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Cruise industry worldwide - statistics & facts

What are the biggest global cruise markets, what are the leading cruise companies worldwide, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Revenue of the cruises industry worldwide 2019-2028

Revenue growth of cruises worldwide 2019-2028

Revenue of the cruise industry in leading countries 2025-2028

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Number of global ocean cruise passengers 2009-2027

Worldwide cruise company market share 2022

Related topics

Cruise market.

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

Shipbuilding industry

  • Cruise shipbuilding industry worldwide
  • Shipbuilding industry worldwide
  • Shipbuilding and maritime activities in Turkey

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  • Premium Statistic Share of sales channels of the global cruise industry revenue 2018-2028

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue of the global travel and tourism market from 2019 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

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

Revenue growth of the cruises market worldwide from 2019 to 2028

Leading countries in the cruise industry revenue worldwide from 2025 to 2028 (in million U.S. dollars)

Share of sales channels of the global cruise industry revenue 2018-2028

Revenue share of sales channels of the cruise industry worldwide from 2018 to 2028

Cruise ships

  • Basic Statistic Largest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by gross tonnage
  • Basic Statistic Longest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by length
  • Premium Statistic Most expensive cruise ships worldwide by building cost 2022
  • Premium Statistic Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide 2015-2022
  • Premium Statistic Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide by region 2022
  • Premium Statistic Gross tonnage of cruise ship deliveries worldwide by region 2022
  • Premium Statistic Gross tonnage of cruise ships in the global order book by region 2022
  • Premium Statistic Average passenger capacity of ocean-going cruise vessels worldwide 2018-2026

Largest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by gross tonnage

Largest cruise ships worldwide as of April 2023, by gross tonnage (in 1,000s)

Longest cruise ships worldwide 2023, by length

Largest cruise ships worldwide as of February 2023, by length (in meters)

Most expensive cruise ships worldwide by building cost 2022

Most expensive cruise ships worldwide in 2022, by building cost (in billion U.S. dollars)

Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide 2015-2022

Annual gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide from 2015 to 2022

Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide by region 2022

Gross tonnage of new cruise ship orders worldwide in 2022, by region (in millions)

Gross tonnage of cruise ship deliveries worldwide by region 2022

Gross tonnage of cruise ship deliveries worldwide in 2022, by region (in millions)

Gross tonnage of cruise ships in the global order book by region 2022

Gross tonnage of cruise ships in the global order book in 2022, by region (in millions)

Average passenger capacity of ocean-going cruise vessels worldwide 2018-2026

Average passenger capacity carried by ocean-going vessels in the cruise industry worldwide from 2018 to 2023, with a forecast until 2026

Cruise passengers

  • 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 Busiest cruise ports worldwide 2019-2022, by passenger movements
  • Basic Statistic Number of Carnival Corporation & plc passengers worldwide 2007-2023
  • Premium Statistic Number of passengers carried by Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023
  • Premium Statistic Number of passengers carried by Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
  • Premium Statistic TUI cruise passengers worldwide 2013-2023, by brand

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

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

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)

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)

Number of Carnival Corporation & plc passengers worldwide 2007-2023

Number of Carnival Corporation & plc passengers worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of passengers carried by Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023

Number of passengers carried by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of passengers carried by Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Number of passengers carried by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

TUI cruise passengers worldwide 2013-2023, by brand

Number of passengers on TUI cruise brands worldwide from 2013 to 2023, by brand (in 1,000s)

Cruise companies

  • Premium Statistic Worldwide cruise company market share 2022
  • Premium Statistic Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023, by segment
  • Premium Statistic Net income of Carnival Corporation & plc 2008-2023
  • Premium Statistic Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2009-2023, by segment
  • Premium Statistic Net income of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 2007-2023
  • Premium Statistic Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2013-2023, by segment
  • Premium Statistic Net income of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
  • Premium Statistic TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand

Worldwide market share of leading cruise companies in 2022

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023, by segment

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023, by segment (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 2009-2023, by segment

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 2009 to 2023, by segment (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 2013-2023, by segment

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2013 to 2023, by segment (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)

TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand

Revenue of TUI cruise brands worldwide from 2015 to 2023, by brand (in million euros)

Impact of COVID-19

  • Premium Statistic Annual growth rate of the global cruise passenger volume 2017-2022
  • Premium Statistic Global cruise passenger volume index 2019-2026, by scenario
  • Premium Statistic COVID-19 impact on cruise passenger volume worldwide 2020-2022, by source region
  • Premium Statistic COVID-19 impact on revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2022

Annual growth rate of the global cruise passenger volume 2017-2022

Annual growth rate of the cruise passenger volume worldwide from 2017 to 2022

Global cruise passenger volume index 2019-2026, by scenario

Cruise passenger volume index worldwide from 2019 to 2021, with a forecast until 2026, by scenario

COVID-19 impact on cruise passenger volume worldwide 2020-2022, by source region

Percentage change in cruise passengers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide from 2020 to 2022, by source region (compared to 2019)

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

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Cruise Market Watch

Growth of the Ocean Cruise Line Industry

Worldwide, the ocean cruise industry experienced an annual passenger compound annual growth rate of 5.9% from 1990 to 2024.

While the COVID-19 pandemic brought the ocean passenger cruise industry to a standstill for nearly two years, it also prompted the accelerated retirement of numerous older ships. Simultaneously, new additions to fleets adopted a more modern and environmentally friendly approach. In 2024, passenger numbers are expected to surpass the pre-COVID levels of 2019.

Between 2023 and 2024, a total of 10 new ships, with a combined passenger capacity of 25,450, are set to be added (refer to the tables below). This influx will bring the worldwide ocean cruise passenger capacity to 673,000, spread across 360 ships. These vessels are projected to carry a total of 30.0 million passengers by the end of 2024, representing a 4.2% increase over 2023 and a 9.2% increase over 2019.

2024 Growth

Shipbuilding Summary

Sources: Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Carnival Corporation and plc, NCL Corporation Ltd., Thomson/First Call, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) , The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) , DVB Bank and proprietary Cruise Market Watch Cruise Pulse data.

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Cruise in 2022: the state of the industry 

Using the latest thematic insights from GlobalData, Peter Nilson looks at the state of the cruise industry.

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cruise industry statistics 2021

At the beginning of the year, many companies, governments, and travel authorities had predicted a stronger recovery for the cruise market in 2021. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

The pandemic has proven unpredictable, with many cruise destinations going into second and third lockdowns during 2021 after a global surge in Covid-19 cases .

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While the cruise industry has experienced a 96% Year-on-Year (YoY) increase of passengers, reaching 13.9 million, it still does not compare to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, where there were 29.7 million passengers globally. It has been an even worse year for travel intermediaries specializing in cruise holidays.

These companies are the primary selling points for cruise trips and are often responsible for selling upgrades, premium drinks packages and excursions. Global spending across 60 major cruise markets increased by 65% YoY, resulting in total revenues of $19.4bn. Nevertheless, this was still far from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, which were approximately $29.8bn, 35% higher than 2021’s figure.

To reduce costs, many ships were retired between 2019 and 2021. Cruise ships are the most expensive assets, making this practice a necessity for many firms to stay afloat.

However, more optimistic times lie ahead for the sector. During the pandemic, the cruise industry has witnessed new innovative cruise ships and a brand-new competitor in the form of Virgin Voyages . Many cruise liners have come good with orders for new cruise ships built before the pandemic, resulting in an exciting time for loyal cruise holidaymakers to try new ships, services, and onboard experiences.

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Global cruise passengers and revenue

2021 provided a tough lesson for the cruise industry, with businesses aiming to make a swifter recovery from the latest round of lockdowns.

The cruise industry’s recovery rate was modest in 2021. Although a 96% YoY increase sounds positive, it is still nowhere near pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, only 13.9 million passengers went on a cruise, 53% lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

With the fluctuations of global passengers, revenues will generally follow a similar pattern unless there is a substantial shift in consumer behaviour. Usually, the most significant impacts on a travel company’s revenues, aside from passenger flows, are an economic recession, foreign exchange, or a change in booking trends.

During the pandemic, it has become clear that the latter affected cruise intermediary revenues. In 2021, revenue generated for cruises from intermediaries reached $19.5bn, a 65% YoY increase from $11.8bn. However, cruise passenger flows increased by 95% YoY, which is a significantly higher rate of improvement.

According to the CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, Richard Fain, this was not unexpected. The world’s fourth-largest cruise company has seen intermediaries such as online travel agencies (OTAs) and high street agencies lose a proportion of their market share, with customers opting to book directly with the cruise operator rather than a third party.

cruise industry statistics 2021

The same sentiment was echoed by Norwegian Cruise Lines CEO Frank Del Rio, who said the company had witnessed a similar booking pattern. The result is not surprising. Many agencies have had to cut back on their workforce due to poor revenue performance in 2020, resulting in fewer sales agents to capture the rising demand in 2021. This has led to more customers booking directly with cruise companies.

