PortMiami in Florida, USA achieved its highest-ever cruise passenger total of 8,233,056 travellers in fiscal year 2024, which started October 1, 2023, and ended September 30, 2024, the port said in its press release.
The Port, often called as the “cruise capital of the world”, experienced a 12.79% increase in cruise passenger totals compared to its previous record of 7,299,294 passengers in fiscal year 2023.
“PortMiami continues to break records and uphold its status as the Cruise Capital of the World©. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire PortMiami team and our valued cruise line partners on reaching this extraordinary achievement,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
“PortMiami has not only transformed our iconic skyline and bolstered our economy, but its ongoing commitment to creating more sustainable development ensures that our port remains a forward-thinking, future-ready gateway to the world.”
“I am grateful to our cruise lines for their ongoing partnership and this record-breaking year,” said Hydi Webb, Director and CEO, PortMiami. “I want to thank Mayor Cava, the Board of County Commissioners and our cruise partners for their unwavering support to ensure PortMiami is the departure choice for cruise passengers.”
The upcoming 2024-2025 season is filled with new cruise ships and terminals.
Among the new lineup of ships which will begin departing from PortMiami are Explora Journeys Explora II, November 2024; Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady, November 2024; MSC Cruises World America, April 2025; Norwegian Cruise Line Aqua, April 2025; Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady, October 2025; and Oceania Allura, November 2025.
MSC Cruises’ new Cruise Terminal AA will open this cruise season. Once completed, it will be the largest cruise terminal in the world. On the west end of the port, construction will begin on the new Cruise Terminal G for Royal Caribbean International in summer 2025.
Another historic milestone which took place this fiscal year was the June 17, 2024 launch of the most transformative project in PortMiami’s history, shore power.
Shore power allows cruise ships to turn off their engines and plug into landside electrical power while docked, resulting in reduced emissions and noise.
A partnership between Miami-Dade County, Carnival Corporation & plc, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Group, Virgin Voyages, and Florida Power & Light Company, PortMiami is the first major cruise port on the U.S. eastern seaboard that will offer shore power capability at five cruise berths.
