The Flynn Cruiseport at Black Falcon Terminal is a homeport and port of call for cruise lines and ships that carry hundreds of thousands of passengers to destinations all over the world. It is named after Raymond L. Flynn, former Boston mayor and U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.
Flynn, a champion for the preservation of the South Boston waterfront, worked as a union longshoreman for the Port of Boston as a young man. His uncles, brothers and neighbors worked alongside him, giving him a first-hand look at how vital the port has been (and continues to be) to Boston and all of Massachusetts.
Over the centuries, the Port of Boston has been a hub of activity for the maritime industry, trade, the military, immigration and tourism. The cruiseport opened in 1986, welcoming in 13 ships and 11,273 passengers in its first season. The growth has ballooned since that time, with service from 19 cruise lines and 36 ships. Considerably more are expected every season.
Major cruise lines that call at Flynn Cruiseport include Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
The cruiseport sends tourists on both regional and transatlantic voyages to locations such as Bermuda, the South Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Newfoundland, Norway and Cuba, among others.
It’s also an economic giant in Boston. Data shows that cruise operations at Massport (the Massachusetts Port Authority) provide more than 950 jobs and contribute billions of dollars to the regional economy. The city recently invested $20 million in improvements to Flynn Cruiseport so that it can bring in ships two to three times larger than are calling at the port today.
The improvements extend beyond physical changes to the volume and capacity of the cruiseport. The legislature is also investing in landmark Ship to Shore technology, which can allow cruise ships to shut down their engines at port, eliminating emissions and reducing maritime pollution.
Travelers who embark and disembark at the Flynn Cruiseport are a short walk or bus ride away from some of Boston’s excellent museums, restaurants, art galleries, sports venues and historic sites. The waterfront itself is home to many eateries, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, the Boston Children’s Museum and the New England Aquarium.