Research from GlobalData also supports this, when comparing two consumer surveys from 2019 and 2021. In 2019, 44% of respondents said they typically book via an OTA. However, in a Q4 2021 survey, only 24% of respondents said they booked their last holiday via this booking method. In addition, respondents who said they booked directly increased from 32% to 36%.

New cruise ships and trends for 2022

There are many new cruise ships scheduled to set sail in 2022. Many of these boast a more contemporary feel to their décor and interior, moving away from the traditional looks of the past cruise ships and moving to a more fashionable boutique hotel design.

The motivation for this stems from the fact that cruise operators need to attract a younger market. This evolution is necessary for making cruise businesses more resilient in the future by drawing the next generation of cruise tourists.

According to a 2020 GlobalData survey, 37% of Gen Z and Millennials said that they ‘strongly’ or ‘slightly’ agreed with the notion that they would book an international trip this year. In comparison, only 22% of those older than 35 responded with the same sentiment, highlighting that the younger generation may be more likely to travel in today’s travel climate.

Furthermore, cruising has also become more popular with younger adults. In GlobalData’s Q3 2019 and 2021 global consumer surveys, the percentage of Gen Z and Millennial respondents who typically take a cruise holiday increased from 17% to 21%, indicating changes in consumer tastes.

The importance of Covid-19 safety protocols on cruise ships has never been more critical. According to GlobalData, there is a demand from consumers to receive information about Covid-19 initiatives. This data shows that consumers need substantial levels of communication from cruise providers, and that cruise companies will need to develop robust communication strategies, which need to be scaled over the next few years.

Many travellers are opting to book directly with the operator rather than via an intermediary such as an OTA. According to a Q3 2019 GlobalData survey, 44% of consumers said they typically book via an OTA.

However, this has fallen substantially over the last two years. In a Q4 2021 survey, only 24% of respondents said they booked their previous holiday via an OTA.

In addition, respondents who said they booked directly with a travel supplier increased from 32% to 36%, showing that booking directly with the supplier is becoming more trustworthy and popular.

Nevertheless, this booking behaviour could well be a temporary result, with some cruise operators expecting intermediary trade to pick up again in 2022.

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Cruise market trends: How to sail through the disruptive landscape?

Cruise market trends

March 22, 2021 •

8 min reading

At the beginning of 2020, the ocean cruises industry was one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel industry. No less than 55 cruise companies operate 278 ocean cruise line ships, with another 28 new ships that will be delivered in 2021. In addition to the ocean cruise sailing capacity, there are over 500 river cruise ships. Ocean, river and specialty cruise lines represent more than 95% of the global cruise capacity. Market segments of ocean cruise lines companies can be clustered into first class, premium or contemporary, luxury and specialty cruise lines. In 2019 the worth of the world cruise industry, was more than $150 billion in direct and indirect revenues.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade organization, the number of cruise ship passengers has increased from 17.8 million in 2009 to 30 million in 2019, an annual growth rate of 5.4%. Prior to the business lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the forecast for 2020 was a further increase to 32 million passengers. In 2019, the most popular cruise destination was the Caribbean region (42% of all cruise), followed by the Mediterranean (16%), Asia and China (14%), and Northern Europe (6%). In 2019 the number of passengers split by origin, was the following (data in millions): 15.41 were North American, 7.71 European and 3.75 Asia.

The average age of passengers was 46.7 years. However, considering that Generation Z surpassed Millennials as the largest demographic group in 2020, the average will eventually decrease in the next decades as the Z Generation is considered to become one of the largest market segment in the cruise industry.

