Writer: Andrea Teran
3 min read February 2024 — As the celebrated ‘Cruise Capital of the World,’ Miami charts a course of continued growth and innovation in the large passenger ship industry. This sector is not only a major employment source, providing jobs across various industries such as hospitality, transportation, and manufacturing, but also a key driver of tourism and economic growth.
The ‘Icon of the Seas,’ the world’s largest cruise ship and built by Miami-headquartered Royal Caribbean, recently made its grand debut from PortMiami with Football legend and Inter Miami CF Forward Lionel Messi hosting a celebration of ‘Icons’ in the coastal metropolis.
Boasting a capacity of nearly 10,000 passengers and crew, the Icon of the Seas is a milestone for modern maritime engineering and leisure that includes six waterslides, seven pools, a neighborhood designed for families, and over 40 dining and entertainment options, among other amenities.
The past year proved a resurgence in passenger volume for PortMiami, reporting a record-breaking influx of 7,299,294 passengers during FY23. The year kicked off with a stellar 230% jump in January, hosting 744,447 guests. The trend persisted through the year, witnessing a 143% surge in passenger numbers in February and substantial year-over-year increases overall.
Substantial investments made to Miami’s port infrastructure has facilitated capacity growth and more efficient processes. The Port of Miami, one of the world’s busiest, has undergone renovations to accommodate larger ships and more passengers, benefitting other sectors as well, such as shipping and logistics. Key to this resurgence is the opening of three new cruise terminals: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Cruise Terminal B (the Pearl of Miami), Carnival Corporation’s Cruise Terminal F, and Virgin Voyages’ Cruise Terminal V (the Palm Grove). Also, the MSC Cruises’ Terminals AA/AAA are under construction and slated to open later in 2024.
Furthermore, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners recently approved the development of Royal Caribbean Group’s new Cruise Terminal G, with an expected opening in late 2027. A shore power project is currently underway, which will enable cruise ships to switch off their primary engines while docked, thereby reducing air emissions.
These developments are part of PortMiami’s broader 2035 Master Plan, which aims to optimize the use of the port’s current space. The plan entails a total capital improvement program of approximately $1.9 billion through FY33. This includes various infrastructure improvements and projects with grant funding, ensuring that the port remains a crucial economic driver for Miami-Dade County. The port contributes over $43 billion annually to the local economy and supports over 334,500 jobs in Florida.
Amid this growth, there are environmental concerns associated with the cruise industry, such as waste and air pollution. The Icon of the Seas, despite being an example of modern engineering, has sparked conversations about the environmental implications. This ship, like many new cruise liners, is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is hailed for burning more cleanly than conventional marine fuels. However, LNG contains methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is over 80 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
In response to these environmental concerns, industry players, including Royal Caribbean, have initiated measures to mitigate their ecological footprint. These include using cleaner fuels, reducing waste, and investing in technologies to improve energy efficiency. For instance, the Icon of the Seas incorporates features like a more efficient hull design and waste-to-energy systems, contributing to its claim of being 24% more energy-efficient than other ships designed today. Community support initiatives also form a part of their commitment to sustainable growth.
“People will say LNG is not the long-term fuel and we agree and view it as transitional,” said Nick Rose, head of ESG at Royal Caribbean, according to The New York Times. “We have built the ship to make it adaptable to future fuel sources — if we can pull into a port that has cleaner shore-power capabilities we want to plug in so we don’t use any fuel.”
Top image via Royal Caribbean
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