Carnival Cruise Line and PortMiami today held a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of Terminal F which will serve as the homeport of the LNG-powered Carnival Celebration when the ship debuts in 2022.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Carnival President Christine Duffy, along with county commissioners and construction partners, used ceremonial shovels to officially mark the beginning of construction on the expansive 471,000-square-foot facility which will be Carnival’s third terminal at the port and its largest in South Florida.

“I’m grateful to Carnival Cruise Line and Lemartec for their partnership with Miami-Dade County,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “Despite the global pandemic, today’s groundbreaking is another example of the growth happening at PortMiami – The Cruise Capital of the World – and how together, we can and we will continue to thrive.”

“We are proud of Carnival’s role in making Miami the cruise capital of the world, and today marks the continuation of an incredible 50-year partnership with PortMiami and Miami-Dade County. This expanded terminal built specifically for Carnival Celebration will make an incredible addition to the existing facilities at our largest embarkation port. My most sincere thanks to Mayor Levine Cava and all of the Miami-Dade officials who made this day possible,” said Duffy.

“Both Lemartec and MasTec, like Carnival Cruise Line, are the classic American dream story, born in Miami. We are proud to have been chosen by PortMiami and Miami-Dade County to build this iconic terminal,” said Manny García-Tuñón, President of Lemartec Corporation, a MasTec Company, which is serving as the general contractor.

The terminal’s clean and open design by will allow for exceptional efficiency and flexibility to accommodate Carnival’s newest class of ships, maximizing use of technology to move guests through the embarkation process, providing a seamless boarding experience, the company said, in a statement.