2020 cruise passengers figures underline the sharp impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on cruises. The industry lost more than 20 million passengers between 2019 and 2020 (from 27.5 million to 7 million). Since then, the recovery has been impressive: 31.7 million passengers cruised in 2023, and forecasts estimate the reach of 40 million cruise passengers per year as early as 2028.