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Port Canaveral Claims the Crown as World’s Busiest Cruise Port
Port Canaveral has officially surpassed Port Miami to be crowned the busiest cruise port in the world. The achievement, confirmed on December 2, marks the second time Port Canaveral has taken the top spot, demonstrating its incredible post-pandemic surge and sustained growth.
Port Canaveral recorded a historic 8,602,047 passengers in the past fiscal year, narrowly edging out PortMiami’s 8.5 million. This colossal figure represents a significant 13.3% surge in passenger volume compared to the previous year’s 7.9 million, solidifying the Port’s position as a dominant force in the global cruise industry.
Related-Disney Cruise Line Celebrates Opening of New Port Everglades Terminal
A Homeport for Mega-Ships and Disney Dreams
The Port’s success is largely attributed to its strong partnerships with major cruise lines, including the popular Disney Cruise Line. Port Canaveral is home to a total of 16 home-ported ships, including four vessels from the Disney fleet: the Disney Dream, Disney Wish, Disney Fantasy, and the recently added Disney Treasure.
The ability to host a growing number of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced ships, such as those from Royal Caribbean and the continuous presence of the Disney fleet, has been a key driver in pushing Canaveral past its perennial rival in Miami.
Future Focused: Massive Expansion Underway
Port Canaveral is not resting on its laurels. According to Port CEO, Capt. John Murray, the strong market conditions and the race for supremacy necessitate continued investment.
“This past year is a complete representation of what the industry is like today. We’re all sailing at 100%,” said Murray. “It’s a very strong business market right now and we’ve been fortunate to bring in some great numbers.”
To sustain this record growth, the Port has laid out an ambitious development plan:
- 2026 Capital Projects: $255 million in capital projects is planned for the coming year.
- Five-Year Plan: A massive $912 million in total infrastructure and capital projects is planned over the next five years.
Key to this expansion is the plan to double the capacity of Terminal 5 and develop a seventh cruise terminal campus, ensuring the Port can achieve the “highest possible utilization” from its assets and accommodate the massive number of passengers expected.
Looking Ahead to Next Year
The growth trajectory is expected to continue sharply. Next year, the Port will welcome two more home-ported ships, bringing the total to 18 vessels. This is projected to result in approximately 9 million passengers passing through the Port, an estimated increase of 400,000.
The impressive passenger numbers underscore the immense demand for cruising in Florida, which remains the cruise capital of the world. As Murray noted: “We’ve got two great seaports in Florida and we’re competitive with our number of passengers. The fact that we can all be hitting these numbers is fantastic.”
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