AAA projects 19 million Americans will go on ocean cruises this year, a 4.5% increase over 2024 when 18.2 million Americans went on cruise vacations. 2025 is expected to be the third year in a row of record-setting cruise bookings. The cruise industry has rebounded post-pandemic more strongly than other travel segments, and cruise demand growth has exceeded hotel demand growth in the last two years.
“There are many reasons cruising is so popular with travelers no matter their age,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs, AAA East Central. “Cruise ships offer something for everyone, including fine dining, shows, exciting excursions, stunning views, and most importantly – time to relax and recharge. It’s offerings like these that turn first-time cruisers into repeat customers.”
The 2020 pandemic impacted the cruise industry more severely than other travel segments and has experienced a remarkable rebound. In 2022, cruise volume rebounded to 84% of 2019’s level, then surged to a new high in 2023, nearly 20% above the pre-pandemic baseline. That number has continued to climb since, with 2025 projected to surpass 2019 by 34%.
Seeking Sunshine
Most Americans going on cruises this year are seeking fun in the sun. 72% of U.S. cruise passengers are heading to the Caribbean, making it the most popular destination. 6% are taking Alaskan 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. The Caribbean’s share dipped to 68% in 2022-23 as cruises to Alaska and the Mediterranean surged, but destination shares have returned to pre-pandemic norms over the past year.
Shorter Caribbean cruises are rising in popularity. Even though most cruise itineraries are 6 to 8 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.
Things to Know After the Cruise is Booked
As 19 million Americans choose to go cruising this year, AAA Travel offers expert advice to ensure a smooth trip.
- Reserve activities ahead of time. Whether it’s an excursion, specialty dinner, or spa treatment, reserve a spot ASAP. Popular cruise activities sell out fast! While planning, consider getting travel insurance to protect the investment in case of a medical emergency or another interruption during the trip.
- Arrive the day before. If flying into the port city, arrive a day or two before the ship departs. That relieves worrying about flight delays and cancellations and allows time to explore the departure city. AAA travel agents can help book flights through the cruise line, a convenient way to plan a trip. When purchasing airfare through cruise lines like Carnival, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, they will assist in the event of travel disruption and help with ground transportation and other arrangements.
- Pick a parking spot. If driving to the port city, decide where to leave vehicles. Most cruise ports offer parking right at the terminal, but like airports, those spots come at a premium price. To save money, look for off-site cruise port parking options offering a shuttle service. Another option is to look for hotels near the cruise port that offer “park & cruise” options. These packages come with a stay at the hotel the night before the cruise and parking a vehicle during the cruise. The hotel provides transportation to the cruise port on departure day and return transportation to the hotel after the cruise.
- Download the cruise line’s app. Check in for the cruise through the app, review the itinerary, complete the mandatory lifeboat drill, look at the daily program, and, in some cases, open the stateroom door, order food, make dinner reservations, and text friends. Best of all, no ship internet package is required to use cruise line apps – they are free to use onboard.
- Research before packing. Check the cruise line’s list of prohibited items ahead of time. Each company is different, from irons and steamers to certain foods and beverages, so take the time to look up what is permitted onboard. Some things may be confiscated.
- Items that come in handy. If headed to the Caribbean, sunscreen is a must and bringing it from home saves money. In general, sundries onboard are more expensive. If taking prescription medications, bring extra if there is a delay during the trip. Magnetic hooks are popular with passengers who need extra storage space. Since cruise cabin walls are metal, hooks are handy for hanging swimsuits and towels.
- Embarkation dos and don’ts. Some cruise lines have scheduled embarkation times. Do arrive at the assigned embarkation time. Don’t arrive early and hope to get on. Don’t pack passports or birth certificates in suitcases. Always have documentation handy, including a copy of boarding passes. Without the proper documentation when checking in at the pier, boarding will be denied.
- Having fun? Run it back! If enjoying the vacation at sea, look for the future cruise office onboard to book the next trip. There are often special promotions like onboard credits on top of the regular cruise line offers for bookings made onboard. Travel agents back home will also be notified about any new bookings. 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.
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, including cruises that depart from U.S. or international ports.
About Tourism Economics
Tourism Economics is an Oxford Economics company with a singular objective: combine an understanding of the travel sector with proven economic tools to answer the most important questions facing our clients. More than 500 companies, associations, and destinations work with Tourism Economics every year as a research partner. We bring decades of experience to every engagement to help our clients make better marketing, investment, and policy decisions. Tourism Economics operates out of regional headquarters in Philadelphia and Oxford, with offices in Belfast, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Frankfurt, and Ontario.
Oxford Economics is one of the world’s foremost independent global advisory firms, providing reports, forecasts, and analytical tools on 200 countries, 100 industrial sectors, and over 3,000 cities. Our best-of-class global economic and industry models and analytical tools give us an unparalleled ability to forecast external market trends and assess their economic, social, and business impact. Headquartered in Oxford, England, with regional centers in London, New York, and Singapore, Oxford Economics has offices across the globe in Belfast, Chicago, Dubai, Miami, Milan, Paris, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington DC, we employ over 250 full-time staff, including 150 professional economists, industry experts and business editors—one of the largest teams of macroeconomists and thought leadership specialists.
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