AAA projects record 21.7 million Americans will cruise in 2026

AAA projected in mid-2026 that approximately 21.7 million Americans would take a cruise that year, a 4.5% increase over 2025 and what would mark a fourth consecutive record year for the cruise industry. Travel Weekly reported that 72% of those passengers were expected to sail in the Caribbean, with another 7% heading to Alaska.

The projection built on a broader multi-year cruise recovery: the Cruise Lines International Association’s 2025 industry report showed 34.6 million people cruised worldwide in 2024, with an estimate of 37.7 million for 2025, putting the industry on a trajectory toward roughly 42 million global cruise passengers in the years ahead. The sustained growth came even as broader air travel demand showed signs of moderating, with global passenger traffic growth forecast to decelerate to 5.8% for 2025, down from 10.6% the year before, due to macroeconomic headwinds and ongoing aircraft supply-chain constraints.