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New 2024 CIN Annual Report Out Now

• February 27, 2024

From regional deployment data to supply growth through 2033, the 2024 Cruise Industry News Annual Report has been released with 400 pages of industry analytics and data available for immediate consumption.

The 2024 Annual Report , its 37 th edition, presents the industry in its past, present and future, with supply and capacity data broken down by operator, by ship and by region, as Cruise Industry News independently tracks every ship globally and every sailing.

The 400-page report covers everything from new ships on order to supply-and-demand scenarios from the early 1990s through 2033.

There is a future outlook through  2033 , completely independent  cruise industry statistics , growth projections for each cruise line,  cruise industry market reports , and detailed ship deployment by region and market, covering all the cruise lines.

Projections for capacity growth going forward take into account pandemic effects, ship delivery timeline adjustments and more.

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Cruise industry in the United States - statistics & facts

Has the u.s. cruise industry recovered from the impact of covid-19, what are the leading u.s. cruise companies, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Revenue of the cruises industry in the U.S. 2019-2028

Revenue growth of cruises in the U.S. 2019-2028

Employment in the cruise line operator industry in the U.S. 2012-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2019-2022, by source market

Number of cruise passengers from the U.S. 2016-2022

Related topics

Cruise market.

• Cruise industry worldwide
• Cruise industry in Europe
• Cruise industry in the United Kingdom (UK)
• Cruise industry in the Caribbean

Travel and tourism in the United States

• Travel and tourism in the U.S.
• Hotel industry in the U.S.
• City trips in the U.S.

Recommended statistics

• Premium Statistic Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2009-2027
• Premium Statistic Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2019-2022, by source market
• Premium Statistic Main global cruise destinations 2019-2022, by number of passengers
• Premium Statistic Revenue of the cruises industry in the U.S. 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Revenue growth of cruises in the U.S. 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Direct economic impact of the cruise industry in the U.S. 2021, by spending type
• Premium Statistic Cruise line operator industry's market size in the U.S. 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Businesses in the cruise line operator industry in the U.S. 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Employment in the cruise line operator industry in the U.S. 2012-2022

Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2009-2027

Number of ocean cruise passengers worldwide from 2009 to 2022, with a forecast until 2027 (in millions)

Number of ocean cruise passengers worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by source region (in 1,000s)

Main global cruise destinations 2019-2022, by number of passengers

Leading ocean cruise destinations worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by number of passengers (in 1,000s)

Revenue of the cruises market in the United States from 2019 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue growth of the cruises market in the United States from 2019 to 2028

Direct economic impact of the cruise industry in the U.S. 2021, by spending type

Direct economic impact of the cruise industry in the United States in 2021, by type of spending (in billion U.S. dollars)

Cruise line operator industry's market size in the U.S. 2012-2022

Market size of the cruise line operator industry in the United States from 2012 to 2021, with a forecast for 2022 ( in million U.S. dollars)

Businesses in the cruise line operator industry in the U.S. 2012-2022

Number of businesses in the cruise line operator industry in the United States from 2012 to 2021, with a forecast for 2022

Number of employees in the cruise line operator industry in the United States from 2012 to 2021, with a forecast for 2022

Cruise passengers

• Premium Statistic Number of cruise passengers from North America 2016-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of cruise passengers from the U.S. 2016-2022
• Premium Statistic Growth rate of the cruise passenger volume from the U.S. 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic Busiest cruise ports worldwide 2019-2022, by passenger movements
• Premium Statistic Share of U.S. travelers planning a cruise trip October 2021-June 2023

Number of cruise passengers from North America 2016-2022

Number of cruise passengers sourced from North America from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of cruise passengers sourced from the United States from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Growth rate of the cruise passenger volume from the U.S. 2017-2022

Year-over-year percentage change in the number of cruise passengers sourced from the United States from 2017 to 2022

Busiest cruise ports worldwide 2019-2022, by passenger movements

Busiest cruise ports worldwide in 2019 and 2022, by number of passenger movements (in 1,000s)

Share of U.S. travelers planning a cruise trip October 2021-June 2023

Share of travelers intending to take a cruise trip in the next 12 months in the United States from October 2021 to June 2023

Cruise companies

• Premium Statistic Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Carnival Corporation & plc 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
• Premium Statistic COVID-19 impact on revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2022

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Carnival Corporation & plc 2008-2023

