If you need any more confirmation that the cruise industry is booming, take a look at these numbers from South Florida’s two premier cruise ports.
PortMiami welcomed 8.2 million cruise passengers in the fiscal year ending September 30, an impressive 12.79% increase from last year’s 7.3 million. Up the road in Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, 4 million cruisers set off in fiscal year 2024 -- a 39% increase over the previous year.
The Scenic Eclipse in Miami, Florida. (Photo Credit: Scenic Group)
PortMiami has partnerships with 23 cruise lines, including major players Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Port Everglades works with 11 cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
PortMiami’s 2024-2025 cruise season promises further expansion with new ships and terminals on the way. New arrivals will include the Explora II from Explora Journeys, along with Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady. MSC Cruises will also open its state-of-the-art Cruise Terminal AA this season.
In June of this year, PortMiami introduced shore power, becoming the first major eastern U.S. port to offer this technology at five berths, reducing emissions and noise by enabling ships to plug into land-based power while docked.
Busy cruise day at Port Everglades. (photo courtesy of Broward County's Port Everglades) (Photo Credit: Broward County’s Port Everglades)
Port Everglades recorded a 23% rise in cruise ship calls in the past year, but the growth is also attributed to the deployment of larger cruise ships, which allow the port to accommodate more passengers with fewer vessel calls.
The two massive cruise ports generate billions in economic impact and support extensive employment. PortMiami’s contributions exceed $43 billion annually, supporting 334,000 jobs, while Port Everglades generates $33 billion and provides employment for 200,000 people.
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