Lower-income households increased cruise spending by more than 5% in the first four months of 2026
Cruise vacations are booming across the US as travelers seek affordable, predictable getaways amid uncertain economic times.
Recent Bank of America (BofA) data shows cruise spending increased across all income groups in the first four months of 2026 compared with a year earlier. Spending on flights and hotels, however, fell among lower-income travelers.
About 77% of Americans plan to travel this summer, up from 74% last year. Still, nearly 40% of lower-income households say they have no summer travel plans.
Cruises remain an exception, with lower-income households increasing cruise spending by more than 5%. Middle- and higher-income households boosted cruise spending by about 10%.
Younger travelers are also driving demand. More than one-third of Americans plan to take a cruise in the next year, including 57% of Gen Z travelers.
Despite the global headlines about the recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise, analysts involved in the BofA survey note that it has not made any “meaningful impact” in customer purchases.
Another expert said that people are more worried about airfare and fuel prices than hantavirus.
Industry data shows global cruise passengers reached a record 37.2 million in 2025, rising 7.5% from 2024.