Cruise travel continues to grow, from the Caribbean and Mediterranean to Alaska and river routes. The figures below collect the latest published data from Cruise Lines International Association and Oxford Economics in one place.
Passenger demand
37.2 million
people took an ocean cruise in 2025
CLIA reports that global cruise passenger volume reached a new high in 2025.
Source: CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 202642.1 million
global cruise passengers are forecast for 2029
The same report projects continued growth through 2029.
Source: CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026Where cruise travelers went
16.27 million
cruise guests visited the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda in 2025
That was an 8.4% increase from 2024, making it the largest cruise destination region.
Source: CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 20265.96 million
cruise guests visited the Mediterranean in 2025
Mediterranean passenger volume rose 3.4% from 2024.
Source: CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 20263.22 million
cruise guests visited non-Mediterranean Europe in 2025
The region grew 5.8% from 2024.
Source: CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 20261.70 million
cruise guests visited Alaska in 2025
Alaska passenger volume was essentially flat, down 0.6% from 2024.
Source: CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026North American cruise travelers
20 million+
North American travelers took an ocean cruise in 2024
North America remained the world’s largest source market, up 13.4% from 2023.
Source: CLIA North America Market Report, 2025About 19 million
U.S. travelers took an ocean cruise in 2024
The United States accounted for more than half of the 34.6 million people who cruised globally that year.
Source: CLIA North America Market Report, 2025Cruise tourism’s economic impact
$198.8 billion
in global economic output came from cruise tourism in 2024
This measure includes direct, supply-chain, and wage-supported activity linked to cruise tourism.
Source: CLIA and Oxford Economics, 2024 economic contribution report1.8 million
jobs were supported worldwide by cruise tourism in 2024
The same study estimates $60.1 billion in wages supported by the sector.
Source: CLIA and Oxford Economics, 2024 economic contribution reportSources & methodology
This page uses the latest published figures available from Cruise Lines International Association, including its 2026 industry report, North America market report, and economic-contribution research prepared with Oxford Economics. Passenger figures refer to ocean cruises unless a source states otherwise. Source years vary because the newest economic-impact study reports 2024 data, while the newest passenger report covers 2025.
- CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026
- CLIA North America Market Report, 2025
- CLIA and Oxford Economics, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Global Economy 2024
Cite this page
My Travels Guy. “Cruise Travel Statistics: 2026 Data & Trends.” Updated July 31, 2026. Retrieved from https://mytravelsguy.com/cruise-travel-statistics.
Planning a cruise?
Numbers can show the scale of cruise travel. The better question is which ship, route, cabin, and travel days will make the trip feel right for you.
Explore cruise planning with Curt