Port Canaveral is preparing to undergo a massive $95 million upgrade, according to the Orlando Business Journal. The transformation is aimed at supporting the world’s largest cruise ships and drawing more travelers. If all goes as planned, the Cruise Terminal 10 project will accommodate ships carrying up to 6,700 passengers by November 27th. 

©Port Canaveral

The Canaveral Port Authority board met on June 3rd and shared that the existing Terminal 10 will be upgraded to allow for these changes. Port Canaveral saw more than 5.5 million multi-day cruise passengers in its first seven fiscal months of this year.

William Crowe, vice president of engineering and construction with Port Canaveral, said that the final design for the project will be due in August, with construction beginning right after that. “We are right-sizing the terminal,” he said. “We are evaluating the vertical transportation requirements, ramps, elevators [and] escalators. We are looking at square footage requirements and the luggage lay-down area.”

©Port Canaveral

During the recent board meeting, $23 million was unanimously allocated to PCL Construction Services Inc. for its portion of work on the $95 million total project. PCL will “address critical infrastructure needs, including replacing deteriorated waterside and landside trench drains that have caused sinkholes in active traffic areas”, according to meeting documents.

Disney Wish at Terminal 10 in Port Canaveral

These upgrades are designed to prepare Port Canaveral for larger cruise ships, which means more passengers moving through terminals, clearing security, checking luggage, and waiting to board.

Crowe shared that the terminal upgrades will be completed in time to accommodate the new MSC World Atlantic ship, which will debut in 2027. The World Atlantic ship ranks among the largest in MSC’s fleet, with over 40 bars and restaurants and around 410,000 square feet of public space — along with holding 6,700 passengers.

Port Canaveral

Director of communications and public affairs for the Canaveral Port Authority, Vance Gulliksen, told Orlando Business Journal that the project also includes expanding the security screening area and refreshing the overall terminal design.

“The new facility will feature spacious, modern interiors with a streamlined look and feel, colorful artwork and other design elements to create a welcoming and inviting environment,” he said.

Port Canaveral

The project is part of Port Canaveral’s $912 million five-year capital improvement plan, which aims to upgrade all the facilities in the port. There’s also the plan to build a new 3,700-space parking garage at Cruise Terminal 6, which is slated to be completed by September.

As of now, the Disney Cruise Line only sails one ship out of Terminal 10 — the Disney Wish — while it is primarily used by MSC Cruises. Cruise Terminal 8 is Disney Cruise Line’s own terminal and is home to the other ships that sail out of Port Canaveral. Whether or not these upgrades will impact future sailings remains to be seen.

Time to check in!

We’ll be on the lookout for even more updates about the Port Canaveral cruise terminal upgrades you need to know about. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest travel and Disney news!

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