First Cruise Ship Docks at New Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier

Thursday, 23 December 2010
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6461

It was show time for the Port of San Diego's new Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier on December 22, 2010, when the first cruise ship, Holland America's 1,400- passenger Rotterdam, docked at the $28 million facility in a light rain to disembark passengers.

Among the first to disembark were sisters Therese and Adele Duval, from Montreal, Canada.

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"It's a beautiful terminal," said Therese Duval. "It's nice and organized."

After leaving the ship by covered gangway, passengers passed through U.S. Customs. They then used a ramp or escalator to access a large baggage area where longshore workers were available to assist in transporting baggage outside the terminal to waiting buses and taxis.

The passengers aboard Rotterdam had just completed a 30-day cruise through the South Pacific that originated in San Diego and departed from the neighboring B Street Cruise Ship Terminal.

As passengers continued to disembark, travelers began arriving at the pavilion to board Rotterdam for a 14-day Mexican Riviera cruise that was departing in early evening.

Passengers waiting to board the ship relaxed in the second floor lounge, many enjoying a view of downtown San Diego through oversized windows.

The new pavilion serves as an auxiliary terminal to the Port's main B Street Cruise Ship Terminal. It is also available for public events when cruise ships are not in port. The facility's infrastructure is equipped to provide shore-side electrical power to cruise ships.

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The Port Pavilion can accommodate both large and small public events, ranging from outdoor musical festivals, to weddings and family reunions. An area at the back of the building offers a commanding view of San Diego Bay.

The pavilion is booked for upcoming events such as the Big Bay Whale Days Festival, scheduled for January 23, 2011, and the RC-44 Regatta, an international sailboat racing competition, scheduled for March 2-6, 2011.

The 52,000-square foot structure is the Port of San Diego's first "green" building and was designed and constructed to qualify for silver-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

The Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier was designed by Bermello Ajamil & partners and built by Jaynes Corporation.