The number of cruise ship passengers nationally and worldwide set another record in 2025, but activity dipped slightly at the Port of New Orleans after a record-setting 2024 due to major ships spending part of the year in dry dock.
There were nearly 1.07 million people who boarded or got off a cruise ship at the port in 2025, compared with 1.21 million in 2024. Despite the drop, the New Orleans port set a monthly record in March 2025, when nearly 166,000 people either boarded or disembarked from a cruise ship.
The cruise business is a vital piece of the local port and the region's tourism economy, and one that Port of New Orleans CEO Beth Ann Branch has said remains a focus even as officials continue to work toward the opening of the ถถา๕h International Terminal in Violet. Many cruise passengers tack on hotel stays to the ends of their trips out of the city, which brings more people to restaurants and other attractions while they're in town.
Nine out of 10 cruise ship passengers in New Orleans are visitors from out of state, with nearly three-quarters of them spending a night or two in the city before or after their voyage. That comes to more than 300,000 room nights and more than $445 million in direct and indirect economic impact.
"Cruising is a vital economic engine for our region, and with expanded service and larger ships on the horizon, Port NOLA is well positioned to deliver even greater value to ถถา๕h and the Gulf South," Branch said in a statement.
Port officials said a couple of factors led to the slight dip in passenger numbers. Both the Carnival Valor and the Carnival Liberty spent more than a month in scheduled dry dock getting a host of upgrades, including a new water park and a veteran-themed bar and lounge. The two ships account for the majority of passenger traffic at the New Orleans port, with nearly 445,500 people boarding and departing the Carnival Valor each year and more than 283,000 passengers boarding and exiting the Carnival Liberty.
Also, Royal Caribbean temporarily dropped its New Orleans cruises in November but will return this fall with regular voyages on the Mariner of the Seas, which can hold more than 4,000 passengers.
Port officials have said passenger numbers in New Orleans could set another record in 2026, based on current and anticipated ship schedules. About 1.2 million to 1.3 million people are projected to board or depart ships this year. Just under 550,000 people boarded and departed ships through May.
Helping bolster the passenger numbers in New Orleans this year is the arrival of the Norwegian Escape, which can hold more than 5,000 guests, making it the largest ship to ever homeport in the Crescent City, along with Royal Caribbean's return. In the future, Carnival is looking at deploying a larger ship to the city.ย
Port officials said New Orleans is unique in that it offers both ocean going and river cruising, allowing for year-round activity. More than 37,500 passengers boarded or departed the Mississippi River cruises that stopped at the port last year.ย
A rebound in Baton Rouge?
Cruise activity also dropped in Baton Rouge during 2025, but is on track to rebound. American Cruise Lines said an average of 5,510 passengers stopped in Baton Rouge in 2025 on its 38 dockings, according to figures from Visit Baton Rouge. That's down from an average of 18,705 passengers on 129 dockings.
A new 20-year deal announced in February will lead to American Cruise Lines making significantly more stops in 2026 in Baton Rouge. Under the agreement, American Cruise Lines will spend $2 millionย to improve the City Dock, as well as paying monthly fees to cover the maintenance and upkeep of the facility.
The riverboat cruises are on track to make nearly 100 visits to Baton Rouge this year, with more than 14,000 passengers.ย The passengers are estimated to spend at least $1.2 million at local attractions and businesses.
Viking River Cruises had a decrease in 2025, with 8,280 passengers on 23 cruises, compared to nearly 10,500 passengers on 29 cruises. Right now, the cruise line is on track to post similar numbers again, with a projected 24 dockings carrying 8,640 passengers.ย
Globally,ย Cruise Lines International Association said 37.2 million people took a cruise in 2025, up from 34.6 million in 2024, a 7.5% jump.
Of that total, 55% of cruise passengers came from the U.S., or 20.6 million passengers. The number of passengers from the U.S. also increased by 7.5% from 2024.
That number of cruise passengers is projected to grow to 38.3 million this year, a 4% increase. Cruise Lines International Association is forecasting steady passenger growth for the next few years, with more than 42 million people expected to take a sea voyage in 2029.
One of the factors driving the increase in cruise passengers is the growing popularity of cruises among younger passengers. The average cruise passenger in 2025 was just under 47.
Younger cruisers are likely to find voyages of less than 5 nights about as appealing as the traditional six- to nine-night cruise, according to a report from Internova Travel Group, one of the world's largest travel service companies.
โShorter cruises are opening the door for a new generation,โ Henry Gilroy, executive vice president of strategy for Internova, said in a report earlier this year. โThese travelers want flexibility and quick getaways.โ
AAA said 20.7 million Americans took ocean cruises in 2025, a 8.4% increase from 2024. The forecast for 2026 shows the growth rate will go up by 4.5%, to 21.7 million.
โThese numbers reflect the growing demand for ocean cruises among U.S. travelers,โ said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. Barber noted that cruises offer variety and convenience and since most of the trip is already paid for, passengers don't need to worry so much about expenses.