Thread: Port Everglades is OPEN for Business.

The largest cruise terminal in the world to serve the two largest and most revolutionary cruise ships in the world officially opened at Port Everglades on Friday, November 6, one week prior to the arrival of Royal Caribbean International's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas.

Local county and city officials, as well as Royal Caribbean executives, were on hand for the opening celebration. The event also featured Royal Caribbean dancers, who performed a number from the Hairspray musical.

The finished building Cruise Terminal 18 on time and under budget, which is a demonstration of government at its best," said Port Everglades Director Phil Allen. Port Everglades, located within the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, Florida, is governed by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. "There may be bigger terminals that service two ships at the same time, but Terminal 18 was constructed specifically to handle one Oasis-class ship at a time."

At 240,000 square feet (5.5 acres), Cruise Terminal 18 is more than three times larger than it was just 22 months prior to opening when Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) reached an agreement with Broward County to homeport both of the new Oasis-class of ships at Port Everglades.

FMI:11/9/09 - Port Everglades Opens World's Largest Cruise Terminal

When we were disembarking through the OLD cruise terminal last month, out porter told us that there would be some 80 porters for the new terminal... at the current one, there are 39.

on time and under budget

Wow! Unheard of these days!