Tidal wave of growth for cruise industry
Few believed outgoing Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Bob Dickinson two decades ago when he said his company would have a fleet of ten ships in the near future. But Carnival now has 22 “fun ships.”
The growth of the cruise business is evident in one fact: a total of 10 new ships are set to take to the sea between now and December 2008, with an additional 10 to follow in 2009.
So what’s on the horizon for various cruise operators? Some points to consider:
· Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem makes its inaugural cruise this December from New York City with amenities that include a four-lane bowling alley.
· MSC Cruises has two ships debuting in 2008: MSC Poesia first, followed by MSC Fantasia.
· Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas in 2008 — unlike its predecessors, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas — will homeport in Europe, which reflects the growth of cruising in the region and the seamless ability of an America cruise line to operate on foreign soil.
· Carnival comes out with Carnival Splendor in July 2008, and it will also sail in Europe
· Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice starting in 2008 will have the unusual feature of a private dining room dedicated to healthy food.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025