Flynn Cruiseport Boston handled more than 454,000 passengers across 149 ship calls in 2025, and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has now committed over $100 million to terminal upgrades at the facility. The numbers landed alongside a leadership change: Massport has appointed Charlie Cunnion as port director.

Cunnion brings more than 25 years of experience in global transportation, supply chain management, operations, organizational transformation and strategic planning. He most recently served as vice president of supply chain and customer service for CMPC Forest Products North America.

Massport CEO Rich Davey said: "Cunnion is an expert in supply chain management, with decades of experience across all modes of cargo transportation."

Davey added: "His leadership, experience and strategic perspective will be invaluable to the Port of Boston as we work to strengthen operations and continue a tradition of innovation and growth."

Who is the new port director?

Cunnion's career started at International Forest Products (IFP), where he rose to vice president of global transportation. In 2024, he joined the IFP-CMPC joint venture — which became CMPC Forest Products North America — as vice president of supply chain management and customer service.

That background is cargo-heavy rather than cruise-heavy, which is worth noting for cruise sellers watching Boston. The port director's brief, however, spans both sides of the house.

In the role, Cunnion will lead Massport's Maritime Division and advance what the authority describes as commitments to operational excellence, safety, customer service, workforce development and sustainable growth across its maritime facilities. Davey said he looks forward to Cunnion building on the success of Conley Terminal, the port's container facility, and Flynn Cruiseport.

In plain terms: a supply-chain operator now runs both Boston's cargo and cruise infrastructure.

What does the $100 million buy?

Massport has committed more than $100 million to upgrades at Flynn Cruiseport. According to the authority, the work includes:

• Expanding the waiting area with more seating and restrooms
• Streamlining security check-in
• Installing a new escalator to improve passenger flow

The investment tracks the terminal's growth. Massport says Flynn Cruiseport continues to serve more passengers and cruise ships each year, with the 2025 figures — 454,000-plus passengers and 149 ship calls — marking the latest high-water mark.

For cruise lines and shore-side operators, better throughput at security and embarkation directly affects turn-day efficiency at a port that has become a meaningful New England homeport.

In short: Massport is spending to keep pace with volume it has already won.

What about shore power?

Massport has announced a plan to bring ship-to-shore power (a system letting docked vessels plug into the local grid instead of running engines) to the Cruiseport by 2030.

Nearly 80 percent of the ships currently serving Boston can already plug into shore power or use alternative low-carbon technology, the authority said.

That matters for itinerary planning. As more lines face emissions rules in port, shoreside power becomes a factor in which berths ships can use without penalty or compensating measures.

The takeaway: Boston is positioning its cruise terminal for the compliance era, with a 2030 deadline on the calendar.

What's next

Cunnion steps into a port with rising cruise volume, a funded upgrade program and a shore-power timeline. How he balances cargo-side priorities with the cruise terminal's expansion will shape Boston's appeal as a homeport over the next several seasons.