Carnival Corporation Extends Agreement with Port Everglades to 2030

(Source: Internet)

Carnival Corporation & plc has extended its commitment to one of the world's top cruise ports.

The company announced Tuesday that it has signed an addendum to its passenger terminal agreement with Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades, extending it five years through 2030.

As part of the move, Carnival will have preferential use of the port's Cruise Terminal 4 — which reopened in 2015 following a $24 million renovation and is currently undergoing a $13.6 million slip extension project set to be completed next year — and Cruise Terminals 2, 21 and 26.

Overall, Carnival will have preferential use of five terminals at the port, which hosts more than 3.6 million multi-day cruise passengers a year.

Carnival signed the original 15-year agreement in 2010. Enhancements made under the original agreement include enabling simultaneous embarkation and debarkation processes, the addition of two passenger loading bridges, larger baggage halls and improved ground transportation.

Currently, seven of the company's cruise brands sail to and from Port Everglades, including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, P&O Cruises UK, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.

The brands' more than two dozen combined ships account for a combined average of more than 300 calls per year at the port.

"Carnival Corporation is a critical Port Everglades partner," said Port Everglades' Chief Executive and Port Director Steve Cernak in a statement. "Carnival Corporation has a strong, long-standing presence in the Broward County community, and the additional five years included in the agreement reinforces that commitment."

"Florida is the largest cruise market in the world, and we are thrilled to extend our agreement with Port Everglades, which is an extremely convenient and popular location for our guests with close proximity to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the Caribbean, the world’s most popular region for cruise vacations," said Carnival's senior vice president of global port and destination development Giora Israel in a statement accompanying Tuesday's announcement.

Looking ahead, Carnival and the port will discuss the possibility of making additional improvements to Cruise Terminal 21 in an effort to accommodate the company's newest class of ships.