Port Canaveral Is Now the Busiest Cruise Port in the World

Port Canaveral has officially claimed the title of the world’s busiest cruise port, recording more than 8.6 million revenue passenger movements in fiscal year 2025. It’s the highest total in the port’s history and a 13 percent rise over 2024, marking another milestone for one of Florida’s fastest-growing cruise hubs.

The port attributes the surge to sustained investment in infrastructure and a strong partnership with the major cruise lines sailing from Central Florida. “Earning this distinction is a direct reflection of our ongoing commitment and focused efforts to be the best port possible,” said Capt. John Murray, CEO of Port Canaveral. He said the record numbers highlight the work of the port’s teams and the confidence cruise operators have placed in the facility.

Port Canaveral currently homeports 18 ships from seven cruise brands and handles more than 1,000 sailings each year. Over the past several years, the port has focused on “right-sizing” its six existing cruise terminals and expanding parking and guest facilities to keep pace with demand from vacationers driving in from across Central Florida.

That growth is set to continue. Through what it’s calling the “Port Canaveral Advantage,” a $912 million capital improvement plan, the port is expanding two terminals, adding new parking structures, and developing a seventh cruise terminal campus. The initiative also includes new technology aimed at streamlining the guest experience, from check-in to embarkation.

With new ships arriving and more capacity coming online, the port’s record-setting year further solidifies its role as a major gateway for Caribbean and Bahamas sailings — and a key player in the region’s cruise recovery and expansion.