MSC Cruises has signed a memorandum of understanding to
build a new terminal at PortMiami that would be big enough to handle its
largest ships.
Terminal AAA is anticipated to open in October 2020 and will
be able to accommodate MSC's massive World Class cruise ships that are under
construction. The ships will be able to accommodate up to 7,000 guests.
Only this year, MSC moved into a renovated Terminal F at the
port with the new MSC Seaside.
"The construction of another cruise terminal is further
testament of our commitment to U.S. travel partners and their guests, as it
will allow us to continue to enhance our service, starting right from
embarkation," said Roberto Fusaro, president of MSC Cruises USA.
Simultaneously, MSC and the Dade County-owned port signed a
new agreement that extends MSC Cruises' existing Saturday preferential berthing
rights to Sundays.
By late 2019, MSC plans to have four ships sailing from
Miami in the winter, including the MSC Seaside, MSC Divina, MSC Armonia and MSC
Meraviglia.
The new terminal will join showcase projects already
underway for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
that will occupy the Terminal A and B positions at the port. Presumably,
Terminal AAA would be east of the Royal Caribbean terminal set to open this
fall in time for the arrival of the Symphony of the Seas.
Details of how the new terminal will be developed and
financed, and what it would look like, were not released.