Beyond the white-sand beaches and azure waters, the Caribbean cruise industry pumps billions of dollars into local economies and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, creating a vital economic tide that lifts nations across the region.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the Caribbean cruise sector contributed $2.5 billion to direct GDP in Caribbean nations
- Cruise tourism accounted for 12% of total tourism revenue in the Bahamas in 2022, totaling $1.8 billion
- The industry supported 167,000 jobs across the Caribbean in 2019 pre-pandemic
- 8.25 million passengers visited Caribbean ports in 2023
- Bahamas welcomed 6.6 million cruise passengers in 2023
- Eastern Caribbean ports saw 4.2 million arrivals in 2023
- Over 100 cruise ships operate regular Caribbean itineraries
- Total passenger capacity in Caribbean fleet exceeds 250,000 berths in 2023
- Royal Caribbean Group operates 26 ships serving Caribbean
- 30 ports in Caribbean handle over 500,000 passengers annually
- Nassau's Prince George Wharf handles 5.5 million pax/year capacity
- Cozumel International Pier has 3 berths for 12,000 pax/day
- Cruise ships emitted 1.2 million tons CO2 in Caribbean waters in 2023
- 45% of Caribbean fleet uses low-sulfur fuel compliant with IMO 2020
- CLIA members aim for net-zero emissions by 2050 in Caribbean ops
The Caribbean cruise industry is a massive economic engine generating billions across the region.
Economic Impact
- In 2023, the Caribbean cruise sector contributed $2.5 billion to direct GDP in Caribbean nations
- Cruise tourism accounted for 12% of total tourism revenue in the Bahamas in 2022, totaling $1.8 billion
- The industry supported 167,000 jobs across the Caribbean in 2019 pre-pandemic
- Direct passenger spending from cruises reached $4.7 billion in the Eastern Caribbean in 2023
- Cruise lines paid $1.2 billion in port fees and taxes to Caribbean ports in 2022
- The sector generated $750 million in indirect economic multipliers in Jamaica from cruises in 2023
- In 2023, cruises contributed 15% to St. Maarten's GDP, equating to $450 million
- Total economic output from cruises in Puerto Rico hit $1.1 billion in 2022
- Antigua and Barbuda saw $320 million from cruise passengers in 2023
- Cruise industry taxes and fees totaled $900 million for Florida ports serving Caribbean routes in 2023
- Barbados cruise sector added $250 million to GDP in 2022, representing 8% of tourism GDP
- In 2023, Cayman Islands earned $400 million from cruise passenger spending
- Aruba's cruise industry generated $550 million in direct spend in 2023
- Curaçao saw $280 million economic impact from 1.2 million cruise passengers in 2022
- Grenada's cruise tourism contributed $150 million to economy in 2023
- St. Lucia earned $380 million from cruises in 2023
- Turks and Caicos cruise spend reached $200 million in 2022
- US Virgin Islands cruise impact was $650 million in 2023
- Belize cruise passengers spent $120 million onshore in 2023
- Cozumel, Mexico, generated $1.4 billion from cruises in 2023
- Roatan, Honduras, saw $300 million cruise economic boost in 2022
- Costa Maya, Mexico, earned $450 million from cruises in 2023
- Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, $180 million from cruises in 2023
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica, contributed $220 million to local economy in 2022
- Nassau, Bahamas, generated $1.5 billion cruise spend in 2023
- San Juan, Puerto Rico, $800 million from 1.8 million passengers in 2023
- Bridgetown, Barbados, $210 million cruise revenue in 2023
- Oranjestad, Aruba, $480 million direct spend in 2022
- Philipsburg, St. Maarten, $370 million economic impact 2023
- George Town, Cayman Islands, $350 million from cruises 2023
Economic Impact Interpretation
While these floating cities may be a source of environmental debate, the Caribbean's ledger books reveal a simple, staggering truth: the cruise industry is a multi-billion dollar life raft for countless island economies, keeping them afloat through direct spending, port fees, and a torrent of tourist cash that funds jobs from Nassau to Ocho Rios.
Passenger Traffic
- 8.25 million passengers visited Caribbean ports in 2023
- Bahamas welcomed 6.6 million cruise passengers in 2023
- Eastern Caribbean ports saw 4.2 million arrivals in 2023
- Western Caribbean had 3.1 million cruise visitors in 2022
- Southern Caribbean recorded 1.8 million passengers in 2023
- Puerto Rico hosted 2.1 million cruise passengers in 2023
- Jamaica saw 1.5 million cruise arrivals in 2023
- St. Maarten received 1.7 million passengers in 2022
- Antigua hosted 1.1 million cruise visitors in 2023
- Barbados welcomed 900,000 cruise passengers in 2023
- Cayman Islands had 1.4 million arrivals in 2023
- Aruba saw 1.6 million cruise passengers in 2023
- Curaçao hosted 1.2 million in 2022
- Grenada received 650,000 cruise visitors in 2023
- St. Lucia had 1.0 million passengers in 2023
- Turks and Caicos welcomed 1.3 million in 2022
- USVI hosted 1.9 million cruise arrivals in 2023
- Belize saw 1.0 million passengers in 2023
- Cozumel, Mexico, had 4.0 million cruise visitors in 2023
- Roatan, Honduras, welcomed 1.2 million in 2022
- Costa Maya received 2.1 million passengers in 2023
- Grand Turk hosted 800,000 in 2023
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica, saw 900,000 arrivals in 2022
- Nassau, Bahamas, 5.5 million passengers in 2023
- San Juan 2.0 million in 2023
- Bridgetown 750,000 passengers in 2023
- Oranjestad, Aruba, 1.4 million in 2022
- Philipsburg 1.5 million in 2023
- George Town, Cayman, 1.2 million in 2023
Passenger Traffic Interpretation
One could say the Caribbean is weathering a sea of tourists, where the Bahamas reigns as a mega-port kingdom and Cozumel functions as its bustling continental gateway, proving the only thing more crowded than the beach is the schedule for the next tender boat.
Ports and Destinations
- 30 ports in Caribbean handle over 500,000 passengers annually
- Nassau's Prince George Wharf handles 5.5 million pax/year capacity
- Cozumel International Pier has 3 berths for 12,000 pax/day
- San Juan's Pan American Pier accommodates 3 mega-ships simultaneously
- Philipsburg, St. Maarten, has 7 berths for 3.5 million pax capacity
- Oranjestad, Aruba, renovated cruise terminal handles 1.5 million/year
- George Town, Cayman, tender port for 2 million pax/year
- Bridgetown Deep Water Harbour has capacity for 1 million pax
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica, handles 1 million with new pier extensions
- Grand Turk Cruise Terminal berths Oasis-class ships, 1 million capacity
- Costa Maya pier serves 2.5 million pax with 2 berths
- Roatan Mahogany Bay has 2 piers for 1.5 million pax
- Belize City handles 1.2 million via new Harvest Caye terminal
- St. Thomas Crown Bay expanded for 2.2 million pax/year
- Castries, St. Lucia, Pointe Seraphine terminal for 1.2 million
- Grenada's new cruise terminal opens 2024 for 1 million capacity
- Curaçao Willemstad has 3 terminals for 1.5 million pax
- Barbados' new pier allows 2 mega-ships at once
- Antigua's Heritage Quay serves 1.3 million with shopping mall
- St. Maarten's Cupecoy expansion for mega-ships underway
- Puerto Rico's Vieques ferry integrates with cruises
- Jamaica's Falmouth port home to Carnival with 3.5 million capacity
- Bahamas' new Royal Beach Club on Eleuthera for 2025
- 42 Caribbean destinations rank in top 100 cruise ports globally
- Labadee, Haiti (private), hosts 1 million pax/year for Royal Caribbean
- Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, 4 million capacity post-expansion
- Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, 500,000 pax/year private island
- Princess Cays, Bahamas, handles 400,000 annually
- 25 Caribbean ports invested $2.5 billion in infrastructure 2019-2023
Ports and Destinations Interpretation
These figures paint the Caribbean not as a sleepy archipelago but as a meticulously engineered, multi-billion-dollar hospitality machine, where entire economies now gracefully pivot to welcome the weekly armada of floating resorts.
