Boston’s 2025 cruise ship season is drawing to a close and, with it, the days spent guiding passengers on tours around the city. At this point every year, I wonder how much money these ships and their passengers contribute to Boston’s revenue stream.
R – L: Caribbean Princess, Queen Mary 2, SilverSeas
Until this year, figuring that out required more research time and resources than I had available and I could only pull together the crudest approximations of the actual amount. This year, however, my AI office assistant did it for me, not only charting the numbers but creating color-coded graphs and comparisons as well.
If you didn’t know these big white vessels at the Flynn Cruiseport didn’t drop a lot of money in Boston, hold on to your hat.
Before the Cruise Ships Arrive
The ships begin paying to come to Boston well before passengers actually walk down the gangway. Before their bows hit the Outer Harbor, they pay for harbor pilots to guide them in and tugboats to turn them in the Reserved Channel. They pay to dock at the Flynn Cruiseport as well as for Massport’s hookups to shore energy so they don’t have to keep their engines running. That saves fuel and stops air pollution from the giant vessels.
Key Insights:
• The 2020 pandemic dip is clearly visible across all categories.
• 2024 and 2025 show record-breaking growth, especially in local spending and excursions.
• Tug boat fees and energy hookups are rising steadily, reflecting Boston’s investment in port infrastructure and sustainability.
Cruise Ship Shore Excursions
On board, passengers sign up for shore excursions, which is where I and my fellow tour guides enter the scene. Associated revenue comes from bus rentals, driver salaries, tour guide pay and tips. In the city, cruise-ship passengers buy merchandise: tee shirts, sweatshirts and hats advertising Boston, Harvard, and events such as the Boston Marathon or the Head of the Charles. Some people collect refrigerator magnets while others buy gifts for families and grandchildren.
Tour buses awaiting passengers
Passengers also purchase food and drink, spreading out across the city to find local treats they want to sample.
Mike’s Pastry, the Omni Parker House hotel, and many seafood restaurants see a revenue bump during cruise season as passengers chow down on cannoli, lobster rolls, and Boston Cream Pie.
Visiting Local Attractions
Beyond that, we take them to places, tours, and attractions with significant entrance fees such as Boston Harbor cruises ($49), the John F. Kennedy Library ($16 – $20), Fenway Park ($25), the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum ($22), and View Boston ($34). Some folks go on their own to the New England Aquarium ($39). While the Freedom Trail has no entrance fee, businesses along the route get additional traffic.
Buses hold up to 52 people. We go to these attractions multiple times a week in the September/October heavy season. You do the math.
Do you see the pattern here? If not, this AI-generated graph illustrates how much money comes into Boston along with the cruise ships and their passengers. The dip is, of course, the pandemic but revenue across the board has been climbing steadily since then. Every year more cruise ships come to Boston. And every year the cruise lines and their passengers spend more money here.
AI doesn’t always get words right.
Key Insights:
• The 2020 shutdown is clearly marked with zero revenue across all categories.
• Local Retail & Dining consistently contributes the largest share.
• Cruise-line excursions and independent tours show strong growth post-pandemic.
• 2025 projections suggest record revenue across all categories.
Leaving Money on the Table
Virgin Brilliant Lady at the Flynn Cruiseport
Despite that, Boston is leaving a lot of revenue on the table. That includes Massport, the city and various locations. Opportunities abound for the city, the state, and attractions. All it takes is some creativity and a willingness to try new things. Some of these would cost money. Others could be had for a pittance.
It would help if city and state officials actually visited the Flynn Cruiseport when three ships are in port. They could also talk to the tour guides, including me, and others who work on the pier.
Improvements Build Revenue
I have written several times about the inadequacies of the Cruseport’’s physical plant when it comes to human beings and you can read some of them at the links below. But more new things could be implemented. With a few improvements, Massport could make even more money when next year’s season starts and even the number of cruise ships docking at the Flynn Cruiseport goes up again. More people will visit Boston. How will Boston welcome them?
More on that in the next post.
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