Which U.S. States Are Most Interested in Cruises?

Coastal states lead search interest in cruises, but rural interior states are seeing the fastest growth

Source: Dunhill Travel analysis of Google Trends data

While coastal states continue to lead in overall cruise interest, the fastest growth in search activity is coming from the interior of the country. Between 2022 and 2025, North Dakota saw a 93.1% increase in cruise-related Google searches—the largest of any state—followed by South Dakota (+47.2%), Wyoming (+41.4%), and Nebraska (+39.4%). These gains suggest that cruise lines are making inroads with travelers in non-coastal regions, likely aided by increased flight connectivity to major ports and the appeal of cruises as all-inclusive, cost-controlled vacations.

A notable outlier is Alaska, which posted the second-highest increase in cruise-related search interest (+54.8%) and the second-highest overall level of search activity in 2025. While Alaska is typically seen as a cruise destination, this data reflects growing interest among Alaskan residents in cruise travel. Princess Cruises was the top-searched line in the state, likely due to its long-standing presence and brand familiarity in the region.

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