 |
| New Cruise Terminal for 2014 in Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey - Courtesy Port Authority of New York/New Jersey |
|
|
|
Royal Caribbean also plans to base the region’s largest cruise vessel at the new Bayonne facility beginning in 2014.
The
Port Authority Board of Commissioners today approved plans by Royal
Caribbean Cruise Lines to build a new cruise terminal building at the
Port Authority-owned marine terminal facility in Bayonne – a major
public investment that will spur continued growth in the New Jersey
cruise business.
As part of its expansion plans, Royal Caribbean
also agreed to base its new Quantum of the Seas vessel – the largest
cruise ship serving the New York-New Jersey region – at Bayonne
beginning in 2014. The new vessel, which can accommodate up to 4,180
passengers, will sail to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida and Bermuda.
The
Port Authority acquired the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal in June 2010
as part of its purchase of the 131-acre portion of the former Military
Ocean Terminal at Bayonne.
As part of the agreement allowing
construction of the cruise terminal building, the Port Authority agreed
to extend Royal Caribbean’s operating agreement for the terminal for an
additional five years through 2043.
“The cruise industry is one
of this region’s most rapidly growing markets, and this private sector
investment will enhance our ability to generate significant revenues
from the waterfront property we own,” said Port Authority Chairman David
Samson. “With the region’s largest vessel scheduled to dock at this
port facility, we will be able to grow the jobs and economic activity
that the cruise business has generated for this region for many
decades.”
“The new Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal will provide
the people of New Jersey and New York with the world class travel
experience they deserve,” said Port Authority Deputy Executive Director
Bill Baroni. “We welcome the significant investment Royal Caribbean is
making in our region and look forward to welcoming the Quantum of the
Seas to her new home in our port.”
The new $70 million cruise
terminal building – which will be paid for by Royal Caribbean – includes
a 36,000-square-foot check-in terminal, a 60,000-square-foot luggage
area, a parking deck, additional parking and berth improvements.
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed by
October 2014.
Passenger volumes at the Cape Liberty Cruise
Terminal have grown steadily in the past three years – from 393,000
passengers in 2010 to 476,000 in 2012. Passenger volumes at the
facility are expected to increase to approximately 600,000 after the new
terminal building opens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Sites