Port Canaveral set a new monthly record with 925,994 cruise passengers in March, a 16% increase over last year.
The milestone positions the Central Florida port to a projected 8.4 million passenger movements in Fiscal Year 2025, up from 7.6 million in FY2024.
16 Cruise Ships in Port Canaveral
Located within an hour of Orlando’s theme parks and the Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral continues to draw drive-to cruisers.
Between year-round and seasonal voyages, the port has seven cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC.
New vessels like Norwegian Aqua and Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas are arriving this year, and expanded terminals and upgraded tech are helping to streamline guests’ experiences.
By the Numbers
Other Florida cruise ports are also posting higher numbers. PortMiami handled 8.23 million passengers in FY2024, up 12.8% from the year before, and expects further gains with more ships and infrastructure in place.
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale saw 4.01 million cruisers in FY2024 and is projecting 4.4 million in FY2025, boosted by new deployments like Disney Cruise Line.
Over on the Gulf Coast, Port Tampa Bay welcomed more than 1.1 million passengers in 2023 and expects a 30% increase in 2025. The port continues to expand its offerings with additional sailings and updated facilities.
At Port Canaveral, 91% of cruise guests stay overnight on Florida’s Space Coast, and 27% add a land vacation before or after sailing.
This has driven a nearly 20% increase in hotel room development since 2021, with around 2,000 new rooms expected by 2025.
Port Canaveral hosted a record-breaking 25 vessels in one day earlier this year.
