While the rest of the world is just now catching the cruising bug, Floridians are proving that their long-standing love affair with the open sea isn’t going anywhere. New data shows that the cruise industry has fully shaken off its pandemic-era doldrums, hitting a massive milestone of 34.6 million global passengers in 2024.
With momentum still building, experts expect that number to climb even higher by the end of 2026.
American travelers are the undisputed captains of this growth. In 2024, U.S. residents made up over 55% of all cruise passengers worldwide. This represents a significant jump from 2018, when Americans accounted for less than half of the market.
The shift suggests that travelers are increasingly choosing all-inclusive sea voyages over traditional land-based vacations, likely to avoid the sting of rising hotel costs and airfare.
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In Florida, the trend remains steady and upward. Search interest for cruises in the state has grown by 20% since 2022.
While Florida ranks 37th nationally in terms of growth speed—largely because interest here was already sky-high to begin with—it maintains a perfect “relative search interest” score of 100 for 2025. When it comes to picking a favorite, Florida residents are loyal to Royal Caribbean, which remains the most-searched cruise line in the state.
A recent study by Dunhill Travel Deals, which analyzed Google Trends data from 2022 through 2025, reveals that the “cruise glow-up” is happening far beyond the coast.
While Florida remains a primary hub, landlocked states like North Dakota and South Dakota are actually seeing the fastest spikes in interest. This suggests that the modern cruise experience—complete with high-speed Wi-Fi, rollercoasters, and luxury dining—is successfully courting a younger, more diverse crowd from every corner of the country.
Key Takeaways with Data:
- Global Demand: 34.6 million people cruised in 2024, a record high.
- The U.S. Dominance: Americans represented 55.2% of the global cruise population in 2024.
- Florida’s Growth: Cruise-related searches in Florida have increased by 20.0% since 2022.
- State Ranking: Florida ranks 37th in growth rate, though it remains a top market for total volume.
- Top Brand: Royal Caribbean is the most-searched provider among Florida residents.
- Methodology: Rankings were determined by comparing Google Trends search data for “cruises” between the full years of 2022 and 2025.
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