Cruise: Port Everglades, Prince Rupert

Port Everglades and Royal Caribbean Sign MOU

Port Everglades has negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes the framework for a new long-term business agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCL). That includes complete, customized renovations of the port's Cruise Terminal 25, the future homeport of RCI brand Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Edge.

"Our cruise line customers are becoming more sophisticated in the way they think about the guest experience, as we saw when Royal Caribbean partnered in the construction of Cruise Terminal 18 for their Oasis class of ships," said Port Everglades Chief Executive Steven Cernak, PPM®. "We value the company's partnership and confidence to bring the newest ships from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises to Port Everglades."

The MOU will allow negotiations to move forward toward a final agreement that must be approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. RCL's current agreement expires on December 31, 2017. The new agreement will be effective on January 1, 2018, and expire on September 30, 2026, with options to extend the agreement for four years, followed by another for five years.

Currently under construction at a shipyard in France, Celebrity Edge is the first of four in a new class of 2,900-passenger capacity, 109,000 registered ton cruise ships "designed to leave the future behind." Beginning December 19, 2018, Edge will be sailing alternate seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades. The eastern leg visits San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The western Caribbean itinerary calls Key West, Florida; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis class ship, began sailing from Port Everglades in November 2016.

Port Everglades consistently ranks among the world’s three busiest cruise ports, with more than 3.8 million passengers in FY 2015-16. Ten cruise lines, one ferry service and more than 40 cruise ships sail from the South Florida seaport, including: Balearia's Bahamas Express, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn and Silversea Cruises.

 
March 13 press conference announcing plans to homeport Celebrity Edge in Port Everglades. From left:  Richard Fain, CEO/Chair of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd; Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President/CEO of Celebrity Cruises; and Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak, PPM®.
Photo/Port Everglades

Prince Rupert Cruise Ship Visits to Increase in 2017

The Port of Prince Rupert expects a more than 100 percent increase in the number of cruise ships and passengers visiting the coastal community this summer.

A total of 25 vessels carrying approximately 17,000 passengers are scheduled to dock this year at Prince Rupert’s Northland Cruise Terminal, giving the port its biggest cruise season since 2011. It will be the second consecutive year Prince Rupert cruise passenger count has doubled, up from 7,264 in 2016 and 3,626 in 2015.

"In addition to the increased number of vessels and guests Prince Rupert will see this year, we’re also excited that 20 of those vessels are participating in our shore excursion program and are taking full advantage of the unique tours and activities of our destination," said Don Krusel, the port authority’s president and CEO. "It’s great to see cruise lines including Prince Rupert on their Alaskan itineraries for the first time, and the return of lines that we’ve had the pleasure of hosting in the past."

Seabourn Cruise Line is returning to Alaska for the first time in 15 years, and will include Prince Rupert on six voyages of the 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn beginning on June 23. Crystal Cruises will return to Prince Rupert for three calls in 2017, after the successful inaugural visit of its Crystal Serenity ship in 2016 on its pioneering voyage through the Northwest Passage.

Norwegian Cruise Line is coming back to Prince Rupert for the first time since 2011, with the two largest vessels of the 2017 season – the 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun and the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel. The Oceania Regatta will return for seven calls this season, bringing the largest share of Prince Rupert passenger traffic with capacity for 4,788 guests. Two Prince Rupert calls are slated for Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner and one each for Ponant’s Le Borea and ROW Management’s The World.

"The partnership between Tourism Prince Rupert, the Prince Rupert Port Authority and the local business community has been a major contributing factor to the recent growth and success of this important tourism sector," said Scott Farwell, chair of Tourism Prince Rupert. "The development of highly-rated tour offerings capable of accommodating a majority of the guests disembarking these vessels is critical to creating a sustainable tourism sector. The work on behalf of the Port Authority to incent cruise lines to explore the potential of our community as a viable and desirable cruise destination is commendable and we look forward to working together on this front for years to come."

View Prince Rupert’s 2017 cruise schedule. 

 
Prince Rupert’s Northland Cruise Terminal
Photo/Prince Rupert Port Authority