Inside view of the new MSC terminal designed by Miami’s Arquitectonica. Pedro Portal [email protected]
MSC Cruises has opened what it dubs the largest cruise terminal in the world at PortMiami
The four-level building, unveiled April 5 at a public ceremony and developed in partnership with the port and Miami-Dade County, can serve up to 36,000 passengers a day.
Two ships can dock simultaneously at the moment. Miami-Dade County is responsible for completing a third berth, which should be finished by 2028. Then the terminal will be able to accommodate three ships at the same time.
MSC World America, the Geneva-based carrier’s newest ship, will call the new terminal home. That ship is set for its first cruise this week, to the Caribbean.
MSC Cruises said it will have a total of four ships sailing from the new terminal throughout 2025, as well as vessels from its luxury brand Explora Journeys.
The nearly 500,000-square-foot terminal — designed by Miami’s Arquitectonica, built by Fincantieri Infrastructure and under construction since 2022 — cost about $450 million. Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava attended Saturday’s unveiling.
What to know about the MSC terminal at PortMiami
▪ Check-in: Cruise passengers can check in from home online with MSC for Me app or MSC Cruises website, upload travel documents and receive a boarding pass in a few minutes.
▪ Parking: Six-level garage with over 2,400 spaces. Guests can reserve spot in advance via the app or website.
▪ Drop-off: Covered drop-off zone for buses, taxis and ride shares. All transport options have a covered path straight into terminal.
▪ Luggage: Passengers can leave bags at a drop-off point in the parking garage. There are 42 luggage screening machines.
▪ Security: Once arriving at terminal, people scan passport into one of 18 biometric face pods and look at camera. Then passengers go through one of 20 security lanes.
▪ Aesthetics: The terminal filled with natural light and has a view of Biscayne Bay. Artwork was commissioned through Miami-Dade County’s Art in Public Places program.
▪ Ship access: 22 biometric E-gates on the terminal side before guests enter the gangway. Once on ship, no more onboarding needed.
Take a look inside the Miami cruise terminal
Interior view of the gate 9 entrance at the new MSC Cruises’ Terminal AA, designed by Miami’s Architecture Studio Arquitectonica, at PortMiami, which is the world’s largest cruise terminal, capable of accommodating three ships simultaneously and processing up to 36,000 guests daily, on Saturday April 05, 2025. Pedro Portal [email protected]
Interior view of the new MSC Cruises’ Terminal AA, designed by Miami’s Architecture Studio Arquitectonica, at PortMiami, which is the world’s largest cruise terminal, capable of accommodating three ships simultaneously and processing up to 36,000 guests daily, on Saturday April 05, 2025. Pedro Portal [email protected]
The new MSC terminal is now open. It will be able to accommodate three ships at the same time. Pedro Portal [email protected]
The terminal is filled with natural light; view of Biscayne Bay. Artwork commissioned through Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places program. Pedro Portal [email protected]
View of the new MSC Cruises’ Terminal AA, at PortMiami, officially inaugurated on Saturday April,05, which is the world’s largest cruise terminal, capable of accommodating three ships simultaneously and processing up to 36,000 guests daily, on Sunday April 06, 2025. Pedro Portal [email protected]
This story was originally published April 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM.
