PortMiami handled a record 8.56 million cruise passengers in fiscal 2025. Royal Caribbean's new Terminal G, under construction since January 2026, is due to open in late 2027.
Ships calling this season: Wonder of the Seas, Carnival Magic, MSC World America
Source: miamidade.gov, cruisehive.com
Port Everglades recorded 4.77 million cruise passenger movements in fiscal 2025 (preliminary), up from 4.13 million in fiscal 2024.
Ships calling this season: Sun Princess, Disney Dream
Source: porteverglades.net
The world's busiest cruise port: a record 8.6 million revenue passenger movements in fiscal 2025, narrowly ahead of PortMiami.
Ships calling this season: Harmony of the Seas, Carnival Vista, MSC Seashore
Source: portcanaveral.com
Nassau Cruise Port's $300 million Prince George Wharf redevelopment, opened in 2023, can berth six ships a day.
Ships calling this season: Wonder of the Seas, Carnival Vista, MSC Meraviglia
Source: nassaucruiseport.com
Cozumel received 4.73 million cruise passengers in 2025. Reefs in its national marine park are closed to visitors in rotation to let the coral recover.
Ships calling this season: Norwegian Getaway
Source: mexicobusiness.news, riviera-maya-news.com
Dredging of Charlotte Amalie Harbor's entrance channel, turning basin and WICO cruise berth begins in October 2026 and runs to about October 2027; the port authority does not expect cruise calls to be affected.
Ships calling in the Dec–Apr season: Harmony of the Seas, Norwegian Escape
Source: viport.com
Ships dock at Port St. Maarten's Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility in Philipsburg, on the Dutch side of the island.
Ships calling in the Dec–Apr season: Harmony of the Seas, Norwegian Escape, Sun Princess
Source: portstmaarten.com
From the 2026 season Juneau limits cruise arrivals to 16,000 passengers a day (12,000 on Saturdays) and five large ships a day, under a voluntary agreement with the cruise industry.
Ships calling in the May–Sep season: Norwegian Bliss, Celebrity Edge, Koningsdam
Source: maritime-executive.com, ktoo.org
The cliff above Skagway's Railroad Dock, unstable since a 2022 rockslide, is monitored daily in season while the town seeks funding to remove the loose rock.
Ships calling in the May–Sep season: Ovation of the Seas, Norwegian Encore, Serenade of the Seas
Source: ktoo.org
Ketchikan expected a record 1.6 million-plus cruise passengers in 2026, with some calls shifted to the Ward Cove dock north of downtown.
Ships calling in the May–Sep season: Celebrity Solstice, Carnival Miracle, Island Princess
Source: alaskapublic.org
Barcelona plans to cut its Adossat Wharf cruise terminals from seven to five by 2030. There is no annual cap on cruise calls.
Ships calling this season: Costa Smeralda
Source: cruisemapper.com
Civitavecchia, Rome's cruise port, expects a record of about 3.75 million cruise passengers in 2026.
Ships calling this season: Norwegian Epic
Source: etrurianews.it
Since August 2021 ships over 25,000 GT are barred from the Giudecca Canal and St Mark's Basin; larger ships berth on the mainland at Porto Marghera or Fusina.
Ships calling this season: MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, Costa Deliziosa
Source: adriaports.com
Santorini caps cruise visitors at 8,000 a day, and Greece charges cruise passengers a €20 fee there from June to September (€12 in April, May and October).
Ships calling this season: Azamara Quest
Source: news.gtp.gr, cruisehive.com
Since 2019 Dubrovnik has limited cruise calls to two large ships a day to ease crowding in the Old Town.
Ships calling in the May–Sep season: Viking Sky
Source: thedubrovniktimes.com
Piraeus is building a southern cruise-port expansion (construction contract about €103 million) adding two berths for ships over 280 m; works began in 2020 and no current opening date is published.
Source: tekal.gr, medcruise.com
Ships berth at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal at Jardim do Tabaco, opened in 2017 beside Santa Apolónia. Since September 2024 the city charges cruise passengers a €2 tourist tax.
Source: portodelisboa.pt, travelmarketreport.com
The UK's main turnaround port, with five cruise terminals; shore power at the Horizon and Mayflower terminals lets ships switch off their engines at berth.
