News & Updates
Port of Palm Beach Sets New Record with Facial Recognition
Cruising aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise from the Port of Palm Beach just got a whole lot smoother with both self-parking and facial recognition technology now in place. The first use of the facial recognition technology in early January, marked a historic milestone for the Port of Palm Beach. More than 1,400 cruise passengers were successfully off the cruise ship before 10 AM on a record-setting day. This is a significant improvement that allowed embarking guests on the following sailing to get aboard even faster.
Now that passengers are moving through customs quicker than before, the Port has also introduced self-parking to further expedite passenger flow.
“We’ve worked closely with Palm Beach Parking to ensure our parking operations are as smooth and safe as possible,” said Port of Palm Beach Executive Director Michael Meekins. “With their team of attendants on hand to direct passengers, we eliminate any confusion on entering and exiting the premises, and provide a safer, faster, and more organized environment for everyone.”
For passengers arriving via ride-share services, the Port has designated a specific area directly across from the cruise terminal to simplify the process of catching a ride to and from the Port.
Limited valet parking is offered on a first-come first-served basis.
“We are excited about the partnership with both the Port of Palm Beach and U.S. Customs & Border Protection to help significantly improve the experience for cruise guests.” said Margaritaville at Sea Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Anthony Stice. “We look forward to continuing to find ways to elevate the experience for our guests to make their sailings as easy-breezy as possible.”
In keeping with its commitment to safety, the Port has also established a temporary pedestrian walkway between vehicles and the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise cruise ship. This walkway, designed for both ease and security, will eventually be replaced with a permanent structure that will feature an overhead canopy for added comfort and protection from rain and other weather element.
“Additionally, we have even more improvements planned, including the installation of sidewalks, signage, pavement resurfacing, striping, minor landscaping, and new fencing,” said Meekins.
The improvements make Port of Palm Beach one of the quickest ports to cruise from in Florida.