Port of Miami cruise traffic up 20% in 2010
Cruise traffic steamed ahead 20 percent in the last quarter of 2010, the Port of Miami reported Monday.
Port Director Bill Johnson said the 1.14 million passengers transiting the port was the best fiscal first quarter ever for the port, which ranks first in passenger counts worldwide.
The increase is good news in general for the South Florida economy, where cruise lines directly employ 15,000 people, and support an additional 120,000 jobs in the state when restaurants, taxis, hotels, suppliers and other economic ripples are included, Daniel Hanrahan, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, said during the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's 2011 Economic Summit.
The Port of Miami will welcome its fourth new ship in seven months on Feb. 5, when Oceania Cruises christens the Marina. The midsize super-luxury ship, which is the first new build for the cruise line, set course for Miami on Jan. 22 on a 13-day maiden voyage from Barcelona.
The 2011 cruise season also features three new ships in the Port of Miami fleet, including:
* Norwegian Epic, which has garnered widespread attention for an entertainment lineup that includes the Cirque Dreams dinner theater, Blue Man Group, Legends in Concert and Howl at the Moon.
* Celebrity Eclipse, which, one cruise expert told the Business Journal in November, was the first five-star, 100,000-ton plus ship to be home ported in Miami.
* Costa Atlantica, the biggest cruise ship to be home ported in Miami by Costa Cruises, a unit of Carnival Corp. & PLC (NYSE: PCL; NYSE: CUK). During a tour of the ship, Costa officials announced Jan. 14 that the Atlantica will begin 10-day voyages from Miami next holiday season.
The Cruise Lines International Association reported earlier this month that cruise passenger counts overall are expected to hit 16 million this year, up 6.6 percent.
Port Director Bill Johnson said the 1.14 million passengers transiting the port was the best fiscal first quarter ever for the port, which ranks first in passenger counts worldwide.
The increase is good news in general for the South Florida economy, where cruise lines directly employ 15,000 people, and support an additional 120,000 jobs in the state when restaurants, taxis, hotels, suppliers and other economic ripples are included, Daniel Hanrahan, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, said during the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's 2011 Economic Summit.
The Port of Miami will welcome its fourth new ship in seven months on Feb. 5, when Oceania Cruises christens the Marina. The midsize super-luxury ship, which is the first new build for the cruise line, set course for Miami on Jan. 22 on a 13-day maiden voyage from Barcelona.
The 2011 cruise season also features three new ships in the Port of Miami fleet, including:
* Norwegian Epic, which has garnered widespread attention for an entertainment lineup that includes the Cirque Dreams dinner theater, Blue Man Group, Legends in Concert and Howl at the Moon.
* Celebrity Eclipse, which, one cruise expert told the Business Journal in November, was the first five-star, 100,000-ton plus ship to be home ported in Miami.
* Costa Atlantica, the biggest cruise ship to be home ported in Miami by Costa Cruises, a unit of Carnival Corp. & PLC (NYSE: PCL; NYSE: CUK). During a tour of the ship, Costa officials announced Jan. 14 that the Atlantica will begin 10-day voyages from Miami next holiday season.
The Cruise Lines International Association reported earlier this month that cruise passenger counts overall are expected to hit 16 million this year, up 6.6 percent.