The introduction of the new generation of mega-ships poses a major challenge for the homeport terminals from which they operate. To accommodate their scale, the cruise lines themselves are generally building a new generation of cruise terminals capable of handling thousands of passengers, integrating their own check-in and boarding systems, and thus facilitating embarkation.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 74 – September 2025
This makes them true e-terminals, as they are equipped with sophisticated AI-based computer systems. Finally, this new generation of terminals is efficient, environmentally friendly, and aesthetically pleasing, while also offering greater functionality than those described in the previous monograph on terminals published in CN43 in 2017.
Impact of the iCON-Royal Caribbean Alliance on Terminal Construction:
Unlike its arch-rival Carnival Corp & PLC, Royal Caribbean had not invested (with a few exceptions) in its own cruise terminals until the pandemic. Around five years ago, Cruise Terminals International (CTI) emerged from Royal Caribbean's initiative to address the challenge of ensuring infrastructure that would allow for embarkation and disembarkation of its large, new cruise ships. It was a time of financial recovery, and RCCL had its hands full just building its own ships. It needed a partner. And so Royal partnered with iCON Infrastructure Partners, an independent investment fund owned by its own executives, founded in 2011 after a spin-off from Deutsche Bank, where the management team had met in 2004.
CTI was created from the latest iCON fund, which secured $3.6 billion in capital commitments in 2022. CTI is 90% owned by ICON VI and 10% by Royal Caribbean, and is managed by an independent team with strategic support from RCCL.
Their investment approach is holistic, managing assets throughout their entire lifecycle: design, financing, construction, and operation and management. Some of CTI's executives come from the RCCL Group, ensuring sound governance and management with a competent staff. Among them is Miguel Reyna, director of development, who worked for over two decades at Royal Caribbean on projects such as Terminal A at the Port of Miami and infrastructure like Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Currently, CTI manages projects with a total investment value of nearly $1.3 billion, including Terminal A at the Port of Miami and four Royal Caribbean projects under development: the Ravenna Civitas terminal, the Catalonia Cruises Terminal G in Barcelona, the Rome-Fiumicino port project, and Crown Bay in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, CTI is actively working on a project pipeline representing over $2 billion in capital investment.
Royal Caribbean's Barcelona G Terminal
is the culmination of several decades of efforts by Royal Caribbean to have its own terminal in Barcelona. Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA was founded in 1999 and carried out its business activities in terminals A, B, and C of the Adossat dock, as well as the North and South Terminals of the World Trade Center. By 2013, Creuers controlled 73% of the cruise passengers arriving in Barcelona.
In 2014, Royal Caribbean, together with the Turkish company GPH, decided to establish a dominant position in Barcelona against its rival Carnival. RCCL then partnered with the Turkish company Global Ports Holding to acquire 100% of Creuers del Port de Barcelona, the company that owned five of the six cruise terminals in the port of the Catalan capital at the time, in a deal valued at 40 million euros. Royal and GPH had purchased 43% of Creuers in 2013. A year later, the Turkish group independently acquired the remaining 57%, ultimately controlling 78% of Creuers compared to the 22% held by the holding company then chaired by Richard Fain. Through this alliance, Royal Caribbean, with GPH, owned five terminals via Barcelona Port Investment, while its competitor Carnival subsequently operated two terminals of its own: Terminals D and E.
But RCCL could not acquire its own terminal without selling its stake in Creuers. Thus, in November 2023, it sold its minority stake to Global Ports Holding (GPH), which then controlled 100% of the cruise terminal operator. These are, ironically, the terminals affected by the Port Authority-City Council agreement to manage the flow of cruise passengers to Barcelona. The new Terminal C will be managed by Global Ports Holding and will become the home terminal from Barcelona for cruise lines that do not have their own terminal; and a backup option for those that do have multiple ship calls.
The operation comes after the Port Authority of Barcelona reopened the public tender for the construction and operation of the G cruise terminal, to be located at the Adossat dock. Royal Caribbean Group reportedly expressed interest in this new infrastructure from the outset and was the only bidder for the concession.
The new terminal will have a surface area of 54,000 square meters and a 450-meter quay line equipped with an Operational Safety Plan (OSP), allowing cruise ships over 400 meters in length to dock at the port of Barcelona. The shipping company holds the majority stake, a requirement of the long-term concession granted in 2024. An investment of at least 85 million euros is planned.
CTI is leading the project, in collaboration with the construction company Dragados. Construction began in April 2025, and the facilities are expected to be operational by April 2027. The project includes the terminal, a dock, an OPS facility, multipurpose spaces, warehouses, and more, all integrated into a single structure. Its design prioritizes maximum energy efficiency and incorporates renewable energy solutions to minimize environmental impact, such as photovoltaic panels and other installations, enabling the terminal to achieve net-zero emissions.
The spaces of the future Terminal G have been designed to ensure a smooth, efficient, and comfortable experience for passengers, both within the terminal and in its connectivity with the city, airport, and train network. This is especially important for a terminal designed for homeport passengers who embark and disembark in Barcelona, a strategy Royal Caribbean is committed to in the Catalan capital.
The project is by the Italian architecture firm Atelier Alfonso Femia, which already has experience with the terminals in La Spezia, Ravenna, and Marguera. It will be decorated with works by regional artists and is being designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification. The project already has a CEO: Olga Piqueras, who brings extensive experience in the industry and will head the management company CCTG, created specifically for the project in Barcelona.
And Royal Caribbean's new Terminal G in Miami:
Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to have a next-generation terminal in Miami, specifically its Terminal A, inaugurated in 2018 (and described in CN43), to coincide with the arrival in Miami of the Symphony of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas, both megaships of the Oasis class. It also had Terminal G, which was traditionally used for Royal Caribbean's older or smaller ships. It was originally built in 1999 to accommodate the Voyager of the Seas, then the world's largest cruise ship, on its maiden voyage. But it had become outdated compared to the new terminals built in recent years. In 2022, Royal Caribbean signed an agreement with the Port Authority that included the construction of a new Terminal G as part of that agreement, with a 36-year concession. In addition to Terminal G, Royal Caribbean may build another joint terminal with MSC Cruises. This joint terminal should be completed in October 2028. Another part of RCCL's deal with the Port Authority is the construction of the shipping company's new headquarters within the port, a ten-story building located near the company's current building on Dodge Island, which is due to be completed in 2026.
The new Terminal G is scheduled for completion in 2027. Demolition work on the old terminal began last July. The terminal will have a single berth capable of accommodating an Icon or Oasis-class ship with a capacity of 7,000 passengers, a capacity currently only available at Terminal A. The annual number of passengers using the new terminal is expected to increase from 600,000 to 2.1 million.
Terminal G has been designed with multiple levels, allowing passengers to be separated by floor according to boarding and disembarking, reducing congestion and providing a smoother and more efficient boarding and disembarking process. The terminal will also feature a nine-level parking garage with 2,148 spaces and bus bays on the ground floor, all aimed at improving traffic flow within the terminal.
Sustainability is another important aspect of the new development. Terminal G will be LEED Silver certified, which signifies improved corporate environmental responsibility through energy management, efficient water use, and the use of sustainable materials. Once operational in 2027, Terminal G will be used by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.
This means being able to board and disembark your ship more quickly and easily. This has been one of Royal Caribbean's hallmarks: streamlining and simplifying access to the ship from the gate in just a few minutes. Thanks to improvements and refinements to its mobile app, Royal Caribbean boasts one of the simplest check-in processes of any cruise line.
The Royal Caribbean app makes it easy to check in, upload security photos, complete the health questionnaire, scan your passport photo, and generate your mobile boarding pass. You can also select your arrival time for boarding. Once at the terminal, you can access your boarding pass through the app or download it to your mobile device.
The Civitas Cruise Terminal in Ravenna: RCCL's Alternative to Venice.
