For whatever reason, the month of January seems to be ending with a mini crime wave! 

First, news broke of a Florida deputy who was arrested on drug smuggling charges at PortMiami on January 23, 2025. 

But one day prior, on January 22, 2025, a 41-year-old cruise passenger was arrested in the Port of Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on charges of fraud. 

According to early reports, the Brasília resident allegedly used fake credit cards – including a virtual credit card issued in the United States – to make expensive purchases and to gamble and place bets in the ship’s casino. 

The suspect initially bypassed detection, and was able to gamble and buy expensive perfumes and alcohol as soon as the stores and casino opened after embarkation. 

But after he attempted to register multiple cards in the casino, the financial institutions flagged them for fraud – with the Bahia state government stating that the suspect’s alleged actions caused a total loss of more than $6,000 (USD). 

When the cruiser was apprehended upon disembarking in the port, he had an iPhone, two ship access cards, and $2,600 in cash on his person. 

He joins the (thankfully small) ranks of other cruisers who have unsuccessfully tried to pull similar stunts – such as the four guests who were arrested for credit card fraud in PortMiami while sailing onboard MSC Magnifica in August of 2024. 

It’s unclear which cruise ship this guest was sailing on, but MSC Seaview and MSC Orchestra were the only vessels in the port that day. 

But as authorities say the suspect originally boarded the cruise ship in Santos, Brazil, it was most likely MSC Seaview – which embarked from the port on January 19, 2025, on a 7-night South America sailing. 

Salvador de Bahia was her first port call – meaning the detained passenger missed out on visiting Ilhéus and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later in the voyage. 

MSC Cruises’ Happier History in Salvador de Bahia

Thankfully, the vast majority of visits to Brazil by MSC’s cruise ships do not result in passengers being taken into custody. 

The port, which can accommodate up to three large cruise ships and six cargo ships per day, has been experiencing a period of growth – of which MSC cruises has certainly contributed to. 

Looking back at 2022, MSC Fantasia helped to kick off a record-breaking season for Brazil by being the first of nine different ships to homeport in Santos, Brazil – with some of her 3-7-night itineraries, including calls on Salvador de Bahia. 

Looking ahead at cruise tracking data for the remainder of 2025, a variety of cruise lines do call on the port, which is just a short walk or taxi ride to the attractions in downtown Salvador, including brands like Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Cunard Line.

However, MSC vessels have the greatest presence on the schedule. For example, February 2025 has 10 cruise ship calls scheduled – and eight are by MSC cruise ships (MSC Grandiosa, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Seaview). 

Read Also: Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?

The official port numbers for 2024 have not been released yet, as the cruise season in Brazil runs from November 2024 to late April of 2025. 

That said, the 2022/2023 cruise season ended on a high note – and was considered the busiest season in the port’s history. 

The Salvador Maritime Terminal welcomed around 240,000 cruise guests – which is an increase of more than 59% compared to the 2018/2019 season prior to the Covid-19 pandemic shuttering the port for two years. 

Local authorities continue to strive to expand cruise tourism operations in the port, which is located on All Saints Bay.

As Great Britain’s cruise industry grows and passengers clamor to visit its port cities, Northern Ireland’s Belfast is working to improve its capabilities to make way for bigger cruise ships.

On January 27, 2025, Belfast Harbour unveiled plans for a new £90 million deepwater quay, which will accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

The initiative, part of a broader £300-million investment strategy stretching over the next 5 years, will significantly enhance the port’s capabilities. 

With the cruise sector already injecting £20 to £25 million annually into the local economy, the port anticipates a boost to regional tourism and its economic growth.

“This transformative project strengthens Belfast’s position as a world-class cruise destination, paving the way for the future of Cruise Belfast by accommodating larger vessels and enhancing the visitor experience,” said Gerry Lennon, chief executive of Visit Belfast.

Added Joe O’Neill, chief executive of Belfast Harbour, “The addition of a new deepwater quay will not only add to the c300,000 cruise visitors welcomed by Belfast Harbour each year, it also gives us the opportunity to expand our capacity in the assembly and installation of offshore wind.”

The first phase of the quay’s construction, primarily focused on supporting cruise tourism, is projected to be operational between 2027 and 2029. Stage two, anticipated to be complete by 2030, will enhance the quay’s infrastructure.

Enhanced Port Facilities and Offshore Wind Capabilities Coming

Belfast Harbour, which can welcome up to three cruise ships daily, has welcomed more than 1,400 cruise ships and nearly 2.5 million passengers and crew to Belfast since 1996. As the largest deepwater quay in Ireland, its current quay is just over a half mile long and 34 feet deep.

Last year, the harbor saw 260,000 passengers and crew arrivals across 60 cruise ships from 35 different cruise lines.

