GENEVA — A new cruise terminal is in the works at PortMiami, one that will be able to accommodate MSC Cruises’ next-generation cruise ships.

The cruise line has signed an agreement with Miami-Dade County for extended preferential berthing rights as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction of the new Cruise Terminal AAA, set for completion by October 2022. The agreement will extend MSC’s existing Saturday preferential berthing rights to Sundays as well as house its World Class cruise ships (still under construction) that can carry up to 7,000 guests.

The news comes after MSC Cruises worked with PortMiami on the completion of Terminal F in 2017, which houses the MSC Seaside, the first MSC Cruises ship to be built specifically for the North American and Caribbean markets.

Currently, the MSC Seaside, which debuted in late 2017, sails year round from Miami to the Caribbean from Terminal F. MSC Divina also sails seasonally to the Caribbean from October through March, while the MSC Armonia, set to join the North American-based fleet in December 2018, will sail year-round cruises to Havana. Plus, as of November 2019, MSC Meraviglia, the company’s largest ship with a capacity of 5,714, will join the other three ships at PortMiami.

“PortMiami is committed to providing a world-class experience to its guests and thanks to a long-standing collaborative relationship with Miami-Dade County we are thrilled that in less than 18 months MSC Cruises will have four ships sailing from the port,” said Rick Sasso, Chairman of MSC Cruises USA. “We now look forward to further extending our partnership with the port and working closely on the development of the new cruise terminal AAA.”

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, added: “The new agreement and expanded partnership with PortMiami and Miami-Dade County is another key step forward in the business growth of MSC Cruises, as we continue to strengthen our global footprint with a strategic focus on North America.”