Port Everglades and Celebrity Cruises enjoyed a double celebration with the arrival of the line’s first new ship class in a decade, Celebrity Edge, at her new home, the revolutionary Cruise Terminal 25 (T25).
“The investment in this innovative terminal is going to allow us to grow,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak. “Historically, Port Everglades welcomed on average approximately 335,000 Celebrity guests annually, representing about 9 percent of overall passenger traffic. With the completion of this terminal, we anticipate that Celebrity will generate approximately 500,000 guests – representing 14 percent of the port’s projected passenger traffic.”
T25 underwent a complete renovation, requiring the demolition of two smaller terminals to expand the total square footage by 83 percent to 157,800 square feet. With a cost of approximately $120 million, the new facility is the largest financial investment Port Everglades has made in a cruise terminal.
“When designing the revolutionary Celebrity Edge, we knew we wanted to design a terminal that perfectly complemented the ship and matched its one-of-a-kind experience,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.
In addition to Celebrity Edge, T25 will be the new home to many Celebrity ships during their winter deployment, including Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Silhouette. Along with these ships, the terminal will be able to accommodate other ships up to 1,150-foot-long.
The cruise ship activity at T25 is anticipated to support an estimated 280 direct local jobs and more than 600 jobs statewide. Almost $7.4 million will be generated in state and local taxes annually.
The building was designed for LEED certification by architectural firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc., with Moss Construction serving as the managing general contractor. The Port Everglades Seaport Engineering and Facilities Maintenance Division was integral in ensuring timely project delivery.
New “expedited arrival” technology in T25 will make the check-in process seamless. The terminal is designed to be adaptive, featuring modern pod-style mobile check-in desks and is able to accommodate legacy technology.
The “Visual Voyage” interactive artwork installation spans over 260 feet in the terminal check-in area as guests engage individually or in groups as they make the lights on this artwork travel along each of the 24 time zones of the global map.
T25 also offers Suite Class guests a singular experience along the path to The Retreat, with an exclusive VIP lounge, elevator, separate security screening area, and even a private rooftop terrace.
