USA – Cruise business expands at Port Canaveral

Passenger numbers at Port Canaveral were up 6.7 per cent in the last three months of 2013 compared with the previous year’s figures. A significant increase is expected in 2014, too, following the announcement of new contracts with Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises.

The ‘Disney Magic’ has already returned to Port Canaveral, giving it three of the four Disney ships. Carnival is replacing two of its vessels, while Royal Caribbean’s ‘Explorer of the Seas’ will start calling Port Canaveral in November.

In addition, a new agreement negotiated with Norwegian Cruise Line will add a seasonal home-ported ship from 2015. The ‘Norwegian Spirit’, with a capacity of 2,018 passengers, will offer itineraries from the port in November 2015 through April 2016.

Port Canaveral already has seven cruise terminals and construction work has begun on an eighth, due to open in November. Two further terminals are planned.

Photo courtesy of Port Canaveral