Great News

[Tall-Cruiser]

It is a story that has been around for some time but it was formally approve today I guess.

 

Link to Florida Today article and video.

 

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131106/BUSINESS/131106005/Port-commissioners-approve-new-cruise-terminal

[time4u2go]

I'm here as well. I'm no mariner engineer but the turning basin at PC might fit an Oasis class ship but it is going to be super tight. I don't expect an Oasis class ship here unless the channel and turning basin are much bigger. Building a new terminal is not going to bring the largest class of cruise ship to this port.

 

It's being widened:

 

http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/news/releases/09132013.php

[UNV-IT!!!]

Lol leaving Miami. That's funny.

[Eng23]

I'm here as well. I'm no mariner engineer but the turning basin at PC might fit an Oasis class ship but it is going to be super tight. I don't expect an Oasis class ship here unless the channel and turning basin are much bigger. Building a new terminal is not going to bring the largest class of cruise ship to this port.

The channel has already been dredged deeper from the entry to the turning basin.

[molsonschooner]

I can't imagine 5000 people having to shuttle from MCO to Port Canaveral.

Why not. About 4000 people do it to go on the Freedom

[wayne_trisha]

It's being widened:

 

http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/news/releases/09132013.php

 

The channel has already been dredged deeper from the entry to the turning basin.

 

I said I am no marine engineer but I do frequently drive by the port on my way to and from work. The turning basin IS NOT being expanded at this time. The channel IS NOT being expanded at this time. Look from a satellite and you will see, there is very little room for expansion. RCCL could back in an Oasis class like out west I guess. Where are they going to park it? PC is not a huge port.

[wayne_trisha]

It's being widened:

 

http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/news/releases/09132013.php

 

The channel is being widened. What about the turning basin? I guess they could do it but I just don't see it. An Oasis class here would be awesome! I just don't see it happening.

[Eng23]

I said I am no marine engineer but I do frequently drive by the port on my way to and from work. The turning basin IS NOT being expanded at this time. The channel IS NOT being expanded at this time. Look from a satellite and you will see, there is very little room for expansion. RCCL could back in an Oasis class like out west I guess. Where are they going to park it? PC is not a huge port.

I mentioned that the channel has already been dredged to make it deeper for larger ships. The new terminal that is planned will be on the south side from about where the current boat ramp is at Sunrise Marina and extend east along the waterfornt. These modern cruise ships can pretty much turn within their own length and with the position of the Middle Turning Basin being directly across from the planned site of the new terminal turning a ship would be easy.

[wayne_trisha]

I mentioned that the channel has already been dredged to make it deeper for larger ships. The new terminal that is planned will be on the south side from about where the current boat ramp is at Sunrise Marina and extend east along the waterfornt. These modern cruise ships can pretty much turn within their own length and with the position of the Middle Turning Basin being directly across from the planned site of the new terminal turning a ship would be easy.

 

Well that is entirely feasible so I wish to withdraw any previous comments about it cannot happen :)

 

I didn't consider a new terminal in this area where they have plenty of room to grow. I know the west of the channel has very little room for expansion unless the cruise lines want to start offering river cruises. :)

 

Hopefully this works out as that part of the channel only has the Victory casino ship and maybe some cargo. it would be AWESOME to have an Oasis class here just 15 minutes away.

[Eng23]

Well that is entirely feasible so I wish to withdraw any previous comments about it cannot happen :)

 

I didn't consider a new terminal in this area where they have plenty of room to grow. I know the west of the channel has very little room for expansion unless the cruise lines want to start offering river cruises. :)

 

Hopefully this works out as that part of the channel only has the Victory casino ship and maybe some cargo. it would be AWESOME to have an Oasis class here just 15 minutes away.

Well keep your fingers crossed. With a 3rd Oasis Class ship currently under construction and all the work being put into Port Canaveral it might happen. No way can I predict which Oasis ship might go there but one of the 3 is possible.

[beigedog]

Oasis 3 could be a possibility but my money would be on RCI putting that one in Europe or Fort Lauderdale and moving one of the two existing Oasis class ships there to Europe. Oasis 3 is going to be longer than the Oasis or the Allure, according to RCI.

[G85 SS]

Well keep your fingers crossed. With a 3rd Oasis Class ship currently under construction and all the work being put into Port Canaveral it might happen. No way can I predict which Oasis ship might go there but one of the 3 is possible.

 

Yep. All of what is going on now is very similar to what happened back before Freedom of the Seas was called to Port Canaveral to replace the Mariner of the Seas.

