For great new things to be built, the old and less-than-great things must be demolished. This is especially true at the busiest cruise terminal in the world, PortMiami, where official construction of a new state-of-the-art Royal Caribbean terminal is now underway.
The first step in the project, however, is the demolition and removal of the existing Terminal G, which began on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
Terminal G is the westernmost cruise terminal along the main channel, just before cruise ships enter the main turning basin. It was completed in 1999 and while it has been updated in the years since, it simply can no longer compete with the technological needs of newer, larger vessels.
For those familiar with PortMiami’s cruise terminals, Terminal G is the one right next to the dedicated Virgin Voyages terminal that is set perpendicular to the main channel.
Now, Terminal G is being removed to make way for the updated, dedicated, multi-functional new terminal.
The project is a joint venture from NV2A and Lemartec, and is expected to be largely (though perhaps not fully) complete by 2027.
While designed as a single-berth terminal to accommodate one cruise ship at a time, the new terminal will have the capacity to process up to 7,000 passengers. This does mean it will be capable of handling the Icon class vessels – Icon of the Seas, the new Star of the Seas, and the upcoming Legend of the Seas.
Other cruise lines in the Royal Caribbean Group, both Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, will also use the new Terminal G as needed.
The other dedicated Royal Caribbean terminal, Terminal A on the easternmost end of PortMiami, is one of the world’s largest cruise terminals and is also easily capable of handling the world’s largest cruise ships.
Terminal G will be a multi-level design that can separate passengers on different floors. This should smooth congestion and permit both embarkation and debarkation to potentially move simultaneously, improving efficiency and minimizing wait times.
This multi-level design will also provide improved processing for crew members and other services to be moving on and off a ship even while guests are also in the terminal.
Even more important in the new terminal’s design is the plan to achieve LEED Silver certification, which would emphasize the sustainability of the structure and how it will function.
The new terminal will also include surrounding support structures. A multi-story parking garage, designated passenger drop-off areas, bus parking, and more are all part of the overall project to improve traffic flow in the overall terminal area.
Of course, while the functionality of the new terminal is of critical importance, equally important is the thoughtful architecture and its place in the PortMiami skyline.
The new terminal will have graceful lines and the iconic Royal Caribbean blue with calmer, aquatic hues on the interior to emphasize the connection between the city and the sea. This ensures that guests will have a wonderful sense of their oceangoing getaways even before they step foot on a vessel.
Construction Impact to Miami Passengers
While the new cruise terminal will be exciting for guests once it is completed, the construction phase may add a bit more congestion and confusion to PortMiami’s already sometimes convoluted traffic patterns.
Guests sailing out of PortMiami over the next couple of years may want to verify their cruise terminal before heading to the port, especially if they will be driving a personal vehicle.
Read Also: Miami Cruise Port Parking – Where to Park Guide
Providing some extra time to arrive and park will be essential, and a key step will be for guests to arrive within their pre-selected terminal arrival times regardless of which cruise line they are sailing with or which cruise terminal they are sailing out of.
Of course, the most impacted terminals will be Terminal V for Virgin Voyages, as well as Terminal F and Terminal E, both of which are used by Carnival Cruise Line and other lines of Carnival Corporation & plc.
