Canaveral Port Authority has hailed a stellar performance for 2024 as Port Authority CEO Capt. John Murray delivered the annual State of the Port address. Total port revenues reached $191 million, with cruise ship operations generating $156 million.
Addressing an audience of almost 250 business and community leaders, Capt. Murray highlighted the passenger traffic growth and enhancements it has made this year.
It remains the world’s second busiest cruise port, handling a record 7.6 million cruise passenger movements, double-digit growth from last year.
Port Canaveral has a roster of 13 homeported ships, with 911 cruise ship calls in 2024 and 914,000 vehicles parked. In the past year, it has added new parking facilities supported by an upgraded parking processing system.
“Port Canaveral continues to be a strategic economic driver for creating jobs, helping local businesses to grow and prosper, and bringing more guests to experience all that our Port community has to offer,” Capt Murray said.
Cruise Passenger Traffic Expected to Surpass 8 Million in 2025
“Cruise continues to be a significant segment of our business portfolio with some of the newest and largest ships in the world based at Port Canaveral. This speaks volumes to the confidence our cruise partners have in us.”
Looking ahead to FY2025, the Port Authority is bullish on a similar growth rate in cruise ship operations. The cruise business is slated to grow to 16 homeported ships serving an estimated 8.4 million passengers.
Two New Cruise Lines to Homeport
This translates to 1,030 ship calls in 2025. Along with multiple ship upgrades and exchanges, the Port will welcome two new cruise line partners – Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises- which will both homeport ships for the first time.
“We will continue to make sound business decisions and investments in our Port that will translate into economic prosperity for our region and the State of Florida. Our success is their success,” Capt. Murray added.
