Karl WP Beyer December 6, 2025 – Port Canaveral is the new leader among cruise ports: In fiscal year 2025, it recorded more than 8,6 million passenger movements – more than ever before in the port's history. This means the port on Florida's central east coast narrowly displaces long-time title holder PortMiami, which now ranks second with approximately 8,5 million passenger movements..
The difference is small, but it signals a clear trend: While Port Canaveral was able to increase its passenger numbers by around 13 percent compared to the fiscal year 2024, growth in Miami The increase was significantly more moderate at around four percent. Port Canaveral had already briefly overtaken Miami in passenger numbers in 2022, and now the port has secured the title again.
Captain John Murray, CEO of Port Canaveral, sees the success primarily as confirmation of the port's strategy. He emphasizes that they have consistently worked to offer cruise passengers a seamless and high-quality travel experience. This is made possible by well-coordinated teams on site and the trust of the cruise lines that base their ships in Port Canaveral.
Significant investments have been made in recent years: Port Canaveral has expanded and modernized its six cruise terminals and parking infrastructure to meet the steadily growing demand from Central Florida. The port currently serves as the home port for 18 cruise ships from seven major brands and offers more than 1.000 departures per year. Cruise lines that use Port Canaveral as a base include Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Their itineraries primarily focus on the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and other destinations in the western Atlantic.
Port Canaveral - Disney Terminal
Port Canaveral is considered a classic "drive-in port": Around three-quarters of passengers arrive by car. Direct access to major highways, modern terminals, and parking garages in close proximity to the ships make the port particularly attractive for families and those driving themselves. Port Canaveral has repeatedly been recognized as one of the best cruise ports in the USA.
Port Canaveral's history as a cruise port began in the early 1970s. Today, it also benefits from its location in close proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (see here). Visit to the Kennedy Space CenterMany holidaymakers actually combine a cruise from Port Canaveral with a visit to the space attractions or a stay in the theme parks around Orlando – a complete package that is apparently convincing more and more travelers.
