CLIA: the cruise industry is experiencing strong growth
The cruise sector continues to represent a strategic engine for the European economy, generating €64.1 billion in 2024, up 15.7% from €55.3 billion in 2023, with a direct contribution of €28 billion to the European Union’s GDP.
The figures, presented by CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association during the European Summit in Madeira, confirm not only the continued expansion of cruise tourism but also the sector’s structural importance within the wider maritime, industrial, and tourism economy of the continent. Over the past decade, cruising has evolved from a niche segment into a complex ecosystem that links shipbuilding, port infrastructure, logistics, hospitality, and destination development across many regions of Europe.
Budd Darr, CLIA president and CEO
The data also highlight the sector’s significant impact on employment, supporting approximately 445,000 jobs and generating nearly €16 billion in wages. These positions extend far beyond the ships themselves and involve a wide network of industries and services connected to cruise operations. From port workers and logistics operators to hotel staff, tour guides, transportation providers, and local artisans, the economic benefits of cruise activity ripple across a diverse range of sectors. In many cases, cruise tourism contributes to sustaining employment in regions that rely heavily on maritime activities or seasonal tourism.
Despite cruises accounting for less than 3% of global tourism, their economic impact is particularly significant because it is broadly distributed across multiple destinations and economic sectors. As highlighted by Bud Darr, President and CEO of CLIA, cruising often plays a crucial role in supporting alternative destinations, encouraging travel outside the peak summer season, and diversifying tourism flows. The benefits extend from major port cities to smaller coastal communities, island territories, and peripheral regions that might otherwise struggle to attract consistent visitor numbers. By creating demand for local services, excursions, and hospitality, cruise tourism contributes to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in global travel markets while generating tangible benefits for local territories.
Direct cruise-related spending in 2024 reached €31 billion, reflecting a wide range of economic activities linked to cruise operations. Of this total, €14 billion was allocated to goods and services purchased from European suppliers, highlighting the strong integration between cruise companies and regional industries. Another €10 billion was invested in new shipbuilding, confirming the sector’s central role in sustaining Europe’s highly specialized shipbuilding industry. Cruise ship construction remains one of the most technologically advanced segments of maritime manufacturing, requiring complex engineering, highly skilled labor, and extensive collaboration among thousands of suppliers.
The industrial dimension of the cruise sector is particularly visible in the shipbuilding order book. By 2036, European shipyards are expected to build 76 new cruise ships, representing approximately 98% of the global order book and a total value of €77.1 billion. These projects involve a sophisticated network of companies specializing in ship design, propulsion systems, interior outfitting, digital technologies, and advanced maritime engineering. As a result, the cruise industry has become one of the most important drivers of innovation in European shipyards, helping maintain technical expertise and industrial capacity that benefit the broader maritime sector.
The order book therefore represents not only new ships entering the global fleet but also a true “forge” of expertise for the future of maritime engineering. As emphasized by Cruise Lines International Association, the cruise sector has played a fundamental role in sustaining the technological capabilities of European shipyards. Without the constant demand generated by cruise ship construction, many of the specialized skills required to build complex vessels would risk disappearing. Today, the global order book includes 89 cruise ships representing approximately 243,300 berths, with European shipyards responsible for almost the entire pipeline of new vessels.
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Within Europe, major investments are concentrated in countries with long-standing shipbuilding traditions. Italy alone accounts for around $43.1 billion in shipbuilding projects, while Germany contributes approximately $19.9 billion, out of a total of $85.5 billion invested in European yards. These investments support thousands of engineers, technicians, and skilled workers, while also stimulating innovation in fields such as energy efficiency, digital ship management systems, and sustainable propulsion technologies.
Beyond its industrial dimension, the cruise sector also has a strong impact on the global maritime workforce. Worldwide, the industry employs approximately 300,000 seafarers from more than 150 countries, reflecting the truly international character of cruise operations. On a single cruise ship it is not uncommon to find crew members representing up to 70 different nationalities, working together to deliver the complex hospitality and operational services required by modern cruise ships. The cruise sector also stands out for its high level of female participation, with approximately 94% of women seafarers working within this segment of the maritime industry.
Equally notable are the levels of job satisfaction and retention among cruise industry employees, which regularly exceed 80%. For many maritime professionals, cruise ships offer stable employment, opportunities for career advancement, and the chance to work in a multicultural environment that fosters both technical and hospitality skills. This combination of professional development and international collaboration has helped make the cruise sector one of the most dynamic segments of the global maritime labor market.
The membership of the Cruise Lines International Association currently includes 45 cruise lines operating 310 ships with a combined capacity of 637,847 berths. These companies represent around 90% of the global ocean cruise segment, giving CLIA a central role in coordinating industry policies, sustainability initiatives, and regulatory dialogue with governments and international organizations.
Environmental performance has also become an increasingly important priority for the sector. According to CLIA’s 2025 Environmental Technologies and Practices Report, 91.6% of ships are included in environmental monitoring and reporting initiatives, while more than half of the capacity currently on order will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). In addition, by 2028 approximately 75% of the global cruise fleet capacity is expected to be equipped for shore power connectivity, allowing ships to connect to port electrical grids and reduce emissions in port by up to 98% where infrastructure is available.
The adoption of innovative technologies is accelerating across the industry. Modern cruise ships increasingly incorporate dual- and multi-fuel propulsion systems, fuel cells, battery technologies, biofuels, air lubrication systems designed to reduce hull resistance, advanced hull coatings that improve energy efficiency, exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS), and advanced wastewater treatment systems (AWTS). These technologies are helping ensure that the next generation of cruise ships will be more sustainable without compromising operational capabilities or passenger comfort.
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Importantly, many of the vessels currently under construction are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing them to adapt to future fuels such as methanol, synthetic fuels, or advanced biofuels as these technologies become commercially viable. This forward-looking approach is intended to provide long-term technological resilience while supporting the industry’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Taken together, these figures confirm that cruising is far more than a tourism activity. It represents an integrated and strategic economic ecosystem capable of supporting local communities, generating employment, and sustaining Europe’s leadership in naval innovation and maritime engineering. According to Nikos Mertzanidis, Executive Director of CLIA in Europe, for many island and maritime regions cruise tourism provides a stable and predictable source of revenue that can help balance tourism flows and support sustainable regional development.
In many Mediterranean and Northern European ports, cruise passengers also contribute significantly to local economies through shore excursions, cultural visits, transportation services, and purchases from local businesses. This interaction between cruise tourism and local communities helps distribute economic benefits more widely, reinforcing the importance of responsible destination management and collaboration between cruise lines, ports, and regional authorities.
Looking ahead, the European cruise sector appears well positioned to continue combining economic growth with technological innovation and environmental responsibility. The coming years will likely be characterized by the introduction of more energy-efficient ships, increased investment in port infrastructure capable of supporting shore power and alternative fuels, and the continued development of itineraries that highlight Europe’s diverse coastal regions and cultural heritage.
In this context, cruising is increasingly recognized not only as a driver of tourism but also as a strategic component of Europe’s maritime economy. By integrating shipbuilding, advanced technology, logistics, hospitality, and destination development, the cruise sector continues to reinforce Europe’s leadership in global maritime innovation while supporting sustainable economic opportunities for coastal and island communities across the continent.
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