Net income of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 1988 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Net Income of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

COVID-19 impact on revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2022

Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from 2020 to 2022

Consumer opinions

• Basic Statistic Best-rated mega-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023
• Basic Statistic Best-rated large-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023
• Basic Statistic Best-rated midsize-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023
• Basic Statistic Best-rated small-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023
• Basic Statistic Best-rated river cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023

Best-rated mega-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023

Best-rated mega-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide as of June 2023

Best-rated large-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023

Best-rated large-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide as of June 2023

Best-rated midsize-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023

Best-rated midsize-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide as of June 2023

Best-rated small-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023

Best-rated small-ship cruise lines by travelers worldwide as of June 2023

Best-rated river cruise lines by travelers worldwide 2023

Best-rated river cruise lines by travelers worldwide as of June 2023

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Cruise Outlook: Can rebounding demand keep up with increases in supply?

Cruise operating capacity is on pace to exceed its 2019 level by 16% in 2024. The cruise industry entered the global shutdown in March 2020 with a new vessel orderbook near record levels. Even with pandemic-related delays, many of these ships will be completed and deployed in 2023 and 2024. New capacity growth will be only partly offset by cruise ship retirements. Supply growth is anticipated to slow in 2025 but capacity should grow by roughly one-quarter into the medium-term.

What you will learn:

• Recent bookings activity has eased near term concerns, showing a strong trajectory for demand recovery. As cruise lines have resumed operations a record pace of new bookings has been reported early in the 2023 wave season, which is a key step towards filling planned sailings.
• Economic deceleration is underway, with many advanced economies in a mild recession in 2023 which risks slowing the demand recovery. However, travel demand currently remains resilient as pent-up demand and savings continue to support activity.
• Supply may outpace demand, placing pressure on occupancy rates and pricing. The supply growth cycle means that the cruise sector faces not only the challenge of re-igniting cruise demand post-pandemic among experienced cruisers but must also attract substantial numbers of new cruisers to absorb new capacity.
• Cruise lines face key choices in regional capacity deployment, with risks of over-supply in some markets. The Caribbean, Mediterranean and Alaska are anticipated to experience the largest capacity increases in 2023.
• New mega-ships have limited options for turnaround calls, pointing to a need for close coordination by ports and cruise lines to diversify activity. 49% of mega-ship turnaround activity this year is anticipated to occur at just five ports.
• New ships on the orderbook will further change the mix of operating vessels and itineraries.

Related Resouces

Leisure travel expected to continue outperforming amid signs of more even tourism growth

According to findings from Tourism Economics’ latest Travel Industry Monitor (TIM), which tracks the views of tourism professionals every quarter, leisure tourism is expected to continue to spearhead travel global travel growth in 2024, especially for domestic and short-haul destinations.

Will Chinese Traveller Behaviour Change?

As Consumer and Business Spending Slows, Which Sectors Will Grow in 2024?

Concerned about the lingering effects of inflation, rising interest rates, and the impact of geopolitical turmoil, many consumers are tapping the brakes on spending while businesses reconsider their investment strategies. Despite this slowdown, certain industries will continue to offer growth opportunities in the coming year.

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• Cruise News

Cruise Industry’s Hopeful Outlook After a Unique Year

Bruce Parkinson

• December 23, 2020

Survival was the name of the game for the cruise industry in 2020. But having made it through what Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Chairman Adam Goldstein called “a year unlike any other,” both cruise lines and those who love the experience are looking ahead with optimism.  

CLIA, the world’s largest cruise industry trade organization, has released its  2021 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook . New research revealed in the report finds optimism on the horizon, with two out of three cruisers surveyed willing to board a ship within the next 12 months. More good news: 58 percent of international vacationers who have never cruised say they are likely to cruise in the next few years.  

“For the cruise community, there is no denying that 2020 was not the year we anticipated. Still, the industry wasted no time adjusting course to address the challenges before us,” said Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of CLIA.

“As with the rest of the world, our plans for 2020 were turned upside down, culminating in the voluntary suspension of cruise operations worldwide in mid-March. In the months that followed, our industry wasted no time engaging leading experts and government authorities to strengthen already robust public health measures and to put people and communities first.”

Craighead says CLIA’s 2021 report highlights “the extraordinary steps” the industry took to develop and implement enhanced public health protocols. ”With enhanced measures in place, an initial resumption of cruising began in Europe and some other parts of the world, building confidence in the industry’s new protocols and inspiring hope for the future.” 

