Port Canaveral Named ‘Best North American Homeport’ in Cruise Critic’s 17th Annual ‘Best in Cruise’ Awards
World’s Busiest Cruise Port Recognized for Superior Guest Experience
Port Canaveral is home to seven leading cruise brands and hosts 8.6 million revenue passenger movements annually
(Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)
Port Canaveral, FL – December 3, 2025 – Port Canaveral has been named “Best North American Homeport” in Cruise Critic’s 17th annual “Best in Cruise Awards” based on the experiences of cruise experts, as well as ratings and reviews submitted to the site by cruise enthusiasts. Port Canaveral recently earned the distinction as the busiest cruise port in the world with 8.6 million revenue passenger movements in FY 2025.
Currently homeport for 18 ships across seven leading cruise brands with over 1,000 sailings annually, Port Canaveral is home to some of the newest, largest, and most technically advanced ships in the world. It is also a popular drive-to market with approximately 75 percent of passengers driving to the Port.
With the Port Canaveral Advantage℠, a $912 million five-year capital improvement initiative, the Port has made significant investments to meet an increasing demand for cruise sailings from Central Florida. In addition to Port-wide facilities upgrades, the Port is expanding two existing terminals, adding parking facilities and deploying technology that allows for more efficient embarkation and debarkation. A seventh cruise terminal campus is planned, as well.
“Earning this kind of accolade validates our focus on providing a high-quality experience for all cruise guests sailing from our Port,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “We are the start and finish of every cruise, and our continued investments in improving the guest experience at Port Canaveral is our commitment to the business growth of our cruise partners.”
Port Canaveral’s
homeported fleet includes some of the world’s newest, largest and most technically
advanced ships, including Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas which began
service in August
(Credit: Canaveral Port
Authority)
“What makes Cruise
Critic’s awards stand out among a sea of ‘best of’ lists is the expertise
behind the selections,” explains Mark Patscher, General Manager of Cruise
Critic. “The ratings, reviews and opinions from our community of more than two
million cruisers ensure that these awards are a true gauge of the absolute best
of the best of the cruise industry this year.”
The recipient of Cruise Critic’s Best North American Homeport Award,
Port Canaveral was recognized for providing a superior guest experience by the outlet’s editors and readers
(Credit: Cruise Critic)
Cruise Critic is the world’s largest cruise reviews and information site, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, featuring more than 50 million opinions, reviews & photos and hosts the world's largest online cruise community. Additional details on the 2025 Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Awards are available here.