Port Canaveral, just a quick ride from Orlando, has become the world’s largest cruise port in passenger volume, dethroning Miami, which had held the distinction for all 50 years of the modern cruising era.
The number two and three spots are also in Florida, with Miami logging 3.99 million passengers compared to Canaveral’s 4.07 million. Third place Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale counted 1.62 million. The figures don’t include one-day trips, which would have lengthened Canaveral’s lead.
Port Canaveral has a number of advantages, aside from being home to a good number of the largest ships, including several with room for over 5,000 passengers: Orlando, as the top vacation destination, has airline connections to more cities than Miami and more flights, and has the additional attraction of all the big theme parks that can make an addition before or after a cruise.
