Charleston and Carnival Cruise Lines Plan Expansion

The South Carolina State Ports Authority has announced by summer of next year, Carnival Cruise passengers will be embarking from a new $25 million cruise terminal on the Charleston waterfront. Construction on the new terminal will begin later this year and the facility should be open to passengers in the third quarter of 2012.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,056 passenger Carnival Fantasy in Charleston became the first liner permanently based in Charleston, SC, and with an estimated 90 ships expected to call this year, the cruise industry is growing in Charleston.

Jim Newsome, with the South Carolina Ports Authority, said they will build a terminal “that fits into the very unique and important context of this city.”  He continued to say it will meet security requirements, provide better experience for travelers and eliminate the traffic congestion that accompanies liners docking in Charleston.

Mayor Riley promised “a great terminal…a world class one” and although some Charleston residents have expressed concern the cruise industry may be growing too large for the city, Riley said the one-berth terminal is the right scale.

The terminal project is expected to bring in $43 million for the local economy