Your Cruise Your Way Cruise Blog

Royal Caribbean Cruises has agreed to port its 2 new Genesis project ships in Ft. Lauderdale beginning in 2009. The 54,00 passenger ships will be the largest afloat, and promise to bring the Ft Lauderdale area a weekly surge in potential business, resulting in significant economic and tourism growth. The agreement between Royal Caribbean and Broward County is expected to be finalized by the cruise line company’s Board of Directors and the Broward County Commission on or before December 19, 2007.

Royal Caribbean’s Project Genesis ships will be the largest cruise ships ever constructed. The first of the 220,000-gross-registered-ton ships is scheduled to begin sailing year-round from Port Everglades in late 2009, with the second sister ship to begin year-round sailings one year later. Each Project Genesis ship, being constructed at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, is projected to generate approximately 584,000 in passenger traffic annually at Port Everglades.

“We look forward to growing our outstanding relationship with Port Everglades,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “It’s very exciting to see our plans come together for these two amazing ships. The bold designs, daring innovations and technological advancements planned for these ships will thrill our loyal guests and help generate new devotees to our brand.”

As part of the agreement, Royal Caribbean will reimburse up to $37.4 million in capital expenditures for expansion and related infrastructure needs of Terminal 18, which is already one of the largest cruise passenger terminals worldwide. Along with sister brands Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, Royal Caribbean International will generate approximately 17 million in passenger volume (embarking and disembarking) at Port Everglades during the first 10-year term of the contract.

“Royal Caribbean has achieved great success with its year-round sailing schedule at Port Everglades,” said Port Everglades Director Phillip C. Allen. “Now we can expect an average of 3.6 times more Royal Caribbean passengers, which is phenomenal.”

An economic impact study conducted by Martin and Associates as part of the Port Everglades Master/Vision Plan, projects that homeporting the Genesis ships at Port Everglades will create more than 3,844 jobs, generate $172 million in personal income and $15.9 million state and local taxes. In addition, the analysis anticipates that more than 858 new construction jobs will be created during Terminal 18 expansion.