Skip to main content
Board of County Commissioners
Chamber Gazette

PORTMIAMI CELEBRATES RECORD YEAR

Share on:
The County commissioners celebrates all-time high passenger traffic at PortMiami with PortMiami Director Juan Kuryla

DID YOU KNOW?

Facts about PortMiami:

  • Recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World and proud homeport of more than 20 of the world's top cruise lines and 55 of the industry's most innovative ships
  • Its cruise terminals are among the most modern in the world, designed to quickly move passengers from land to sea
  • Contributes approximately $43 billion and more than 334,500 jobs to Florida's economy
  • In 2018-19, welcomed a record 6.8 million passengers and serviced 55 of the world's top cruise vessels
  • Offers "Super Cranes" that can service cargo vessels up to 22 containers wide and up to nine containers above deck
  • On-dock intermodal rail service in partnership with Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) today links PortMiami to 70 percent of the U.S. population in four days or less

PortMiami just chalked up another record-breaking year for passenger traffic, serving an unprecedented 6.8 million cruise passengers in FY 2018-19 – an increase of 22 percent over the previous year.

The Miami-Dade County Commission celebrated the port's accomplishment at its Dec. 3, 2019 meeting, declaring the day as Cruise Capital of the World Day and presenting PortMiami Director and CEO Juan Kuryla a proclamation to mark the occasion as well his 30 years of service with the County.

Port officials attribute the tremendous growth over the last year to the addition of several new ships sailing from PortMiami's expanded facilities, which include the completion at the port in late 2018 of the largest terminal in the United States by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.


SHORTTAKES

Commissioner Javier Souto, PortMiami Director Juan Kuryla and Aviation Director Lester Sola are working to grow business opportunities with Brazil and Paraguay. Brazil is a $1.9 trillion GDP economy and their goal is to bring goods from Brazil to PortMiami by establishing new trade links. The Aviation Department is working with Paraguay to establish a direct route for the airport based on an incentive program that's been approved by the County Commission.

PortMiami is home to yet another of the world's largest cruise ships, the MSC Meraviglia. MSC Cruises brought the Meraviglia to PortMiami to begin its first-ever season of sailing from Florida. The 4,500-passenger vessel is tied with a sister ship as the 7th largest ship in the world. The Norwegian Cruise Line's newest, grandest ship, Norwegian Encore, is also finally home in Miami-Dade. It made its debut last November and has a guest capacity of 3,998 based on double occupancy. Encore is the sister ship to Norwegian Escape, Joy and Bliss, all built in Germany.

As the Cruise Capital of the World, PortMiami is responsible directly or indirectly for over 200,000 jobs and generates tens of millions of dollars in annual lease revenue from its cruise and cargo terminals, and it keeps growing. Cruise companies continue investing in PortMiami because it's the place to be.