The latest trends in cruising reveal a dynamic sector driven by a breadth of experiences, according to the recently released Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) State of the Industry 2025 Annual Report.
The cruise industry continues to attract passengers of all ages, with Gen-X and Millennials leading the way.
Steady and responsible industry growth continues with 37.7 mill cruise passengers projected in 2025 and consumers showing strong intent to cruise – 82% of cruisers will cruise again and 68% of international travelers are considering taking their first cruise.
With more than $168 bill in global economic impact and 1.6 mill jobs supported, the value of cruise tourism to communities is clear, the report claimed.
“CLIA’s 2025 State of the Cruise Industry report shows that cruising continues to be one of the most dynamic and resilient sectors in tourism, growing in line with strong demand for cruise holidays, particularly among younger generations and new-to-cruise travelers,” said CLIA’s President and CEO, Bud Darr.
“The industry is also an essential economic driver, contributing over $168 bill to communities around the world, supporting 1.6 mill jobs and investing tens of billions today in the sustainable fleet of the future,” he added.
The trends included:
First-time cruisers – driving growth with 31% of passengers in the last two years being new to cruise, reflecting the sector’s high satisfaction ratings and ability to attract new customers.
Intent to cruise – some 82% of those who have cruised plan to cruise again. Gen-X and Millennials are among the most enthusiastic cruisers, drawn to the variety of cruise experiences, ability to visit multiple destinations and value of a cruise holiday.
Multi-generational travel – cruise holidays offer experiences for all ages – nearly one third of cruise guests sail with three or more generations.
Cruise travel – earns higher satisfaction ratings, compared to other holiday choices, as shown in repeat factors – 25% of repeat cruisers sail two or more times per year; 14% of cruise travelers cruise twice a year; and 11% of cruisers take three to five cruises a year.
Expedition and exploration cruises – the fastest-growing segments of cruise with 22% more passengers choosing these voyages in 2024 over 2023.
Variety of choice – with over 300 ocean-going cruise ships and thousands of itineraries to choose from, there is a cruise for everyone. From family-friendly adventures to high-end cultural experiences to expedition journeys, the cruise industry is constantly evolving to fulfill the interests and aspirations of travelers.
Responsible tourism – cruise guests book their trips well in advance and cruise companies reserve port calls a year or more in advance, demonstrating that cruise tourism is managed tourism.
The cruise operators are also pursuing a variety of sustainable alternative energy sources and investing in propulsion technologies with conversion capabilities that can be adapted for use of low-to-zero-emissions fuels once they are available at scale.
By 2028, 50% of all new cruise ships will have engines that can run on LNG/methanol and are able to switch to bio- or synthetic-LNG with little or no engine modifications.
In addition, more than 61% of CLIA’s fleet is equipped to be connected to onshore power, a figure set to reach 72% by 2028.
While only accounting for 2% of global tourism, the cruise sector has significant economic impact in communities around the world, generating over $168 bill in global economic impact in 2023 – the highest on record.
In the US, the cruise industry supported over $65 bill in total economic impact in 2023, supporting 290,000 jobs and $25 bill in wages and salaries.
In addition, the cruise industry’s impact benefits communities around the world through local sourcing of goods and services, and spending before and after each cruise, as 69% of passengers stay one or more nights in a hotel.
Six out of 10 cruisers return to a destination they first visited by ship, extending the economic impact of cruising to communities well into the future.
The global cruise industry welcomed 34.6 mill cruise passengers in 2024, with 37.7 mill expected this year.
North America remained the top source market for cruise, with a 13% increase in 2024 over 2023.
In 2024, Caribbean/Bahamas/Bermuda itineraries remained the most popular, with 43% of all cruise passengers sailing to the Caribbean in 2024, followed by the Mediterranean and other European destinations.
CLIA member lines will welcome 11 new ships to the global fleet in 2025; 56 new CLIA member ocean-going ships are on order from 2025/2036, representing a $56.8 bill investment and proof of the confidence in cruising’s future.
To put the industry growth in context, over 70% of cruise ships are small to mid-size – both now and through the 2030 orderbook.
