This website uses cookies

Read our Privacy policy and Terms of use for more information.

A new data point from Disney is the latest signal that cruises are playing an increasingly important role in the company’s growth.

A “global guests” metric, which made its first appearance in a quarterly filing this month, blends park attendance with passenger cruise days. That count was up 4% in the first nine months of the fiscal year, outpacing both domestic and international attendance growth.

Numbers tucked away in a subsidiary’s financial records help explain why. Magical Cruise Company, a United Kingdom-based subsidiary behind an undisclosed portion of Disney Cruise Line’s earnings, had about $3 billion in revenue in 2025, up 20% from the year prior.  

The growth comes as Disney funnels roughly $60 billion into its experiences segment, with about 20% earmarked to help more than double its fleet to 13 ships by the end of 2030. The cruise line is small in comparison to its competitors, but Disney’s advantage is in its pricing power.

“They’re pretty small, but they get attention because families love going on a Disney cruise,” said Truist analyst Patrick Scholes. “Mickey commands a big premium.”   

91% of Travel Executives Want In on Saudi Arabia

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FUND + SKIFT

Inbound tourism to Saudi Arabia has grown nearly 70% since 2019, and 91% of the 434 global travel executives surveyed are already investing or actively exploring it. A recent report with the Tourism Development Fund maps where the opportunities, and the risks, actually are.

GET THE REPORT

EDITOR’S PICKS

Disney Has a New Metric to Capture Its Growing Bet on Cruises

August 19, 2026

Disney doesn't break out its cruise financials, but a U.K. subsidiary offers more details on the sector's growth.

The Next Dollar: Three Competing Strategies at Lindblad, Intrepid, and Travelopia

August 20, 2026

Lindblad is buying out founders, Travelopia is pruning an asset-heavy portfolio, and Intrepid is buying brands to strengthen its ground network. Each of these companies is deciding which parts of the trip it must control.

Taj Starts Bringing Staff Back to Dubai Hotels, Others Cautious on Q4 Recovery

August 20, 2026

Dubai’s occupancy rebound is partly a supply story, not a demand one — hotels are using the war to do renovations they needed anyway.

The UK’s Hidden-Fee Crackdown Is Coming for Travel

August 20, 2026

An investigation isn't a verdict, but the UK regulator no longer needs a court to reach one, and it can fine a company up to 10% of global turnover once it does. The travel industry will be watching very closely.

Delta’s Texas Ambitions: Is Austin Its Next Hub?

August 19, 2026

Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the U.S., and American, Southwest, and United all have a major presence in the state. Now, Delta is looking to cash in with more growth out of Austin and San Antonio.

The 2% Fee Behind the American Travel Boom

August 19, 2026

Airlines and hotels have built huge businesses on America’s uncapped card fees, but rarely talk about what makes them possible.

The Substack Renaissance in Travel Media Comes With a Catch

August 17, 2026

Substack provides space for travel writers with strong points of view honed from years of experience. The best ones embrace the freedom and avoid quick takes.

Saudi OTA Almosafer on Track for Year-End IPO Despite Iran War Disruption

August 14, 2026

Almosafer’s growth story now runs on domestic demand. That’s a bet on Makkah, the Red Sea, and Qiddiya outlasting a war that hit outbound travel first.

Overseas Travel to the U.S. Has Fallen for Four Straight Months — Despite the World Cup

August 13, 2026

In June and July, the United States ushered in visitors from dozens of countries as a World Cup host. It wasn’t enough to put an end to disappointing overseas tourism figures.

Travel Creators Follow the Money to Shorter Trips

August 13, 2026

Travelers are more interested in shorter, closer trips. Creators are adjusting their content to match.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE WANDERLUST NEWSLETTER

SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK

Overseas visits to the U.S. fall for the fourth straight month despite the World Cup, travel creators are pivoting hard to shorter and cheaper trips because that's what their audiences can actually afford, and a big question worth asking about AI travel tools: who are they really working for?

GET THE PODCAST

SKIFT TRAVEL 200

How are public travel tech companies performing around the world? The Skift Travel 200 pulls the data you need to know to understand the market. Paid subscribers get full access here.

SEE THE ST 200