted to bring the Carnival Freedom back to Grand Turk and to offer our guests the opportunity to experience all of this port’s beauty once again,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “On behalf of Carnival, I would like to thank the Turks and Caicos Islands government and all our partners on the ground in Grand Turk for working with us to make this opportunity possible.”

By year’s end, Carnival will have 19 ships in operation as the line’s restart of operations continues. All 22 of Carnival’s U.S.-based ships will be back in guest operations by March 2022.

PortMiami Will Be Shore Power Ready by Fall 2023

Posted on 7 August, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

Miami-Dade County, in partnership with Florida Power and Light Company (FPL), Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Group, will be shore power ready at PortMiami by Fall 2023, according to a press release.

Cruise Terminal F, currently undergoing a significant expansion for Carnival and Cruise Terminal A, Royal Caribbean’s signature Miami terminal will be the first facility with shore power capability at the port.

In February 2021, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava launched an initiative to bring shore power to PortMiami in collaboration with Miami-Dade County’s major cruise line partners. The goal is to make Miami the first seaport in Florida and the southeastern U.S. shore power ready.

Since then, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Group have agreed to launch Phase 1 of this program for connections at Cruise Terminals A and F. Additionally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act announced a $2 million grant allocation for Phase 1 of the program.

Plans have already begun implementing the program in phases. Phase 1 at Cruise Terminals A and F will transform the power levels at the Port from the electrical grid to cable management systems for the heavy plugs and outlets on the vessels. This system requires each party to implement improvements on the electrical grid and supply lines, shore-side equipment on the pier, and shore-to-ship connection on the cruise ship. Additionally, PortMiami is working with other cruise line partners to ensure that their designated berths also have shore power connectivity as part of Phase 2.

“Our efforts to make PortMiami ‘shore power ready’ are moving full steam ahead thanks to the incredible work of the PortMiami team, FPL, and the commitment of Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Group,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Our goal is to continue ensuring PortMiami is a leader in sustainability and to shape a more resilient cruise industry that prioritizes the protection of our environment. We are proud of this big step and look forward to working with other cruise companies for the second phase of this project to make the Cruise Capital of the World more sustainable.”

“As a world leader in renewable energy and sustainability, FPL is pleased to be partnering with Miami-Dade County, PortMiami and our renowned cruise line partners to develop an innovative shore power solution that will both lower emissions by shifting to clean power from FPL and drive modernization,” said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. “Every day, we deliver America’s best energy value to our customers, energy that’s not just clean and reliable, but also affordable. Now, we are pleased to bring these core values to the cruise industry, as we stand ready to make shore power a reality for PortMiami.”

“In line with our top priorities of compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety, and well-being of our guests, employees, and the people in the communities we touch and serve, we are thrilled to have been one of the first cruise lines to partner with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami-Dade County in the shore power program at PortMiami,” said Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line. “With PortMiami being our busiest homeport and our longstanding relationship with both Miami-Dade and PortMiami, it’s a natural fit to work together to bring this power source to the Cruise Capital of the World.”

“Shore power connectivity allows us to reduce our emissions to near zero while connected in port,” said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “In partnership with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami-Dade County, we’re happy to help bring this technology to our hometown, the Cruise Capital of the World, as part of our sustainability journey and our single-minded focus to be partners to the communities we visit and call home.”