Major trends that will shape the industry over the next decade, include:

  • Environmental sustainability: the industry is investing heavily in waste reduction with innovative cutting edge environmental technology, such as the use of liquified natural gas (LNG), exhaust gas cleaning (EGCS), advanced water treatment systems and shoreside electricity;
  • Responsible tourism: cruise lines are working with local communities to find the best way to manage the flow of passengers visiting each port of call, to protect the culture, the environment, the unique heritage and landscape of destinations visited;
  • Catering to single cruisers: sales strategies are now much more sensitive to the needs of “solo” cruisers;
  • Theme cruises, alternative destinations and duration of cruises: the continued growth of luxury expedition cruising, alternative destinations such as private islands and marine reserves and the growing number of two- and three-day micro-cruises;
  • New onboard IT digital experience: the growing interest of Millennials and Generation Z in cruises, which will become the largest consumer generation, is driving the upgrade of internet connectivity on-board. Cruise ships are massively investing the availability of in line apps, wearable technology (multifunctional bracelets that include geolocation system), cabin voice recognition devices, facial recognition cameras, touch screen devices for on-board service reservations, digital concierge services, robotics (bartenders preparing and service cocktails e.g.) and health apps;
  • New innovative onboard concept venues and accommodation: cruise passengers are increasingly looking for a sense of privacy, different service experiences and entertainment;
  • Last but not least, the mandatory adoption of COVID-19 related measures to ensure a safe and healthy on-board environment for all passengers and crew members.

Major trends in the cruise market

Cruising through the new disruptive COVID-19 scenario

Cruise line companies seeking to emerge in a stronger position after the pandemic should develop a systematic understanding of how passengers’ habits have changed during the crisis and how it affects their behavior within their entire customer journey: from the decision-making process that is leading travelers to select a cruise company, down to their trip back home after disembarkation. Which variables will passengers take into consideration in selecting their next cruise? What do passengers expect in terms of safety and health standards? How will cruise lines keep their ships free from COVID-19, and how will they prepare themselves for further outbreaks? These are key aspects that cruise companies need to fully understand keeping their loyal passengers and to bring in Generation Z as well.

Disruptive business crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, further enforce the logic that corporate strategies is the way a company select a competitive positioning. While operations strategy is the way to reach and defend the competitive position chosen by the company. It means that relevant new requirements, COVID-19 related, need to embrace the business mainly at two levels: corporate and operations which remain the strongest competitive advantage for a cruise line company. New protocols have been developed to implement measures which aim at minimizing the exposure to and transmission of COVID-19 on board its cruise vessels and through all the customer journey when applicable. The way the protocols will be implemented within the operations, will ensure the consolidation of the longstanding competitive advantages cruise companies have achieved until the COVID-19 crises.

From a corporate prospective the main focus will be on ensuring a consistent level of governance and compliance with the protocols conceived according to rules, regulations issued by governments and national public health institutes. A resilient monitoring of the pandemic must be also a priority. The target is to constantly deliver a safe and healthy experience to passengers preserving the service excellence guests were used to, before the COVID-19 pandemic crises. It goes without saying that crew members and employees ashore, who represent the strongest asset in any hospitality business, will play a strategical role in developing, implementing and keeping the new standards up to date.

From an operational viewpoint, cruise companies will implement new procedures which will impact the passengers cruise experience and the on-board operations such as pretesting and vaccination for all passengers and crew members, embarkation and disembarkation, social distancing in public areas, on-board back and front of the house operations, medical and public health standards and shore excursions activities. Health and safety have always been paramount to the way the cruise business has been run. With procedures already in place before the pandemic and the new protocols, cruise companies will be able to ensure the necessary high standards of safe and healthy operations guests are expecting to cruise with full confidence.

Disruption to the cruise market

Which value proposition for future landscapes

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise companies are progressing on existing fleet expansion projects and restarting shipyards operations that were put on hold in 2020. While the delivery dates have been extended, no large ocean cruise ship orders have been canceled since the industry went on pause. The new building continues also in the cruise-ferries and river ships business.

When the industry will restart, the passengers experience and the operations are likely to look very different on board. Cruise companies are picturing cruise ships as the safest form of travel for the future, promoting the vessels as a COVID-19 free environment or “bubble” and communication strategies are focused on the effective implementation of tested protocols. Time will confirm whether it will be enough to cope with the pandemic crises or if it will be necessary to re-conceive the core of the cruise business itself in the long run (itinerary planning, size of the vessels, product and services offered on board e.g.).

The key leverages in facing the new landscape remain the on-board operations and the crew members, crucial in facilitating and guiding passengers through the cruise experience at sea. This is where the core competitive advantage of cruise companies lays.

In this context, EHL Advisory Services’ value proposition to the cruise business is based on:

  • Developing corporate strategies to meet new market trends and challenges, preserve and add value to the business;
  • Developing health protocols;
  • Designing and implementing on-board operational procedure focused on cost controlling, inventory     management and replenishment, ensuring corporate governance and compliance;
  • Developing tailor-made training programs to enhance service excellence at sea;
  • Managing business development projects.

