An economic study done for CLIA says 11.66 million passengers
got on a cruise at a U.S. port in 2016. That's a record number and 5.4% higher
than in 2014, the last time the study was published.
For the first time, the number of global passengers
embarking from a U.S. port exceeded the number of passengers that were sourced
from the U.S.
The number of U.S.-sourced passengers grew from 11.33
million in 2014 to 11.5 million last year.
The study, conducted by Business Research and Economic
Advisors, pegged spending in the U.S. by cruise lines, passengers and crew at
$21.69 billion.
Florida accounted for 60.7% of U.S. embarkations, down
slightly from 2014, while California accounted for 9%.
The fastest-growing port from 2014 to 2016 was Galveston,
which expanded 35% due in part to the Port of Houston’s decision to exit the
cruise business.