AAA Predicts Third Straight Year of Record Cruise Passenger Growth

AAA projects that 19 million Americans will take to the high seas this year on an ocean cruise, a 4.5% increase over 2024 when 18.2 million Americans went on a cruise vacation. If expectations are reached it will be the third straight year of record cruise passenger volume.

Even more impressively, AAA reported, cruise demand growth has exceeded hotel demand growth for the last two years.

“What we’re witnessing in the cruise industry is nothing short of amazing, but it’s no surprise,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “There’s a reason most first-time cruise passengers become repeat cruisers. Cruise vacations offer something for everyone, no matter their age.”

While cruise was one of the most severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, its recovery has been just as extreme. In 2022, cruise volume rebounded to 84% of 2019’s level, then surged to a record high in 2023 at nearly 20% above the pre-pandemic baseline. That number has continued to climb since, with 2025 projected to surpass 2019 by 34%.

Caribbean Dominates, Short Cruise Growth

The vast majority (72%) of U.S. cruise passengers are heading to the Caribbean this year, on par with pre-pandemic numbers in 2018 and 2019. Six percent are taking Alaska cruises in 2025 and 5% will sail in the Mediterranean.

Shorter Caribbean cruises are also rising in popularity, a fact highlighted by Royal Caribbean putting its newest Oasis-class ship Utopia of the Seas into the shore Caribbean market. While most cruise itineraries remain within the six- to eight-day range, 18% of Caribbean cruise itineraries this year are two to five days, compared to only 2% in 2023.

While cruises out of destinations like Galveston and California continue to grow in number, the three busiest cruise ports in the world remain the same: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral.