As of Tuesday, Dec. 2, Port Canaveral overtook PortMiami to become the world’s busiest cruise port this year, according to Florida Today.
Port Canaveral recorded 8,602,047 revenue passenger movements in the fiscal year of 2025, which is the highest annual total in its history and a 13.3% increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, PortMiami posted 8,564,225 passenger movements for the same period, making it a close runner-up.
Officials credited the surge to a combination of increased capacity and higher demand. The Port is home port to 18 cruise ships from seven major cruise lines, enabling more than 1,000 sailings annually. Under its multi-year improvement plan, the port has also made substantial terminal upgrades, expanded parking, and modernized infrastructure to handle larger ships and higher passenger volume.
In response to the milestone, Captain John Murray, CEO of Port Canaveral, said “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.” He also said it “underscores our commitment to supporting our cruise partners’ business growth.”
This shift marks a change in global cruise-port rankings. For both the cruise industry and travelers, Port Canaveral’s rise reflects growing demand for accessible, modern homeports.