Port Canaveral Sets Record for Cruise Guests – C...

Port Canaveral set a brand new month-to-month document for many passenger actions when it hosted 925,994 friends in March, eclipsing the final yr’s March passenger counts by 16%. Fueled by the busiest month in its historical past, Port Canaveral, the world’s second busiest cruise port, can be on observe for a document Fiscal Yr 2025 when it’s anticipated to host 8.4 million passenger actions in comparison with 7.6 million passenger actions final yr.

“It wasn’t way back once we exceeded 500,000 friends in a single month. Now, with numbers like this approaching practically 1,000,000, it’s not simply exceptional, it demonstrates the sturdy demand for sailings from our Port. We’ve been predicting it, and we had been prepared for it,” acknowledged Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO.

Port Canaveral has grown in reputation as a homeport, significantly for cruise friends preferring to drive to their port. “One of many issues we satisfaction ourselves on is straightforward entry in and egress out of Port Canaveral,” Murray mentioned. “Our development and success comes from our ongoing dedication to make sure we’re the most effective port potential for our companions and friends.” 

Murray famous that the Port is investing thousands and thousands of {dollars} to make crusing from the Central Florida area much more accessible and handy with tasks for expanded terminals, up to date parking amenities and up to date know-how that enable friends to get to and from their cruise quicker than ever.

The Port is at the moment dwelling to 16 ships from seven totally different cruise traces – Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celeb Cruises, Disney, NCL, MSC and Princess Cruises – which collectively function greater than 1,000 sailings yearly.

The Port is increasing its cruise choices with the arrival of a few of cruising’s latest and largest ships, together with Norwegian Aqua this weekend and Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas in August with Carnival Festivale and MSC’s World Atlantic slated to debut in 2027.  As well as, MSC, Princess Cruises, Celeb Cruises and NCL will all deploy newer ships to Port Canaveral this winter.  

“Port Canaveral has turn into the homeport of alternative for brand spanking new ships with extra cruise traces deploying newer and bigger current tonnage, which speaks volumes about our companions’ confidence in our means to constantly ship high-quality expertise for his or her friends,” Murray acknowledged.

Port Canaveral’s cruise enterprise contributes considerably to the native financial system with 91% of cruise friends staying in in a single day lodging on Florida’s House Coast, together with 27% having fun with a pre- and post-cruise land stick with per-party spending at $3,072, in accordance with a latest examine by the House Coast Workplace of Tourism.  As well as, cruise guests are one of many main drivers of latest resort building with roughly 2,000 new resort rooms deliberate by 2025, practically a 20% p.c improve since 2021.