CLIA Says Healthy Cruise Industry is Being Driven by First-Timers

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released its annual State of the Cruise Industry report, highlighting a healthy segment driven by first-time cruisers, diversity of choices, and innovative experiences.

“CLIA’s 2025 State of the Cruise Industry report shows that cruising continues to be one of the most dynamic and resilient sectors in tourism, growing in line with strong demand for cruise holidays, particularly among younger generations and new-to-cruise travellers,” said Bud Darr, president and CEO of CLIA. 

“The industry is also an essential economic driver, contributing over US$168 billion to communities around the world, supporting 1.6 million jobs and investing tens of billions today in the sustainable fleet of the future.”

Current Trends Showcase Vibrant Travel Sector

• First-time cruisers are driving growth with 31% of passengers in the last two years being new to cruise, reflecting the sector’s high satisfaction ratings and increasing ability to attract new customers.

• Intent to cruise: 82% of those who have cruised plan to cruise again. Gen-X and Millennials are among the most enthusiastic cruisers, drawn to the variety of cruise experiences, ability to visit multiple destinations and value of a cruise holiday.

• Multi-generational travel: Cruise holidays offer experiences for all ages – nearly one third of cruise guests sail with three or more generations.

• Cruise travel earns higher satisfaction ratings compared to other holiday choices as shown in repeat factors – 25% of repeat cruisers sail two or more times per year; 14% of cruise travelers cruise twice a year; and 11% of cruisers take three to five cruises a year.

• Expedition and exploration cruises are the fastest-growing segments of cruise with 22% more passengers choosing these voyages in 2024 over 2023.

Choice, Value, and Sustainability

• Variety of choice: With over 300 ocean-going cruise ships and thousands of itineraries to choose from, CLIA says there is a cruise for everyone. From family-friendly adventures to high-end cultural experiences to expedition journeys, the cruise industry is constantly evolving to fulfill the interests and aspirations of travellers.

• Responsible tourism: CLIA says cruise guests book their trips well in advance and cruise companies reserve port calls a year or more in advance, demonstrating that cruise tourism is managed tourism.
• Cruise is pursuing a variety of sustainable alternative energy sources and investing in propulsion technologies with conversion capabilities that can be adapted for use of low-to-zero-emissions fuels once they are available at scale.

• By 2028, 50% of all new cruise ship capacity will have engines that can run on LNG/methanol and are able to switch to bio- or synthetic-LNG with little or no engine modifications.

• More than 61% of CLIA’s fleet is equipped to be able to connect to onshore power, a figure set to reach 72% by 2028.

Other State of the Cruise Industry Highlights

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  While only representing two percent of global tourism, the cruise sector has significant economic impact in communities around the world, generating over US$168 billion in global economic impact in 2023 – the highest on record. 

• CLIA says the cruise industry’s impact benefits communities around the world through local sourcing of goods and services, and spending before and after each cruise as 69% of passengers stay one or more nights in a hotel. Additionally, 6 in 10 cruisers return to a destination they first visited by cruise, extending the economic impact of cruising to communities well into the future.

• The global cruise industry welcomed 34.6 million cruise passengers in 2024, with 37.7 million expected in 2025.

• North America remains the top source market for cruise, with a 13% increase in 2024 over 2023.

• In 2024, Caribbean/Bahamas/Bermuda itineraries remained the most popular, with 43% of all cruise passengers sailing to the Caribbean in 2024, followed by the Mediterranean and other European destinations.

• CLIA member lines will welcome 11 new ships to the global fleet in 2025; 56 new CLIA member ocean-going ships are on order from 2025-2036, representing a $56.8 billion investment and proof of the confidence in cruising’s future.

To view the full 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report, visit here.