AAA forecasts that 22.4 million Americans will take ocean cruises in 2027, a 3.6% increase from the 21.6 million U.S. cruise passengers projected for 2026.
The estimate would mark the fifth consecutive year of record cruise passenger volume. AAA said projected U.S. passenger volume is 57% higher than in 2019, when 14.2 million Americans cruised, following the industry’s return above pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
Florida remains central to that growth. Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale are expected to be the leading embarkation points for Caribbean-bound passengers. AAA projects PortMiami will account for an estimated 11.2% share of passenger movements in 2027, ahead of Port Canaveral at 10.4%.
The Caribbean represents 71% of U.S. cruise passenger volume, according to AAA. Seven-night voyages remain the most popular choice, though 45% of American ocean-cruise passengers are booking trips of six nights or fewer.
New ships are also scheduled to add capacity at Florida ports. Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, its third Icon-class ship in Florida, is set to begin sailing from Fort Lauderdale in November. At Port Canaveral, MSC World Atlantic is expected to begin sailing next fall with room for more than 6,000 passengers, while Carnival Festivale is scheduled to begin sailing in May 2027 with similar capacity.
Port Canaveral expects 10.9 million passenger movements during its fiscal 2027 year, which began Oct. 1. That total counts every boarding and disembarkation and would be up from 9 million passenger movements in fiscal 2026. The port also expects 23 homeported ships, compared with 20 the prior fiscal year.
AAA developed its forecast with Tourism Economics using scheduled itineraries for nearly all major cruise vessels, economic conditions and travel-sector trends.
