The world's busiest cruise ports in terms of passenger volume

Table Of Content

• Totals to Rise Dramatically in Years to Come
• Port Miami in Florida at 4,030,000 passenger movements.
• Port Canaveral now home to world’s largest cruise ship
• Construction on Second Chinese-Built Cruise Ship Well Underway
• Carnival Cruise Passengers Attempt to Bring Portable Washing Machine Aboard Ship
• Port of Miami

The new Terminal Amerigo Vespucci was opened in May 2018 as a dedicated cruise ship terminal. A shuttle bus service operates at the harbour to transport passengers along the cruise terminal, which has a length of 2,000m for cruise ships to berth. The port’s 170m-long Dock 25 located landside opposite the terminal is also available for cruise ships. Prince George Wharf is the main cruise port in Nassau on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. It served approximately 3.6 million passengers in 2017, with a total of 796 cruise ships docking. The Mexican island of Cozumel saw 4.1 million cruise passengers in 2017, outranking Port Everglades for the first time.

Totals to Rise Dramatically in Years to Come

The port is also a key logistics hub, handling approximately 5.4 million tonnes of cargo a year, including salt, vehicles, petroleum, and containers. On average, ten ships dock at the port every day, including vessels from cruise lines Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. Eighty percent of Port Canaveral's revenue comes from the cruise industry, which the Orlando Sentinel reported was $40.7 million, while the total revenue was $48.9 million.

Port Miami in Florida at 4,030,000 passenger movements.

The Sun Sentinel reported that Port Everglades set a record for having the most cruise passengers in a single day — 54,700 — in March 2016. PortMiami had long held the title as world's busiest cruise port, but that changed during the pandemic as cruise lines built back their operations. The drive-to market surged in 2022, giving Port Canaveral, about 55 miles from Orlando, an edge in attracting customers driving to the port.

10 cruise ships departing from Port Canaveral over New Year's weekend - WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando

10 cruise ships departing from Port Canaveral over New Year's weekend.

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Port Canaveral now home to world’s largest cruise ship

Port Canaveral Breaks Record with 6.8 Million Cruise Passengers in 2023 - Cruise Industry News

Port Canaveral Breaks Record with 6.8 Million Cruise Passengers in 2023.

Posted: Fri, 10 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Port Canaveral in 2024 expects to break records again, with 7.3 million cruise passengers from 13 ships that will homeport, plus 913 ship calls. A review of Port Canaveral’s cruise operations in fiscal year 2023 shows a major spike in cruise arrivals, to 6.8 million, up from just over 4 million in 2022. In 2023, 13 cruise ships home-ported at Port Canaveral, and the port welcomed 906 ship calls. The Port of Shanghai is the first port on this list that is not from North America.

Murray said the new ranking is significant because Port Canaveral always has had “a friendly rivalry” with the Port of Miami and Port Everglades, as Brevard County’s seaport sought to become the No. 1 cruise port. Allure of the Seas can welcome 5,484 guests at double occupancy or as many as 6,780 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. With so much to enjoy on such a large ship, passengers might feel rushed to see and do everything. So, you know, there may be some variances here and there as to why those numbers were different but the way it ended up in 2022, we were ahead and it’s something to be happy about right now,” Murray said. Norwegian Cruise Line is the latest line to add more tonnage to Port Canaveral. Noticing strong demand for Caribbean sailings this winter, in late May it canceled the winter itineraries in Europe for the Norwegian Epic and will instead base the vessel in Port Canaveral in December.

Construction on Second Chinese-Built Cruise Ship Well Underway

About an hour east of Orlando on Florida's Space Coast, Port Canaveral reached 4.07 million passenger movements in 2022, enough to edge out PortMiami as the busiest cruise port. Miami recorded about 4.03 million passenger movements, according to CLIA, which counts passengers from January through December. The port of Palma in south-west Mallorca is one of the biggest operated by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, with cruise ships berthing at Estacion Maritima’s quays. The facilities were expanded in 2015 to accommodate the Allure of the Seas vessel, which was the largest cruise ship in the world at the time. There are approximately 26 ports of entry on the six islands mentioned but cruise ships mainly use tender boats. Cruise ships anchor near destinations such as Princess Cays on Eleuthera or Dunmore Town on Harbour Island and visitors travel to the island on tender boats.

