Introduction

There are so many great things you can say about cruising.

• It's the best vacation value.
• It's the "hot" vacation - appealing to a wide range of tastes, lifestyles, pocketbooks and interests.
• It is the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry.
• Nine out of 10 people who cruise say they'll cruise again.
• By sailing the seven seas, cruise ships visit - literally - all corners of the earth, calling at more than 1,800 ports worldwide.
• More than 90 million people have enjoyed the safety, comfort and excitement of traveling on cruise ships over the past two decades.
• According to the U.S. Coast Guard, cruise ships continue to be one of the safest forms of transportation.
• Cruise lines are committed to protecting the ocean environment.
• Cruise lines are investing substantial amounts of money and exercising worldwide leadership in developing state of the art waste treatment equipment and procedures, as well as educating passengers and crew in environmentally friendly practices.
• Cruise companies contributed $30 billion to the U.S. economy in 2004.
• Travel agents and the cruise industry have forged a strong partnership over the years, with nearly 90 percent of cruises sold through travel agents. 
  

More and more people are getting onboard the cruise vacation bandwagon. And as cruising gains visibility and popularity, it is getting more attention…within the travel industry, in the business world and in the media.

The overwhelming bulk of the attention is positive and supportive. On rare occasions, however, an incident or situation will prompt negative commentary. No industry is immune from isolated occurrences, and when they happen to a cruise line, travel agents frequently are asked questions by their clients and even by the media. You need to have balanced information and answers at your fingertips.

To help you respond, Cruise Lines International Association and the International Council of Cruise Lines have developed this booklet with facts and figures about the cruise industry. Feel free to share this information with your staff, with your clients and with anyone interested in learning more about the cruise industry and how it cares…for its customers, for its employees, for its vendors and travel partners and for the world in which we all live.

Everyone's Dream Vacation

A 2004 study sponsored by Cruise Lines International Association found that nearly 30 million Americans will likely cruise within the next three years. Why do so many people find cruising so appealing?

• A cruise offers all the things most people want in a vacation — romance, excitement, relaxation, adventure, escape, discovery, luxury; value and more — without the hassles nobody wants. It's no surprise, then, that most people who have taken a cruise rate cruising above any other vacation choice.
• In a recent survey, most cruise vacationers said they were "extremely satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their cruise vacations. Also, a majority of cruisers identified cruising with positive vacation experiences and attributes, including "luxury," "being pampered" and "the chance to visit several locations."
• With nearly all the components (accommodations, fabulous meals, entertainment, first-rate facilities and services and more) included in the cost of a vacation at sea, cruising ranks extremely high in affordability and value.
• Each year, roughly 40-45 percent of cruise vacationers are first-timers.
• The average cruiser vacationer is married; 50 years old and has a household income of $99,000, college education and is employed. On their last cruise they typically sailed with their spouse for about 6.2 days and spent approximately $1,650 per person for their cruise and onboard expenses (not including airfare).

• The overwhelming majority of people who cruise, whether first-timers or regulars, cite the freedom to do as much or as little as they want, the fun and the value as the best qualities of a cruise vacation.
• Many ships today offer vacationers luxurious, full-service spas and health club facilities; specialty restaurants and dining options to satisfy any taste; professionally staffed children's facilities; sports activities from golf to rock climbing; Internet centers; and a host of other features designed to cater to vacationers of all ages.
• Today's cruise ships utilize technological innovations in power and propulsion systems, waste treatment and communications that make them more efficient, more environmentally friendly and safer than ever.
• Cruises allow travelers to sample sun-drenched islands, historic cities, remote wild places in every part of the world — safely, securely and comfortably.
• The cruise industry's investment in educating and supporting travel agents provides quality professional support to help consumers select and buy cruises that fit their individual lifestyles, tastes and budgets.
• Vacationers can now embark on a cruise from 30 North American ports. This increase in "Close to Home" cruise ports means approximately 70% of the population now is with driving distance of their cruise. This translates into flexibility, convenience and even more vacation value as airfare may not be required.
• To meet the expected consumer demand, cruise lines will have added 68 new ships to their fleets between 2000 and the end of 2005, with more to follow. These ships promise to offer all of the things that have made cruising the world's fastest-growing vacation choice.

