A record number of Americans are predicted to get on board in 2026 for a cruise vacation, according to a report from AAA, with Florida’s big three ports forecast to be the top embarkation points.
The travel company projects 21.7 million Americans will book a cruise next year, a 4.5% increase from the 20.7 million travelers from the U.S. in 2025.
“Cruising is surging, with travelers booking more voyages and exploring new destinations in record numbers,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA in a press release.
The projection would mark the fourth record year in a row, following a dip from 2020 to 2022 because of fallout from the COVID pandemic.
PortMiami is projected to lead the way again, with 10.2% of all American cruise embarkations and debarkations.
Port Canaveral, which held the title of world’s busiest cruise port for one year after the pandemic reopening based on 2022 traffic, has since fallen back to No. 2. Canaveral is projected to grab 8.8% of the traffic, while No. 3 Port Everglades would get 5.6%.
Port Canaveral could once again challenge Miami’s numbers, however, as the Orlando-area port also gets daily passenger movements from ships that call on the port as a destination when they sail from embarkation points such as New York. Daily passenger movements are counted when people get on as well as off.
Port rankings for the full calendar year are usually released by late February by the Florida Ports Council.
Port Canaveral’s fiscal 2026 budget, which is for October 2025 to September 2026, is projecting more than 9 million passenger movements, building on fiscal 2025’s record of more than 8.6 million from 1,038 cruise calls.
The demand amid the industry’s pandemic rebound has meant cruise lines have had welcome takers for their new ships, with Florida getting the lion’s share of debuts.
Royal Caribbean has brought to the state the three largest cruise ships in the world with Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas as well as the last of its Quantum Plus class, Odyssey of the Seas.
Disney Cruise Line has debuted from Port Canaveral two of its new Wish class ships, Wish and Treasure, with a third, Disney Destiny, set to arrive next month at Port Everglades.
Carnival has brought two of its three Excel class ships to the state, with Mardi Gras’ debut from Port Canaveral in 2021 followed by Carnival Celebration from Miami in 2022. Norwegian has debuted two Prima class ships (Prima and Viva) and one Prima-plus class ship (Aqua) with Norwegian Luna coming in 2026. And MSC Cruises had brought its largest ship MSC World America to Miami along with other new ships MSC Seashore and Seascape.
Celebrity is set to debut its sixth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcel, from Port Everglades next month, with four of the five others having also arrived to the Fort Lauderdale port since 2021. Princess Cruises also headed to Port Everglades, having sailed out its last two Royal-class ships, and is about to bring its second Sphere class ship next month with the arrival of Star Princess following sister ship Sun Princess’ debut in 2024.
Virgin Voyages rolled out three of its fleet of four ships since 2021, including the new Brilliant Lady this month, and Holland America had the last of its Pinnacle class debut with the ms Rotterdam. New ships have also made their way to the state from Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Explora Journeys, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn and others.
Older adults remain the majority of those who cruise, according to AAA, with 65% of passengers aged 55 and older, 27% from 35-54 and 7% between 18-34.
More than half travel as couples, with 20% also bringing children. Only 7% travel solo.
The Caribbean remains the most popular destination with 72% of U.S. cruise passengers. Alaska comes in next with 7% and 5% head to the Mediterranean.
AAA travel agents state that nine out of 10 of their customers who have cruised rate the experience as either good or very good, and 91% have cruised more than once.
The projections from AAA are based on scheduled cruise itineraries paired with a database from Tourism Economics focused on the cruise industry as well as economic forecasts from Oxford Economics.
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