Port of Barcelona in Spain at 2,329,000 passenger movements.

The Port Vell harbour is a famous tourist attraction at the Port of Barcelona and has a dock for large vessels, but cruise ships do not normally dock there. Cruise ships can dock at four terminals at the Adossat Wharf or the three terminals near the World Trade Centre pier. The Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal was designed to facilitate one million passengers a year and is located north of the Bund in Hongkou District. It cannot accommodate ships larger than 87,000t due to a low bridge over the river to the city, so large cruise vessels use Wusongkou or Waigaoqiao ports. Port Canaveral currently is home to 13 multiday cruise ships from five cruise lines ― Carnival, Disney, MSC, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. The record has been passed and Port Canaveral has taken over from PortMiami as the world’s busiest passenger cruise port.

Carnival Cruise Passengers Attempt to Bring Portable Washing Machine Aboard Ship

Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale retained its No. 3 spot, with 1.72 million passengers, according to News 6 partner Florida Today. By comparison, PortMiami welcomed 4,022,544 multi-day passengers throughout the year. Florida Ports Council projects that the cruise industry in Florida ports should be close to 2019 levels in 2023, with even higher totals in years to come.

Terminals are equipped with modern facilities, including duty-free shopping and other attractions inspired by Mayan culture. San Miguel offers a range of activities aimed at tourists, but visitors can easily access the whole island, which features remote beaches, snorkelling and diving in the coral reef, as well as preserved Mayan ruins. Puerta Maya was built by Carnival Cruises and is served exclusively by the operator. It is the port’s southern-most pier, located further down from the International Pier. Puerta Maya features a variety of modern facilities due to the fact that it is positioned further from the island’s main town San Miguel than the other piers. Palma de Mallorca is home to beaches, markets, and several historical stops.

Both ports have seen growth in the number of cruise ships this past year. Forecasts for 2027 bring Port Canaveral to 6.4 million passengers that year, with PortMiami projected to host 8.4 million. Galveston, Texas, located on the coast, just outside of Houston is a major tourist destination for the South. From upscale resorts like the Hotel Galvez, which opened in 1911, to Pleasure Pier amusement park, there’s lots to see and do. Furthermore, with its proximity to the Houston area, it’s a popular starting point for cruises into the Caribbean.

It serves as an important port of call for most major cruises operating on the Asia-Pacific route. The Port of Shanghai has three international cruise terminals that receive ships of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ocean Princess, Costa Rica Cruises, Star Cruises, and others. The Out Islands (sometimes called the Outer Islands) are popular cruise ports. While New Providence and Grand Bahama might be the nation’s most famous islands, hosting massive resorts like The Atlantis, it’s the smaller, quieter, Out Islands that attract many cruisers for their pristine, untouched beauty. Most notable of the Out Islands is Bimini, which will be the port for the upcoming Virgin cruise line, Virgin Voyages. La Savina port on the smallest island of Formentera is not used by cruise ships but features a passenger terminal for smaller vessels.

With her new deployment to Port Canaveral, Allure of the Seas joins her fleet mates Mariner of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas – currently the largest cruise ship in the world. This is a great option for travelers looking for a cruise vacation that may be combined with other Florida attractions, and is the first time Royal Caribbean has offered shorter sailings on one of its largest vessels. The Florida Ports Council projection forecasts Port Canaveral to see 6,434,000 passengers total by 2027. PortMiami is projected to surpass that combined total by 2027 pulling in 8.4 million.

