New York City Cruise Industry Generated a Total Economic Impact of Nearly $200 Million in 2012

New York City’s cruise industry generated a total economic impact of nearly $200 million in 2012. The 2012 Economic Impact Study, conducted by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, detailed an increase in passengers of 32 percent since 2009, when the city first began analyzing industry data. These passengers, along with crew, spent more than $120 million in New York City, an increase of more than 30 percent since 2009. 

With a nearly 40 percent increase in ship calls and a 30 percent increase in spending over the last four years, the study’s findings underscore the importance of cruise to the city’s tourism industry and overall economy. Tourism in 2012 brought a record 52 million city visitors who collectively spent $36.9 billion. Tourism is the city’s fifth largest industry, impacting 356,000 local jobs across all five boroughs.

In 2012, there were 251 ship calls at the Manhattan and Brooklyn Cruise Terminals, up from 181 in 2009. Total passengers increased from 445,718 in 2009 to 587,727 in 2012. Spending by passengers and crew increased from $93.8 million in 2009 to $121.5 million in 2012.

Spending was broken out into three categories: embarking passengers, who began their cruise in New York City; transit passengers, who took cruises that stopped in the city; and crew. Embarking passengers were the largest spenders with an estimated $100 million in direct spending, followed by on shore crew spending at $18.8 million, and transit passenger spending at $3.1 million. The largest spending categories for embarking passengers were hotel accommodations at more than $41 million and food and beverages at more than $18.2 million.

The majority of cruise passengers continue to come from outside the city. These passengers often arrange stays at a New York City hotel prior to or following their cruise, leading to average spending per passenger at $462 during a two night stay. NYC & Company last year launched a cruise microsite at www.nycgo.com/cruisenyc that includes information for consumers on the city’s cruise terminals as well as local events and suggested pre-cruise and post-cruise itineraries. 

Beginning in May 2012, the Disney Magic made New York City its homeport, sailing 20 cruises from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. Disney was one of six major cruise lines to make New York City its homeport in 2012; the others were Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Holland America at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and Cunard and Princess at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. This May, Norwegian Cruise Line’s new, 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway, will make New York City its year-round home port.

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