The newly released CLIA 2018 Economic Impact Analysis has found that the cruise industry in the U.S. had an economic impact of over $52.7 billion in total contributions in 2018, marking an increase of over 10 percent since 2016. Additionally, nearly 13 million cruise passengers worldwide embarked from ports in the United States in 2018, an increase of nearly nine percent from 2016.
With increased embarkations come increased onshore spending. In 2018, cruise lines, their passengers and crew spent a record $23.96 billion in the United States, representing a 33 percent increase since 2010. Additionally, 2018 saw a new peak in the cruise industry's U.S. expenditures, generating 421,711 jobs across the United States and contributing more than $23.15 billion in wages and salaries, a nearly 13 percent increase since 2016.
2018 Economic Impact Analysis by the Numbers
- Total U.S. Economic Impact: The U.S. cruise industry had an economic impact of over $52.7 billion in total 2018 contributions - marking an increase of over 10 percent since 2016.
- Direct Impact: $23.96 billion in direct purchases made by passengers, crew, and cruise lines.
- Indirect & Induced Impact: $28.7 billion in indirect supply purchases and merchant payments, as well as induced economic benefits from cruise line and supplier purchases of consumer goods and services.
- Advancements in Embarkation: Nearly 13 million cruise passengers worldwide embarked from ports in the United States in 2018-an increase of nearly nine percent from 2016.
- Florida and California: With a total of nine cruise ports between them, these two states accounted for 68 percent of the U.S embarkations in 2018. Meanwhile, embarkations from the two cruise terminals in New York increased 12 percent since 2016 and ports in Galveston also experienced a 13 percent embarkation increase in 2018 compared to 2016.
- Increased Onshore Spending: In 2018, cruise lines, passengers and crew spent a record$23.96 billion in the United States-a 33 percent increase since 2010.
- U.S. Expenditures: The cruise industry generated 421,711 jobs across the United States and contributed more than $23.15 billion in wages and salaries, a nearly 13 percent increase since 2016.
Top Ten States Benefitting Economically from the Global Cruise Industry
- Florida
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Alaska
- Washington
- Georgia
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- Louisiana
Related Stories
Stats: Dominican Republic Tops Cancun for Thanksgiving Travel
Stats: Near-Record 55 Million People to Travel This Thanksgiving
Stats: 18% Would Rather Skip Thanksgiving Than Drive