An Industry With Impact  

The CLIA report includes the 2019 Global Economic Impact Analysis, which underscores the tremendous growth of the cruise industry prior to the global health crisis, and its important contributions to the international economy.  

In 2019, cruising supported 1,166,000 jobs around the world, equaling $50.53 billion in wages and salaries and $154.5 billion total output. The cruise industry hosted a total of 29.7 million passengers worldwide in 2019, with just over half of them (15.4 million passengers) coming from North America. Port cities felt major benefits from the industry, with passengers spending an average of $385 in port cities before boarding a cruise, and $100 in each port of call during a cruise.

New Ships, New Health Protocols

In 2020 many older ships were retired from the global fleet, making room for new, innovative, and efficient hardware. CLIA’s member cruise lines are expected to welcome 16 new ocean ships in 2021, resulting in a total of 270 CLIA member ocean ships projected to be in operation by the end of 2021. 

RELATED:  15 New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2021

Both existing and new ships will offer a different and safer experience in 2021, with enhanced health and safety protocols designed to help protect passengers, crew, and destinations as the industry resumes operations.

While much of the global fleet has been grounded since mid-March, the past few months have seen successful cruises with multiple layers of enhanced measures in place. From early July through mid-December 2020, there were more than 200 sailings under new protocols, and CLIA says the success of these initial voyages demonstrates that the extensive measures are working as designed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 among passengers, crew, and destinations.   

The new protocols include crew and passenger COVID-19 testing prior to embarkation, mask-wearing, physical distancing, enhanced air management and ventilation strategies, and expanded medical capabilities.

Digital Technology Drives Fast-Evolving Cruise Experience

The cruise vacation experience is evolving quickly, largely driven by digital technology, including robust cruise line apps that enable passengers to message each other onboard, make dining or spa reservations, and find step-by-step directions to anywhere on the ship. More cruise lines are utilizing wearable technology that streamlines the experience by allowing cruisers to unlock their stateroom, pay without contact, and even order food and drinks to their lounge chair. 

Staterooms are getting smarter too, with innovations including virtual views in interior staterooms and al fresco living in verandah cabins. Virtual assistants, device casting, and custom smart-lighting are other welcome developments. 

Private destinations, whether island or mainland-based, will play an important role in cruising as the industry resumes operations. These increasingly sophisticated destinations act as an extension to the ship, offering cruisers a seamless island getaway just steps from their stateroom. 

A More Sustainable Future

The new ships arriving in 2021 reflect the cruise industry’s commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. The CLIA report highlights the industry’s $23.5 billion investment in ships equipped with new technologies and using cleaner fuels to reduce carbon emissions. This represents a major step towards realizing an industry commitment to reduce its rate of carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 2008.

Of the new ships on order, 49 percent will rely on LNG fuel for primary propulsion. Nearly 70 percent of global ship capacity now relies on efficient Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) to lower emissions, and the vast majority (96 percent) of new-builds that are not LNG-powered will employ that technology. 

Almost all new ships on order will feature advanced wastewater treatment systems, bringing total global capacity served by these systems to just under 80 percent. As well, nearly 60 percent of new-build capacity will be ready to plug into shore-side electricity where available in port, dramatically lowering emissions.

CLIA Chairman Goldstein says he’s proud of how a dramatically impacted industry united to weather an unprecedented storm.

“As we look to 2021, I know that cruisers are eager to set sail once more, just as our industry is eager to put people back to work and create unforgettable experiences for our valued guests,” Goldstein said.

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A positive outlook for the cruise industry

Cruise Line International Association’s Kelly Craighead briefs CFR  on the industry’s key updates

Cruise Line International Association’s Kelly Craighead briefs Rebecca Barnes on the industry’s key updates

By Rebecca Barnes | 27 September 2022

With post-pandemic recovery well underway and most ships in service once again, the cruise industry is almost back to what might be considered business as usual.

Now that a return to full normality is on the horizon, it is time for the industry to build on the momentum while keeping ships and passengers healthy and happy. The sector has clearly proven its resilience, but how have the changes been received and when is a full resumption likely? CFR catches up with Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) president and CEO Kelly Craighead for an update. 

What have you been your main focuses in the past six months? 

