The Port of Boston expects to set new records by breaking the 200,000-passenger mark and with FIVE cruise ships docked at Black Falcon Cruise Terminal on September 9th and 29th. All this cruise activity is expected to generate for the region an economic impact of $50 million
"The record-setting growth of the cruise ship industry in Boston is a true success story for the Port and for workers in maritime, hospitality, retail and transportation industries,"said Virginia Buckingham, Massport executive director and CEO. " Massport has allocated $12 million to build another cruise terminal contiguous to the Black Falcon to keep up with the growth and new ships."
Director of the Port of Boston, Michael Leone says the new terminal, currently in the design stage, will be part of a cruise complex on the South Boston waterfront which will be able to accommodate the Destiny Class and mega-ships that cruise lines are adding to their fleets.
"We expect the new facility will be ready for the opening of the 2003 season," said Leone.
This year, cruise ships will tie up at Massport's terminals at the Black Falcon and at the World Trade Center. Ships new to Boston include Carnival's Victory, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas and Silver Sea's Silver Whisper, a 382-guest ultra-luxury vessel, will make a port of call visit September 27, during her Inaugural Season.
There's also a new cruise option--- coastal cruising, offered by the Delta Queen's Cape May Light and Cape Cod Light. These newly constructed, 224-passenger ships are named for historic lighthouses and designed to resemble the Fall River Line vessels, which served overnight passengers on northern U.S. coastal routes for nearly a century, beginning in the mid-1800s. The first of these coastal cruises visits on June 20th at the World Trade Center. The vessels' itineraries have 12 New England port of call stops: Providence, RI, Newport, Martha's Vineyard, Provincetown, Fall River, Plymouth, Boston, Gloucester, Salem, Portsmouth, NH, Kennebunkport and Portland, ME.
The Amsterdam, Holland America's newest "Flagship of Excellence", visited Boston last October during her inaugural voyage to the U.S. She's back for five port of call visits beginning September 9.
In preparation for the 2001 cruise season, Massport gave the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal a facelift. The work included: repainting of both interior levels of the terminal, redecorated the waiting area with new pictures and plants, installed baby-changing tables in rest rooms, added new lighting inside and out, installed a new automatic queuing system for passengers waiting for cabs, and replaced ceiling and fan, repaired luggage bins, forklifts and other equipment.