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Cruise Line Operators in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld New York, United States Last Updated: January 2024 NAICS OD4338 Spotlight Report

Revenue

$36.5bn

2024

$36.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

19,838

Businesses

71

Wages

$X.Xbn

Cruise Line Operators in the US industry analysis

Cruise line operators are involved in no activities outside of the deep-sea transportation of passengers to and from foreign ports across coastal waters, rivers and lakes. Demand for cruise lines comes directly from the consumers, who are affected by a slew of different factors. COVID-19 devastated the cruise line industry. To comply with both national and global health initiatives, cruises were shut down for the majority of 2020, leading to a massive decline in revenue. But elastic demand for cruises saved the industry in 2021, as pent-up consumer demand led to a two-year boom in both demand and revenue. So operators were able to return to pre-pandemic revenue levels in 2022, off the back of large-scale vaccine efforts and the opening of US economy. Consequently, revenue is expected to grow by a CAGR of 3.9% to $36.5 billion in 2024, with an anticipated 4.9% increase during the year as profit approaches 12.6%.

Trends and Insights

  • Oil hikes and rising inflation are dampening the downstream demand from consumers and jamming up operations across the board. While both are expected to recover, these trends could carry over into the next period.
  • Pent-up demand has increased cruise bookings in the wake of the pandemic. Still, inflation has made it difficult for consumers to afford cruises.
  • The companies in the industry face high levels of competition from each other. Thus, new products and services, as well as marketing efforts are crucial to success.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $36.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

A massive influx of pent-up demand lifted the industry in 2021

  • Following a double-digit downturn in the industry in 2020, pent-up demand would propel the industry past where it was during COVID-19, eventually passing pre-pandemic levels in 2022.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Cruise Line Operators in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The major comeback of demand seen in the previous period is expected to level off

  • The post-pandemic growth exhibited during the recovery in 2021 has run its course, and demand is set to return to a more normal rate moving forward into the next period.

Biggest companies in the Cruise Line Operators in the US

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Cruise Line Operators in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Passenger ticket sales and Onboard services sales. Passenger ticket sales is the largest segment of the Cruise Line Operators in the US.

Trends and Insights

Passenger ticket sales affected by seasonality

  • Passenger tickets typically include the fare to get on the cruise, reserve a room and gain access to onboard activities, amenities, meals and entertainment. A lot of baseline activities are provided with the purchase of a ticket.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides deep-sea transportation of passengers to or from foreign ports, in coastal waters, the Great Lakes or deep seas between ports of the United States, Puerto Rico and US island possessions and protectorates.

What's included in this industry?

Deep-sea passenger transportationOcean passenger transportationOnboard hospitality services

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FUEL SURCHARGETHE JONES ACTGLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 483112 - Cruise Line Operators in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Oil hikes and rising inflation are dampening the downstream demand from consumers and jamming up operations across the board. While both are expected to recover, these trends...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Pent-up demand has increased cruise bookings in the wake of the pandemic. Still, inflation has made it difficult for consumers to afford cruises.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The companies in the industry face high levels of competition from each other. Thus, new products and services, as well as marketing efforts are crucial to success.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The federal government maintains exclusive jurisdiction over the navigable water of the United States, including the nation's deep draft channels and harbors. This authority ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Fuel is one of the most significant expenses. Cruise lines reserve the right to charge per-day costs to patrons traveling on board; these can range anywhere from $5.00 to hun...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States is $36.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in 2024?

There are 71 businesses in the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What does the Cruise Line Operators in the US in United States include?

Deep-sea passenger transportation and Ocean passenger transportation are part of the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry.

How competitive is the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Cruise Line Operators in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

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International industries

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.