Venice's closure to cruise ships in 2021 led to the emergence of nearby ports as bases for Adriatic and Aegean itineraries: Trieste, Monfalcone, and others, but above all, Ravenna, featured prominently in cruise brochures. The culmination of this ambition is the Civitas Cruise Terminal in Ravenna, another CTI-Royal initiative. It is based on a 33-year concession to build and operate a 10,000 m² terminal in Ravenna. Its inauguration is planned for April 2026. The facility will have capacity for two medium-sized ships or one large ship and will be publicly accessible, available to all cruise lines.
Construction of the Ravenna Civitas Cruise Port (RCCP) began on October 24, 2024, with an initial investment that CTI estimates at more than 27 million euros, 5.9 million of which were financed by the Port Authority with private capital from the Italian VSL Club.
To secure the cooperation of all involved authorities, the project encompasses not only the terminal itself, but also extends across 12 hectares, integrating seamlessly into the coastal landscape with green spaces, bike paths, pedestrian walkways, leisure areas for residents and visitors, and more. Furthermore, the new terminal is expected to create between 100 and 200 jobs in the area.
The terminal building, designed by Atelier Alfonso Femia with technical consulting by RINA, will be LEED Gold certified, the first in Italy to achieve this distinction. Its design prioritizes efficient water and energy use, incorporating solar panels, recycling facilities, and environmental management systems. Finally, it will feature an Operational Stop Program (OPS) system, enabling ships to shut down all their engines while docked.
The terminal will have two floors and will also offer a crew center, a tourist information office, and restaurants featuring local products. It will be connected to the cruise ships by an elevated walkway along the pier and two mobile boarding bridges. Passengers will enjoy views of the sea and Ravenna's beaches as they make their way to their ship. On days when no ships are docked, the terminal will be open for public and private events, such as sporting competitions, presentations, trade fairs, and more. The spacious ground floor will also offer the opportunity to host trade shows and large meetings. The development is expected to be a landmark project.
The Port Authority also made a significant investment in dredging the entrance channel for large vessels. This infrastructure is expected to serve more than 300,000 passengers annually.
The new E-Terminals, due to their cost and complexity, only make sense in major cruise hub ports, such as Miami, Cape Canaveral or Barcelona, and require intensive use for their amortization
Rome-Fiumicino Pier Project:
This Royal Caribbean-CTI project envisions a cruise ship pier in Isola Sacra, Fiumicino, 32 kilometers from Rome. This terminal project arose to capitalize on Isola Sacra's proximity to both Fiumicino Airport and Rome itself. In 2010, the Regional Authority granted a concession to build a marina capable of accommodating 1,500 recreational vessels in Isola Sacra. In 2013, this project was halted by the courts following a fraud investigation against the Italian firm Caltagirone. In 2022, the 90-year marina concession was purchased for €12 million by Royal Caribbean, which then created the company Fiumicino Waterfront with the British investment fund iCON to develop a cruise port. This private project, valued at 700 million euros, was included by the Italian government in 2023 on the list of essential works for the Jubilee 2025. But, to date, authorizations to begin work are still lacking.
This investment by Royal Caribbean has two main objectives: on the one hand, the introduction of a new generation cruise berth for a single ship, and on the other hand, the conversion of the port for recreational boating into a port capable of accommodating large yachts.
The Fiumicino city council supports the idea, with RCCL implementing strict environmental measures. However, the project has been rejected by several environmental groups, who are concerned about the potential impact of a cruise port in an area that already houses the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport.
For its part, Royal Caribbean has sought to reassure the public, stating that the project will take into account the concerns of local authorities and communities, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. In fact, the new port will feature Operations Planning Systems (OPS), generate its own energy using solar panels, and be used by next-generation ships such as the Oasis and Icon. This will allow for the gradual implementation of innovative management models, optimizing energy consumption through technologies that maximize sustainability.
Royal Caribbean intends to base its ships in the Mediterranean from its own terminals, one in Barcelona and another at Fiumicino Waterfront, which would obviously provide even more opportunities for the cruise line to expand its itinerary options in Europe in the future.
Porto Marghera: The New Terminal Next to Venice.
