A record-setting 34.6 million ocean-going cruise passengers sailed globally in 2024, reflecting a 9% increase over 2023’s 31.7 million travelers. Set against the backdrop of approximately 1.4 billion total international arrivals worldwide, the cruise industry accounts for less than 3% of global tourism, a focused yet powerful slice of the market.
North America led the way on key performance indicators in 2024. The region generated more than half of all global cruise passengers, with 20.5 million travelers, representing a 13.4 % increase from 2023. Newly deployed large-capacity vessels operating in the Caribbean, combined with shorterthan-average itineraries, enabled cruise lines to maximize passenger volume on sailings departing from U.S. ports.
Given the significant share of North American cruisers, the region also influenced global averages for both sailing duration and passenger age. The worldwide average cruise length was 7.1 days, and the average passenger age was 46.5 years. Approximately one-third of all global ocean-going cruise guests in 2024 were under the age of 40, indicating a growing interest among younger travelers.
Top source markets in 2024 followed similar patterns. The United States dominated once again, accounting for approximately 55% of global volume, followed by Germany in the second position and the United Kingdom and Ireland ranking third.
Europe showed modest growth as a source market, increasing from 8.2 million passengers in 2023 to 8.4 million in 2024, a rise of about 3%.
The Caribbean remained the most visited cruise destination globally, welcoming 43% of all passengers in 2024, or nearly 15 million cruise passengers. European destinations ranked second, with 8.8 million guests sailing in the region throughout the year.
North America-centric destinations, including Alaska, Eastern Canada and New England, the West Coast, and Hawaii, collectively welcomed a total of 3.6 million cruise passengers in 2024. When considered together, these regions experienced relatively flat year-over-year growth, at -0.7%, and held the number three position among global cruise destinations.
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