Two Cruise Terminal Projects at Port Canaveral Will Be Completed This Year

Port Canaveral, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, is currently in the middle of a $175 million project that will greatly improve two of their cruise ship terminals.

The construction project at Terminals 5 & 6 is one of the most ambitious projects in the port’s history. Here is a look at a construction update on these two cruise terminals and when they will be completed.

Cruise Terminal 5

Cruise Terminal 5 is being expanded and will be nearly double in size when the project is completed. The terminal is going from 90,000 square feet to 170,000 square feet so it can accommodate some of the largest cruise ships sailing today.

The terminal is also getting a refreshed interior, a new look and feel, and expanded luggage laydown and passenger seating areas. The area for passenger security screening will also be larger than ever.

Materials used in the Cruise Terminal 5 project include 750 tons (1.5 million pounds) of steel, 650,000 linear feet of electrical wire (equal to 123 miles), 600,000 linear feet of communications cable (114 miles) and 225,000 linear feet of conduit (43 miles).

The expansion to Cruise Terminal 5 is expected to be completed in December 2026 and cost $78 million. 

Cruise Terminal 6

Cruise Terminal 6 is getting a 13-story parking garage that is the largest and most complex parking project in Port Canaveral’s history.

The garage will add 3,700 parking spaces, bringing the total number of available parking spaces at the port to nearly 17,500 across eight garages and surface lots.

It will feature eight extra-large elevators, and twin two-lane vehicle ramps will promote efficient traffic flow, and a connecting bridge will allow vehicle access to the adjacent Cruise Terminal 6 West garage. Port Canaveral told Cruise Fever that the garage is expected to open in early October.

In addition, a pedestrian bridge will also provide passengers with easy access to the entrance of Cruise Terminal 5.

The Cruise Terminal 5 renovation and Cruise Terminal 6 East garage construction are part of the Port Canaveral Advantage, a nearly $1 billion capital improvement program focused on expanding infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and supporting growth across all areas of the Port over the next five years.

Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO, gave the following statement:

“Every investment we make is focused on ensuring the Port can continue to support the level of guest experience and operational efficiency our cruise partners expect from us, while readying ourselves to meet future business commitments. Projects like these intentionally align with a business strategy that underscores our role as an economic driver for our Port community, supporting growth and new business opportunities at the local and regional level.”

Construction for both projects is being led by Merritt Island, Fla.-based Ivey’s Construction. Port Canaveral has grown to be one of the leading drive-to markets in the U.S., with more than 80 percent of all guests driving to the port for cruises.

Seven of the world’s leading cruise lines currently sail from Port Canaveral. The 18 cruise ships that homeport there offer over 1,000 sailings that range from short weekend cruises to week-long sailings and beyond.