No doubt about it, there were probably some high-fives in the Port of Miami headquarters when Regent Seven Seas Cruises decided that it will abandon its current homeport in Fort Lauderdale to join sister company, Oceania Cruises, at the Port of Miami beginning in fall 2012.Regent Seven Seas will operate from Port Everglades for one more year before moving operations to Miami. “We are appreciative to Port Everglades for its many years of excellent service to our valued guests,” said Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Regent and Oceania will have a dedicated terminal in Miami and the added flexibility of operating itineraries any day of the week.”
Although Miami has long held the title of “Cruise Capital of the World,” its reputation has waned in recent years as major cruise lines and ships have shifted to other homeports. Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades has become particularly busy. However, the transfer of Regent Seven Seas to the Port of Miami should give it a needed boost in prestige, if not an abundance of new traffic. Ships of both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises will berth seasonally at Cruise Terminal J, which is in the process of being upgraded into a ‘boutique’ facility to cater to the mid-size ships that serve the upscale market. The combined brands will account for more than 30 ship calls annually.
Photo: Seven Seas Mariner © Linda Coffman, CruiseDiva.com
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