Strong rebound at Flynn Cruiseport Boston in 2022

300k+ passengers return to cruising after two-year hiatus

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) saw business bounce back at Flynn Cruiseport Boston this year with 310,767 passengers and 128 cruise ships this season, including 56 homeport vessels and 72 port of calls. The Cruiseport served a record number of homeport ships this year with five vessels from four different cruise lines, and saw the number of passengers and ships in October surpass that of the same time frame in 2019. Generating more than $135 million in annual economic impact and supporting more than 2,200 jobs, cruising from Boston supports hundreds of businesses throughout the region, from transportation providers and restaurants, to tourist attractions, airlines and hotels, souvenir shops, and provisioning companies that supply the ship. Prior to the pandemic, Flynn Cruiseport Boston served a record 402,346 passengers on 138 ships in 2019.

“We were thrilled to see that the demand for cruising continues to be strong as we work to support the recovery of travel and tourism in New England,” said Massport Port Director Joseph Morris. “Boston has grown as both a homeport and destination port of call for multiple cruise lines, and we look forward to expanding our itineraries for customers in the future.”

The 2022 cruise season started in April and ended before Thanksgiving. Massport celebrated 12 maiden voyages to Boston, including Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Pearl, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Legend, and both the Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess from Princess Cruises. The Cruiseport supported itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Greenland/Iceland, and Denmark from 19 different cruise lines. The facility also welcomed its first hybrid cruise ship, the MS Roald Amundsen, from Hurtigruten. The Amundsen is a battery-supported cruise ship with a capacity of 530 passengers and 160 crew members. 

Boston is well-known in the cruise industry for having one of the best airport-to-cruiseport proximities in the U.S, with Logan International Airport just a short ride away. This season, the Cruiseport served several new itineraries that either started or ended in Boston. In October, Celebrity Summit offered a 12-day one-way cruise from Boston to the Caribbean and ended in Miami, FL. Vantage Cruise Line’s Ocean Explorer departed Boston on Oct. 29 for a 10-day cruise along the East Coast and ended in Nassau, Bahamas. Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas offered a 14-day “Arctic Crossing” cruise that started in Copenhagen, Denmark and ended in Boston on Sept. 18.

Massport welcomed back onboard events at the Cruiseport in 2022 as well, highlighting our loyal travel agent partnerships that enable the cruise lines to continue expanding in the New England market. Flynn Cruiseport celebrated Celebrity Cruises’ inaugural homeport season in Boston with a fireside chat featuring their CEO and Gloucester native Lisa Lutoff-Perlo and Massport CEO Lisa Wieland. This event provided over 100 regional travel agents the opportunity to engage with a cruise line executive with local roots, while celebrating female leadership in the maritime sector here in New England.

“Our first season homeporting in Boston was a great success and we can’t wait to build on it for the 2023 season,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “As a native of the Boston area, I’m thrilled to see the region thrive and congratulate all of the teams within the Massachusetts Port Authority on a truly stellar year.”

Flynn Cruiseport was delighted to welcome Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride and the James Beard Foundation for an event with local chef and owner of Mei Mei Dumplings Irene Li, which included a cooking demonstration and meet-and-greet with local and regional media partners. Windstar is the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, raising awareness of the epicurean delights that can be discovered in ports around the world.

“Flynn Cruiseport Boston is an ideal location for Holland America Line to homeport a significant portion of our North American voyages,” said President of Holland America Line Gus Antorcha. “Whether exploring Canada and New England or discovering the wonders of Greenland, Iceland and the British Isles, guests can sail roundtrip from Boston and enjoy the best service at sea.”

“Massport is a valued business partner and Boston is one of our most popular destinations with nearly 40,000 Princess guests experiencing the city’s unique history, culture and landmarks each year,” said President of Princess Cruises John Padgett. "Many thanks to Massport for yet another successful cruise season from Flynn Cruiseport Boston and we're looking forward to an even more successful season in 2023."

The 2023 cruise season is expected to be just as robust as 2022, set to begin on March 31 with the Norwegian Pearl sailing to Bermuda.

“Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises congratulate Flynn Cruiseport Boston on a strong comeback year,” said Senior Vice President of Port Development and Construction of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd Juan Kuryla. “The health of the cruise industry is critical for port communities as its contributions help stimulate the local economy and support infrastructure investments. Flynn Cruiseport Boston is the homeport for one of our most popular itineraries to Bermuda and we are excited to continue our strong partnership.”

Boston is one of America’s oldest cities. Visitors can experience revolutionary landmarks along the Freedom Trail, visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, stroll through Boston Common to Faneuil Hall, or tour Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball.  Neighborhoods such as the North End, Beacon Hill and the Back Bay offer unique flavors, sights and sounds for every interest. Tourists can also experience diverse and vibrant neighborhoods such as Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Chinatown, providing unique and curated culinary, artistic, and historical connections for those experiencing Boston’s 23 neighborhoods. Boston is a city where tradition and innovation blend to create a unique cosmopolitan destination.

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Powering What’s Possible. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport.