Last night, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved Royal Caribbean's proposal to build a new cruise terminal at PortMiami.
Royal Caribbean announced plans to build the new terminal last week and the $247 million terminal was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
I am pleased the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved @RoyalCaribbean’s partnership & expansion @PortMiami.
— Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) July 6, 2016
The Miami Herald is reporting that under the agreement, Royal Caribbean will fully finance the construction of the terminal, minus $15 million that the county-owned port will pay for some road work. Royal Caribbean will pay $7.5 million in rent to the county.
The new Terminal A facility will be able to handle a ship that is 1,300 feet long. Terminal G, where Royal Caribbean currently operates, can only handle ships that are about 1,000 feet long.
The new cruise terminal will be open in 2018. Royal Caribbean has indicated it will homeport an Oasis-class cruise ship once the new terminal is fully operational.