Royal Caribbean Group’s New Miami Terminal Breaks Ground

Miami-Dade County, PortMiami, and Royal Caribbean Group marked the start of work on Cruise Terminal G with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the former terminal. When completed, the new facility will serve some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

Officials from Miami-Dade County, PortMiami, Royal Caribbean Group, and the Lemartec–NV2A joint venture break ground on the new Cruise Terminal G at PortMiami.

The new Terminal G is designed as a multi-story, single-ship facility capable of accommodating up to 7,000 passengers. The terminal is intended to support the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea brands, especially their largest vessels, including Icon-class ships.

Embarkation and debarkation will be separated by floor level, a layout designed to reduce congestion during peak turnaround periods. The project also includes a nine-level parking garage with approximately 2,100 spaces and an integrated ground transportation area.

Enhancing the Journey

PortMiami Director and CEO Hydi Webb said the project reflects how cruising has evolved over time. “The cruise ships have gotten so big, and we need the landside infrastructure in order to accommodate the volumes of passengers that are coming through this port,” Webb said. “And it’s not only the terminal, but it’s also the land side and the ground transportation operation.”

Rendering of Cruise Terminal G at PortMiami, a new multi-story, single-berth facility for Royal Caribbean Group. Credit: Lemartec-NV2A.

According to Miami-Dade County legislative records, Terminal G carries a design-build contract value of $344.8 million. The project is awarded to the Lemartec–NV2A joint venture. The scope includes demolition of the existing terminal and port administration building, construction of the new multi-story terminal, a parking garage, and associated roadway and utility work. The terminal is targeting LEED Silver certification, aligning with county requirements for sustainable building design.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the project is part of a wider transformation at the port. “These buildings are not just beautiful inside and out,” she said. “They are part of that transformation of how we do business, not just the look, but actually how we move people.”

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty described the terminal as an extension of the cruise experience. “For us, this is the gateway to the vacation experience,” Liberty said. “The goal was to begin to change the landscape here and really start the vacation experience not when you get on the ship, but actually when you pull up into the port.”

The Cruise Terminal G construction site at PortMiami on the day of the groundbreaking ceremony. Credit: H.Liu.

A Decade of Transformation at the Port of Miami

Terminal G is the latest chapter in a sweeping transformation at PortMiami that has unfolded over the past decade. Royal Caribbean set the tone for this shift in March 2017, when it broke ground on Terminal A. That project marked a turning point for the port, introducing a purpose-built terminal designed for the world’s largest cruise ships. Terminal A opened in November 2018.

Norwegian Cruise Line followed with Terminal B, which entered service in 2021 after pandemic-related delays. Virgin Voyages added a different dimension in 2022 with the opening of Terminal V, a smaller, brand-forward terminal designed around a boutique cruise experience. Last year, MSC Cruises opened a large multi-berth complex, Terminal AA/AAA.

As PortMiami continues to evolve, investments like Terminal G continue to emphasize the passenger journey on land is just as carefully planned as the voyage at sea.