PortMiami Reaches 10M Cruise Ship Passengers- Reclaims “World’s Largest Cruise Port” Title
PortMiami is the world’s busiest cruise port, serving more than 10 million cruise ship passengers in 2026. It is the first port to surpass that milestone, putting the South Florida hub back ahead of its Central Florida rival, Port Canaveral.
Because ports count embarking and disembarking passengers separately, that total represents about 5 million individual passengers over the first 11.5 months of fiscal year 2026.
The growth at the ports is representative of the cruise industry’s renewed rapid expansion and the introduction of more mega-cruise ships. Both PortMiami and Port Canaveral are regularly servicing cruise ships that carry 6,000 or more passengers and have become homeports to ships at 225,000 or more gross tons.
PortMiami is the location of the largest terminal, Terminal AA at the eastern end of the port, which is home to MSC Cruises and can handle up to three ships at one time.
Injuries at cruise ports are common and often occur during the busy, hazardous transition between land and ship, including slips, trips, and falls. The most common injuries at cruise ports and during related terminal or shore activities are:
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: Walking on wet gangways, uneven docks, slick terminal floors, or unpaved excursion paths frequently leads to sprains, strains, and broken bones. Bottom of Form
- Fractures and Broken Bones: Hard concrete or metal surfaces around port infrastructure cause severe wrist, arm, ankle, and hip fractures during ground-level falls.
- Soft Tissue Sprains and Strains: Twisting joints while navigating heavy luggage on ramps, boarding stairs, or tender boats.
- Cuts, Lacerations, and Contusions: Bumping against boat hardware, luggage carts, or port barriers during boarding and disembarking.
- Shore Excursion Vehicle Accidents: Crashes involving local buses, vans, or rented scooters during shore tours often result in serious injuries.
A Cruise Line’s Liability for Passenger Injuries Extends Beyond the Cruise Ship.
Cruise lines are responsible for the injuries that passengers sustain on and off the ship. Florida law is clear that cruise lines have a non-delegable responsibility to make sure that passengers are safe when being transported between the ship and shore. If you have been injured on a cruise ship, tender or in port, it is important that you seek immediate medical care and report the incident. Cruise lines often defend cases based upon a “lack of reported incident.” Also, immediately consult with an experienced passenger injury lawyer who is admitted to practice in Federal Court.
We file hundreds of lawsuits and claims every year against the major cruise lines–such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Princess, MSC, and Regent Seven Seas–on behalf of passengers who have sustained significant injuries while on cruises. Aronfeld Trial Lawyers handles passenger and crew member injury claims occurring on ships, tender boats, and at major cruise ports worldwide.
Our cruise ship accident law firm in Miami has 50 years of combined legal experience holding cruise lines accountable when people are injured aboard their vessels. We represent people from around the world who have been hurt on Carnival Cruise Ships, and those of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Princess, and others. If you have suffered a slip, trip and fall, or other accident on your cruise, call us today toll free at 1-866-597-4529 or email us at newcase@aronfeld.com for a free initial consultation and speak to an experienced lawyer. We are ready to help.