What do you want on a cruise? How private resorts change travel.

The cruise ship is about to navigate the ambiguous ocean.

Do travelers want faster water slides? Or how many decks will reach your 30s? Do they still want to hike across all seven continents? Or stay on the boat and drink some fruity cocktails?

Growth in cruise ship movements is beginning to slow compared to the post-pandemic boom. That trend includes cruise lines that are considering several ways people will keep on board.

Some have created new private resorts. Others are doubling with super-luxury luxury trips. Still others offer river cruises.

The way this all unfolds will affect South Florida and Sunshine. It is home to the Port Everglades in three largest passenger cruise ports in the United States: Port Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale. The industry is filling around 130,000 jobs in Florida.

Private island

In December, Royal Caribbean will debut Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, the third all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas. The company has promised that the resort will include the “world’s largest swim-up bar.” It spans 17 acres of land with seven beach bars and a “pool for all atmospheres.” The project is a partnership with the Bahamian government.

This is the Royal Caribbean’s third private island, following a perfect day in the Bahamas and Lavadie Cocosei in Haiti, where the company suspends its travel.

Details: New cruise ship interior: 22 decks, dozen restaurants, malls. Take the tour

MSC Cruises remodeled Ocean Kay MSC Marine Reserve, a private island in the Bahamas in 2024, adding a private yacht club and solar farm. Currently, Cruise Line creates a second private island near the original thanks to Ocean Kay’s dr project.

Ryan Leah, a frequent 37-year-old cruiser from Miami, is drawn to the idea.

“I’ve been to port a number of times, so I prefer private islands,” Leah said.

“They are comfortable, safe and relaxed,” he said. “You know it’s not going to bother you.”

Luxury trip

Some cruise lines create more high-end, luxurious cruises. MSC Cruise, which opened a modern new terminal in Port Miami in April, is betting on it.

Explora Journeys is the luxury company it owns, with two ships, the Explora I and the Explora II, sailing from Miami from the winter season starting November. Each offers over 20 trips, 8 or 16 nights. Many sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean. That includes the larger and smaller Antilles, St. John’s and Tortola lagoons.

The Explora III, a new ship that will begin voyages in the summer of 2026, will travel 13 times from Port Miami from November 2026. This is mainly La Romana in the Dominican Republic, not just San Juan and the Caribbean.

Publishing Cruise Critics note that every cabin on the Explorer I is a suite, each with an outdoor terrace. “The suites mirror public spaces designed to feel like boutique hotels and rooms at luxury resorts, rather than cruise ships,” wrote one reviewer. “The line achieved this not only on decoration, but on scale as well as modern and neutral.”

Of course, these trips are not for everyone. An 8-night trip starts at around $3,000 per person.

One catalyst for MSC to push further into the high end is how expensive there is on the land.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, told Miami Beach audiences in April at the annual Seatrade Cruise Global Conference whether he found things on the land when he visited.

“When I saw the price…it’s incredible,” he said. “Dinner alone is just like a day on a gorgeous boat.”

It helped to convince him that MSC was on the right track.

“How can I do it wrong?” asked Vago.

Will euphoria end for the cruise ship industry?

The cruise industry has grown enormously as the Covid-19 pandemic declined and millions decided to jump into the bucket list.

According to a new report from the Trade Group Cruise Lines International Association, in 2024, 35 million people won marine cruises worldwide, up 9% from 2023. That’s almost twice the total NFL participants in the 2024 regular season.

However, growth rates are declining. The report predicts growth of 3% in 2027 and 2% in 2028.

The 310 marine vessels operating in 2025 are up just 2% from the previous year. This is the lowest growth since at least 2018, except for the 2021 pandemic year.

And there are other challenges.

Cities around the world impose restrictions on large ships docking at ports.

In January, on the French Riviera, Mayor Nice issued a law banning cruise ships that prohibit more than 900 passengers from being docked into the port. Last year, Juneau, Alaska, had a voting measure on Saturday banning ships from docking. Voters refused, but it gave life to other ways to limit cruise tourism. In November, voters in Bar Harbor, Maine chose to maintain the limit of 1,000 passengers per day.

Cities that make it difficult for big cruise ships to dock are one concern. But even busy ports have finite space and industry analysts say they need to deal with the crowds quickly.

For example, Portmiami can handle 12 ships simultaneously when it finishes all three berths at the new MSC terminal that was launched in April. Earlier this year, we set a record one morning when 10 ships arrived.

“They may have room to build one or two more docks,” said cruise expert Stewart Chillon. “But what?”

The author of Cruise Guy, who takes at least 10 cruises a year, states, “You can build a new ship, where are you going to put it?”

