Overview
- AAA projects 20.7 million U.S. ocean cruisers in 2025 and 21.7 million in 2026, reflecting gains of 8.4% year over year in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026.
- The Caribbean is set to capture 72% of U.S. passengers in 2026, with Alaska at 7% and the Mediterranean at 5%, supported by the rise of shorter itineraries.
- Florida remains the leading gateway, with Miami forecast at 10.2% of passenger movements, Port Canaveral at 8.8%, and Fort Lauderdale at 5.6%.
- Cruising skews older, as 65% of adult passengers are 55 or above, and satisfaction and loyalty remain strong, with 90% rating experiences good or very good and 91% reporting multiple cruises.
- Mega‑vessels are increasingly deployed in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe, while Alaska relies on smaller ships; the forecast is built from Cruise IP itinerary data and Oxford Economics’ outlook.