This is when you should seas the opportunity to go on a cruise.

The American Automobile Association estimates that 20.7 million Americans will go on ocean cruises this year, a higher number than originally projected. In 2026, the organization projects a record-setting year with 21.7 million Americans setting sail.

First-time cruisers are a huge part of the industry’s growth, with 31% of passengers — including an increasing number of millennials and Gen Zs — in the last two years being new to cruising, according to the 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report .

And the industry continues to evolve with travelers’ interests as well. Expedition and exploration cruises — which offer more stops to remote locations with more cultural engagement and experts who lead excursions — are the

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