Thanks in Part to Disney, Port Everglades Sets a New Cruise Passenger Record
Four years ago, the cruise line industry was adrift at sea.
As the world struggled through the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the thought that people would gather together again on the high seas seemed impossible.
Even as people dreamed of a “return to normalcy,” the prevailing notion was that the industry would never recover.
Just four short years later, it is good to see that those fears were largely unfounded. Not only has the cruise line industry bounced back, but it is actually thriving.
A Record Year For Port Everglades
The latest example of the cruise line boom comes from Broward County, Florida, where Port Everglades has announced that it set a new record for passengers during Fiscal Year 2024, with 4,010,919 guests embarking and disembarking from cruises at the port.
Captain Mickey & Minnie
“We expected to do well with the addition of Disney Cruise Line to our fleet and a mix of short and week-long cruises throughout the summer. As the year progressed, it became evident that a near-record 4 million guests was within reach,” said CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris.
“Cruising is in high demand. And our cruise line partners are poised for greater gains with new itineraries and a variety of sailing dates.”
Heading to Terminal 4
From FY2023 to FY2023, cruise line passengers at Port Everglades grew 39%, and cruise ship calls rose 23%. The previous record for the number of cruise passengers was set in FY2024, with 3,880,033 guests.
FY2025 Will Be Even Busier
Looking ahead to FY2025, Port Everglades is expecting even more passengers. Currently, 4.4 million guests are expected next year, which would once again shatter the port’s record.
It looks like smooth sailing for Port Everglades.
With Disney Cruise Line expanding at an unprecedented rate and ports like Everglades racking up record numbers of passengers, the future of the cruise line industry certainly looks bright.
