Officials announced December 2, 2025 that Port Canaveral has surpassed PortMiami as the busiest cruise port in the world. The port saw 8,602,047 passengers during the 2025 fiscal year, just slightly more than PortMiami’s 8.5 million passengers. This is only the second time Port Canaveral has bested PortMiami’s passenger count.
“Earning this distinction is a direct reflection of our ongoing commitment and focused efforts to be the best port possible, providing a high-quality experience for all cruise guests sailing from our Port,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “With thanks to our hard-working teams and the confidence we’ve earned from the cruise lines, this milestone underscores our commitment to supporting our cruise partners’ business growth.”
Port Canaveral’s passenger count is a 13.3% increase over last year’s 7.9 million passengers. The port had 16 homeported cruise ships in 2025 and is expecting 18 cruise ships to call the port home in 2026. Those 18 cruise ships will sail over 1,000 voyages and bring more than 9 million passengers to the port.
There are seven major cruise lines–Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line–which call Port Canaveral home. They will offer itineraries of varying things that sail throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas, visit private islands and coveted destinations, transit the Panama Canal, reposition across the Atlantic, and more.
Port Canaveral has also been investing in its existing six cruise terminals and adding parking in order to keep up with the cruising demand. Additionally, through Port Canaveral Advantage, a $912 million capital improvement plan, the port is expanding two existing terminals, developing a seventh new cruise terminal, adding parking facilities, and utilizing new technology over the next five years making sailing from Port Canaveral more convenient for its passengers.