CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Port Canaveral on Tuesday unveiled new details on two major capital improvement projects nearing completion: a reimagined Cruise Terminal 5 that will nearly double in size, and a new 13-story parking garage adjacent to Cruise Terminal 6. Together, the projects represent an investment of nearly $175 million and account for more than 2,000 jobs in Central Florida.
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Port Canaveral offered a behind-the-scenes look at the reimagined Cruise Terminal 5 and the new Cruise Terminal 6 parking garage. (Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)
“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,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “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 on both projects is being led by Merritt Island-based Ivey’s Construction. Port Canaveral has grown into one of the leading drive-to cruise markets in the country, with more than 80 percent of all guests driving to the Port for their cruises.
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“Ivey’s Construction is proud to partner with the Canaveral Port Authority and other stakeholders on these state-of-the-art improvement projects,” said Rocky Johnson, vice president of Ivey’s Construction. “As a local business for more than 50 years, Ivey’s can attest to the significant economic impact this project brings to the local economy. Nearly two thousand local construction workers and their families are proud to play a role in bringing these transformative new facilities to Central Florida.”
The two projects account for more than 2,000 jobs in Central Florida, totaling more than 85,000 work hours from contractors and subcontractors so far, as of mid-July.
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Port Canaveral’s reimagined Cruise Terminal 5 and new Cruise Terminal 6 east parking garage account for more than 2,000 local jobs. (Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)
Cruise Terminal 5
One of the most ambitious construction projects in Port Canaveral’s history, the renovation and expansion of Cruise Terminal 5 is underway while the terminal remains operational, supporting multiple sailings each week. Once finished, the facility will nearly double in size, growing from 90,000 square feet to approximately 170,000 square feet to accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise ships, which can carry up to 5,600 passengers.
Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 5 is being expanded to 170,000 square feet to accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise ships. (Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)
Along with a modern entrance, refreshed interiors and a new look and feel, the reimagined terminal will include expanded luggage laydown and passenger seating areas, plus expanded space for passenger security screening.
Materials used on the Cruise Terminal 5 project include 750 tons (1.5 million pounds) of steel, 650,000 linear feet of electrical wire (123 miles), 600,000 linear feet of communications cable (114 miles) and 225,000 linear feet of conduit (43 miles).
Designed by BEA Architects of Miami, the project carries a total construction cost of $78 million, with completion targeted for December 2026.
Cruise Terminal 6 East Garage
The new Cruise Terminal 6 East parking garage is the largest and most complex parking project in Port history. Located on the north side of Port Canaveral adjacent to Cruise Terminal 6, the $93 million facility will add approximately 3,700 parking spaces, bringing the total number of spaces available on Port to nearly 17,500 across eight garages and surface lots.
Port Canaveral’s new parking garage adjacent to Cruise Terminal 6 will include more than 3,700 spaces, bringing the Port’s total parking capacity to nearly 17,500 spaces. (Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)
The 13-story structure will feature eight extra-large elevators, each able to accommodate multiple passengers and their luggage. 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. A pedestrian bridge will also give passengers easy access to the entrance of Cruise Terminal 5.
Materials used to build the new garage include 1,600 tons (3.2 million pounds) of steel, 30,000 cubic yards of concrete (more than 3,000 truckloads) and 2.6 million linear feet of prestressed strands (475 miles — enough to circle Lake Okeechobee six times). The 1.2-million-square-foot structure includes 3,644 precast concrete components and 982 concrete foundation piles extending a combined 13 miles below ground.
Planning for the Future
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 the Port over the next five years.
Port Canaveral is currently home to seven cruise brands operating more than 1,000 sailings from 18 homeported ships, including some of the newest, largest and most technically advanced ships in the world, offering itineraries ranging from weekend getaways to week-long voyages.
Source: Canaveral Port Authority. Photos courtesy of the Canaveral Port Authority.