 

As much as I would love to see Oasis III in Port Canaveral, I would bet that we would see Oasis of the Seas in Port Canaveral and Allure of the Seas along with Oasis III would be home ported out of Port Everglades.

 

Oasis of the Seas for Eastern/Western Caribbean itineraries out of Port Canaveral.

 

Radiance Class for Southern Caribbean Itinieraries out of Port Canaveral Year Round.

 

Enchantment to remain for 3 and 4 day Bahama Get-a-ways.

 

Though I doubt the middle option would ever happen! Just posting what I would like to see. But me vs majority... We know how that ends. :p

[G85 SS]

Oasis 3 could be a possibility but my money would be on RCI putting that one in Europe or Fort Lauderdale and moving one of the two existing Oasis class ships there to Europe. Oasis 3 is going to be longer than the Oasis or the Allure, according to RCI.

 

Not quite sure we would see an Oasis Class ship stay in Europe year round though the possibility is always there and who knows what the head honcho's are scheming.

 

But with all the speculation surrounding Anthem of the Seas being based out of Southampton (fitting for a "cold weather" ship) I wouldn't expect any Oasis Class to be out there. Especially since it's a "warm weather" ship. But keeping that in mind there could also be seasonal itineraries.

 

Again, who knows and this game of speculation can provide a million different options. All of which could be dead wrong when Royal Caribbean decides to stop being so tight lipped. lol

Edited November 7, 2013 by G85 SS

[Eng23]

Oasis 3 could be a possibility but my money would be on RCI putting that one in Europe or Fort Lauderdale and moving one of the two existing Oasis class ships there to Europe. Oasis 3 is going to be longer than the Oasis or the Allure, according to RCI.

I doubt you would see any Oasis Class ship in Europe other than when one has to go to dry dock as the Oasis is next year. You would only see a European itinerary for these ships for a T/A and 4 or 5 short Med/European cruises before and after the dry dock period. My money would be on the new Oasis Class ship going to Ft. Lauderdale and either Oasis or Allure would relocate to Port Canaveral. Of course this is pure SPECULATION on my part. :)

[poncho1973]

This is definitely old news... but still good news.

 

I think the real story should be what PC (and the entire Space Coast) is going to do about All Aboard Florida. http://www.allaboardflorida.com/

 

If they were smart, they would identify how to handle the roughly 10 mile gap from where the new trains turn West (to go to MCO) and the port. There are going to be stations in Orlando, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Lobby for a station where I-95 meets SR 528. Put something in to get the people from that station to the port.

 

The laziest route is taxis. The likeliest would be buses. The best option would be some sort of light rail system.

 

 

THEN... no matter what ships come in due to improvements, everyone could hop on a train to a major airport.

 

Top 7 largest airports (passenger count) in Florida: (bold = linked to All Aboard Florida)

1. Miami Int'l (MIA)

2. Orlando Int'l (MCO)

3. Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood Int'l (FLL)

4. Tampa Int'l (TPA)

5. SW Florida Int'l (RSW)

6. Palm Beach Int'l (PBI)

7. Jacksonville Int'l (JAX)

 

Phase II & III of the train (2018/19?) would link:

1. Miami Int'l (MIA)

2. Orlando Int'l (MCO)

3. Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood Int'l (FLL)

4. Tampa Int'l (TPA)

5. SW Florida Int'l (RSW)

6. Palm Beach Int'l (PBI)

7. Jacksonville Int'l (JAX)

 

So you will have 6 of 7 of the largest airports in the state within a 2.5 hour train trip of your port. These people would be idiots not to push for transportation to the port from this train.

 

The ports in South Florida will be connected to their respective ports. It would be natural to assume that Jax and Tampa would, as well. PC has a golden opportunity.

Edited November 7, 2013 by poncho1973

[orville99]

This is definitely old news... but still good news.

 

I think the real story should be what PC (and the entire Space Coast) is going to do about All Aboard Florida. http://www.allaboardflorida.com/

 

If they were smart, they would identify how to handle the roughly 10 mile gap from where the new trains turn West (to go to MCO) and the port. There are going to be stations in Orlando, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Lobby for a station where I-95 meets SR 528. Put something in to get the people from that station to the port.

 

The laziest route is taxis. The likeliest would be buses. The best option would be some sort of light rail system.

 

 

THEN... no matter what ships come in due to improvements, everyone could hop on a train to a major airport.