Ships calling this season: Britannia, Sky Princess, Norwegian Star
Source: abports.co.uk
From 2026 Bergen requires every cruise ship at berth to use shore power, and caps calls at four ships and 8,000 passengers a day.
Source: bergenhavn.no
Iceland charges cruise passengers an infrastructure fee of ISK 1,600 per 24 hours in port in 2026 and 2027, down from ISK 2,500 in 2025. Reykjavik's new Vör cruise terminal at Skarfabakki opened in 2026.
Ships calling in the Jun–Aug season: Norwegian Star, Hanseatic Nature
Source: mdpi.com, iceland-highlights.com
Marina Bay Cruise Centre completed an upgrade in October 2025 that raised its peak capacity to about 11,700 passengers.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Shore power at White Bay Cruise Terminal, Australia's first, is due for completion by the end of 2026, with ships testing connections during the 2026-27 season.
Ships calling this season: Ovation of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice
Source: cruiseindustrynews.com
MSC, Costa, AIDA, TUI and Explora cancelled their 2026-27 Arabian Gulf seasons because of the regional conflict. Check that a Gulf sailing is still operating before booking.
Source: cruiseindustrynews.com
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, built on the former airport runway and open since 2013, can berth two 360 m ships at once.
Ships calling this season: Spectrum of the Seas
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Cruise Season Guide by Region
| Region | Peak Season | Shoulder Season | Off Season | Key Ports | Best For | Avg. Temp (Peak) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏖️ Caribbean | Dec – Apr | May, Nov | Jun – Oct (hurricane) | Miami, Nassau, Cozumel, St. Thomas | Beaches, Snorkeling, Families | 26–30°C / 79–86°F |
| ⛵ Mediterranean | Jun – Aug | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | Nov – Mar | Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Santorini | History, Culture, Food, Wine | 25–32°C / 77–90°F |
| 🧊 Alaska | Jun – Aug | May, Sep | Oct – Apr | Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka | Wildlife, Glaciers, Scenery | 10–18°C / 50–64°F |
| 🏰 Northern Europe | Jun – Aug | May, Sep | Oct – Apr | Bergen, Southampton, Reykjavik, Copenhagen | Fjords, History, Midnight sun | 15–22°C / 59–72°F |
| 🏯 Asia Pacific | Oct – Apr | May, Sep | Jun – Aug (monsoon) | Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney | Culture, Cuisine, Shopping | 24–30°C / 75–86°F |
| 🌍 South America | Nov – Mar | Apr, Oct | May – Sep | Buenos Aires, Rio, Cartagena | Adventure, Culture, Landscapes | 22–28°C / 72–82°F |
| 🏜️ Middle East | Oct – Apr | Sep, May | Jun – Aug (extreme heat) | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman (most lines cancelled 2026-27) | Luxury, Shopping, Architecture | 20–28°C / 68–82°F |
Current Entry & Visa Requirements
⚠️ Important: Entry requirements change. Always verify with official government sources and your cruise line before sailing. This table was last checked on 19 September 2026.
| Destination | US Citizens | UK Citizens | EU Citizens | Passport Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbean (most) | Visa-free | Visa-free | Visa-free | Yes (see note) | On closed-loop cruises from a US port, US citizens may use a passport card, or a birth certificate with photo ID |
| Schengen Area (most of the Mediterranean, incl. Greece) | Visa-free (90 days in 180) | Visa-free (90 days in 180) | Free movement | Yes | Non-EU travellers are registered in the Entry/Exit System (fingerprints and photo) on first entry — fully operational since 10 April 2026. ETIAS is not yet required: it will cost €20, and the EU has not yet set a start date |
| Alaska (USA) | No visa (domestic) | ESTA ($40) | ESTA ($40) | Recommended; required for non-US citizens | ESTA fee rose from $21 to $40 on 30 September 2025. Sailings from Vancouver need Canadian entry documents too |
| Dubai / UAE | Visa on arrival | Visa on arrival | Visa on arrival | Yes | Passport must be valid 6+ months from arrival. Most lines cancelled their 2026-27 Gulf seasons |
| Japan | Visa-free (90 days) | Visa-free (90 days) | Visa-free | Yes | Visit Japan Web registration recommended |