World’s busiest cruise ports by passengers (Port Of Miami USA)

The Port of Miami offers an eclectic array of cruise lines that cater to many types of travelers and is the perfect departure point from which to set sail. There is a cruise out there for anyone who enjoys sea breezes, water vistas and cultural experiences. Of course, there is also something for those who just want to party and eat their hearts out or be entertained on board by live shows and activity directors. For the health-minded traveler there are fitness classes and on-board gyms as well as relaxing spa treatments. Ships these days offer every amenity imaginable, from rock climbing and yoga or Pilates to outdoor movies and even the odd ice-skating rink.

Port of Miami is recognized, and has been for many years, as the “Cruise Capital of the World” and “Cargo Gateway of the Americas”. It has retained its status as the number one cruise/passenger port in the world for well over two decades accommodating the largest cruise ships in the world and the operations of such major cruise lines as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, until the late 2000’s, when Port Everglades was chosen as home to the largest cruise ships in the world, Oasis of the Seas and its sister ship, Allure of the Seas. Currently the following ships are based in Miami: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Glory, Carnival Victory and Majesty of the seas, Norwegian Getaway, and Norwegian Sky.

Port of Miami was also recently awarded a federal grant as part of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery(TIGER) program to restore a connection between the Florida East Coast Railway‘s yard in Hialeah and the Port of Miami, directly connecting the port to rail networks across the United States, as well as re-establish the port’s on-dock rail capability (loading and unloading directly between ships and trains).The railroad bridge connecting the Port of Miami to the mainland was damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, at which time service was suspended, and the bridge remained closed for well over a decade

As part of the massive Port of Miami redevelopment program, new ultramodern cruise terminals, roadways and parking garages have been constructed. Additionally, a new gantry crane dock and container storage yards have been constructed along with the electrification of the gantry crane docks to include the conversion of several cranes has been completed. In addition, the Port acquired two state-of-the-art super post-panamax gantry cranes which are among the largest in the world; able to load and unload 22 container (8 foot wide each), or nearly 200 foot, wide mega container ships. This, along with the planned Deep Dredge Project, would make it possible for the Port of Miami to facilitate even the future largest container ships in the world, the Maersk Triple E Class. The new and restructured roadway system with new lighting, landscaping and signage greets visitors to the ‘Cruise Capital of the World and Cargo Gateway of the Americas’. The roadways will change again with the completion of the Port of Miami Tunnel. And to enhance cargo port accessibility, the newly constructed Security Gates opened at the end of 2006 to increase the processing rate for container trucks and help eliminate the daily traffic backups.