Another consequence of the closure of Venice's terminals is Porto Marghera. Last April, the purchase of the land to build Porto Marghera was made public for €16 million. Specifically, the Port Authority acquired a plot of approximately 10 hectares along the north bank of the North Canal, which will house the new passenger terminal in Porto Marghera, next to Venice. The purchase completes the plan outlined in Decree Law 103/2021 and subsequent regulations for the relocation of cruise traffic in the City of Canals. The terminal will be equipped with two berths for ships up to 300 meters in length and will feature OPS systems, a technology that will allow ships to shut down their engines while docked by connecting to the shore power grid. The electrification works, already underway, have been awarded to NBI SpA (part of the Webuild group) for an amount of 18.5 million euros, partially financed by the NRRP with resources from Next Generation EU for a total of 29 million.
The project is once again by Alfonso Femia's studio, which is designing a 20,000-square-meter building with two floors, including a 6,000-square-meter ground-floor baggage claim area for disembarking passengers and an 8,000-square-meter arrivals hall. It will have a roof that is partly green and partly covered with solar panels. An adjacent 40,000-square-meter building will house a three-story parking garage with space for 1,000 vehicles. And the development next to the terminal will include 20 bus bays.
The project is currently in the Environmental Impact Assessment phase, which aims to optimize its carbon footprint and ensure the construction deadline is met. The total project cost exceeds €67 million, and the terminal is expected to be operational for the 2028 season.
New MSC Cruises Terminal in Barcelona
. Construction of the new MSC cruise terminal in Barcelona was completed last April. Its origins date back to the mid-2010s, when the architectural firm of Ricardo Bofill and TYPSA carried out the initial work. It should be noted that the new MSC cruise terminal in Barcelona was the last project completed by the architect before his death. The preliminary design was submitted in 2016, at which time the procedures for obtaining the operating concession from the Port Authority, the drafting of the detailed design, and other related tasks began.
In 2021, the board of directors of the Port of Barcelona approved a 31-year concession for MSC Cruises Barcelona Terminal to build and operate this cruise terminal, enhancing its presence in the Catalan capital. After several years of construction, Terminal H at the Adoss Wharf was finally completed. It has a constructed area of approximately 12,580 square meters and cost around 50 million euros.
The new terminal sits atop a large foundation slab with a variable thickness, between 1.5 and 2.3 meters, located on reclaimed land. This design ensures monolithic stability in the event of potential settling. Above this, a concrete structure with post-tensioned slabs is built, allowing for large interior cantilevers. The building is crowned by a lattice structure optimized for minimal depth, simultaneously resolving the large 4-meter perimeter cantilever from which the building's distinctive ceramic tiles are suspended.
The facilities were designed for seamless integration with the architecture. A prominent feature, located on an intermediate level or mezzanine, is a large technical room housing the entire climate control system. This allows the main deck to remain free of such installations, given its visual importance from the ships. The facilities also incorporate elements linked to sustainability criteria, such as a rainwater harvesting tank, efficient lighting, and a heat recovery system, among others, which have enabled the building to achieve LEED Gold certification. The maritime station has three floors connected by two vertical circulation areas for embarkation and disembarkation, equipped with a staircase, an escalator, and an elevator to ensure efficient passenger flow. It also features an Operational Power Station (OPS) that allows ships' engines to be shut down when docked, and two glass-enclosed walkways for boarding.
In April 2025, the official opening ceremony took place with the attendance of the Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Government Delegate, the Minister of the Presidency of the Generalitat, the President of the Port of Barcelona and the Fourth Deputy Mayor of the City Council, as well as senior representatives of the MSC Group and all those involved in the project and construction of the terminal.
MSC Cruises' Mega Terminal in Miami:
MSC Cruises inaugurated its impressive four-story cruise terminal in Miami last April. The terminal is a "milestone in MSC's 20-year history in the port and a symbol of our commitment to quality tourism," said Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises. Designed by the architectural firm Arquitectónica and built by Fincantieri Infrastructure, the 45,770-square-meter facility was, upon completion, the world's largest cruise terminal, capable of handling up to 36,000 passengers from three different ships in a single day.