Travel's Brightest Star

More than two decades of spectacular growth — averaging 8.4% per year — have made the cruise industry the brightest star on the vacation travel stage, not to mention one of the great success stories of any business.

• More than nine million North Americans will vacation aboard cruise ships in 2005, yet cruising has barely tapped its potential.
• Almost 70 million Americans would like to take a cruise in the next five years, and nearly 30 million say they will likely take a cruise vacation within the next three years. Those prospects represent a potential cruise vacation market of at least $57 billion and as much as $85 billion.
• Approximately 90% of cruise vacations are booked through travel agents. Last year, cruise lines paid over $1 billion in commissions to travel agencies in North America.
• Just 16% of the U.S. population has taken a cruise. Each year millions of first-timers discover cruising.
• Cruise vacations boast some of the highest satisfaction ratings among all types of vacation travel. Once people try cruising, they come back again and again.
• Cruise lines have invested billions to build 68 new ships to the marketplace between 2000 and the end of 2005, with 14 more ships planned through 2007.
• Today's cruise industry comprises everything from adventure ships designed to explore the world's most remote areas to floating resorts that rival Las Vegas or the Riviera.
• Cruising appeals particularly to the Baby Boom generation, with shipboard facilities designed to satisfy their intellectual curiosity with college-level classes and computer centers, their health consciousness with top-notch spa, fitness and sports facilities, and their independence with a dazzling array of choices for everything from accommodations to dining and entertainment.
• With more ships, cruise lines are introducing new itineraries and expanding the choices of destinations, departures and cruise lengths available to people considering a cruise. Now vacation travelers can choose from cruises as short as two nights or as long as three months.
• Cruises depart from some of the most beautiful cities in the world; and these days, more and more depart from ports located within driving distance or a short flight away from nearly everyone in America.

A Vital Part of America's Economy

Although cruise ships sail throughout the world, cruising as a business substantially benefits North America, and cruise lines make up a vital piece of the American economic picture. According to a study conducted by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA), the cruise industry contributed more than $30 billion to the U.S. economy in 2004.

• Total cruise industry spending supported 315,830 American jobs, generating total wages and salaries of $12.4 billion.
• Cruise lines directly employ almost 30,000 Americans in their U.S. headquarters offices, field sales positions, support and administrative positions worldwide and on board their ships. During 2004, the cruise industry paid $890 million in U.S. wages, salaries, benefits and wage taxes.
• Many cruise industry purchases — from food and beverages served on the ships to crew uniforms — are made in the U.S. The combined direct spending of cruise lines and their passengers on American goods and services in 2004 totaled $14.7 billion.
• Direct purchases by cruise lines benefited businesses representing virtually every segment of the U.S. economy, including airlines, travel agencies, ground transportation companies, business services, energy, finance, food and beverage and ship repair and maintenance.
• Three states — Florida, California and New York — topped the list of economic beneficiaries from cruise lines purchasing and employment in 2004, but the industry's impact reached far beyond the seashore. In fact, all 50 states benefit from the positive economic contributions of the cruise industry.

The growing popularity of cruising throughout the world has also provided a bonus for U.S. tourism. The number of tourists from other countries who travel to North America for a cruise vacation — and frequently an extended pre- or post-cruise visit — increased by 50 percent in the last half of the past decade.

Cruising Clean and Green

Beautiful, clear waters and crystal clear skies are as much a part of the magic of cruising as the ships themselves. Cruise lines are committed to preserving and protecting the environment that is, after all, essential to their success. U.S. and international regulations and the industry's own voluntary standards place cruise ships at the forefront of environmental protection efforts in the travel and maritime industries.

