Tis the season for cruisin’: Holiday cruises ramp up in the cruise capital of the world
The Sunshine State’s Port Miami hosts nine mega cruise terminals, pushing up to 70,000 passengers in and out of the terminals in one day.
Port Miami gears up for holiday cruises
Forget about heading home, many Americans are opting to board a cruise ship and head out to sea this Thanksgiving. FOX Weather's Mitti Hicks spoke with insiders at Port Miami as they prepare for this holiday season.
MIAMI – Vacationers flock to Port Miami this week to begin their holiday trips on the high seas.
Thanksgiving is part of Port Miami’s busiest time of year – which runs from the beginning of November to the end of April – due to bigger families and other large groups traveling together for the holidays.
As more countries relax COVID-19 restrictions, more travelers are vacationing this year on cruise lines and are moving through Port Miami to travel to and from their destinations.
View of cruise ship at harbor in Miami.
(Visions of America / Joseph Sohm / UCG / Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
"I was happy to be out and to finally have a good time and to be around people," said Christina Reed, who was traveling through the port with her husband after a trip to the Bahamas.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV
Port Miami hosts nine mega cruise terminals, capable of pushing up to 70,000 passengers in and out of the terminals in one day, according to Port Miami deputy port director Frederick Wong.
He added that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the port saw about 6.8 million passengers.
What to know before booking your next cruise
We are making it through winter, and spring break is around the corner. Right now could be the perfect time to book a cruise and sail away. Laura Ratliff, editorial director of Tripsavvy, joins FOX Weather with everything you need to know before booking your next cruise.
To handle the volume of passengers, a crew of more than 500 full-time employees works year-round to ensure their quick arrivals and departures.
A cruise vessel at Port Miami can disembark 6,000 passengers and their luggage, embark 6,000 new passengers and their luggage and resupply fuel and other resources in only 9 hours, according to Wong.
For Wong, the future looks bright for those looking to travel on the high seas.
"Pack your bags, pack your bathing suits and your flip flops, and get ready for cruising all over again," he said.