Key Aspects:
- PortMiami welcomed its 10 millionth cruise passenger of fiscal year 2026 on September 14, setting a new annual record with just over two weeks remaining in the fiscal year.
- The milestone puts cruise passenger traffic nearly 17% above the previous record of 8.56 million set in fiscal year 2025.
- Port officials credit expanded cruise-line offerings and continued investment in terminal infrastructure for the growth.
PortMiami has sailed past its own record set one year ago, facilitating 10 million cruise passenger movements in fiscal year 2026. This marks the highest annual cruise passenger volume in the Florida port’s history.
The 10-millionth cruise passenger moved through the port on September 14, 2026. While it is unknown which cruise ship that specific passenger was sailing on, six vessels were in PortMiami that day: Resilient Lady, Norwegian Getaway, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest, MSC Seaside, and Wonder of the Seas.
“I’m immensely proud of our team and cruise and port partners, whose collaborative efforts made this achievement possible,” said Port Director and CEO Jonathan Daniels. “Reaching 10 million passengers reflects our focus on innovation, efficiency and superior passenger experience, as we continue to modernize PortMiami’s infrastructure and expand our capacity for future growth.”
The milestone came with just over two weeks left in fiscal year 2026, which began on October 1, 2025 and ends on September 30, 2026. Cruise Hive previously reported that PortMiami set its previous record in fiscal year 2025, when 8,564,225 cruise passengers passed through the port.
PortMiami has already added at least 1,435,775 passenger movements on top of that previous record, with still more time in the fiscal year. This represents growth of nearly 17% over the previous record, more than four times the 4% increase recorded from fiscal year 2024 to 2025.
New Ships and Terminals Fuel PortMiami’s Growth
Officials at PortMiami credit this growth, in large part, to continued investment in modernizing and expanding infrastructure. New and upgraded terminals have been built to accommodate the newest and largest ships in the industry.
A notable addition to the port came in April 2025, when MSC’s Terminal AA opened at the port. The largest cruise terminal in the world, Terminal AA can process up to 36,000 passengers a day and can hold up to three ships at a time.
The 2025-26 season brought 10 additional ships to PortMiami, which arrived between October 2025 and May 2026. Several of those vessels were newbuilds, including Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker, Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, and Norwegian Luna.
The 3,565-passenger Norwegian Luna debuted at the port in March 2026 at the LEED Gold-certified Terminal B, which opened in 2021, following a major redevelopment of the previous terminal. Other newcomers to Miami included Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, MSC Cruises’ MSC Grandiosa, and Oceania Cruises’ Allura.
PortMiami Continues Expanding
PortMiami isn’t finished expanding, either. Royal Caribbean’s new Terminal G is currently under construction and expected to open in 2027, adding further capacity as passenger numbers continue to climb. The new terminal is being built to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world, including Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class.
With more than a week remaining in the fiscal year at the time of publication, PortMiami’s final passenger count won’t be known until after September 30. However, the 10-million milestone underscores the rapid growth in cruise traffic at the Florida port.
