Carnival Cruise Line to triple size of Long Beach terminal

The deal will nearly triple the size of the current facility, from approximately 66,000 square feet to 142,000 square feet.

Carnival has operated the Long Beach Cruise Terminal since 2003 using a partial area of the Geodesic Dome that was the former museum housing Howard Hughes' 'Spruce Goose' attraction. The agreement gives Carnival 100% use of the Dome, allowing for larger ships and providing additional space to accommodate two-way operations, enabling simultaneous embarkation and disembarkation operations.

Construction is to be completed in late 2017. Carnival said it will take measures to ensure smooth flow and a high standard of customer service during the construction period.

'For years we have been working toward reaching an agreement to expand the Long Beach Cruise Terminal to accommodate larger ships on the West Coast, and we're thrilled to finally be able to move forward with our plans to assume full usage of the Dome, making Long Beach one of our largest homeport facilities,' Carnival president Christine Duffy said.

'The expansion of the Carnival Cruise terminal is great news for Long Beach and great news for visitors to our city,' Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said. 'The added capacity will bring more tourism and economic activity to Long Beach, and we're pleased to continue working with Carnival for many years to come.'

Taylor Woods, co-founder of Urban Commons, noted the deal supports the expansion of Carnival operations immediately adjacent to the Queen Mary. 'We have big plans for the facility and the surrounding land, and Carnival's success will only add to the vitality and energy of what promises to be one of the top destinations in California,' Woods said.

Plans also include expansion of the port's cold-ironing capacity to accommodate larger vessels.

Carnival is working with Urban Commons on enhancements to the area surrounding the Dome and the Queen Mary attraction, as well as ways to expand parking capacity to accommodate future growth.

Currently, the recently enhanced Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination operate year-round three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach while Carnival Miracle sails seven-day voyages to the Mexican Riviera and 14- and 15-day cruises to Hawaii and Alaska round-trip from there.

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