TAMPA, Fla. — Many travelers are choosing more affordable vacation options, helping drive record cruise traffic at Port Tampa Bay.

While overall road and air travel is expected to remain relatively steady this Fourth of July holiday, travel by cruise ship, train and bus is projected to increase by 5%, according to financial website Nerdwallet.

That trend reflects a growing demand for budget-friendly trips.

At Port Tampa Bay, the holiday travel rush is already underway, with cruise terminals filled with passengers eager to begin their summer vacations.

Port officials said the facility is on pace to welcome nearly a quarter-million more cruise passengers this year, representing an expected 8% increase in annual passenger traffic.

Officials said they expect more than 10,000 passengers to depart from Port Tampa Bay on Fourth of July cruises this year, with two holiday sailings already underway.

For many travelers, the holiday also marks their first cruise experience.

“I don’t know what to expect because I’ve never done this before,” said cruise passenger Caleb Cochran, traveling with friends for a wedding celebration. “But for America’s 250, this is going to be a pretty fun experience.”

According to Port Tampa Bay Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Raul Alfonso, affordability continues to be one of the biggest factors driving cruise demand.

“When you look at if you’re going to have to fly somewhere—a family of four—you have the airfare and hotels and meals,” Alfonso said. “It’s all-inclusive. It’s the perfect vacation for a family to go, and you just don’t worry. By the numbers, it is the best deal by far.”

The port experienced its largest surge in passengers during this year’s spring break season, traditionally the busiest period for the cruise industry.

As passenger numbers continue to climb, port officials say the primary challenge is available capacity.

Port Tampa Bay currently operates three cruise terminals, with a fourth terminal under construction. Once completed, the expansion is expected to increase the port’s capacity to approximately 2 million cruise passengers annually.

“We have huge demand, and we have great support from our cruise lines,” Alfonso said. “They love Tampa, they love what we’re doing, and we’re planning long term.”