MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-07-21 · resolution

The Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution R-630-26 approving a Preferential Berthing Rights Agreement between Miami-Dade County and Classica Cruise Operator Ltd. d/b/a Margaritaville at Sea (MVAS), with an anticipated positive fiscal impact to the County of $23,148,594.00. The agreement grants MVAS preferential berthing rights at Cruise Terminal C at PortMiami, with a five-year term commencing upon the first vessel call on January 9, 2027, through April 30, 2031, with two optional five-year renewal terms. The agreement is expected to generate approximately one million passenger movements and at least $23.15 million in guaranteed revenues over the five-year term. The agreement includes a Minimum Annual Guarantee derived from MVAS's commitment to 100% vessel occupancy for each of the confirmed vessel calls set forth in Exhibit A (approximately 170 calls), a unitary fee per passenger fee aligned with PortMiami tariff equivalency subject to a 3% annual escalation, and incentives related to parking, marketing, non-peak day calls, and evening calls. The County has reassignment rights for Force Majeure events, construction activities related to the North Bulkhead Rehabilitation Project and Berth 10 Project, and governmental directives. The Aviation and Seaport Committee forwarded the item to the Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation on June 8, 2026. The Board of County Commissioners adopted the resolution on July 21, 2026. During the committee meeting, Commissioner Milan Orbis expressed appreciation for the revenue and noted she was glad the County was bringing another cruise line into the port, but wished to proceed with caution and asked whether it was advisable to enter into long-term agreements and grant berthing rights to new cruise lines. Mr. Wong explained that barriers to entry were significant, noted the last major cruise line to begin operating at the seaport was Virgin Voyages, advised that negotiations had spanned nearly a year, described the agreement as notable in structure, and stated it was unique among the port's cruise agreements and would operate out of Terminal C. Commissioner Gilbert III restated the question, and Mr. Wong confirmed that entering into the agreement was advisable. Commissioner Milan Orbis asked whether he had any hesitation regarding the grant of berthing rights to a new cruise line, and Mr. Wong confirmed that he did not.