Port of Miami upgrades to bring in more tourists

Port of Miami upgrades to bring in more tourists--

Port upgrades paying off for Miami | State | Bradenton Herald: " . . . The Carnival Breeze, which starts regular sailings from its new year-round home Saturday, will be joined Thursday by Oceania Cruises' Riviera and Dec. 1 by Celebrity Reflection. All three launched earlier this year in Europe and make their U.S. debut in Miami. After a three-year dry stretch that saw no shiny new vessels mooring in Miami's waters -- and years of efforts to draw new operators coupled with millions spent on upgrades -- the port is touting its biggest expansion ever with the three new ships as well as three new cruise lines signing on for this season and next. "You want your newest ships to have the newest facilities, and that's what Miami has done," said Miami cruise expert Stewart Chiron, CEO of CruiseGuy.com. Regent Seven Seas Cruises moved its ships from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to Miami, and Disney Cruise Line will sail for the first time from Miami starting in late December. Next year, MSC will bring its newest ship, Divina, to Miami . . . And Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line, which reignited the parade of new ships in 2010 with the Norwegian Epic, is bringing the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Getaway in January 2014 to Miami, where it will sail year-round. . . For Miami, the influx means more tourists. Even if they only stay an average of 2 1/2 days, the daily amount spent by cruise passengers is about $264.58, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau."It may be the first exposure for these folks to the Miami brand and certainly there's reason then to either stay later or come back again," said William Talbert III, the bureau's president and CEO . . ."

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/11/24/4290800/port-upgrades-paying-off-for-miami.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Read more here

more miami beach news below 

Follow @LaPlayaIsla