Port Canaveral Continues Record Growth in 2012

Port Canaveral continued its record growth in 2012, rising in cruise traffic volume and revenue outpacing records set in 2011. During the past two years, multi-day cruise passengers increased by 38 percent to 3,761,056 from 2,722,751 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. During the same period, port of call ship visits increased from 86 to 123. According to the 2011 Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Economy Impact Study, Port Canaveral is the fastest-growing cruise port in Florida. The largest fleet of year-round ships currently sails from Port Canaveral.

Port Canaveral’s new record for multi-day passengers – 3,761,056 million— is 21 percent over the FY11 record of 3,100,199 million. The fiscal year ends September 30. 

Total revenues in FY12 were more than $68 million, up 17 percent over the previous record in FY11. Revenue associated with multi-day passengers is up 47 percent percent to $50,590,907 from $34,473,349 in FY10. Revenues are reinvested back into Port infrastructure. Canaveral Port Authority stopped collecting ad valorem taxes in 1986.

Some highlights this year included the arrival in March of the new 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy, joining its sister-ship Disney Dream, which began sailing from Port Canaveral last January, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announcing it will replace the departing homeported Monarch of the Seas with the Enchantment of the Seas in April 2013.

The Canaveral Port Authority also celebrated the opening of its new $65-million Cruise Terminal 6 facility in September with a visit from Florida Gov. Rick Scott and a gala dinner and fall campaign benefit for the United Way of Brevard.

For more information, visit www.portcanaveral.org.