The cruise industry as a whole has been positively recognised for its overall response to the global pandemic, as well as the high bar that has been set for health and safety protocols. We are now moving with the same focus and determination against our ambitious long-term sustainability goals. Throughout the pandemic, our members and partners continued to make great headway towards responsible maritime and tourism practices, sustainability, and the implementation of new environmental technologies.  

What progress has been made since ships resumed sailing? 

The industry has proven its resilience throughout its more than 50-year history, evidenced by our responsible return to operations in July 2020 in Europe. About 10 million people have sailed worldwide since cruising resumed and today, the intent to cruise among both travellers who have cruised before and those who are considering it for the first time, is higher than it was prior to the pandemic. Nearly 100 per cent of the CLIA ocean-going cruise line fleet is on track to be back in service by mid-summer. The combination of the robust health and safety protocols implemented by the cruise lines with the passion of cruise travellers has created tremendous momentum for a successful restart. Importantly, the industry is supporting both an economic and societal recovery as more and more people are able to reconnect with family and friends during a cruise holiday.  

How is Covid-19 continuing to impact the industry?  

While it’s clear that Covid-19 is part of our society and likely will be for the foreseeable future, it’s also evident that cruise lines have demonstrated their ability and agility to mitigate the risk of the virus onboard ships more effectively than in virtually any other setting. In fact, compared to what we are seeing on land, even with the emergence and ebbing and flowing of new variants, the vast majority of cases identified on cruise ships have been mild or asymptomatic and there has been an extraordinarily low number of hospitalisations.  

We expect various protocols will ease as the public health environment continues to improve. The easing and alignment of travel restrictions has been critical to the rebound in travel and tourism in Europe, and I believe the US Administration’s decision to lift the testing requirement for international travellers to the USA will help increase the number of travellers visiting the country. We know that cruising is an influencing factor for 2.5 million international travellers who come to the USA each year. As of 2 June 2022, a total of 46 destinations (of which 31 are in Europe) had no Covid-19 related restrictions in place, which has a huge impact on traveller decisions when choosing where to travel. 

What are your thoughts on progress in terms of sustainability goals? Is the industry on target to meet these? 

The cruise industry is committed to pursuing net-zero carbon cruising worldwide by 2050. Achievement of this ambitious target is supported by our intermediary objective, which was developed in line with international objectives, to reduce the rate of carbon dioxide emissions (carbon intensity) by 40 per cent by 2030. Our member lines are actively engaged in efforts to achieve actual carbon reduction at sea and at ports by investing in new ships, technology and alternative fuels. 

Alternative fuels currently being explored include a range of options such as biofuels, synthetic fuels, ammonia and methanol. Other efforts underway include exploring hybrid solutions, including new generations of fuel cell technology to cut carbon emissions further, and lithium-ion battery storage systems. CLIA member cruise lines have a more modern fleet than ever before, and every year it becomes more environmentally efficient. Meaningful progress has been made on each commitment toward a path to a better future. It’s also important to note that our cruise line members are also making efforts to ensure good health and well-being, gender equality and reduced inequalities, affordable clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, decent work and economic growth, and industry innovation and infrastructure. All of this is imperative to a sustainable future. 

What are your predictions for the industry in 2023?  

We expect cruise will return to being one of the strongest sectors of the travel and tourism industry in 2023 – and to help lead the industry in its pursuit of net-zero emissions and responsible tourism practices. With cruise well on its way to full resumption, we are building on an ambitious environmental agenda, which cruise lines initiated well before the global health crisis and continued during the pandemic for the long-term sustainability of the industry. Cruisers can expect lines to continue prioritising health and safety while delivering a best-in-class experience. From new amenities onboard to new ships, to advancements in environmental technologies and practices, and strong partnerships with ports, destinations, and the travel trade, cruising is the best way to see the world.  

Do you think we will see a full recovery in 2023 as predicted? 

More than 100 markets worldwide have reopened to cruising, and most cruise ships are back in service. We expect the full fleets of all CLIA cruise line member ships to be back in service by the end of summer 2022. The enthusiasm of travellers for cruise is evident in increasing passenger volumes, which are forecast to return to 2019 levels next year. We expect cruise to return to its original pre-pandemic growth forecast and fill the demand gap of 4.7 million passengers by 2025. 

Are you seeing any interesting trends emerging?   

