The Port of Palm Beach is moving forward with a $43 million project aimed at expanding its cruise facilities and attracting larger ships.
While the port will never be able to accommodate the oversized vessels that sail from Port Everglades and PortMiami, Palm Beach Port Chair Blair Ciklinsaid he could envision a cruise line, such as Viking, operating from Riviera Beach.
Though best known for its river cruises, Viking has significantly expanded its ocean cruise offerings in recent years. Its ships are considerably smaller than those operated by Royal Caribbean.
"Our goal is to bring more cruise passengers to Palm Beach County and the City of Riviera Beach, creating greater economic benefits for our community," Ciklin said. Cruise lines regularly
inquire about whether the port can accommodate their vessels, he said.
The project includes the installation of marine structures that allow ships to be secured beyond the existing dock to accommodate longer cruise vessels without constructing a new berth.
Plans also call for an 1,100-space parking garage and a new passenger boarding bridge designed to accommodate a wider variety of cruise ships.
Because passenger entry points vary by vessel, a more flexible boarding bridge is important, too, port spokesperson Yaremi Farinas said. Additional improvements include expanding the security screening area for cruise passengers.
The only cruise ship currently operating from the port is the 1,680-passenger Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, which has reduced the number of its sailings while offering longer trips to Nassau.
As a result, passenger traffic declined about 10% during the first 10 months of the fiscal year, contributing to a nearly $300,000 drop in revenue compared with the same period a year earlier. Farinas noted, however, that the longer sailings are, in most cases, nearly sold out.
The expansion project is expected to take two to three years to complete. On Sept. 24, port commissioners approved seeking bids for the improvements.
Mike Diamond is a journalist atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Port of Palm Beach to spend $43 million on cruise upgrades | Exclusive
