Port Canaveral Halts Cruise Terminal Plans Due to Space Industry Concerns

Port Canaveral, Florida’s second-largest cruise port and one of the busiest globally, has reversed its plans to build a new cruise terminal due to pressure from state officials. The Port Canaveral Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 on August 21, 2024, to halt the redesign of North Cargo Berth 8, which was scheduled to open in 2026.

The decision follows concerns from Florida’s Department of Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly and Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue. They argued that the new terminal could hinder the growth of the state’s burgeoning space industry and potentially lead to lost investment opportunities.

“Florida’s cruise tourism and commercial space launch sectors are both vitally important,” Kelly and Perdue stated. “Port Canaveral bears the responsibility of supporting both. We must reverse the decision to support one sector at the expense of the other.”

Port Canaveral faces a unique challenge as it serves as a cruise, cargo, commercial fishing port, and spaceport. The space industry’s expansion is expected to double its current footprint at the port by 2033, according to Space Florida.

Canaveral Port Authority CEO John Murray acknowledged the challenge, stating, “It’s tough to keep everybody happy all the time, but we do our best. We want to keep business here in Florida rather than lose it to other states.”

State officials and port authorities will now work together to address the space constraints at Port Canaveral.