Port Everglades to Homeport Largest Ships

Port Everglades will be the homeport for Royal Caribbean's two largest vessels, bringing 17m passengers to the port over 10 years, officials said. The Broward County Commission said it expects to finalize the deal with the Miami-based cruise company by Dec. 19. Royal Caribbean's Project Genesis ships are to be 220,000 tons and hold 5,400 passengers, making them the largest ships ever constructed. The first is expected to begin sailing in fall 2009 and the second a year later. The commission expects each ship to bring 584,000 passengers to the port each year, and, along with Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, to bring 17 million passengers to the port during the first 10-year term of the contract. As part of the deal, Royal Caribbean is to reimburse up to $37.4m for expansion and related infrastructure needs of the port's Terminal 18. Source: Reuters