PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Port Canaveral has surpassed every other cruise terminal on the planet in annual passenger traffic, port leaders announced Tuesday, calling it a milestone driven by strong tourism demand and years of expansion.

Port CEO Capt. John Murray said the port saw 8.6 million passengers in 2025, a 13% increase from the previous year, officially making it the busiest cruise port in the world, ahead of longtime leader PortMiami.

“It’s great for the state of Florida. It’s great for our tourism, our hotels and our tax base,” Murray said.

Murray credited employees for the growth, saying the port’s success is the result of daily work behind the scenes. Port Canaveral is currently home to 18 cruise ships and handled more than 6 million tons of cargo in the past year.

“It’s a ve

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