Ana M. López
Research expert covering travel, tourism and hospitality
Cruise industry in the Caribbean – statistics & facts
Spanning 2.75 million square kilometers, with roughly seven thousand islands, more than 20 bordering countries, and sun-bathing temperatures all year round, the Caribbean Sea has become the main hub for cruise tourism in the world. The region has reached around 40 percent of the global passenger capacity, surpassing the Mediterranean by a wide margin as the most important market for this kind of tourism.
The Caribbean sea is part of the Central American sea, located on the Western side of the Atlantic Ocean. The United States, the closest global player to the Caribbean region in the North American continent, is the leading country of origin among cruise travelers. In 2022, the number of U.S. cruise passengers in this region was nearly 20 times higher than the travelers originating from Europe.
On the Central American subcontinent, Honduras is one of the key players for cruise tourism. The two busiest cruise ports in the region are found in Roatán – an Hondurian island in the Caribbean – with a combined cruise passenger traffic of approximately 1.5 million passengers handled in 2023.
The Caribbean sea is part of the Central American sea, located on the Western side of the Atlantic Ocean. The United States, the closest global player to the Caribbean region in the North American continent, is the leading country of origin among cruise travelers. In 2022, the number of U.S. cruise passengers in this region was nearly 20 times higher than the travelers originating from Europe.
Main cruise ports in the Caribbean
In addition to its significant role in the Latin American travel and tourism sector, Mexico stands out in the Caribbean cruise industry as well. Cozumel, a Mexican island on the Yucatán Peninsula, holds the record for cruise traffic in the region. In 2022, the port of Cozumel served more cruise ships than the other three busiest cruise ports in Mexico and registered almost three million cruise passenger arrivals.On the Central American subcontinent, Honduras is one of the key players for cruise tourism. The two busiest cruise ports in the region are found in Roatán – an Hondurian island in the Caribbean – with a combined cruise passenger traffic of approximately 1.5 million passengers handled in 2023.
Economic impact of tourism in the region
Most of Caribbean islands rely heavily on tourism. In 2022, this sector contributed to nearly 94 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Antigua and Barbuda and made up almost three quarter of the GDP in Aruba. The contribution of the region's travel and tourism sector to GDP is over ten percent, though only seven countries and territories registered percentages below that average that year. Consequently, most Caribbean islands reached double-digit rates of employment in tourism in 2022, with Antigua and Barbuda holding the highest share in the whole region.
