CAPE LIBERTY CRUISE PORT TO FEATURE “ART ON THE WORKING WATERFRONT” TO GUESTS BOARDING CRUISE VACATIONS
Second Bayonne Cruise Terminal to open in November 2014 to welcome Quantum of the Seas’ Guests
BAYONNE, N.J., October 24, 2014 – The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today dedicated the new cruise terminal at Cape Liberty Cruise Port, the next phase of the development of the Bayonne cruise port. Bayonne Mayor James Davis, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s Director of Port Commerce Richard Larrabee, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s President and COO Adam Goldstein and Vice President of Port Operations Juan Trescastro, dedicate the new cruise terminal to Art on the Working Waterfront. Together, the gentlemen unveiled 10 photographs that capture the unique energy and character of historic New York Harbor through the eyes of photographer and International Longshoreman Association-member John Bacaring. Following the unveiling, the officials and executives were invited to the very first preview of the new terminal, slated to welcome guests for the first time when the world’s first Smartship, Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas, arrives in New York Harbor on November 10, 2014.
“The development of the new cruise terminal is another example of how public private partnerships are supposed to work. By working together, Royal Caribbean and the Port Authority have been able to bring this world class terminal on line which can service the newest generation of large cruise ships,” said Port Authority Port Commerce Director, Richard Larrabee. “We look forward to continuing passenger growth with the arrival of the Quantum Class vessels to the harbor in 2014 and 2015. It’s been a pleasure working with Royal Caribbean on this important project.”
The second cruise terminal located at 4 Port Terminal Boulevard is a successful partnership between Royal Caribbean and the Port Authority to develop the Bayonne waterfront for cruise tourism. The first phase of the $55 million port expansion includes a new, state-of-the-art guest terminal, with 125,000 sq. ft. of check-in, customs and immigration, and luggage processing space, as well as a 950-car parking structure and pier improvements. The new facility is adjacent to the first cruise terminal, opened in 2004.
“Royal Caribbean thanks the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the City of Bayonne for this successful collaboration to develop Cape Liberty for cruise tourism.,” said Adam Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “The planned state-of-the-art cruise terminal at Cape Liberty will perfectly complement our Quantum-class ships, which will be the most technologically advanced ships in the world, and help generate jobs and grow the cruise industry regionally.”
Opened in May 2004, Cape Liberty Cruise Port is located 15 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and seven miles south of Manhattan. The port has been the year-round home of Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas, and seasonally for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit. Quantum of the Seas will sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas starting in November 2014. Liberty of the Seas will then homeport at Cape Liberty in summer 2015 and become Royal Caribbean International’s largest and most innovative cruise ship to sail to Bermuda. In winter 2015, Cape Liberty will be the homeport for Quantum of the Seas’ sister-ship Anthem of the Seas, after completing its inaugural season in Europe.
“Being the sole cruise port in the entire State of New Jersey, today highlights one of the many unique qualities of Bayonne. Without question, by establishing working relationships with entities like Royal Caribbean the possibilities are endless for the future of the City,” said Mayor James Davis.
Based on “The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2011” (BREA Business Research, 2012), Cape Liberty has the second largest passenger volume among Northeast and Mid-Atlantic coast ports. Every time a cruise ship docks at Cape Liberty Cruise Port, $1.5 million is spent at and in the surrounding areas of the port. The facilities generate an estimated $500,000 per year to the City of Bayonne through a local parking tax instituted in 2008. Furthermore, the cruise industry helps New Jersey generate $390 million annually and employs more than 7,000 residents.
About Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, these six brands operate a combined total of 41 ships with six under construction. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 490 destinations on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com, www.azamaraclubcruises.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com, www.tuicruises.com, or www.rclinvestor.com.
About the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where construction crews are building the iconic One World Trade Center, which is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, please visit http://www.panynj.gov.
SOURCE: Royal Caribbean International