Belfast Harbour’s new strategy, titled “Advance Regional Prosperity 2025-2029,” includes a comprehensive £208 million investment in improving port facilities and an additional £105 million dedicated to the ongoing development of the Harbour Estate, including office, retail, hospitality, exhibition spaces, and affordable housing.

Worth Reading: Belfast Port Marks Major Milestone With Princess Cruises

The project will include renovations to the port’s current deepwater berth, Stormont Wharf, the addition of new warehouses, and the use of self-driving vehicles across the port.

Its full objectives are to enable economic growth, develop and improve the port, create places to live and work, and help Belfast Harbour reach net-zero cruise operations, in line with the UK’s 2050 target under the Clean Maritime Plan and investments in renewable energy. 

In fact, one of the port’s main projects will be to create offshore wind farms, with Dr. Theresa Donaldson, chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, saying the development will make Belfast the only port on Ireland to feature offshore wind facilities.

Donaldon said, “We will continue our pioneering efforts to diversify and decarbonize, helping to reimagine and regenerate the city and bring additional prosperity to the region.”

Belfast Harbour’s cruise season traditionally operates between April and October, with 2025’s first call arriving on March 30 when Viking Ocean’s Viking Vela arrives on a 14-night British Isles voyage.

Its next arrivals, in April and May include Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Prima, Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse, MSC Cruises’ MSC Preziosa, and Oceania Cruises’ Vista.

For the first time, AAA, the American Automobile Association, released what is the first annual cruise travel forecast on January 26, 2025, revealing that many US residents plan to take an ocean cruise in 2025.

The 2025 Cruise Outlook anticipates that 19 million Americans will take to the seas, reflecting a 4.5 percent increase over the 18.2 million who cruised in 2024.

The forecast also marks a rise from pre-pandemic levels, up to 34 percent compared to the 14.2 million US cruisers in 2019.

Said Debbie Haas, AAA’s vice president of travel, “The cruise industry’s focus on bigger ships, shorter itineraries, and private islands has contributed to remarkable growth in recent years.”

“Cruise lines have introduced larger ships, which accommodate more guests and have an incredible range of amenities on board,” she continued. “It’s at the point now where the ship itself can be the destination.”

AAA’s data, which is based on scheduled cruise itineraries across nearly every major cruise ship along with cruise-specific analytics on economics and travel trends, also show there is growing consumer confidence in travel, fueled by rising incomes and increased discretionary spending.

Surveys reveal that a number of passengers are prioritizing travel in the coming year.

Much of the data aligns with trends taking place around the world, where numerous ports are sharing 2024 passenger arrival records have been shattering pre-pandemic highs, including ports in the Bahamas, Miami, and even smaller destinations like Malta.

Caribbean Cruises and Mega Ships Dominate

AAA’s data also examined where passengers are most likely to travel in 2025, with the Caribbean serving as the dominant choice for US cruise passengers. In fact, the Caribbean accounts for 72 percent of all itineraries in 2025. This pattern also consistently follows pre-pandemic trends seen in 2018 and 2019.

Earlier this month alone, the US Virgin Islands witnessed a single-day record arrival for passengers on cruise ships, while nearby Antigua closed its own record-breaking year with more than 13,000 cruise guests descending upon the island on December 31, 2024.

According to AAA, shorter Caribbean cruises of 5 days or less are gaining traction, projected to grow from just 2 percent of all Caribbean sailings in 2023 to 18 percent by 2025. However, cruises lasting 6 to 8 days remain the most popular length for passengers.

Alaskan cruises are the second most popular itineraries, expected to attract 6 percent of US travelers, while the Mediterranean will host 5 percent. These also reflect a return to pre-pandemic patterns after a temporary spike in demand for these regions during 2022 and 2023.

Read Also: Miami Cruise Port Guide – Terminals, Transportation and More

AAA also reports that Florida is the epicenter of cruise travel, with PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale ranking as the busiest ports worldwide.

The report revealed mega-ships play a major role in these ports, noting Miami is home to Royal Caribbean’s massive 5,610-guest, 248,663-gross-ton Icon of the Seas, which debuted at the port in January 2024. 

“So much has been included on these new ships, from fine dining to live entertainment, shopping, and activities for all ages,” added Hass. “Cruising is like staying at a floating all-inclusive resort, which delivers you to the world’s most beautiful destinations.”

Miami will soon share the spotlight with Port Canaveral as Royal Caribbean’s larger sister, the 250,800-gross-ton, Star of the Seas, also carrying 5,610 passengers, debuts this summer.

The ship was recently named the most anticipated new cruise ship for 2025 in Cruise Hive’s annual awards.