• In U.S. waters, cruise ships must abide by U.S. laws and regulations enforced by the EPA, Department of Justice, the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Cruise lines must also meet international regulations established by the International Maritime Organization that protect the environment, including the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the International Safety Management Code (ISM).
• The members of the International Council of Cruise Lines follow stringent standards that meet or exceed all U.S. and international standards for environmental compliance. The U.S. Coast Guard uses these guidelines when conducting their routine certification inspections to ensure ships are in compliance with these standards.
• All cruise lines operating in American waters must comply with all U.S. environmental laws and international regulations designed to protect the environment.
• ICCL cruise lines have adopted a policy of zero discharge of wastewater into coastal waters unless effluent is treated by advanced wastewater purification systems and have implemented waste management and recycling programs more advanced than most of the cities and ports where cruise ships operate.
• In addition, individual ships have committed themselves to protecting the environment by instituting crew training programs and passenger information procedures, state-of-the-art grinding and incineration equipment, clean-air diesel and gas turbine engines and similar "green" environmental practices.
• In December 2003, the Ocean Conservation and Tourism Alliance (OCTA) was formed between the International Council of Cruise Lines and Conservation International to protect biodiversity in top cruise destinations and the promote industry best practices to minimize the cruise industry's environmental impact. Through this partnership, the cruise industry continues to be on the leading edge in the development of environmental technology and in establishing groundbreaking environmental policies.
• Some cruise lines are joining forces with colleges, universities and institutes to fund and inaugurate ocean study programs. Many also participate in grassroots initiatives, such as beach cleanups in Florida and the Caribbean.
• Cruise lines are committed to preserving and protecting our waters - it is essential to our success and survival.

A Global Player

• On average, a 2000-passenger cruise ship with 950 crew members generates $245,000 in onshore spending in a U.S. homeport city.
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  By its nature, cruising is an enterprise that links the world. Cruise ships call at ports on every continent; their passengers and crews comprise people from every part of the world; and the industry benefits hundreds of countries and their citizens.
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  One of the traditional appeals of a cruise is the opportunity it provides to visit several destinations in one excellent vacation experience. Frequent cruisers especially applaud cruises as a way to try out a new vacation area to which they might want to return. In 2004, nearly 10.5 million global passengers enjoyed a cruise vacation.

• Visits by cruise ships generate hundreds of thousands of dollars to attractions, restaurants, retail shops, tour operators and other businesses at ports of call. A recent Business Research and Economic Advisors study found that the average cruise passenger spends approximately $100 per U.S. homeport and U.S. port-of-call visited in the United States.
• In addition to local port user fees, head taxes and surcharges, cruise ships purchase supplies and services such as pilots, tugboats, waste disposal services, fuel and fresh water at ports of call worldwide.
• Cruise lines employ more than 100,000 shipboard crew, and these individuals also contribute to the economies of the ports they visit.
• Many passengers express an interest in returning to the ports of call they first visit by ship. According to CLIA, the most likely number of persons expected to cruise over the next three years is 30 million.

The Safest Way to Travel

During the past two decades, North American cruise lines have compiled the best safety record in the travel industry while transporting, entertaining and pampering more than 90 million people throughout the world.

Security

• The cruise industry's highest priority is to ensure the safety and security of its passengers and crew. Security measures have always been stringent, but may increase in times of heightened alert.
• Cruise lines had U.S. Coast Guard-approved security plans in place years before September 11, 2001, and within hours of the attacks, cruise ships implemented their highest levels of security.
• In 2004, ships and port facilities worldwide were subject to new international security regulations through the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. All ICCL cruise ships are in compliance with the ISPS Code, which requires all ships and port facilities worldwide to have formal security plans in place.
• Cruise passengers should be very comfortable with the additional security measures they may see during their cruise vacation. This includes 100% screening of passenger luggage and carry-on articles, additional security personnel and controls and the use of canine inspections.
• At U.S. cruise terminals, security includes screening procedures similar to those found at airports. These procedures include the use of metal detectors for embarking passengers. All crew members and guests appear on an official manifest and may embark or disembark only after passing through strict security. Photo identification is required for all guests and crew members at every point of embarkation.
• Highly trained security personnel are employed on board every vessel. To assure smooth processing through U.S. immigration and customs inspections, it is recommended that cruise passengers adhere to the following identification guidelines:
• U.S. Citizens — A passport or a birth certificate (original or certified copy) plus a picture ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency are required.
• Non-U.S. Citizens — Valid passports and visas (when needed) are required in addition to Alien Registration Cards (ARC or "Green" cards) if an individual is a Resident Alien living in the United States. Certain Canadian and Mexican citizens may travel with alternative documentation depending on their alien status in the United States
• All U.S. citizens will be required to have a passport to re-enter the United States by January 1, 2008, from travel to the Caribbean, Central and South America, Bermuda, Canada and Mexico. Cruise passengers should be encouraged to apply for a passport now to avoid delays in obtaining the necessary travel documents for travel in the future.

