New York Construction Report staff writer
Buffalo has unveiled renderings for a new cruise ship terminal on its Outer Harbor, setting the stage for a major waterfront redevelopment aimed at re-establishing the city as a Great Lakes cruise destination.
The project is planned for the Slip 2 parcel on Fuhrmann Boulevard, the former site of the Pier Restaurant, which was demolished in 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with a grand opening targeted for the summer 2028 cruise season.
While the permanent facility is developed, Buffalo will temporarily re-enter the cruise market next week with the arrival of a cruise ship at a provisional docking site near Erie Basin Marina—marking the city’s first cruise vessel visit in decades.
The new terminal is designed to accommodate multiple vessels and will include customs inspection areas, public restrooms and passenger services. Site work will also include seawall stabilization, environmental remediation, drainage and lighting upgrades, landscaping, a small parking area and a multi-use waterfront promenade with public access features such as seating areas and a sunset viewing point.
Officials said the design will align with other Outer Harbor improvements, including nearby projects at Bell Slip and Wilkeson Pointe.
The initiative follows a 2024 market study that evaluated potential cruise terminal locations along the Buffalo waterfront and recommended Slip 2 as the preferred site for cruise operations. The study was used to engage cruise operators and assess Buffalo’s viability as a homeport and turnaround destination.
Two Great Lakes cruise lines have since submitted commitment letters indicating plans to include Buffalo in their itineraries.
American Cruise Lines will help launch the city’s return to cruising this summer, bringing its vessel American Patriot to a temporary berth near Erie Basin Marina. Passengers are expected to take part in excursions to local destinations including the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House and Niagara Falls.
The company also plans to use Buffalo as both an embarkation and disembarkation port for its 2026 Great Lakes cruises, supporting overnight stays and extended tourism activity in the city.
Great Lakes cruising has seen steady growth in recent years, with passenger volumes rising from about 9,000 in 2010 to more than 25,000 in 2023. Other port cities including Cleveland, Milwaukee, Duluth and Detroit have already expanded infrastructure to accommodate the sector’s growth.
Buffalo’s location at the southern end of the Welland Canal positions it as a strategic entry point for cruise traffic entering the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway, with access to regional airports, hotel capacity and a large nearby population base.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said the terminal will strengthen Buffalo’s role in the expanding cruise industry.
“The Great Lakes cruise industry is booming, and Buffalo is now in the perfect position to ride that wave,” Knight said. “This new terminal will provide the modern customs facilities and welcoming space we need to handle international travel and serve as a homeport for major cruises.”