According to the latest World Tourism Barometer released in the first week of June 2022, tourism continues to recover at a stronger than expected pace. Worldwide, the first quarter of 2022 showed a 182 per cent year-over-year rebound with an estimated 117 million international arrivals (compared to 41 million in 2020). As the travel sector continues to rebound, I think we are going to see an unprecedented demand for accredited travel advisors. Consumers are going to look to the experts to help guide and book their upcoming travel experience to help them make the most of their holiday.

This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2022 issue of  Cruise & Ferry Review . All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.   

Subscribe to Cruise & Ferry Review for FREE  here  to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox or your door.

Tags: Cruise Lines International Association     Covid-19

Rebecca Barnes

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Carnival Estimates Baltimore Bridge Impact on Cruises

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

March 27th, 2024 at 1:07 PM EDT

Carnival is the first cruise line to note the potential impact of the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on the industry. A key port will be temporarily unavailable.

Dawit Habtemariam

Carnival Corp. executives told investors Wednesday that a tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore might cost the cruise line operator up to $10 million this year.

During a first-quarter earnings call, David Bernstein, chief financial officer of Carnival Cruise Corporation, said the cruise line operator may lose “up to $10 million for the full year 2024 from the temporary change in home port.” Bernstein referred to a possible impact on adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA.

On March 26, the Francis Scott Key Bridge connecting Baltimore and Dundalk in Maryland collapsed after a container ship struck one of its pillars. 

The deadly event stopped ship traffic at a port Carnival uses. One of the company’s Carnival Cruise Line ships ordinarily sails year-round out of Baltimore. Executives said the ship will temporarily be based in Norfolk, Virginia.

Carnival Alters Red Sea Itineraries

Carnival Cruise took a $130 million hit from rerouting itineraries that touch the Red Sea due to ongoing hostilities from the Houthi, Bernstein said.

Improved performance of the company’s itineraries in the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe helped offset the hit.

Strong Bookings Despite Higher Prices

Executives didn’t expect the Baltimore bridge collapse or Red Sea issues to dent the company’s overall outlook, thanks to a rising wave of strong customer demand worldwide.

Booking volumes for future trips recently hit peaks despite this year’s higher prices.

“Even with less inventory available for the remainder of the year, booking volumes hit an all-time high, driven by demand for 2025 sailings and beyond,” said Josh Weinstein, president, CEO and Chief Climate Officer of Carnival Corp.

Occupancy Growth

Carnival’s occupancy increased by 11 percentage points year over year during the quarter. Both European and North American brands saw positive growth.

“At the same time, we saw outsized growth in occupancy of nearly 20 percentage points at our European brands on their path back to historical occupancy,” said Weinstein. “Our North American brands’ occupancy grew strongly at single digits.”

Guest Upsells Accelerate

Onboard revenue increased from last year thanks to strong pre-cruise sales, which are purchases of goods and services before the ship sets sail.

“We saw a double-digit increase in terms of the percent of pre-cruise sales of onboard revenue in the first quarter,” Weinstein said.

Mixed Quarter

In the first quarter, Carnival welcomed 3 million guests. It generated $5.4 billion in revenue, a record for the company. Carnival experienced a net loss of $214 million in the quarter.

Carnival to Expand Fleet

Carnival Cruise expects to expand its fleet again.

“We’re talking about one to two ships a year starting in 2027,” said Weinstein. “There won’t be another one in 2027. That will be what we’ve got. As far as 2028 goes, could there be another one? It’s not closed, but I wouldn’t necessarily bank on it either.”

More of Carnival’s Guests Are New to Cruises

First-time cruise guests rose 30% in the first quarter over last year. 

“We have been improving our ‘casting of the net’ to go beyond brand repeaters and going into those new to cruising,” said Weinstein.

Cruise and Tours Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date

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Tags: carnival corp. , cruise , cruise earnings

Photo credit: Carnival could lose up $10 million due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge John Bell / Unsplash

Insurers could face losses of up to $4 billion after Baltimore bridge tragedy, analyst says

• Claims could total up to $4 bln, record for shipping disaster
• Insurance lines affected include property, marine, liability
• International Group of P&I marine insurers have reinsurance cover of $3.1 bln
• AXA lead reinsurer on first layer of IG reinsurance cover-Insurance Information Institute

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UAW membership fell 3.3% in 2023 to 370,000 workers

Membership in the United Auto Workers union fell 3.3% in 2023 to 370,000, its lowest level since 2009, according to a report filed on Friday with the U.S. Labor Department.