Nearly 22 million Americans are projected to cruise in 2026. Here's where they'll sail.

• A record 21.7 million Americans are projected to take an ocean cruise in 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth.
• The Caribbean remains the most popular cruise destination, attracting 72% of American passengers.

A record number of Americans are expected to take cruises for the fourth year in a row in 2026, AAA said on Oct. 20.

The membership organization predicts that 21.7 million U.S. travelers will sail on ocean cruises, according to its 2026 cruise forecast compiled in cooperation with Tourism Economics. This represents an increase from the expected 20.7 million in 2025. That number was 19.1 million the year before, up from 16.9 million in 2023.

“These numbers reflect the growing demand for ocean cruises among U.S. travelers,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release. “Our travel agents see this every day when booking dream vacations for AAA members. Whether it’s an anniversary trip to relax in the Caribbean or a family reunion to explore Alaska, ocean cruises offer variety, convenience, and lifelong memories.”

Where are the most popular cruise destinations?

The Caribbean again led the list of top destinations, with 72% of American passengers expected to sail there in 2026. “The Caribbean’s popularity is also bolstered by the increase in shorter-length cruises – which passengers like because they’re convenient and cruise lines like because they can schedule more itineraries and sell more cabins,” AAA said.

Alaska followed with 7% and the Mediterranean came in third at 5%. Other destinations across the globe made up the remaining 16%.

What are the busiest cruise ports?

The forecast also included projections for the busiest cruise ports, with the three that topped the list located in Florida. Miami is expected to see 10.2% of embarking and debarking passengers, followed by the Orlando area's Port Canaveral at 8.8% and Fort Lauderdale at 5.6%.

Galveston, Texas came in fourth at 4.1%, while Barcelona rounded out the top five with 3.9%.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].