Boston Port Reports Record Passengers, Opens New Cruise Terminal
Cruiseport Boston again set a passenger record for a fourth straight year. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced the 2010 cruise season finished with 322,161 passengers, a 7 percent increase over 2009. In October, officials unveiled the $11 million makeover of the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, which modernized it from a vintage World War I military warehouse into a hip new point of departure for ocean-going vacationers. Massport said the renovations were needed to keep pace with Boston’s growing cruise industry and to ensure the continued economic benefits that cruising brings to the region.
“The increase in cruise passenger traffic is much higher than expected this year, and we are extremely pleased,” said Mike Leone, Massport’s director of the port. “Going into the season, we expected about 305,000 passengers, but the all-inclusive benefits of cruising and competitive market in Boston gave vacationers great value for their dollar. Our new Cruiseport facility will enhance the customer experience and provide a stylish new welcome mat for port of call visitors stopping in Boston for the day.”
The 2010 season brought 111 ship calls to Cruiseport Boston’s Black Falcon Terminal, which is also up 7 percent from last year. The record number of passengers this year follows three previous years of solid growth -- 12 percent in 2007, 15 percent in 2008, and 11 percent in 2009.
Massport also celebrated a major milestone in May when the 1 millionth passenger embarked on a cruise from Cruiseport Boston. The passenger boarded Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Spirit for Bermuda. The main highlight of the year, however, was the completion of the terminal renovation, which enhanced aesthetics and passenger amenities, and created more than 60,000 square feet of new space within the building. The largest part of the work constructed a separate departure area on the unused level of the terminal’s third floor, which now allows for the simultaneous handling of disembarking passengers and those waiting to board a ship.
Next season, the 2,200-passenger Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn will start sailing the Boston-Bermuda itinerary. The ship is 10 percent bigger than Norwegian Spirit and is the third upgrade to Boston in four years by the cruise line. Also next year, Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth will make its maiden visit to Boston on Sept. 22.
Cruiseport Boston’s 2011 season runs from April through October with cruises to Bermuda, Canada/New England, Europe and the Caribbean. Cruiseport Boston’s business is roughly 60 percent port of call and 40 percent originating cruise.
The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal is located 10 minutes from the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and Routes 1 and 93. It is 10 minutes from Boston Logan International Airport and downtown Boston.