Source: Adapted from: PIANC Working Group 152 (2016). Guidelines for Cruise Terminals. Brussels: PIANC.
Cruise terminals mainly follow four major configurations:
- A. Wharf cruise terminal. A lateral orientation of the terminal facility that favors the full service of the ships with the terminal building adjacent to the dock. Home (or turn) ports tend to be of this configuration, which can account for substantial warf space but allows for the quick turnaround of ships.
- B. Pier terminal. Typically, converting an older pier facility into a cruise terminal offers the advantage of denser use of the port facility.
- C. Jetty terminal. Cruise ships are serviced through an artificial extension requiring longer distances between the cruise terminal and the cruise ships. They tend to be more prevalent for smaller ports of call. Jetties can be horizontally or laterally aligned.
- D. Offshore terminal. Through an anchorage area or latching to dolphins, cruise ships are serviced through tenders. This occurs when the port of call has limited facilities and docking space. However, boarding capabilities are curtailed by the frequency and capacity of tenders.
A typical cruise home port is a wharf terminal that accommodates multiple cruise ships simultaneously. The clearance between two ships is usually 10% of their length overall (LOA), with a minimum of 10 meters. This function allows for the estimation of how many cruise ships can be docked simultaneously, considering the available wharf length. The terminal building, similar to an airport terminal, is designed for quick drop-off and pickup of passengers and offers good connectivity to the local transportation network. A separate access is available for cargo deliveries to the apron. The terminal may also have storage capabilities for stores, including refrigerated goods.