Invited by skyscraper-sized boats and resort-style pools, luxurious spas, ice skating rinks and other flashy amenities, younger travelers will be able to see the cruise industry record passenger numbers both locally and nationwide. I’m helping you.
In New Orleans, 1.21 million passengers boarded or boarded or boarded a cruise ship in 2024, according to the Port of New Orleans, the highest passenger count in the port’s history. The record number won the previous high water mark, with 1.19 million passengers passing through the port in 2019. Baton Rouge has been trying for nearly a decade to position Downtown as a river cruise destination, but the number of passengers on the cruise ship last year has also increased.
The rise shows industry rebounds broken by the coronavirus pandemic. The vessels were closed for almost a year, with some analysts predicting the industry would not recover. On the contrary, it has been roaring thanks to changing demographics and a healthy economy.
Portnora’s president and CEO Beth Branch said that cruise companies and hospitality partners were praised for record numbers and that things are on track for another strong year in 2025.
“These important partnerships continue to drive strong demand and promising growth forecasts for both ocean and river cruising from Port Nora,” Branch said in a prepared statement.
Future growth?
The presence of cruise ship passengers can help boost the local hospitality industry. Approximately 90% of passengers on New Orleans cruise ships are out of state visitors, with 70% going to stay in the city one to two nights before and after the voyage.
Port officials in New Orleans said cruise passengers account for nights in more than 300,000 rooms and more than $125 million in annual spending. Baton Rouge only offers a fraction of the number of passengers on the Riverboat cruise that visited the city in 2024. However, the available figures showed an increase.
According to American Cruise Line, 20,200 passengers stopped in as a result of the company’s 119 cruise docking. This is rising from 12,122 passengers in the company’s 121 Baton Rouge docking. Visit Baton Rouge spokesman Laura Catating said the numbers are approximate as some passenger numbers are not recorded.
Viking River Cruise did not provide Baton Rouge passenger numbers.
A report from industry-tracking consulting firm Grand View Research shows that demand for US river cruises is high, and the industry is expected to declare double-digit growth over the next five years. However, droughts and floods frequently affect Mississippi River cruises, causing delays and changes in itinerary.
Kate said the number of American cruise lines in the city is expected to drop even further in 2025 due to more competition from riverboat cruise companies. She said the company’s officials visited Baton Rouge last week to explore ways to enhance the riverboat experience.
Not your mom’s cruise ship
Experts say many factors are driving the cruise industry, including ongoing wage growth and a low economy with low unemployment.
Also, while Core Cruise travelers were baby boomers, younger passengers are testing the experience. Royal Caribbean recently said it prefers the fact that almost half of its customers are below millennials and can visit multiple destinations on a single trip. According to Carnival Cruise Line, the number of first-time customers has increased by 30% from the previous year.
Cruise amenities were once limited to buffets, complimentary drinks, casino gambling and tax-free shopping. However, modern ships are almost appealing to some passengers as much as the tropical beaches and resort cities they visit. The world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas offers features such as an ice skating rink, rock climbing walls, six water slides and the production of The Wizard of Oz.
The private resort is offered by another amenity cruise company. Royal Caribbean is a resort that occupies the Bahamas Island, with a water park and zipline, claiming to be the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. To avoid losing, Carnival will open Celebration Key this summer, featuring dual racing water slides, over 30 eateries and an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool.
These attractions can provide cruise companies with a better experience for passengers and what can compete with travel to theme parks, says Matt Boss, JP Morgan Analyst following the leisure and retail industry. All of this has increased the number of passengers on first-time cruises. And when people go on a cruise, they tend to take something else. Cruise Line International said 81% of millennials who took part in the cruise are planning something else.
“The inclusiveness of cruise holidays offers more value than travelers would discover if they were trying to replicate the same experience elsewhere. This is a generational appeal,” says Cruise Line International. said Kenny Robinson, a spokesman for the association.
In 2024, approximately 34.7 million people participated in the cruise line from 31.7 million in 2023. That number is expected to increase to 37.1 million this year.
The AAA said 18.2 million Americans won marine cruises in 2024, an increase of 7.7% from 2023. The 2025 forecast shows a slight decline in growth rate.
The AAA pointed out that cruise demand growth has outperformed hotel growth over the past two years.
“It’s amazing what we’re witnessing in the cruise industry, but that’s not surprising,” says Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. Barber offers something for a wide range of passengers and travelers don’t have to worry about the costs as most of the trip is already paid.
