Posted on January 29, 2019
Disney Cruise Line’s plan to base a third ship at Port Canaveral in 2021 will require extensive upgrades to two cruise terminals, estimated to cost more than $46 million.
Canaveral Port Authority commissioners began that process on Wednesday, designating two Florida companies to design the project — one for land-side upgrades and the other for water-side upgrades to Cruise Terminals 8 and 10.
Disney has not yet announced the home ports for its three new ships entering service in 2021, 2022, 2023.
But at least one will be coming to Port Canaveral, according to the port’s chief executive officer, John Murray.
“We’re anticipating additional business at Port Canaveral, and we’re making the adjustments now, so that we’re prepared when the ships do arrive,” Murray told port commissioners.
Disney has not announced the names of its new ships, but Port Canaveral documents indicated that the terminal “improvements are needed for the Triton-class vessel expected by 2021.” Preliminary drawings indicate that the liquefied natural gas-powered ship would be 1,119 feet long.
Disney’s two largest ships in its current four-ship fleet — the 4,000-passenger, 1,115-foot-long Dream and Fantasy — already are based at Port Canaveral year-round.
Murray said the new ship is likely to offer four- and five-day cruises. He said its schedule — coupled with the schedules of the Dream and the Fantasy — will require Disney to use two terminals on the same day.
The work on Cruise Terminals 8 and 10 of the north side of the port will be going on as the port also is building a new two-story, 188,000-square-foot Cruise Terminal 3 on the south side of the port.
That project — which includes a new parking garage — will be the port’s largest single construction project in its 65-year history — at $163 million. The terminal project is targeted for “substantial completion” by April 1, 2020, and for final completion by May 1, 2020.
Cruise Terminal 3 will become the home port for Carnival Cruise Line’s largest cruise ship, the Mardi Gras, an LNG-powered ship that will have a maximum capacity of 6,500 passengers and about 2,000 crew members.
Designers selected
The Canaveral Port Authority board unanimously selected BEA Architects Inc. of Miami to provide the land-side architectural and engineering design and permitting services at Terminals 8 and 10.
A five-member selection committee on Jan. 18 recommended the Port Authority board select BEA over two other bidders — Bermillo Ajamil & Partners of Miami and Orlando; and Berenblum Busch Architects of Miami. BEA received an average score of 87.7 points out of a possible 100 from the committee members, edging out Bermillo, with 87.4 points. Berenblum trailed with 80.0 points.
“There was no bad choice for us amongst all three teams,” said Bill Crowe, the port’s vice president of engineering, construction and facilities. “We had three highly qualified architectural teams. They all brought their A-game to the table. It was a very, very tight race amongst very competitive firms.”
In fact, a review of the selection committee members’ score sheets shows that two of the five members rated Bermello over BEA. The members rated the firms on various factors, including qualifications to provide the required services, references, approach/methodology and experience of personnel.
Crowe said BEA “is very familiar with the project,” as its team had done work on Cruise Terminals 8 and 10 in the past, as well as redesign work at Cruise Terminal 5.
“We really felt like they were the shining star of the three presentations,” Crowe said.
Port commissioners also unanimously approved a port selection committee recommendation, made Jan. 8, that Jacobs Engineering Group of Cape Canaveral do the water-side engineering design and permitting services at Terminals 8 and 10.
Jacobs received an average score of 96.8 points out of a possible 100, while the other bidder, Moffatt & Nichols of Miami, received 91.0 points. Jacobs was the choice of all five selection committee members.
Port commissioners authorized port staff to negotiate contracts with BEA and Jacobs that would include pricing for their work. Those contracts will come back for approval by port commissioners.
Plans detailed
Crowe said Disney and the port have “conceptually agreed” on the renovation plan and a proposed budget of $39.66 million for work at Cruise Terminal 8 — which is currently Disney’s terminal — and $6.81 million for work at Cruise Terminal 10.
Murray said that while the port hasn’t finalized agreement with Disney for the terminal upgrades, “we’ve had some great discussions with our partner, and it’s just a matter of getting it finalized at this point.”
Crowe said the plans for Cruise Terminal 8 include:
- A new 6,939-square-foot baggage screening building.
- A 4,684-square-foot expanded arrivals hall.
- A new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp for arriving passenger.
- A new “jetway-style” passenger boarding bridge and marine improvements.
- A 1,214-square-foot expanded concierge/VIP area.
- Expanded second-floor seating to 1,000, up from the current 384.
- An extended passenger vehicle drop-off area, with a total of 541 linear feet, for 24 cars.
The plans for Cruise Terminal 10 include:
- A new 940-square-foot expanded entrance bridge.
- A new concierge area, with a total of 307 seats, including the existing concierge area.
- New airport-style seating (720 seats).
- New concierge and general seating access to concourse.
- A new “marine dolphin” for mooring to accommodate the new Disney ship.
- New dockside restrooms.
- Crowe said the project is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2021.
Port Canaveral is an attractive cruise port for Disney because it is the closest port to the Walt Disney World theme park complex in the Orlando area. Many Disney Cruise Line passengers combine their cruises with a visit to Disney World.
Disney is one of Port Canaveral’s four major cruise lines. The others are Carnival, with three ships now based there; Norwegian, with one ship now based there; and Royal Caribbean, with two ships now based there.
Port Canaveral is the world’s second-business cruise port, behind Port Miami, for cruise passenger volume.
Cruise ships and cruise-related parking account for 78 percent of Port Canaveral’s operating revenue.
Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY.
Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or dberman@floridatoday.com.
Source: Florida Today
