The Port of New Orleans closed calendar year 2025 with 1,067,407 cruise passenger movements, the port authority announced in a press release.

The milestone marks the ninth year the port has exceeded one million annual passengers (excluding pandemic years in 2020 and 2021) and reinforces its position as one of the nation’s leading cruise destinations, Port NOLA said.

The sustained growth comes amid strong cruise-industry momentum nationwide and was driven by the return of Royal Caribbean.

Port NOLA also said it is positioned for significant future expansion with the deployment of a larger Carnival Cruise Line vessel in the coming years.

“Consistently surpassing one million cruise passenger movements speaks to the strength of New Orleans as a global cruise destination and the collaborative efforts that make this success possible,” said Beth Branch, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt (NOPB).

“Cruising is a vital economic engine for our region, and with expanded service and larger ships on the horizon, Port NOLA is well positioned to deliver even greater value to Louisiana and the Gulf South,” she added.

The port authority said that U.S. cruise ports continue to surpass pre-pandemic passenger levels and NOLA remains “at the forefront of that resurgence.”

In 2024, the port recorded more than 1.2 million cruise passenger movements, and momentum continued in 2025.

In March 2025, Port NOLA achieved its highest single-month total ever, with over 165,000 passenger movements, reflecting both increased capacity and strong consumer demand.

“Reaching this milestone for the ninth time reflects both strong demand and the confidence our cruise line partners continue to place in Port NOLA,” said Steven Gauthier, Port NOLA’s vice president of cruise.

“As we welcome the return of Royal Caribbean and prepare for increased capacity from Carnival, we anticipate meaningful growth in passenger volumes over the next several years,” he added.

Port NOLA highlighted its diverse cruise portfolio, which includes both ocean-going and river cruising that supports year-round activity to strengthen the regional tourism economy.

The cruise activity is said to contribute approximately $445 million in total direct and indirect economic impact, reinforcing cruising as a major economic engine for the region.

With the return of Royal Caribbean service and the introduction of larger, next-generation vessels from Carnival Cruise Line, Port NOLA is poised for continued growth into the future.