37.2 million
ocean-going cruise passengers sailed globally in 2025.
CLIA reported this as a record high in its April 2026 industry report.
CLIA, April 2026Cruise research desk
Cruise industry statistics, at a glance.
Current, citable figures on where cruise travel is growing, who is sailing, and the scale of the industry. Every number below names its source and reporting period.
Last updated October 23, 2026
Passenger volume
Cruising reached a new global high in 2025.
The newest available industry report places the cruise sector’s latest passenger milestone in context, while the 2024 market report helps show where those travellers came from.
20.5 million
North American cruise guests in 2024.
That was 13.4% higher than the region’s 2023 passenger count.
CLIA, 2024 data55%
of global cruise volume came from the United States in 2024.
CLIA identifies the U.S. as the largest source market in its annual global report.
CLIA, 2024 dataTraveller and itinerary picture
The numbers behind the kind of cruise people are taking.
7.1 days
was the worldwide average cruise length in 2024.
CLIA, 2024 data46.5 years
was the average passenger age in 2024, and about one-third of guests were under 40.
CLIA, 2024 data43%
of passengers sailed to the Caribbean in 2024, while 8.8 million visited European cruise destinations.
CLIA, 2024 dataEconomic footprint
Cruise travel has an impact well beyond the ship.
These published 2024 figures describe the global economic activity associated with cruise tourism, including spending, supply chains, and employment.
$198.8 billion
in total global economic output in 2024.
The figure covers the wider economic activity associated with the cruise industry.
CLIA and Tourism Economics, 2024 data1.8 million
jobs worldwide were supported by cruise activity in 2024.
The published study measures direct, supply-chain, and wage-linked effects.
CLIA and Tourism Economics, 2024 data$60.1 billion
in wages were supported worldwide in 2024.
This is the wage figure reported in the global economic-impact study.
CLIA and Tourism Economics, 2024 dataA major U.S. departure point
PortMiami reported 8,564,151 cruise passengers in 2025.
PortMiami’s annual history shows the practical scale of one of the world’s busiest cruise home ports. Its 2025 total followed 8,233,056 passengers in 2024.
PortMiami passenger history8,564,1512025 passengers
Method and sources
How to use this page.
This is a reference page, not a forecast. It compiles the latest figures published by cruise-industry and port sources available on the update date. Different reports measure different things, such as passengers, passenger visits, economic output, or jobs, so the reporting year and source are kept beside each figure.
Laura’s own booking activity is not included. When a newer edition of a core report is released, the existing statistic anchors will stay in place while the figures and source notes are refreshed.
- CLIA, State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026 April 2026. 2025 global passenger volume and returning-cruiser intent.
- CLIA, 2024 Global Market Report June 2025. 2024 passenger volume, source markets, destinations, average trip length, and age.
- CLIA, The Cruise Industry in 2024 March 2026. 2024 global economic output, jobs, and wages.
- PortMiami, Cruise accessed October 23, 2026. PortMiami’s published annual passenger history.
Cite this page
Best Day Ever Vacations with Laura. “Cruise Industry Statistics.” Updated October 23, 2026. https://bestdaywithlaurab.com/cruise-industry-statistics