The cruise industry is the fastest growing travel sector in the world. We assign the same priorities to keeping guests and crew healthy, safe and secure, and to protecting the environment as we do to other critical business matters.

This site is where you can learn more about our exciting industry. As a global industry, cruise lines are primarily regulated at the international level, but as our ships visit ports in countries around the world, we also comply with a complex framework of flag state regulations (countries where ships are registered) and port state regulations (countries where our ships visit, such as the U.S.). The cruise industry has evolved to be a leader in innovation and technological advancement. Cruise vacations are fun, safe and offer a wide variety of amenities and recreational activities that appeal to all vacationers. In fact, more than 13 million travelers worldwide enjoyed a cruise vacation in 2008.

Please take a moment to browse through this Web site to learn more about:
» The Cruise Industry’s Commitment to Passenger Safety and Security
» The Cruise Industry’s Commitment to Public Health and Medical Capabilities
» The Cruise Industry’s Commitment to the Environment

Cruise ship

What People Are Saying

It reinforces to consumers and to the industry itself that passenger safety and well being takes top priority.

— CruiseOne agent in USA Today, April 30, 2009

We have no evidence or data to suggest there is significantly more crime or change to the nature of crime affecting U.S. citizens aboard cruise ships.

— U.S. Coast Guard Testimony (Committee On Transportation & Infrastructure, September 19, 2007)

[Norovirus] was unjustifiably dubbed the ‘cruise ship virus' by unknowing media who did not understand why cruise ships are the only entity required to report outbreaks of Norovirus. The CDC does this because ships are the only self-contained environments where they can study an outbreak of Norovirus and learn something about it.

— Paul Motter, CruiseMates, March 20, 2009

Cruise vessels are environmentally aware, and have sound environmental systems and operational practices in place to minimize environmental impacts.

— Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, February, 2009

» More from the Newsroom

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Facts at a Glance

  • The cruise line industry generated $40 billion to the U.S. economy in 2008.
  • In 2008, the industry created more than 357,000 jobs in the U.S.
  • Each cruise ship has more than 60 safety, environmental and health inspections each year.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard inspects all cruise ships in the U.S. to certify compliance with federal and international regulations.
  • In 2008, CLIA ships received an average Center for Disease Control sanitation score of just above 97, surpassing the minimum inspection score of 85.
  • Cruise line waste management and recycling programs are more stringent than those in most cities and ports.
  • Nine out of 10 outbreaks of norovirus take place at land-based locations, such as schools, daycare centers, hospitals and nursing homes.