, Fla. — Port Canaveral is officially the world’s busiest cruise port, according to industry rankings released this week.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Canaveral had 4,072,396 multi-day passengers last year, narrowly topping PortMiami’s 4,022,544.
Canaveral’s growth comes as huge new ships are choosing to make Canaveral home. Murray said in 2024, Allure of the Seas will begin a new schedule that will see embarkments happen more frequently.
“It’s great to have the industry back,” Port Canaveral leader Cpt. John Murray said in a news conference.
READ: Happy birthday, I-4 Express: Celebrate with a toll-free trip on Sunday
Murray again mentioned the port’s early plans to build a new cruise ship terminal to accommodate the growth.
READ: Lanes of Florida’s Turnpike reopen 7 hours after double fatal crash in Lake County
Industry analysts believe Canaveral will lose its new crown soon, with Miami expected to grow to more than 8 million passengers by 2027.
However, Murray called the estimates for his port – 6.4 million passengers by 2027 – conservative.
This browser does not support the video element.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.