References:

  • Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
  • COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel
  • COVID-19 impacts on global cruise industry How is the cruise industry coping with the COVID -19 crisis ?
  • Growth of the Ocean Cruise Line Industry
  • How Can Cruise Lines Attract New Cruisers in 2021?
  • Cruise industry tries to rebuild after coronavirus shutdowns
  • When will it be safe to cruise again? These signs that will help you decide when to sail
  • State Of The Cruise Industry: Smooth Sailing Into The 2020’s
  • 27 shocking cruise industry statistics and facts for 2021
  • Why cruise ships are setting sail again as COVID-19 rages
  • These startling pictures show the impact of COVID-19 on the cruise industry
  • Number of ocean cruise passengers worldwide in 2019, by region
  • Segmentation and targeting in the cruise industry: an insight from practitioners serving passengers at the point of destination
  • Newest Cruise Ships
  • Cruise Ship Construction Proceeding Despite Continuing Industry Pause
  • Cruise Industry Trends for 2020

Giulio Stella

Consultant, EHL Advisory Services

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Cruise Industry: 100+ Statistics, Facts, and Trends [2023]

cruise industry statistics 2021

Over 32M passengers were expected to go cruising in 2020. 

Only a handful of 400 cruise ships ready to hit the water could take passengers onboard due to COVID-19.

The result? Over $60B in losses. 

So if you’d like to learn more about the cruise industry, you’ve come to the right place. 

In this data-driven roundup, we’ve compiled the most relevant and up-to-date stats and facts on the topic to help you catch the essence.

Let’s dive right in:

Top 10 Cruise Industry Stats and Facts to Know in 2023   

General cruise industry statistics & facts, wonder of the seas, working onboard a cruise ship, cruise ships: a general overview, cruise industry demographics, cruise ships pollute but are good at recycling, covid-19 impact on cruise tourism.

top 10 cruise industry statistics for 2023

  • The cruise industry made $18B in revenue in 2022.
  • The total number of cruise ship passengers stood at 13M+ as of 2021.
  • The cruise industry is expected to reach $25.1B in revenue by the end of 2023.
  • The cruise industry supports over 1M jobs.
  • A cruise costs an average of $214 per passenger daily. 
  • The world’s fleet of cruise ships totals 430.
  • US nationals made up the majority (43%) of all cruise passengers in 2021.
  • US nationals made up 43% of all cruise passengers in 2021.
  • The cruise industry seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030.
  • A cruise ship emits more greenhouse gasses daily than 13M cars.
  • The global revenue of cruises is set to reach $30B by 2024.
  • Only 22% of cruise tickets are purchased online. Instead, 78% of the sales come from offline channels (e.g., ticket offices).
  • Wonder of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean Group., is the world’s largest cruise ship.
  • 1.7M passengers cruised to the Caribbean region in 2021.
  • The US, Canada, and Mexico make up half of all cruise passengers.
  • Crime rates on cruise ships are 95% lower than on land.
  • Wonder of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. It’s 1,188 feet long and 209 feet wide (362 x 64m).
  • Wonder of the Seas can take up to 7K passengers and 2.3K crew members onboard.
  • The Wonder of the Seas ship was ordered in 2016 and completed in 2022, with a construction cost of $1.3B.
  • Wonder of the Seas has a Central Park (the first ever park at sea) with over 20K natural plants.
  • The Wonder of the Seas ship has four thrusters with 7.5K horsepower each, which help it reach the cruising speed of 22 knots (25 mph).
  • Wonder of the Seas has 24 bars and dining facilities.
  • There are eight specially designed neighborhoods on the Wonder of the Seas ship.

