19M Americans are projected to cruise this year. See AAA breakdown, most popular ports.
A record number of Americans are expected to take cruises this year, AAA said Monday.
The membership organization projected that 19 million Americans will set sail in 2025 in its first-ever cruise industry forecast. That figure is up from 18.2 million last year and 16.9 in 2023.
AAA worked with Tourism Economics on the forecast, which is based on ocean cruises.
“What we’re witnessing in the cruise industry is nothing short of amazing, but it’s no surprise,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release. “There’s a reason most first-time cruise passengers become repeat cruisers. Cruise vacations offer something for everyone, no matter their age. And because most of the vacation is already paid for, travelers can focus on enjoying themselves and making lifelong memories with loved ones.”
Where is the most popular cruise destination?
AAA said the Caribbean is the most sought-after by a wide margin, with 72% of U.S. passengers going there. Alaska followed, representing 6%, while 5% of guests are headed to the Mediterranean.
“The Caribbean’s dominance this year is on par with its pre-pandemic numbers in 2018 and 2019,” AAA said in the release. “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.”
There is also more short-cruise inventory in the market, with 18% of Caribbean sailings ranging from two to five days. The region’s itineraries of that length made up just 2% of cruises in 2023. That variety may be partly due to the region's dominance in the industry as well, with a wide range of cruise lines and ports there.
Cruise deals: How to find cheap cruises in 2025
What are the busiest cruise ports?
Miami topped the list of busiest ports by embarkations and debarkations last year, with a 10.3% share. That was followed by two other Florida ports, the Orlando-area Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale, with 8.3% and 5.2% respectively. Galveston, Texas (4.2%) and Barcelona, Spain (3.9%) rounded out the top five.
Others in the top 10 included Southampton, England; Marseille in France; and Seattle.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many Americans will cruise this year? AAA has the whopping figure.
