Port Canaveral has confirmed that Cape Marina won’t have their lease renewed when the settlement expires in February 2026. Dock house can be utilized extra effectively if the 2 marinas on the port – Cape Marina and Bluepoints Marina – are merged into one facility.
In the end, with the house now occupied by Bluepoints Marina is being eyed for a brand new cruise terminal giant sufficient to accommodate a few of at the moment’s largest cruise ships.
Port Canaveral Marina Lease Agreements Altering
Cape Marina has been a fixture on the south aspect of Port Canaveral because it was based by Jerry Seaman and William Parker in 1976. The ability covers almost 10 acres of land with 115 moist dockage slips, 100 storage models, and each lively and inactive yard house for native industrial and personal watercraft, together with an intensive marina retailer.
Port officers have described the intention to maneuver the Bluepoints Marina vessels to Cape Marina, higher using the general house. In accordance with WKMG 6 Information, the Bluepoints Marina facility, then, would have the ability to make approach for a brand new cruise terminal.
“We’ve suggested [Cape Marina] that we’re not going to resume their lease on this current format,” stated Port Canaveral CEO Captain John Murray. “First step could be to take over what’s there, after which, finally, carry within the Bluepoints footprint over to that aspect.”
The 2 marina services are lower than a half-mile aside, however the Bluepoints Marina waterfront house is conveniently positioned additional east, in a greater place to service giant cruise ships.
Locals Involved About Adjustments
Native industrial fishermen have expressed some issues concerning the marina adjustments with hopes that Port Canaveral doesn’t cease supporting the industrial fishing business.
Cape Marina has additionally expressed its concern and willingness to work with port authorities to fulfill future objectives, with out compromising on the distinctive nature of Port Canaveral’s combined patrons.
“Cape Marina acknowledges the premium nature of property in Port Canaveral, and we’re dedicated to working collaboratively with the port to fulfill its aims whereas preserving its distinctive character,” an open letter on the marina’s web site reads.
“Whereas we acknowledge the significance of the cruise ship business and the income it generates, we additionally imagine in preserving the hometown aptitude that companies like Cape Marina carry to the port.”
Port Canaveral has additionally indicated that Cape Marina is welcome to submit a bid for the property’s redevelopment as soon as that stage of the undertaking is reached, although at this level there isn’t any established timeline for the general port redevelopment of that space.
Enlargement at Port Canaveral
Including a brand new cruise terminal has been a objective for a number of years, ever since Cruise Terminal 3 – which providers Carnival Cruise Line’s first Excel-class ship, Mardi Gras – opened in 2020 (sadly amidst the cruise business shutdown).
Already the busiest passenger cruise port on the earth, Port Canaveral is constant to see phenomenal progress with extra cruise traces increasing operations to the House Coast with handy entry to Orlando.
Royal Caribbean Worldwide’s sixth Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas, is scheduled to debut from Port Canaveral in July 2024, providing quick cruises aboard the large vessel, a novel possibility for cruise followers.
In November 2024, Princess Cruises will start operations from Port Canaveral for the primary time within the line’s historical past, with Caribbean Princess providing quite a lot of itineraries throughout 38 totally different departures.
Rapidly following Caribbean Princess, Disney Cruise Line’s upcoming Disney Treasure – sister ship to Disney Want – can be scheduled to homeport from Port Canaveral. Disney Treasure will welcome her first friends on December 21, 2024.
Lastly, Royal Caribbean’s second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, can be deliberate to be homeported at Port Canaveral when she launches in the summertime of 2025.
With a lot superb progress and larger-than-ever ships coming to Port Canaveral, it’s no shock {that a} new cruise terminal could be a welcome addition to the services, as long as native fisherman nonetheless have dock house and all of the port’s wants may be balanced.