A Florida neighbor in Port Miami to the north had already had to face that question. Last year, Port Canaveral suspended efforts to expand its port after the state’s Commerce Department and transportation department opposed it, saying it would plague the space coast. Tampa ports have height restrictions.

This could lead to one of the biggest trends in cruises visiting private islands held or built by cruise companies.

The first one was launched by Norwegian cruise line, the Great Stirlap Kay, dates back to 1977. These were early days for the cruise company. It was also “The Love Boat,” which debuted on ABC TV. But they are now as popular as ever.

“Cruise lines are limited,” said Chiron, the cruise guy, at a place where they can dock. “So they have to create these destinations.”

New locations and faces for the cruise

Next year, Royal Caribbean will open another private port in Mexico, Royal Beach Club Cozumel. Guests can enjoy snorkel, kayaking, tequila tasting and cooking classes. The resort includes a swim-up bar, a street market and private cabanas. In 2027, we will be releasing the perfect day dub in Mexico. Each will enable “new adventures in the Western Caribbean,” the company said.

In particular, the Mexican islands will be closer to Galveston, Texas than other destinations. This could create a test to see if Galveston could compete with major South Florida ports. Galveston is about 50 miles from Houston and is home to around 2 million people.

Doral-based Carnival told the Miami Herald it expects its own private development in the Bahamas, Lady Celebration Key, for its sailing trip starting in July. Located south of Grand Bahama Island and about 17 miles northeast of Freeport, the resort has its own pier with two berths where the Carnival’s biggest ship can dock.

In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths, allowing a total of four carnival ships to dock at the same time. The $600 million region will feature water slides, scuba diving, other sports and excursions for kids. And there are over 30 restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming.

Carnival is so enthusiastic about the key to celebrations that 20 of the 27 ships include all five ships, known as the House of Portomiami, and all five ships, including Carnival Celebrations, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Magic. Ships departing from New Orleans, Galveston and Baltimore will also head there this year.

In addition to providing additional alternative locations to dock on the ship, private resorts will also provide travelers with more beach time, expand group activities and bring more money to the cruise line.

The justification of the business was expressed by Josh Weinstein’s president, chief executive officer, and Carnival Corporation’s chief climate officer. He said at a cruise meeting held in Miami Beach in April that a private island or resort would “gain more audiences, gain more customers, and ultimately bring in more demand.”

Cruise companies hope that applies to luxury travelers as well.

The Royal Caribbean has been playing in that space all along in Antarctica.

By the end of 2025, a “Antarctica Bridge Fly Cruise Program” will be available, allowing travelers to fly directly from Santiago, Chile to Puerto Williams. But prior to that, guests can stay in a 150-room hotel. This is a sporal lint located at 55 South in Puerto Williams near Beagle Channel and Ushuaia.

The site, which calls itself “the southernmost hotel on earth,” is expected to open by the end of this year. It overlooks the waterway and is surrounded by forests, water and snowy mountains of Patagonia. Amenities include a fitness centre, gift shops, lounges and large restaurants.

The hotel and expedition cruise ship is organized by Silversea Cruises, the super-luxury and expedition Royal Caribbean, which was acquired in 2018. Silversea has three expedition ships.

Then there’s a river cruise.

In 2027, Royal Caribbean will begin offering European riverside travel with its subsidiary Celebrity River Cruises. They have already ordered 10 ships and will compete against famous river airlines like the Vikings.

Whether these trends dodge uncertainty is another question.

Trump’s tariffs

President Donald Trump used his enforcement power to raise tariffs on China to 145%. He introduces a 10% tax on all imports from most countries, including close relatives and those with trade deficits against the US. Still, businesses are reporting slowdowns.

In the Seattrade Cruise Conference in April and subsequent revenue calls, Cruise executives admit that they are not immunized by the policy.

“Uncertainty and ripple effects will absolutely affect the industry,” said Weinstein of Carnival.

Still, he said, “we had more bookings than ever.”

Meanwhile, during a conference call held on April 29 to discuss the results of the first quarter, Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty said the company is booked at over 86% per year, and “we have no real impact, there hasn’t changed the cancellation rate, and there hasn’t actually been a change in consumer behavior.” The company reported that it served 2.2 million guests in the first quarter, up 9% from the same period in 2024, saying traveller spending was higher than a year ago.

That could be partly due to travelers like Ryan Lea. Miami residents have taken an average of four to five cruises over the past few years.

“It’s going to stay the same this year,” he said.

He has already booked one trip by Virgin voyage to the Dominican Republic in October.

Rea feels he is still cruised the most economical way of vacation and he is regularly promoted as he is regularly and gambles while on board.

However, he also believes that cruise companies can prey on tariffs due to their influence with government leaders.

“Cruise line,” he said, “It’s pretty strong.”