After a tight race, Port Canaveral, Florida, along Florida’s Space Coast once again ranks as the world’s busiest cruise port. It welcomed 8,602,047 million cruise passengers in fiscal year 2025, up 13% from 2024. A close second was PortMiami, always a cruising powerhouse, with 8,564,225 passengers, a 4.02% increase for the same period.
For the past five decades, PortMiami has consistently topped the world’s busiest cruise port rankings. But in 2022, Port Canaveral for the first time ranked first, although PortMiami regained the top spot in 2023 and 2024. One reason passenger volumes are soaring globally is the debut of new mega ships. For example, Royal Caribbean’s new, 7,600-passenger Star of the Seas, an Icon-class ship began sailing year-round from Port Canaveral this past summer.
Collectively, Florida ports always put on a good showing. In the 2025 fiscal year results, Port Everglades (Greater Fort Lauderdale) ranked third with 4.7 million cruise passengers, up 16% year-over-year. That port recently closed out a two-week stretch with christenings for three new ships — Princess Cruises’ 4,300-passenger Star Princess, Disney Cruise Line’s 4,000-passenger Disney Destiny and Celebrity Cruises’ 3,276-passenger Celebrity Xcel. In addition, the 3,660-passenger Sky Princess, Port Everglades’ first ever Royal-class ship, arrived this month at Port Everglades for homeporting.
(Princess Cruises)
Looking ahead to 2026, cruise selling advisors are eagerly awaiting the launch of many new vessels, both large and small. On the mega-ship front, MSC Cruises just marked the 12-month construction countdown for its new 6,758-passenger MSC World Asia vessel. On the other end of the size spectrum, American Cruise Lines unveiled its lineup for 2026 including 11 new itineraries and the debut of three new small ships.
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises and the Global Hotel Alliance have unveiled the latest evolution of their partnership: The Concierge Collection 2027-28. Launched in 2024 in Europe, the Concierge Collection offers pre-cruise stays at GHA properties paired with an ultra-luxury voyage. Now the collection is expanding into the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
On the expedition front, HX Expeditions and Metropolitan Touring have expanded their partnership in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, while Swan Hellenic has unveiled a new photojournalism at sea program. Small ship Ponant Explorations Group announced that it’s now matching guest loyalty status across its four brands: Ponant Explorations, Paul Gauguin Cruise, Ponant Yachting and Aqua Expeditions.
In other cruise news, two new culinary concepts for Oceania Cruises will debut on its new, 1,390-passenger Oceania Sonata. That’s the first Sonata-class vessel, set to debut in August 2027. One new concept is fine-dining restaurant La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France. The other is Nikkei Kitchen, an evening venue offering a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese culinary techniques and tastes.
(Oceania Cruises)
A&K Sanctuary’s Nile Seray is now open for bookings ahead of its October 2026 debut, while Riverside Luxury Cruises has opened reservations for its 2027 sailing season. To make travel planning easier and more flexible, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has simplified its fare model with two levels for all new bookings. Platinum and Silver fares will replace the current three-tier system.
Achieving record-breaking 2025 Mediterranean and Adriatic results, Celestyal Cruises appointed Janet Parton as the line’s new vice president of marketing, PR and customer experience. In advisor training news, Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded its ship tours and seminars at sea for travel advisors; it’s all part of the line’s Funnel Faves trade campaign, according to Seatrade Cruise News.
Black Friday Ends, Wave Begins
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales have mostly faded into history, Holland America Line reported that it had exceeded its previous Black Friday sales record by 19%. In addition, Azamara posted its strongest Cyber Monday bookings ever, up 5% over the previous record.
Now, the annual, multi-month Wave Season has begun. For instance, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has just introduced savings on select 2026-2027 voyages, if clients book by February 9, 2026. Assessing trade sales potential for 2026, Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president and general manager, Dream Vacations and Cruises Only recently told Travel Agent Central that she sees no headwinds and plenty of “opportunity.”
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