Adjacent to the terminal, which stretches for almost a kilometer, are two berths for MSC and a third berth managed by the Port Authority of Miami that will be used jointly by Royal Caribbean Group. The Spanish company ADELTE supplied the four Hydra-model passenger boarding bridges. Next to the terminal is a six-level parking garage with more than 2,400 spaces and a baggage claim area.
The new four-story terminal will serve MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys ships sailing from Miami, including the MSC World America, which was christened in Miami a few days after the terminal's opening. The interior features marble floors, light wood paneling, and elegant LED lighting. The glass facade floods the waiting area with natural light. There is also a private lounge for MSC Yacht Club members.
The terminal features seven artworks commissioned through Miami-Dade County’s public art program. The most striking piece is Maris, a 75-square-meter digitally projected installation by Quince Imaging that adorns the exterior. This animated, 166-million-pixel multimedia display spans 18 projection zones, creating an evolving visual narrative that responds to real-time NOAA ocean data to generate and display tides, currents, and weather patterns.
The terminal boasts state-of-the-art technology for its operations, including the Leonardo high-volume baggage handling system used in airports, and a biometric recognition program designed in collaboration with Vision-Box, an Amadeus company. This program streamlines passenger processing by verifying their digital identity, from check-in outside the terminal using a digital ID wallet, to disembarkation at the end of the cruise, all through the use of cameras. This system helps reduce boarding and disembarkation times while managing passenger flow and enabling the cruise line to provide the best possible real-time customer service throughout the facility.
The terminal features 18 biometric facial recognition kiosks and 20 US Border Patrol stations for seamless security screening. The terminal utilizes 22 biometric electronic gates to finalize the boarding process before passengers board the ship. Additionally, passenger luggage will be screened using 42 baggage scanners.
How does it work: MSC's digital identity verification revolution?
Pre-cruise digital registration: Passengers use the MSC for Me app (powered by Seamless Mobile) to create a secure digital ID, enabling pre-check-in from home.
Contactless terminal entrance: 18 biometric totems verify identities in seconds, but there are also 100 check-in counters equipped with tablets for passengers arriving at the last minute without prior check-in.
Document-free boarding and disembarking: the 20 automatic two-way gates identify passengers so they can quickly pass through the control area for boarding and re-entry to the terminal, without the need for documents.
Real-time system: The Seamless Journey platform organizes passenger flow and data, guaranteeing privacy, through the MSC Passenger Control System and the US Border Patrol, or any other border control authority.
Expansion of Terminal 5 at Cape Canaveral:
Cape Canaveral overtook Miami as the leading cruise port. This expansion created a need for infrastructure improvements, leading to the $70 million renovation of Terminal 5. The terminal will grow from 8,360 square meters to 15,800 square meters. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2026. A new entrance was created, generating a more cohesive flow from the parking area, while the metal panels surrounding the facility will have openings to allow natural light in. Additional seating will be installed on the second floor, accessible via an additional escalator and a new elevator from the new security screening area on the ground floor. The terminal is used by ships such as Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, and Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Prima, and the expansion is necessary to accommodate the Norwegian Getaway.
William Crowe, vice president of engineering and construction for the Port Authority of Cape Canaveral, described the “incredible improvements” and told the commissioners that “once completed, the terminal will be almost unrecognizable.” The terminal will also feature a relocated area for the U.S. Border Patrol, additional passenger seating, and a VIP area. Externally, it will resemble Cruise Terminal 1 (used by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises), with security screening on the first floor, from where cruise passengers ascend to a seating area on the second floor, accessible via an additional escalator and a new elevator. Mechanical, electrical, and systems upgrades will be made throughout the terminal.
The planned completion date is the end of September 2026, a very short timeframe. Construction will be carried out between cruise ship calls, with afternoon and night shifts on days with calls, which will require increased cleaning. This is the first time the Port of Canaveral Authority has undertaken the renovation of an active cruise terminal. Existing security screening areas will remain fully operational until they are transferred to the new facilities. The project is by BEA Architects, another architecture firm specializing in cruise terminals.
