AAA projects 19 million Americans will embark on ocean cruises this year, a 4.5 percent increase over 2024, when 18.2 million Americans set sail. This will be the third straight year of record cruise passenger volume.

“The cruise industry has rebounded post-pandemic more strongly than other travel segments, with cruise demand growth exceeding hotel demand growth in the last two years,” said Robert Sinclair of AAA Northeast. “There’s a reason so many first-time cruise passengers become repeat customers. Cruises offer something for travelers of every age and provide a cost-effective, all-inclusive option that allows cruisers to enjoy meals, drinks and activities without worrying about additional expenses.” 

In 2022, cruise volume rebounded to 84 percent of 2019’s level, then surged to a new high in 2023, nearly 20 percent above the pre-pandemic baseline. That number has continued to climb since, with 2025 projected to surpass 2019 by 34 percent.

Seeking Sunshine

Most U.S. cruise passengers (72%) are heading to the Caribbean, while 6% are taking Alaska cruises and 5% will cruise in the Mediterranean. The Caribbean’s dominance this year is on par with its pre-pandemic numbers in 2018 and 2019.

Shorter Caribbean cruises are rising in popularity. Even though most cruise itineraries are six to eight days, 18% of Caribbean cruise itineraries this year are 2 to 5 days, compared to only 2% in 2023. The three busiest cruise ports in the world are in the same state: Florida! Miami, Port Canaveral, and Fort Lauderdale are the busiest ports based on embarkation and debarkation. Miami landed the world’s largest cruise ship with the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas last year, and this summer, Port Canaveral welcomes the Icon’s sister ship, the equally large Star of the Seas.

Cruise Forecast Methodology 
In cooperation with AAA, Tourism Economics prepared the 2025 cruise forecast based on
scheduled cruise itineraries covering virtually all major cruise vessels, the economic outlook and
travel sector trends. This forecast relies on cruise-related analytics from Cruise IP (Tourism
Economics’ proprietary database for the cruise industry), economic forecasts prepared by Oxford
Economics and assumptions on the future path of the tourism industry.

In this analysis, U.S. cruise passenger volume refers to ocean cruises taken by U.S. residents. It
includes cruises that depart from U.S. or international ports.
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You Booked a Cruise … Now What?!  

If you’re one of the 19 million Americans going on a cruise this year, AAA Travel has expert advice to ensure your trip is smooth sailing.

• Reserve activities ahead of time. Whether it’s an excursion, specialty dinner, or spa treatment, your best bet is to reserve your spot ASAP. Popular cruise activities sell out fast! And while you’re planning ahead, consider getting travel insurance to protect your investment in case of a medical emergency or another interruption during your trip.

• Arrive the day before. If you’re flying into your port city, arrive a day or two before your ship is scheduled to depart. That takes the stress out of worrying about flight delays and cancelations, and it gives you time to explore your departure city. AAA travel agents can help book your flight through the cruise line which can be a convenient way to plan your trip. When you purchase airfare through cruise lines like Carnival, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, they will assist in the event of a travel disruption and help with ground transportation and other arrangements. 

• Pick your parking spot. If you’re driving to your port city, decide ahead of time where you will leave your car. Most cruise ports offer parking right at the terminal, but like airports, those spots come at a premium price. To save some money, look for off-site cruise port parking options that offer a shuttle service. Another option is to look for hotels near the cruise port that offer “park & cruise” options. These packages allow you to stay at the hotel the night before your cruise and park your car there while you’re gone. The hotel will then take you to the cruise port on departure day and pick you up once you return.   

• Download the cruise line’s app. You can check in for your cruise through the app, review the itinerary, complete the mandatory lifeboat drill, look at the daily program, and in some cases, open your stateroom door, order food, make dinner reservations, and text your friends. Best of all, you don’t need the ship’s internet package to use cruise line apps – they are free to use onboard!

• Do your homework before packing. Check your cruise line’s list of prohibited items ahead of your trip. From irons and steamers to certain foods and beverages, each company is different, so take the time to look up what you can and can’t bring onboard or your items will be confiscated.

• Items that come in handy. If you’re going on a Caribbean cruise, sunscreen is a must and bringing it from home saves you money. In general, sundries onboard are more expensive. If you take prescription medications, bring extra in case there is a delay during your trip. Magnetic hooks are popular with passengers who need extra storage space. Since cruise cabin walls are made of metal, hooks come in handy for hanging swimsuits and towels. Colorful beach towel clips are also useful at the pool deck to not only keep your towel in place but help you identify your lounge chair when you come back from taking a dip!

• Embarkation dos and don’ts. Some cruise lines have scheduled embarkation times. Do arrive at your assigned embarkation time. Don’t try to get there early and hope they will let you on – they likely won’t. Don’t pack your passport or birth certificate in your suitcase. Always have your documentation with you including a copy of your boarding pass. If you do not have proper identification when you are checking in at the pier, you will be denied boarding. If you check your suitcase with a porter, your bag may not arrive at your stateroom for a few hours. Pack a small carry-on with your swimsuit so you can change right away and start the fun! 

• Having fun? Run it back! If you’re enjoying your vacation at sea, look for the future cruise office onboard to book your next trip. There are often special promotions like onboard credits on top of the regular cruise line offers for bookings made onboard. Your travel agent back home will also be notified about your new booking. Just don’t wait until the last minute. The office gets busier as the final day of the cruise approaches, so stop by early in the trip, or make an appointment if the office takes reservations.