Miami’s seaport underwent a major transformation more than 50 years ago to become the cruise ship capital of the world.
In those early days of the late 1960s and into the 1970s and ‘80s, ships started arriving to their new expanded home. They were smaller than what we see today (along with the Miami skyline as a backdrop), and certainly not as fancy and hotel-like.
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But they put the port on the map as one of the best-known tourist destinations.
Let’s take a look through the Miami Herald photo archives at what the Port of Miami, now known as PortMiami, looked like during those early days of change:
Cruise ship Tropical at the Miami seaport in 1982.
The M/S Skyward at the Port of Miami in 1970.
The M.S. Seaward arrives in Miami, the newest NCL ship at the port in Miami in 1988.
The M.S. Seaward arrives in Miami in 1988.
Eastern Steamship Lines’ New Bahama Star in 1969, which had twice-weekly cruise service between Nassau and the new Port of Miami. The ship at the time was the ninth cruise liner to begin regular operations since the modern port opened. The other new liners based in Miami: the Ariadne, Boheme, Cabo Izarra, Flavia, Freeport, Jamaica Queen, Starward and Summard.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s new 18,500-ton, 900-passenger luxury cruise liner M/S ‘Nordic Prince Cruises down Government Cut toward its new berth at the Port of Miami in 1971.
Costa Cruise Lines’ new 1,300-passenger CostaRomantica, marking the latest addition to Port of Miami’s world-leading 17-ship home-based cruise fleet, departed on its Nov. 21 maiden voyage from Miami, offering alternating weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. With this latest addition to its home-based fleet, the Miami seaport once again enhances its position as the “Cruise Capital of the World,” with nearly 3.2 million seagoing vacationers expected to transit its passenger facilities in 1993.
At The New Port of Miami in 1972, the Sun Viking (foreground) with the Song of Norway and the m/s Nordic Prince.
With the 1990 additions of Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,600-passenger Fantasy, left, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s 1,610-passenger Nordic Empress, center foreground, the Port of Miami enhances its position as the “Cruise Capital of the World.” More than 3 million cruise passengers transited the Port of Miami during the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 1989, the most cruise traffic ever for a single port in one year.
S.S. Dolphin at at the port in Miami
The 11,000 ton, 500-passenger cruise ship M/S Boheme returns to home base at the Port of Miami in 1970, ready for weekly sailings to the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The M/S Boheme returns to home base at the Port of Miami in 1970.
The 1,500-passenger American Adventure joined the Port of Miami’s year-round fleet in 1993.
The Miami port in 1969.
The port and Dodge Island in 1974.
In 1990, tje Miami port added Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,600-passenger Fantasy, left, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s 1,610-passenger Nordic Empress, center foreground.
The Miami port in 1990.
The combination cruise/freighter Americana at the Port of Miami in 1988. The ship held 1,120 cargo containers and 1,050 cubic meters of liquid and also 108 passengers.
The Norway returns to Miami in 1982.
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