Mumbai's New Terminal:
Last April, India reached a crucial milestone in its journey to becoming a major cruise destination with the opening of Mumbai's Cruise Terminal, the largest in the country. After eight years of construction and a $67 million investment, the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) was inaugurated on April 25th thanks to a public-private partnership, typical for this type of infrastructure. It has become the largest in India and one of the largest in Asia, with its 38,554 square meters of surface area located at Ballard Pier. The terminal is designed to handle around one million passengers annually, approximately 10,000 passengers per day, on up to five ships simultaneously. It features a 300-meter-long pier with an 11-meter draft, which had been under construction since 2018 and was finally completed after overcoming numerous challenges, including cost overruns and delays caused by the pandemic. Although the terminal is 100% operational, the entire commercial area, including cafes, shops, restaurants, etc., is still under development.
The Mumbai Port Authority signed a 30-year concession with a consortium formed by Ballard Pier Port Private Limited and JM Baxi & Co., two private companies, to build and operate the terminal. Currently, the only user of the new terminal is the Empress, operated by Cordelia Cruises (a ship that previously sailed for Pullmantur under the same name), which offers short cruises to the Bay of Bengal. Following the opening of this terminal, Cordelia recently announced its acquisition of the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sun from Norwegian Cruise Line, to be completed in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Mumbai is also a frequent port of call for round-the-world cruises and cruises departing from Singapore.
Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the opening of the Mumbai terminal as a significant step in advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to transform India into a global cruise destination by building state-of-the-art infrastructure. This vision encompasses leveraging the country's extensive coastline and vast inland waterways to build a domestic and international Indian cruise industry from scratch. In September 2024, the Indian government launched the Cruise Bharat project to foster India's cruise industry, setting ambitious targets that include developing ten international ocean cruise terminals, establishing one hundred river terminals, launching five marinas, and integrating over 5,000 km of waterways. The overall goal is to double cruise passenger traffic by 2029. This is expected to create more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs across the cruise value chain. The terminal features an OPS facility, among other amenities designed to enhance its environmental sustainability. It has 72 check-in counters, 22 elevators, and 10 escalators.
Singapore's Marina Bay Refurbishment: A Terminal That Became Too Small Just 12 Years After Opening.
Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre (described in CN43 in 2017) is currently undergoing an ambitious $40 million refurbishment, its largest since opening in 2012. This nine-month project is being undertaken by its operator, SATS-Creuers Cruise Services, in exchange for an eight-year extension of the concession (with the option to extend it by two more years). The aim is to significantly improve capacity, efficiency, and the overall passenger experience. The extension, which could run from May 2027 to March 2037, was formalized when both parties signed a revised management agreement on December 18, 2024.
The fundamental premise is to be able to serve two mega-ships as a home port, with complete segregation, optimizing and increasing the available usable space, and improving passenger processing speed. This will allow us to meet the significant increase in passenger volume resulting from the arrival of increasingly larger ships (such as the new Disney Adventure, which will begin operating from Singapore on December 15th) and the evolving preferences regarding the modes of transport used to reach Singapore. The original design provided shared resources for both ships, but now each large vessel requires its own dedicated space for efficient operations.
The renovated cruise terminal will be equipped to handle a higher volume of passengers and accommodate two ships simultaneously, increasing its capacity from 6,800 to 11,700 passengers after the upgrade. The vacant lot in front of the terminal will be transformed into a transportation hub, with additional bus bays and more passenger arrival points, significantly improving passenger access to and from the terminal. Traffic accessibility will also be improved with the widening of a section of Marina Coastal Drive. The new bus station will increase the number of bus bays and double passenger capacity.
In addition, part of the existing bus station will be transformed into a new check-in area, providing each cruise ship docked at MBCCS with a dedicated check-in area for embarking passengers during two-ship calls. These improvements will be implemented in phases to ensure minimal disruption, and the cruise terminal will remain open on ship call days. The refurbishment includes a new check-in hall with expanded waiting areas and luggage tables that also function as benches, five new VIP lounges, and larger waiting areas for simultaneous two-ship calls. Immigration flow will be improved with new lanes, which is expected to enhance the passenger experience by reducing wait times. A digital signage system has also been installed, and a facial recognition system is planned for future implementation.
