World's Largest Ship Heads To S. Fla.
Royal Caribbean's Oasis Of The Seas To Dock In $75 Million Port Everglades Terminal
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The world's largest cruise ship will soon call South Florida home.Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas is scheduled to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 11, its final destination on its maiden voyage from Finland. It's here that the world's largest ship will meet Port Everglades' Terminal 18, the world's largest cruise ship terminal.On Wednesday, Port Everglades Director Philip Allen gave Local 10's Jonathan Vigliotti a tour of Terminal 18."Royal Caribbean's headquarters is in the Port of Miami. For them to make this commitment to Port Everglades was a significant undertaking and shows that we are committed to growth," Allen said. "Our port will be the largest cruise port in the country."The $75 million, privately funded terminal was designed specifically to fit the super-sized Oasis of the Seas."This vessel will be handling 6,000 passengers on every cruise and this building will have to handle 6,000 getting off and 6,000 getting on. We'll also have 2,000 crew members," Allen said.The towering ship is as long as the Empire State Building is tall. It is expected to carry 584,000 passengers a year.Allen said Terminal 18's check-in area, which has 90 counters, is one of the best examples of the building's size. The goal is to have passengers on the ship within 15 minutes of their arrival at the terminal."Of course, that could change if all 6,000 people show up at the same time," he said.Construction on Terminal 18 began 22 months ago and employed about 2,000 people. According to an economic study commissioned by Allen, the Oasis of the Seas and Terminal 18 will generate $226 million to the local community in its first year. In the first five years, it will add more than 8,000 jobs.In a region hard hit by the recession, Allen said hope floats on the high seas."Fort Lauderdale has never seen anything quite like this. All eyes are on us right now," he said.A ribbon cutting ceremony for Terminal 18 will be held Nov. 9. The Oasis of the Seas' first cruise out of Port Everglades is scheduled for Nov. 20.Cool Stuff: More photos, videos, maps, track ship's journey to South Florida.
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