Ship and Fleet
- Over 100 cruise ships operate regular Caribbean itineraries
- Total passenger capacity in Caribbean fleet exceeds 250,000 berths in 2023
- Royal Caribbean Group operates 26 ships serving Caribbean
- Carnival Corporation has 22 vessels on Caribbean routes in 2023
- MSC Cruises deploys 10 ships to Caribbean annually
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings operates 19 ships in region
- Average ship size in Caribbean is 3,200 passengers, up 15% since 2019
- 65 new cruise ships ordered for deployment including Caribbean by 2028
- Icon of the Seas, largest cruise ship, homeports in Caribbean with 7,600 pax
- Disney Cruise Line has 5 ships serving Caribbean itineraries
- Virgin Voyages launched 3 ships for Caribbean in 2023
- Average cruise length in Caribbean is 7.2 days
- 75% of Caribbean cruises are 3-8 night itineraries
- LNG-powered ships in Caribbean fleet: 12 vessels in 2023
- Average age of Caribbean-serving fleet is 12.5 years
- Celebrity Cruises operates 16 ships including Caribbean
- Princess Cruises has 15 vessels on Caribbean routes
- 40% of fleet capacity is mega-ships over 4,000 pax
- Holland America Line deploys 11 ships to Caribbean
- P&O Cruises added 2 new ships for Caribbean in 2023
- Total gross tonnage of Caribbean fleet: 15 million GT
- 85% occupancy rate for Caribbean sailings in 2023 Q4
- AIDA Cruises operates 12 ships including Caribbean
- Cunard Line has 3 Queens serving transatlantic to Caribbean
- Average speed of cruise ships in Caribbean: 21 knots
- 20 expedition ships now offer Caribbean itineraries
- Costa Cruises deploys 9 ships to Caribbean
- TUI Cruises has 5 ships in region
- 55% of ships have private islands in Caribbean
- Average crew per passenger ratio: 1:3 in Caribbean fleet
Ship and Fleet Interpretation
The Caribbean cruise fleet is now a floating city of over 250,000 beds where the competition is so fierce they're building their own private islands just to have somewhere to dock their ever-growing leviathans.
Sustainability and Environment
- Cruise ships emitted 1.2 million tons CO2 in Caribbean waters in 2023
- 45% of Caribbean fleet uses low-sulfur fuel compliant with IMO 2020
- CLIA members aim for net-zero emissions by 2050 in Caribbean ops
- 12 LNG ships reduce emissions by 20% on Caribbean routes
- Shore power usage in Caribbean ports reached 30% of calls in 2023
- Coral reef damage claims from anchors down 40% due to dynamic positioning
- 70% of passengers choose eco-friendly cruises in Caribbean surveys
- Water recycling on ships saves 50 million gallons annually in region
- Food waste reduction programs divert 90% from landfills in Caribbean
- 25 ports implement green port programs with LED lighting
- Marine mammal strike incidents reduced 60% via speed limits
- 15% biofuel blend tested in Caribbean reducing GHG by 12%
- Sewage treatment: 100% advanced systems on newbuilds post-2020
- Plastic ban on 80% of CLIA ships serving Caribbean
- Shore excursion emissions offset programs cover 2 million passengers
- Wastewater discharge zero in sensitive Caribbean areas via treaties
- Energy efficiency index improved 18% fleet-wide 2015-2023
- 50 wildlife protection zones enforced around cruise ports
- Carbon footprint per pax down 15% since 2019 in Caribbean
- 20 ships install scrubbers reducing SOx by 90%
- Biodiversity monitoring programs in 30 ports track 500 species
- Renewable energy at cruise terminals: solar covers 10% power needs
- Greywater management: 85% treated to potable standards
- 40% reduction in single-use plastics across supply chain
- Underwater noise pollution mitigated by 25% propeller upgrades
- Sustainable seafood sourcing: 75% of menus certified MSC
- Port electrification projects in 15 Caribbean locations by 2025
- Passenger education on sustainability reaches 90% onboard
- Air quality improved 35% near ports with shore power adoption
Sustainability and Environment Interpretation
The cruise industry’s Caribbean report card reads, “Ambitious eco-promises for 2050 are slowly docking in reality, with genuine progress on waste and emissions now sailing alongside the glaring fact that these floating cities still cough out over a million tons of CO2 in these fragile waters each year.”
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