Top 10 Cruise Destinations Revealed (Panama Canal Down on Last Year!)

You probably won’t be surprised to know that in 2024, millions of people went on a cruise.

In this post, we examine the latest data from the CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) and compare 2024 cruises to those taken in 2023.

We look at the most popular regions for cruising and see where cruise traffic grew and shrank in 2024.

Cruising continues to be dominated by warm-weather regions, but niche areas such as expedition cruises to regions like the Galapagos Islands or the Arctic are growing fast.

#1 The Caribbean

Many will not be surprised to learn that the Caribbean is the most popular cruise destination, with a staggering 14.98 million passengers visiting in 2024.

This is an increase of 17.1% from 2023.

43% of all cruise passengers visit the Caribbean – that’s nearly 1 in 2!

There are lots of reasons why Caribbean cruises are so popular.

It is a year-round destination with plenty of sunshine. A short cruise getaway from the USA is relatively cheap.

Many cruise companies have private islands there. Cruise lines offer beaches, water sports, dining, and entertainment to perfectly complement the overall cruise experience, maximising passenger satisfaction.

Private islands are often thought of as safer and less crowded than traditional ports of call. This appeals to passengers seeking a more relaxed and controlled environment.

By owning the island, cruise lines can keep all revenue generated from food, drinks, excursions, and other onboard activities, rather than sharing it with other third-party operators.

You can visit many different Caribbean islands, and many different itineraries are available.

Thousands of cruise ship sailings leave from various ports in the USA each year, making it particularly affordable if you are a US citizen.

Once you include the cost of the flights, it is not such a cheap option for those of us in Great Britain or Europe.

No other region even comes close when it comes to the number of cruise ship passengers visiting.

#2 The Mediterranean

5.77 million passengers visited the Mediterranean in 2024, which is an increase of +5.8%.

About 1 in every six cruise passengers chose the Mediterranean.

It is a great choice for those living in the UK or Europe.

I love it because, even in the winter, the weather can be pleasantly warm ( although not hot!). I leave an often cold, damp, and wet British winter and take a two-hour flight, and it feels like I am in a different world!

You can take in many countries in a week on a standard Mediterranean loop cruise. There is plenty of history and culture, and you can often just get off the ship and explore on foot by yourself.

There are hidden gems to explore around every corner, it seems.

A Mediterranean cruise is a great way to cover a lot of ground and visit many different countries. It is especially important if you have limited holiday/vacation time.

#3 Europe, Alaska and Asia

Non-Mediterranean Europe, Asia and Alaska have also seen a rise in cruise passengers – albeit smaller ones:

• Non-Med Europe: 3.04M – up 2.0%
• Asia + China: 2.60M – up+1.5%
• Alaska: 1.71M – up +3.8%

These areas are still popular but have grown at a smaller pace.

Seasonality is important in these areas. Cruises visit at certain times of the year when the weather is at its best.

Asian markets have had a slower restart to cruising after the Covid pandemic, but there is a lot of interest in cruising to these areas, so the market sector may continue to grow.

I have loved all the cruises I have taken in Asia, it is one of my favourite places in the world to cruise

Have a look at my last cruise to Japan here:

Where Cruising Numbers Have Dropped

North America – West Coast/Mexico: Down 7.7%

There are many reasons why fewer people are cruising to the West Coast of America and Mexico. These include:

• The U.S. Department of State has issued travel advisories for parts of Mexico.
  • This is due to increased crime and violence, including incidents of cartel-related crime, kidnappings, and shootings.
• Mexico is implementing a new $42 immigration passenger fee for cruise passengers.
  • This has caused concern among cruise lines.
• The West Coast cruise market is experiencing a decrease in capacity. Fewer ships and passengers travelled in 2024 than in 2023.
  • This decrease could be due to various factors, including the overall economic climate and competition from other cruise destinations.

South America/Panama Canal: Down 2.8%

• Low water levels in Gatun Lake due to drought conditions impacted the number of ships that could transit the Panama Canal in 2024.
  • Restrictions have now been eased, and it is hoped that the number of cruise ship transits will return to normal levels.

Africa/Middle East: Down 3.9%

• Several cruise lines have reduced or cancelled Red Sea itineraries due to ongoing security concerns and instability in the area.
  • This has led to itinerary changes, including rerouting ships away from the Red Sea and cancelling port calls in the area.

I got a very cheap cruise deal on Celebrity Infinity. When I looked into why the cruise line was selling off cabins cheaply, I found that the cruise had originally had ports like Israel and Egypt on the itinerary.

Due to instability in the regions, the itinerary had been changed to Greece and the Greek Islands, and many customers had cancelled.

Celebrity Infinity is an older ship, the cruise itself was quite port-intensive, and we had a wonderful time! Find out all about that here:

The Fastest-Growing Niche: Expedition Cruises

Expedition cruises exploring regions such as the Antarctic, the Arctic, the Galápagos Islands, etc. are becoming more and more popular.

387.5K passengers travelled on an expedition cruise in 2024, which is up 21.6%.

Although these expedition cruises are expensive, smaller ships, bucket list destinations and adventurous cruises are something many people aspire to.

Before You Go

Find out when the best time to visit your chosen cruise destination here:

Cruise Destinations and Timings (Peak Seasons, Popular Itineraries and Weather)

Find out which cruise companies are not owned by the large American cruise companies here:

These Cruise Lines Are NOT Owned by American Companies: A Hidden Gem Guide