Port Canaveral surpasses Miami as worlds busiest cruise port

Table Of Content

• The Bahamas’ Out Islands
• Carnival Ship Rescues 27 People Adrift at Sea in the Caribbean
• World’s Busiest Cruise Port Shatters Passenger Record
• Nassau Cruise Port in The Bahamas at 3,212,603 passenger movements.
• Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise
• Port Canaveral CEO projects another record year of revenue
• Top 100 Cruise Ports Busiest

Port of Key West is another popular cruise port in the Sunshine State and saw 198,411 guests, though the port is not used as a homeport, only as a port of call visit. In total, 4,072,396 multi-day cruise guests moved through Port Canaveral, edging out PortMiami’s updated 4,022,544 multi-day guests, an updated number directly from the port rather than 3,988,094 from Florida Ports Council. Off the coast of Mexico’s mainland, right near Playa Del Carmen, sits the island of Cozumel. Famed for its crystal clear waters, excellent snorkeling, and beautiful warm days, it’s no surprise that the island sits at the top of the list. Cruises like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Regent Seven Seas all visit the historic and gorgeous island.

The Bahamas’ Out Islands

PortMiami had busiest cruise year in its history - CBS Miami

PortMiami had busiest cruise year in its history.

Posted: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Port Canaveral has welcomed a second Oasis-class ship with Allure of the Seas now homeporting from Central Florida for short cruises. The cruise ship war between Central and South Florida has a new victor with the latest passenger counts totaled for 2022. Projections show that Port Canaveral could welcome as many as 6.5 million cruise passengers in 2027. Port Canaveral just recently announced plans to build a new $175 million terminal within the next few years, which will likely be towards the port’s south end.

Carnival Ship Rescues 27 People Adrift at Sea in the Caribbean

The town of Civitavecchia is located approximately 80km north-west of Rome and passengers can board a 45-minute train from the town’s main station to get to the capital city. Port Miami welcomes more than 4 million passengers a year and has an economic impact of $43 billion, according to its website. The Port Authority of Balears said Palma de Mallorca, also known as Palma, is one of five ports it manages along the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands are a province of Spain and Palma — the largest city on the island of Mallorca — acts as its capital.

World’s Busiest Cruise Port Shatters Passenger Record

"There's a lot of economic impact to the state of Florida from all of our cruise ports," Murray said. Murray said "the fact that we have a new profile of newer, bigger and finer ships I think is going to continue to give us a good push going forward with our status in the types of cruises and people that are coming to see us." In 2023, PortMiami has repeatedly broken records for its busiest single port day, with its current record at 67,594 passenger movements on April 9, when the port hosted eight ships. That volume was up nearly 15% from its previous record day in February, just before Valentine's Day.

The Spanish Port of Barcelona is the world’s seventh busiest cruise port. It is equipped with seven international passenger terminals and modern facilities like air conditioning, public telephones, restaurants and bars, shuttle bus to the city center, and more. The city itself is host to a large number of cultural and historical attractions including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, museums, parks, and beaches. "We've always aimed to be the best cruise port in the world, but what an achievement to now be known as the busiest," Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray said.

Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise

Murray noted that Port Canaveral's 2023 passenger counts have been strong so far, and are likely to far exceed the 2022 figures. "Sometimes, it's a little fun in the rivalry, back and forth," Murray said during a news conference, at which he discussed the rankings. "The way it ended up in 2022, we were ahead, and it's something to be happy about right now." Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral, Cape Canaveral were the 2nd and 3rd busiest, featuring combined traffic of over 7.5 million cruisers. Terminals A and B at Adossat Wharf both cover 6,500km² with two areas each. Terminal C features a passenger embarkation system, a communications building, as well as a mobile and fixed gangway.

Port Canaveral CEO projects another record year of revenue

That will be the first Oasis Class ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet to regularly sail two times a week, which Murray said is an indication of the cruise line’s confidence in Port Canaveral and its ability to attract passengers. Port Canaveral also is a major driver for the Space Coast’s overall tourism market, as many cruise passengers stay at local hotels before or after their cruises. Edging out PortMiami by a slim margin, Port Canaveral is now the world's busiest cruise port with more than 4 million passengers. Port Canaveral, located in Cape Canaveral, Florida is a major launching point for Disney Cruise Lines, as well as Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Top 100 Cruise Ports Busiest

In the U.S., their only close rivals (though well behind) are the ports of Galveston, Texas; New York; New Orleans; and Seattle. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world.