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  • The cruise industry provided 1.7M jobs in 2019.
  • It takes 24 passengers to support one full-time job on a cruise ship.
  • The cruise industry has average employee turnover rates: 25–35%.
  • A cruise ship may require over 2K crew members.
  • Cruise ships have a strict, military-like chain of command: officers > staff > crew members.
  • 70% of cruise ship crew work in the hotel division.
  • Most cruise companies (70%) hire employees via foreign agencies.
  • A typical cruise ship employment form is a 6-month-long contract.
  • Cruise ship crew are on call around the clock.
  • An average cruise ship member in the US makes $29K annually.
  • 72 new ships were manufactured in 2021.
  • The average cost of building a cruise ship is $600M.
  • There were 65 ocean cruise lines as of 2022.
  • The three leading cruise companies made 85% of the global revenue in 2021.
  • Only 11% of cruise ships can accommodate more than 4K passengers.
  • Most cruise ships (32%) can take 2–3K tourists onboard.
  • 371 out of 430 cruise ships operated in 2022.
  • Here’s a look at the highest-rated cruise lines:
  • The cruise ship’s passenger capacity is projected to reach over 38M in 2027.
  • The average age of a cruise ship is 14.
  • The world’s longest cruise ship (~1,188 ft or 362m) is just 6.5 ft (2m) longer than the fifth longest ship (853 ft or 260m).
  • Royal Caribbean has all five longest cruise ships in its fleet.
  • The most expensive cruise ships are Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. The former cost 1.5B to build, and the latter’s price tag was 1.4B.
  • Here’s a breakdown of the world’s largest cruise ships:
  • 57% of cruisers are college graduates.
  • 83% of cruise passengers are married. 
  • Cruisers spend around $385 in the port city before boarding a ship.
  • During a typical cruise, passengers spend an average of $750 per person in port cities.
  • Cruise passengers are 47 years old, on average.
  • 85% of Millennials plan to cruise in the future, compared to 82% of Gen Xers and 79% of Gen Zers.
  • Eight in 10 cruisers are likely to book their next vacation on a cruise ship.
  • ~70% of cruisers are willing to board a cruise ship next year.
  • Almost 60% of people who have never cruised say they are likely to cruise in the next few years.
  • 70% of cruisers have an annual household income greater than $80K.
  • 17% of Americans have cruised at least once.
  • Most cruisers (77%) travel with a spouse.
  • 30% of cruise passengers travel mainly with under-aged children.
  • A quarter of cruisers generally travel with friends.
  • A 3K-person cruise ship generates an average of 150K gallons (567 liters) of sewage per week.
  • Cruise ships dump as much as 1B gallons (3.7B liters) of bacteria, heavy metals, and nutrients into the sea yearly.
  • Here’s an overview of the waste produced by a 3K-passenger cruise ship during one week voyage:
  • The cruise line industry dumps 285K gallons (1M liters) of wastewater into the sea every day.
  • 75% of solid waste is incinerated on cruise ships, and the ash is typically discharged at sea.
  • 24% of the solid waste generated by all ships comes from cruise ships.
  • Cruise ships recycle 60% more waste daily than people on land.
  • Cruise lines recycle 80K tons of paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass each year.
  • The global revenue from cruises dropped by 88% in 2020.
  • The cruise industry made just $3B in 2020 compared to 27B in 2019.
  • The revenue growth in the cruise market is expected to plateau at 3% by 2026.
  • The number of cruise passengers globally dropped by 84% in 2020.
  • The cruise industry expected to carry 32M passengers in 2020.
  • The number of ocean cruise passengers stood at 7M in 2020.
  • Only 5M people went ocean cruising in 2021.
  • The number of cruise passengers from North America dropped from 15M in 2019 to 3M in 2020.
  • In 2021, the cruise industry declined by 25% compared to 2020.
  • In the Middle East, the number of cruise passengers declined by 92% in 2020, followed by a 160% increase in 2021. 
  • In North America, the number of cruise passengers dropped by 80% in 2020 and continued to decline by another 25% in 2021.
  • Leading cruise companies saw a 90% drop in revenue in 2021 compared to 2019.
  • Here’s a look at the net income of the largest cruise companies between 2019 and 2021:
  • The cruise industry’s economic contribution in 2019 was $154B.
  • In 2020, the economic contribution of the cruise industry dropped by 59% to $63B.
  • Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, cruise industry-supported jobs shrank by 50%.
  • The number of cruise passengers will surpass the 2019 levels by 2024.

Stacking It All Up

There you have it.

A comprehensive list of cruise industry statistics, facts, and trends to help you better understand the market and its direction.

Was there a statistic you found particularly surprising? Or maybe there are other cruising stats you’d like to see?

Let us know in the comments.

Is the cruise industry growing?

Before 2019, the cruise industry had a 3–5% yearly growth, but in 2020, the market saw a drop of over 80% due to COVID. In 2021, the market got back on track, seeing a 300% increase in revenue and 50% in passenger numbers.

How big is the cruise line industry?

There are over 60 ocean cruise lines, operating a total of 430 ships. In 2019 (before coronavirus), these cruises brought $27B in revenue. By the end of 2023, that number is expected to reach $25B.  

