In its first-ever cruise industry forecast, AAA projects that a record of 19 million Americans will go on a cruise in 2025, marking a 4.5% increase from 2024.

According to AAA, the cruise industry has fully recovered post-pandemic and is expected to break cruise passenger volume for the third consecutive year.

The Port of Galveston, which is the fourth-largest cruise port in the country, is on a similar trajectory and is forecasting more than 400 sailings in 2025 with around 3.6 million passengers expected to move through one of its cruise terminals.

Last year, the port broke records with more than 380 cruise ships sailing out of Galveston that carried more than 3.4 million passengers through one of the port’s three cruise terminals.

“Cruising from Galveston has never been better,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director said in a news release. “We’re offering more sailings to more destinations on newer and larger ships. We host Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean cruise lines.”

The cruise industry is a major economic engine for the island city and in 2023 it accounted for over 4,500 jobs and generated $733 million for Galveston's economy.

Looking forward, the port is scheduled to open its fourth cruise terminal and parking garage at Pier 16 in November, which will serve as a homeport to MSC and Norwegian cruise ships.

Written by Norma Salcedo