Port d’Eivissa is on the island of Ibiza and started handling cruise ships following the expansion of Botafoc breakwater on the eastern side of the port. Mahon port on the island of Menorca has a 6km bay with the capacity for up to three cruise ships to berth near Mahon town centre. The port of Alcudia on the northern coast of Mallorca is mainly used by commercial and small vessels, but the newly extended Poniente Quay has been designed to handle smaller passenger cruise ships. Many cruise passengers are transported on tender boats to the private islands. Only one of the private islands, Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay, has the facilities for large vessels to dock. The operator has recently announced controversial plans to buy land on Eleuthera in order to build a new port.

Cruises that launch from Fort Lauderdale include Princess, Celebrity, Silversea, and the port even hosts Balearia, a highspeed ferry that can take you from Ft. Port Canaveral also is a major driver for the Space Coast's overall tourism market, as many cruise passengers stay at local hotels before or after their cruises. They also visit local attractions, eat at local restaurants and shop as local stores. "We have always had great vessels from all of our cruise line partners," German said. "However, they began homeporting their newest tonnage with us immediately after the pandemic," like the Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International's largest ship with a 5,734-passenger capacity. Port Miami welcomed a total of 4.8 million cruise passengers in 2016, making it the world's busiest port.

Port Everglades came in third with 1,621,216, according to numbers released in the annual Florida Ports Council report release this week. It should be noted that all Florida’s multi-day cruise port passengers combined totaled 10.5 million guests. The city’s large tourist landscape, numerous hotels, and giant airport make the city well-equipped to handle large volumes of travelers, becoming the perfect base for cruise operations. Ships based in Miami include Royal Caribbean, MSC, Disney, and Virgin Voyages, and sees visits from Viking Ocean Cruises, Crystal Cruise Line, and tons more. According to the Florida Ports Council, Port Canaveral is now the world’s busiest cruise port, with 4,072,396 multi-day passengers having set sail from there in 2022. If splashing around the Caribbean isn’t your idea of a fun cruise, then you’re one of the millions of people who choose a more adventurous cruise experience.

Over the New Year holiday, the ship will offer a single 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, departing on December 26, 2023 and visiting CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten before returning to Port Canaveral on January 2, 2024. Before sailing from Port Canaveral, the vessel was the largest ship homeported from Galveston, Texas, and the first Royal Caribbean ship to set sail from the new cruise terminal at the Texas homeport. “The fact that we have a new profile of of newer, bigger and finer ships I think is going to continue to give us a good push going forward with our status in the types of cruises and people that are coming to see us,” Murray said. Any port overtaking Miami is a huge milestone, whose PortMiami saw 50,000 fewer cruise passengers than Port Canaveral last year.

Single day guests, on the other hand, are sailing on vessels such as casino boats or similar entertainment sailings but do not have overnight stays. Multi-day guests can include both homeport sailings as well as day port visits. The port has six active terminals, which is less than PortMiami and Port Everglades, but the ships have been growing in capacity year over year with ships like Wonder of the Seas. That capacity is looking to climb even more in the future, such as when Royal Caribbean brings a second Oasis-class ship to the port this November with the arrival of Allure of the Seas sailing three- and four-night itineraries.

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To rest up from so much fun, the ship has a dedicated adults-only Solarium, or guests may want to take a stroll through the open Central Park neighborhood with its live trees and charming walking paths. The ship’s Hotel Director, Adriana Tibaudo, was also on hand representing all the nearly 2,200 international crew members aboard Allure of the Seas, who are ready to offer amazing service to everyone who sets sail. While it may give up the No. 1 spot to Miami in the coming years, but for now, the port is soaking up the spotlight. "It's great to see it coming back strong," after a lengthy shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, Murray said. For Port Canaveral, that shutdown extended more than 16 months from mid-March 2020 to the end of July 2021.