01
37.2Mglobal cruise passengers sailed in 2025
CLIA reports this as a record high for global cruise passenger volume.
CLIA, State of the Cruise Industry, April 2026Frontliner Travel reference desk
Cruise industry statistics for 2026.
A current, source-linked snapshot of the global cruise business, from passenger demand to the spending that reaches ports and communities.
Last updated September 28, 2026
At a glance
The numbers behind a growing way to travel.
These figures are useful context for travelers comparing cruise styles, writers covering tourism and businesses following the travel economy. They are global figures unless a source says otherwise.
02
90%of cruisers intend to cruise again
Repeat intent is reported by CLIA in its 2026 industry update.
CLIA, State of the Cruise Industry, April 202603
$198.8Bin global economic output from cruise tourism in 2024
This figure covers direct, supply-chain and wage-supported economic activity.
CLIA and Oxford Economics, Global Economic Impact, March 202604
1.8Mjobs supported worldwide by cruise tourism in 2024
The total includes roles across tourism, hospitality, transport, manufacturing and related sectors.
CLIA and Oxford Economics, Global Economic Impact, March 202605
$60.1Bin wages associated with cruise-industry jobs in 2024
CLIA’s current economic-impact overview reports this total alongside global employment.
CLIA, Economic and Social Impact, accessed September 202606
$89average cruise-traveler spend per port visit
CLIA bases this benchmark on a typical seven-day cruise itinerary.
CLIA, Economic and Social Impact, accessed September 2026What it means for a cruise vacation
More choice, more reason to plan with care.
Growth brings more ships, routes and cruise styles to consider. The best trip is still the one that fits how you like to travel, whether that means a river itinerary with unhurried port days, a family sailing or a voyage built around a specific destination.
Methodology and sources
How to use this page.
Figures are drawn from Cruise Lines International Association reporting and the Oxford Economics analysis it cites. The page keeps the source date with each statistic because different measures are published on different schedules.
- CLIA 2026 State of the Cruise Industry update, published April 15, 2026
- Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Global Economy 2024, published March 18, 2026
- CLIA Economic and Social Impact overview, accessed September 28, 2026
Cite this page
Frontliner Travel. “Cruise Industry Statistics for 2026.” Updated September 28, 2026. https://skiclubsc.com/cruise-industry-statistics