PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Port Canaveral leaders offered a behind-the-scenes look Tuesday at the construction on Cruise Terminal 5 and a new parking garage near Terminal 6, projects aimed at preparing for bigger ships and making passenger access easier.
Officials said Terminal 5 is doubling in size to 170,000 square feet, allowing it to accommodate some of the cruise industry’s newest and largest vessels.
Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray said upgrading the aging terminal has been especially challenging because it has remained fully operational throughout construction. Crews have had to pause and reset work around ship schedules as passengers continue moving through the facility.
The port is also building a 13-story parking garage adjacent to Cruise Terminal 6. Leaders said about 80% of Port Canaveral cruise passengers arrive by car, and the new structure is designed to meet that demand. The garage will hold 3,700 vehicles, pushing total port parking capacity to nearly 17,500 spaces.
Port officials said the upgrades are also focused on security, including facial recognition technology and new screening protocols and equipment, according to Bill Crowe, the port’s vice president of engineering and construction.
Together, the two projects carry a $175 million price tag. Crowe noted the tight construction market has required extra spending to keep work on schedule, including $4 million in premium time and overtime. Port leaders said the work is part of a broader $1 billion investment plan over the next five years, underscoring the port’s role as an economic driver and job creator in Central Florida.
Port leaders said they hope to have most of the construction completed by the end of the summer.