Global Cruise Surge Fueled by Value & Destinations
Cruising has grown rapidly, driven by rising travel demand, unique experiential offerings, and strong value appeal in today’s economy.
According to our latest estimates, over 38 million global passengers are expected in 2026, supported by record-high level of deployment of ~260 million available passenger cruise days. This momentum has built off strong growth in recent years. In 2024, nearly 35 million passengers took a cruise, representing annual growth of 9%, according to CLIA.
This strong surge presents significant opportunities for further expansion, as the industry taps into growing wanderlust and an increasing appetite for new travel experiences. Tourism Economics’ latest Cruise Trends Survey (CTS), a regular survey of recent cruisers from eight key global markets provides valuable insights into current perceptions and emerging preferences, helping to identify key market opportunities and areas for future growth.
