Disney Cruise Line to Expand Presence at PortMiami

Disney Cruise Line and PortMiami have entered an agreement for a dedicated cruise terminal, with two ships planning to call the port home in the coming years, according to an agreement with Miami-Dade County commissioners.

Starting in January 2023, Disney plans to begin year-round operations with a ship carrying at least 3,500 passengers, with four- and five-day sailings. Another ship carrying 3,500 or more passengers will sail three- and four-day cruises by January 2024.

The agreement also gives Disney the first right to negotiate a possible new cruise terminal on the port’s south side, to the east of Terminal J, which serves smaller ships. The new terminal would enable Disney to homeport larger ships carrying more than 3,500 passengers. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the two current ships in the fleet, can each carry up to 4,000 passengers.

Disney Cruise Line’s forthcoming new-builds — expected to launch in 2021, 2022 and 2023 — will be of similar size.

If building a new terminal on the south side of the port is not viable, Disney may explore alternative berthing options on the north side.

Disney will also have year-round preferential berthing rights at Terminal F on Sundays through 2019, and at new Terminal C on Saturdays commencing in 2020.

According to the memorandum of understanding, the new partnership is expected to generate $2.7 million in gross revenues and 360,000 Disney passengers through Miami by 2023. Currently, Disney guarantees 100,000 passengers annually through the port.