Who are the biggest players in the cruise industry?

Three companies made 85% of the total revenue in the cruise industry in 2021. These are Carnival Cruise ( 45%) , Royal Caribbean Group ( 25% ), and Norwegian Cruise Line ( 15% ).

What’s the #1 cruise line in the world?

Carnival Cruise Lines is the #1 cruise line in the world in terms of revenue ( $12.168B ). However, Royal Caribbean has five of the world’s largest cruise ships in its fleet.

How much money does the cruise industry make?

The cruise industry made $18B in revenue in 2022. It’s also set to reach $30B by 2024. 

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cruise industry statistics 2021

Adam is an SEO & Digital PR writer with a child’s curiosity about the surrounding world. His superpower to dig out juicy facts got him citations in Forbes, Social Media Today, and 90+ other news outlets. Adam enjoys snapping pictures and won the national Huawei Next Image Award.

G.1 A Study on Developments in the Global Cruise Industry, 2020–2021: The Cruise Industry Making Active Efforts to Resume Cruise Sailings Following the Severe COVID-19 Shock

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  • Jianyong Shi 8 &
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The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted huge impacts on the global economy. The environment-sensitive cruise tourism industry, in particular, has suffered heavy losses. All parts of the cruise industry chain, from cruise companies to cruise ports, and to suppliers, travel agencies, and relevant businesses, were brought to a halt. Due to the pandemic, cruise companies had to keep adjusting capacity layouts in light of the COVID-19 protocols of different countries or territories. Cruise companies also actively responded to the crisis by various means of financing, such as selling shares, which led to better capital and fleet structures. The impact of the pandemic on the cruise industry is temporary, without any underlying influence on its development landscape. The cruise industry is still resilient. Cruise operations are the hardest hit by the pandemic. The cruise industry will face technical adjustments, and the public health and epidemic response system on cruise ships will be improved. As COVID-19 developments turn better and vaccination rates continue to rise, cruise operations will go back on track over time. However, there will be a tough adjustment period of at least two years. The cruise industry is expected to return to pre-COVID levels in 2024 or 2025. With the reopening of cruise sailings over time, the cruise industry will resume normal operations.

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Wang, H., Shi, J., Mei, J. (2023). G.1 A Study on Developments in the Global Cruise Industry, 2020–2021: The Cruise Industry Making Active Efforts to Resume Cruise Sailings Following the Severe COVID-19 Shock. In: Wang, H., Ye, X., Shi, J., Zheng, W., Qiu, L., Zhu, G. (eds) Report on the Development of Cruise Industry in China (2021). Current Chinese Economic Report Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9414-2_1

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‘A Lot of Chaos’: Bridge Collapse Creates Upheaval at Largest U.S. Port for Car Trade

A bridge collapse closed Baltimore’s port, an important trade hub that ranks first in the nation by the volume of automobiles and light trucks it handles.

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Shipping in the Port of Baltimore

Monthly cargo handled by the Port of Baltimore

Peter Eavis

By Peter Eavis and Jenny Gross

  • March 26, 2024

The Baltimore bridge disaster on Tuesday upended operations at one of the nation’s busiest ports, with disruptions likely to be felt for weeks by companies shipping goods in and out of the country — and possibly by consumers as well.

The upheaval will be especially notable for auto makers and coal producers for whom Baltimore has become one of the most vital shipping destinations in the United States.

As officials began to investigate why a nearly 1,000-foot cargo ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the middle of the night, companies that transport goods to suppliers and stores scrambled to get trucks to the other East Coast ports receiving goods diverted from Baltimore. Ships sat idle elsewhere, unsure where and when to dock.

“It’s going to cause a lot of chaos,” said Paul Brashier, vice president for drayage and intermodal at ITS Logistics.

The closure of the Port of Baltimore is the latest hit to global supply chains, which have been strained by monthslong crises at the Panama Canal, which has had to slash traffic because of low water levels; and the Suez Canal, which shipping companies are avoiding because of attacks by the Houthis on vessels in the Red Sea.

The auto industry now faces new supply headaches.

Last year, 570,000 vehicles were imported through Baltimore, according to Sina Golara, an assistant professor of supply chain management at Georgia State University. “That’s a huge amount,” he said, equivalent to nearly a quarter of the current inventory of new cars in the United States.

