Cruise Business Soared at Port Canaveral in 2022

The cruise industry was booming in Port Canaveral, FL, at the end of 2022, which could lead to an even more successful 2023. The popular port just surpassed the Port of Miami as the “world’s busiest cruise port.”

Port Canaveral accommodates several major cruise line operators; Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line, to name a few.



According to data from Canaveral Port Authority last month, there were “243 cruise ship calls — ported and visiting — for the final quarter of calendar 2022 from October to December.”

…more than 700,000 passengers come through the port in December, including over 100,000 cruise travelers in the Dec. 23-24 timeframe and another 96,000 travelers in the Dec. 30-31 timeframe. In comparison, the port welcomed less than 300,000 cruise travelers in December 2021.

Orlando Business Journal

Port Canaveral is one of many entities that help boost the region’s $75 billion tourism industry. The cruise industry represents 80% of the port’s overall revenue, with every 24 cruisers creating one full-time equivalent job. According to a report in OBJ, each cruiser spends an average of $750 per passenger in port cities.

Passenger volume is expected to recover and surpass 2019 levels by the end of 2023. The survey finds 52% of U.S. adults are just as likely or more likely to consider taking a cruise vacation as they were before the pandemic. That number is up from 45% one year ago.

Cruising is back in a big way. We expect a lot more people to book cruises in 2023 as several new ships have entered the market.

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