Bayport Cruise Terminal Complex Master Plan, Port of Houston Authority, Houston, Texas

Abstract

Over the past 10 years, the Port of Houston has been planning and permitting a Container Terminal and Cruise Terminal Complex at their Bayport site in Houston, Texas. As the cruise business has continued to expand throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean, the Port of Houston authorized development of a Master Plan for a 130 acre portion of the Bayport Complex dedicated to cruise passenger terminals and related co-development. The Master Plan includes: (1) Three Cruise Terminals, nearly 3,500 LF of berth, (2) Over 4,000 parking spaces, and (3) Sites for co-development uses such as retail, entertainment venues, restaurants, and other attractions. At full build-out, the Bayport Cruise Terminal Complex will have modern purpose built capacity to handle up to three mega cruise ships simultaneously making this complex a significant player in the United States cruise market, ranking with Port of Miami, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral, New Orleans, and Tampa. The Port of Houston’s cruise expansion will lead to a significant expansion in the Gulf cruise market. In addition to the Master Plan, the Port of Houston authorized design of the first cruise terminal and wharf of the Bayport Cruise Complex Master Plan. This paper highlights the Site and Facilities Master Plan as prepared for the Port of Houston for the Cruise Terminal Complex. The first phase of the Cruise Master Plan is under construction and expected to open in Spring 2007.