The Baltimore port handled a record amount of foreign cargo last year, and it was the 17th biggest port in the nation overall in 2021, ranked by total tons, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Baltimore Ranks in the Top 20 U.S. Ports

Total trade in 2021 in millions of tons

Baltimore ranks first in the United States for the volume of automobiles and light trucks it handles, and for vessels that carry wheeled cargo, including farm and construction machinery, according to a statement by Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland last month.

The incident is another stark reminder of the vulnerability of the supply chains that transport consumer products and commodities around the world.

The extent of the disruption depends on how long it takes to reopen shipping channels into the port of Baltimore. Experts estimate it could take several weeks.

Baltimore is not a leading port for container ships, and other ports can likely absorb traffic that was headed to Baltimore, industry officials said.

Stephen Edwards, the chief executive of the Port of Virginia, said it was expecting a vessel on Tuesday that was previously bound for Baltimore, and that others would soon follow. “Between New York and Virginia, we have sufficient capacity to handle all this cargo,” Mr. Edwards said, referring to container ships.

“Shipping companies are very agile,” said Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a professor in the department of maritime business administration at Texas A&M University-Galveston. “In two to three days, it will be rerouted.”

But other types of cargo could remain snarled.

Alexis Ellender, a global analyst at Kpler, a commodities analytics firm, said he expected the port closure to cause significant disruption of U.S. exports of coal. Last year, about 23 million metric tons of coal exports were shipped from the port of Baltimore, about a quarter of all seaborne U.S. coal shipments. About 12 vessel had been expected to leave the port of Baltimore in the next week or so carrying coal, according to Kpler.

He noted that it would not make a huge dent on the global market, but he added that “the impact is significant for the U.S. in terms of loss of export capacity.”

“You may see coal cargoes coming from the mines being rerouted to other ports instead,” he said, with a port in Norfolk, Va., the most likely.

If auto imports are reduced by Baltimore’s closure, inventories could run low, particularly for models that are in high demand.

“We are initiating discussions with our various transportation providers on contingency plans to ensure an uninterrupted flow of vehicles to our customers and will continue to carefully monitor this situation,” Stellantis, which owns Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, said in a statement.

Other ports have the capacity to import cars, but there may not be enough car transporters at those ports to handle the new traffic.

“You have to make sure the capacity exists all the way in the supply chain — all the way to the dealership,” said Mr. Golara, the Georgia State professor.

A looming battle is insurance payouts, once legal liability is determined. The size of the payout from the insurer is likely to be significant and will depend on factors including the value of the bridge, the scale of loss of life compensation owed to families of people who died, the damage to the vessel and disruption to the port.

The ship’s insurer, Britannia P&I Club, part of a global group of insurers, said in a statement that it was “working closely with the ship manager and relevant authorities to establish the facts and to help ensure that this situation is dealt with quickly and professionally.”

The port has also increasingly catered to large container ships like the Dali, the 948-foot-long cargo vessel carrying goods for the shipping giant Maersk that hit a pillar of the bridge around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The Dali had spent two days in Baltimore’s port before setting off toward the 1.6-mile Francis Scott Key Bridge.

State-owned terminals, managed by the Maryland Port Administration, and privately owned terminals in Baltimore transported a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo in 2023, worth $80 billion.

Materials transported in large volumes through the city’s port include coal, coffee and sugar. It was the ninth-busiest port in the nation last year for receiving foreign cargo, in terms of volume and value.

The bridge’s collapse will also disrupt cruises traveling in and out of Baltimore. Norwegian Cruise Line last year began a new fall and winter schedule calling at the Port of Baltimore.

An earlier version of this article misstated the Port of Baltimore’s rank among U.S. ports. It was the nation’s 17th biggest port by total tons in 2021, not the 20th largest.

How we handle corrections

Peter Eavis reports on business, financial markets, the economy and companies across different sectors. More about Peter Eavis

Jenny Gross is a reporter for The Times in London covering breaking news and other topics. More about Jenny Gross

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The Caribbean Princess is marking a milestone anniversary in 2024. After debuting in April 2004, the cruise ship is completing 20 years of service next month. Part of Princess Cruises’ Grand Class series, the 3,100-guest vessel was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. With a modified layout, the

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Seward Company Releases Plans for New Cruise Terminal in Alaska

The Seward Company recently released plans to design and build a new cruise terminal and pier at the Port of Seward in Alaska. According to the company’s website, design and construction for the new facility is scheduled to start immediately, with completion expected by Spring 2026. The Seward Company is

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