 

Top 7 largest airports (passenger count) in Florida: (bold = linked to All Aboard Florida)

1. Miami Int'l (MIA)

2. Orlando Int'l (MCO)

3. Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood Int'l (FLL)

4. Tampa Int'l (TPA)

5. SW Florida Int'l (RSW)

6. Palm Beach Int'l (PBI)

7. Jacksonville Int'l (JAX)

 

Phase II & III of the train (2018/19?) would link:

1. Miami Int'l (MIA)

2. Orlando Int'l (MCO)

3. Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood Int'l (FLL)

4. Tampa Int'l (TPA)

5. SW Florida Int'l (RSW)

6. Palm Beach Int'l (PBI)

7. Jacksonville Int'l (JAX)

 

So you will have 6 of 7 of the largest airports in the state within a 2.5 hour train trip of your port. These people would be idiots not to push for transportation to the port from this train.

 

The ports in South Florida will be connected to their respective ports. It would be natural to assume that Jax and Tampa would, as well. PC has a golden opportunity.

 

A "port" stop where I-95 and the 528 connect (maybe Clear Lake - where the existing rail lines intersect both roadways and only about 2 miles to the port) would make good economic sense, given that the rail line ROW will parallel the 528 and I-95 from OIA south. There was also some talk about doing light rail directly from OIA to the port, so maybe the two will ultimately be combined. If I remember correctly, service is supposed to start in 2015? Can't wait for this to become real. It opens up FLL as an easily accessible port for all of us in central Florida.

[poncho1973]

It opens up FLL as an easily accessible port for all of us in central Florida.

 

Absolutely. I can board the train in Orlando, use the WiFi on the train to basically tele-commute (or if I don't feel like it... just relax and not have to drive) for 3 hours to Ft Lauderdale, take a 5 minute trip to Port Everglades, and get on the ship.

 

Same thing on the way back.

[time4u2go]

I said I am no marine engineer but I do frequently drive by the port on my way to and from work. The turning basin IS NOT being expanded at this time. The channel IS NOT being expanded at this time. Look from a satellite and you will see, there is very little room for expansion. RCCL could back in an Oasis class like out west I guess. Where are they going to park it? PC is not a huge port.

 

I don't recall stating that anything was being expanded at this time. It is going to be expanded. So I'm not sure what your point is.

[orville99]

Absolutely. I can board the train in Orlando, use the WiFi on the train to basically tele-commute (or if I don't feel like it... just relax and not have to drive) for 3 hours to Ft Lauderdale, take a 5 minute trip to Port Everglades, and get on the ship.

 

Same thing on the way back.

 

 

We've already started looking at ships/itineraries out of FLL and Miami in anticipation of being able to do the same thing one day soon:D

[Priusprof]

Thank You! for that amazing info. I too live 45 minutes from Port Canaveral and I am doing the megaship dance! I have never been on any ship larger than Freedom.. have been waiting for them to come closer to home.

Aside from Oasis and Allure there are only a couple of ships that are any larger than Freedom. They are going to need to move a ship from FTL when they build the 3rd Oasis ship. I saw a promo that they cut the first piece of steel for that ship not too long ago at the shipyard in France. I loved the Oasis and Allure and the drive to Port Canaveral is much shorter than driving to Fort Lauderdale.

[beigedog]

I doubt you would see any Oasis Class ship in Europe other than when one has to go to dry dock as the Oasis is next year. You would only see a European itinerary for these ships for a T/A and 4 or 5 short Med/European cruises before and after the dry dock period. My money would be on the new Oasis Class ship going to Ft. Lauderdale and either Oasis or Allure would relocate to Port Canaveral. Of course this is pure SPECULATION on my part. :)

 

I would say you're probably closer to being right about that after thinking about weather and the open nature of Oasis class ships.

 

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[dacsmom]

Great, thanks for the post. I do like to cruise out of Port Canaveral.

[Scotty G]

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131107/NEWS01/311070065/Port-wants-80-million-cruise-terminal-open-next-year

[Scotty G]

Interesting rumor.

 

What about headquarters?

 

Do they not have any contractual obligations in Miami?

 

The rumor only applied to no more RCI ships in Miami. RCCL HQ and Celebrity ships will probably still be there. It is a rumor after all ;)

[yj_eugene]

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131107/NEWS01/311070065/Port-wants-80-million-cruise-terminal-open-next-year

 

"Chief Executive Officer John Walsh says the complex needs to be ready by Nov. 15, 2014, to handle expected new cruise business"

 

That's the day Explorer arrives in PC.