With the trend of mega cruise ships carrying 6,000 to 6,800 passengers, the renovation of the Singapore terminal will allow it to efficiently handle two ships simultaneously.
New Mega Terminal in Santos:
The Brazilian port of Santos could soon unveil a new cruise terminal, integrated into a tourist complex within the Santos Vivo project. The project, which has already received municipal approval, includes the construction of an artificial island connected to the Ponta da Praia neighborhood by a new cruise ship pier. The island will also house a marina, a shopping center, a water park, a luxury hotel, apartment buildings, parking, and restaurants, as well as a cruise terminal with three berths capable of accommodating the world's largest ships, with the potential for over 250 port calls per year and the capacity for three ships simultaneously.
The new pier was also designed to protect coastal areas from wave erosion. It is being promoted and will be managed by a private initiative led by Transbrasa, a local stevedoring company. The Santos Vivo project will have an initial investment of over US$220 million and is expected to generate more than 5,000 new jobs. The terminal will feature expanded loading and unloading areas, updated security systems, and infrastructure suitable for receiving vessels of various sizes.
A large-capacity cruise terminal is currently inconceivable without associated biometric or facial recognition technology
This project marks a milestone for the cruise industry in Brazil, a sector that has experienced significant growth in recent years. The new terminal will be equipped with cutting-edge technology to streamline embarkation and disembarkation processes, offering greater comfort and safety to passengers.
State authorities gave their approval at the end of July, so the developers expect it could be operational by 2028. If it materializes, it would be the largest cruise terminal in South America, replacing the Concais Cruise Terminal, which handled around one million passengers in the last 2024-25 season.
Mega Terminals in China:
Just days after its inauguration, the MSC Cruises terminal in Miami lost its title as the world's largest to another building in China, the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal 2, which began operations with a call by the Adora Mediterranea on April 19. Located in the port of Xiamen, in Fujian province, its opening marks the beginning of the cruise industry's revival in China, which was severely impacted by the pandemic. The 68,000 m² building has six floors above ground and two below. It is therefore 50% larger than the MSC Cruises terminal in Miami, which has a surface area of 45,787 m². The new mega terminal is part of the Xiamen International Cruise Ship Center, which was built to boost international cruises in the Asian giant. It can handle three mega-ships simultaneously, the size of those operated by Adora, the country's leading cruise operator, at three berths. Once again, we find state-of-the-art passenger management systems, such as biometric recognition equipment, dual-screen security checkpoints, and terahertz scanning technology to expedite the boarding process to under 10 minutes per passenger. This enormous terminal has ample space to accommodate other recreational and cultural attractions. It features a theme park called "Time Meets Island," which offers immersive experiences in Minnan heritage through exhibits, shows, and a night market.
How is the cruise industry using facial recognition technology?
Royal Caribbean has been investing in biometric facial recognition technology since 2017. Since then, many other cruise lines have adopted it, primarily to streamline the boarding process. In 2019, Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to implement facial recognition technology as part of the boarding process. Since then, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line have partnered with the U.S. Border Patrol to incorporate facial recognition into their homeport embarkation and disembarkation processes, as well as when boarding and disembarking at ports of call. Disembarking passengers stop at a kiosk equipped with a camera that takes a photo. Within seconds, the image is biometrically compared to their passport or visa photo to verify the passenger's identity with over 98% accuracy. This innovative process has reduced embarkation/disembarkation times by up to 30%.
Earlier this year, MSC Cruises began using a facial verification system developed by Neurotechnology in the MSC for Me app and on the MSC website. Neurotechnology's facial verification system automatically captures a passenger's face and compares it to a photo taken during pre-cruise check-in, streamlining the boarding process. Facial recognition is also used to verify passenger identity at entry and exit security checkpoints in ports of call.
Other processes in which facial recognition is being used include the sale of photos and videos on board; and its use to access cabins, instead of a physical card or key, is in the testing phase.
These processes require a base port IT infrastructure that can only be implemented on a proprietary terminal.
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
