Heralding the newly minted $55 million Royal Caribbean Cruises passenger terminal as an economic driver for Bayonne and the metropolitan area, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Royal Caribbean unveiled the new facility to the media and stakeholders on Friday, Oct. 24.
The terminal takes over the adjacent facility in use for several years at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port at the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor.
Port Authority Director of Port Commerce Richard Larrabee, Royal Caribbean’s President and Chief Operating Officer Adam Goldstein and Vice President of Port Operations Juan Trecastro, and Mayor James Davis represented their organizations.
The terminal will feature updated technology which will allow passengers to board their vessels only minutes after arriving if they have already registered online, according to Royal Caribbean.
“Once they get validated, they go right on board,” an official said. “It winds up being 10 minutes.”
The facility will welcome guests for the first time after the cruise line’s Quantum of the Seas arrives in New York Harbor on Nov. 10. The ship will be based at the port for five months, before moving on to a different facility. Quantum is one of the largest ships in the world, and one of the most technologically advanced.
Mayor Davis said the investment in the port will pay great dividends for the city.
“This is phenomenal from an economic standpoint,” Davis said. “This is going to help change Bayonne drastically. Now it’s up to us as a city to help them.”
The mayor said that meant more development of the broader former Military Ocean Terminal site, including the building of a hotel for passengers to stay at before and after their cruises.
“Hopefully, in three or four years we’ll have a 700-room hotel down here,” he said.
A Bayonne legislator was equally ecstatic about the development.
“I think this is great. I think it will bring Bayonne forward,” said Councilman Juan Perez. “I think it is an incredible boost for the Bayonne waterfront, moving it in the right direction. It’s taking off.”
The Bayonne business community is excited about the new terminal and the potential it has for Bayonne companies, especially in the services industries.
“The significance is powerful,” said Bayonne Chamber of Commerce President Vincent Virga. “It’s an important day not only for the community, but for the business community as well.”
Virga said the new ship and terminal would add exposure to businesses all over the city as those who use it will eat at and shop at Bayonne establishments while in the area. Virga, as well as Janet Coviello, co-owner of the Bayonne Diner and Chandelier Restaurant, attended. Coviello co-chairs the Chamber Membership Committee with Realtor Ben Costanza.
Speakers talked about the possibility of bringing another cruise line to the site to utilize the former passenger terminal now not being used by Royal Caribbean.
E-mail joepass@hudsonreporter.com.