A record number of cruise passengers visit Boston

BOSTON (AP) - A record-high 380,000 cruise ship passengers visited Boston this season, a 23 percent increase over last year.

The Massachusetts Port Authority reported Thursday that 117 cruise ships docked in Boston during the 2012 season, a 9 percent increase over the previous season. In addition to the passengers, the ships brought more than 100,000 crew members. About 9,000 passengers came to Boston on unscheduled visits on ships that rode out Superstorm Sandy in the city.

The agency says 63 cruises either started or ended in Boston, while the remaining 54 spent a day or more docked in Boston, allowing passengers to spend money in city stores, restaurants and on sightseeing attractions.

The Cruise Lines International Association estimates the industry led to $452 million in direct spending and generated 7,500 jobs.

Cox Media Group