In what has been the case for years, cruising continues to get bigger. Only this time, we’re not talking about the ships.
While cruise lines continue to build bigger ships that carry more passengers, offer more things to see, do, eat, and experience, those ships also need to have a home. And with larger ships, you also need the ability to process more passengers, supply more provisions, and simply have the space to dock bigger vessels.
So not only are ships getting larger, but so too are cruise terminals. And now, there is a new world’s largest cruise terminal.
MSC Cruises welcomed the first ship — MSC Seascape — to its new MSC Miami Cruise Terminal this weekend.
Sitting at the end of the Port of Miami, the new terminal has been in the works for years. As the world’s largest terminal, it’s able to handle a staggering three ships at once, and up to 36,000 passengers per day.
The new terminal marks its opening ahead of the April arrival of MSC World America. This new ship is the second in the cruise line’s “World” class (the first being MSC World Europa). Coming in at more than 200,000 gross tons, these ships are the largest sailing outside of the Royal Caribbean fleet.
When World America arrives in Miami, it will sail 7-day Caribbean itineraries year-round. (You can read more about the new ship here.)
All told, MSC will have four different ships sailing from the terminal in 2025. But if the fact that the terminal can handle up to three ships at once stands out to you, it should catch your attention as a sign of the cruise line’s growth in North America.
New Terminal Part of a Massive U.S. Investment
As mentioned, with the introduction of the new Miami terminal, MSC now operates the largest cruise terminal in the country (and world). And when MSC World America comes to port, it will be the cruise line’s largest ship sailing from the United States.
Add to that the upcoming addition of a new terminal and departures from Galveston, a minute-long Super Bowl ad during this year’s game, and the start of Alaskan cruises in 2026.
It’s obvious that the cruise line is making a big bet on the U.S. market and creating a lot of buzz in the process. Yet there are many people that have cruised before, but have yet to take a trip on MSC.
We think with the new investments being made by the cruise line will definitely see a lot of new interest.
Good thing they will have the capacity to handle all those new cruisers.
