- Port Canaveral is planning a major expansion, including doubling the size of Terminal CT-5 and building a new terminal.
- The port is addressing potential traffic issues before proceeding with the construction of the new southwest terminal.
- Six new, large cruise ships from various lines, including the Star of the Seas and Celebrity Apex, are coming to the port.
- Two new LNG-powered mega-ships, Carnival Festivale and MSC World Atlantic, are scheduled to debut from the port in 2027.
Port Canaveral officials have announced a major expansion plan to accommodate a growing number of cruise ships, including some of the newest and largest vessels in the world, following a record-breaking year in 2025. This was detailed during the port’s State of the Port address on November 5.
To address the increased traffic and ship size, the Canaveral Port Authority plans to expand existing facilities, specifically terminal CT-5, which will double in size to handle larger ships. Furthermore, the port intends to construct an entirely new cruise terminal on its southwest side. Port officials, including Captain John Murray, acknowledged that traffic optimization is a priority that must be addressed before the new terminal construction can proceed.
The port introduced six new ships that will begin sailing from Port Canaveral soon, showcasing the port’s increasing popularity in the global cruise industry. These additions include Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas (Icon-class), Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex, Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess, and MSC Cruises’ MSC Grandiosa. Looking ahead to 2027, two more liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered mega-ships are scheduled to debut from the port: Carnival’s Carnival Festivale and MSC’s MSC World Atlantic, one of the largest liners globally.
The influx of these highly advanced and high-capacity ships, combined with enhancements to other existing terminals like CT-10 and CT-1, underscores Port Canaveral’s commitment to maintaining its position as a competitive and popular hub for Caribbean and Bahamas travel.