Cruise travel is riding a wave of demand, with an estimated 19 million Americans expected to set sail this year, according to AAA. That’s a 4.5% increase from last year and marks the third consecutive year of record-breaking passenger volume.
One notable trend in this year’s cruise bookings is a shift toward booking older and more established ships, because they tend to be more budget-friendly. However, there is a caveat: trips on older cruise fleets tend to be shorter, typically ranging between three to five days.
Another prominent trend for cruise travelers this year is the preference for warm destinations, making Caribbean cruises the most popular choice.
According to AAA, 72% of U.S. cruise passengers are headed to the Caribbean. Florida remains a key hub for cruise travel, with the state having the three busiest ports in the world: Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale, based on embarkation and debarkation, according to AAA.
Last year, Miami welcomed the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, and in August Port Canaveral will welcome the equally large Star of the Seas ship. Some other destinations cruise travelers have shown interest in are Alaska and the Mediterranean.
Data from AAA also shows that shorter Caribbean cruise trips are gaining in popularity. This year, 18% of Caribbean cruise itineraries range between two to five days, compared to just 2% in 2023.
Cruise travelers should also be on the lookout for an upcoming Mexico cruise tax. The Mexican federal government has delayed its decision to implement the $42 additional tax on passengers traveling on cruises to Mexico until July 1, 2025, according to the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.