Safety

• All cruise ships must meet safety standards set by the International Maritime Organization enforced through the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Ships operating from U.S. ports also are subject to U.S. federal and state regulations as well as periodic safety inspections by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• A cruise ship is comparable to a secure building with a 24-hour security guard.
• According to the U.S. Coast Guard, cruise ships operating from U.S. ports continue to be the safest form of mass transportation. No other form of transportation offers such a variety of safety equipment for the protection of its customers.
• The average cruise ship has more than 4,000 smoke detectors and five firefighting teams on board. The average response time in an emergency is a matter of minutes, as trained fire teams and emergency crews are stationed on board only a few hundred feet away from the scene of any possible incident.
• According to FBI statistics, being on a cruise ship is safer than being virtually anywhere in the U.S. in terms of crimes of any type. All ICCL cruise lines adhere to a unified industry standard — zero tolerance — for onboard crime.

Here's to Your Health

• When people take a cruise, they think of rejuvenating the body, mind and spirit, not the need for health services. Although cruise ships should not be considered a comprehensive medical provider, the cruise lines understand that some people may have health needs during a cruise. Thus, they are committed to providing excellent first response and emergency care to passengers until they can be transferred to a shoreside medical facility.
• Most of the cruise lines operating in the North American market have voluntarily worked to create guidelines for onboard medical facilities, even though neither international nor U.S. law requires them to do so.
• The medical facilities guidelines were developed in conjunction with American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) requirements. Member lines of the International Council of Cruise Lines have agreed to meet or exceed these requirements.
• The medical guidelines were put in place to provide (1) reasonable emergency medical care for passengers and crew; (2) the capability to stabilize patients and/or initiate reasonable diagnostic and therapeutic intervention; and (3) the evacuation of seriously ill or injured patients when deemed necessary by a shipboard physician.
• Included in the policies and procedures are 24-hour medical services and staff. Personnel are board certified or hold equivalent international certification or have general practice and emergency or critical care experience.
• Personnel must also be conversant in English, must possess a current valid medical license, and must have at least three years of clinical experience, including minor surgical skills.
• The ACEP guidelines specify the type and quantity of medicines and equipment that must be available on board, such as X-ray, defibrillators, EKG, wheelchairs and portable oxygen, to name a few.
• A number of cruise lines have established links with shoreside medical institutions, which provide professional medical consultation, including in some cases, Internet or satellite-based communication.
• Cruise lines and travel agents encourage cruise vacationers to obtain travel medical insurance, to travel with extra supplies of prescription medications and devices and to fully disclose pre-existing medical conditions before sailing. They point out that many regular health insurance plans do not provide coverage when travelers are outside the United States.

A Clean and Healthy Shipboard Environment

• All cruise ships visiting U.S. ports are subject to periodic health inspections conducted by officers of the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), a segment of the U.S. Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Ships are inspected twice a year to ensure that they meet the sanitation criteria established by VSP. To pass inspection, a ship must receive a score of 86 or above. This inspection focuses on the water supply, spas and pools, employee hygienic practices and cleanliness and physical condition of the ships.
• Cruise lines work closely with the CDC on comprehensive sanitation programs for the entire life of a ship, starting from design of the ship to renovations to regular inspections and crew training. Cruise lines also report every instance of gastrointestinal illness to the CDC and are the only public facilities required to report such illnesses in the U.S.
• Passengers are less likely to contract norovirus on a cruise ship than on land. The CDC estimates that 23 million Americans contract norovirus every year making it the second most common illness in the United States. That is 8 percent of the total population, or 1 in 12 people. In comparison, during the highly publicized cases of norovirus in 2002, less than one percent of the cruising public had norovirus — approximately 1 in 4,000 passengers.
• The CDC reminds everyone to be vigilant in frequent and thorough hand-washing — while on land or at sea. Cruise lines have implemented rigorous cleaning measures to ensure that guests enjoy a healthy environment throughout the ship.

Did You Know……..?

The North American cruise industry operates as an international business and, therefore, is subject to the rules and regulations of many jurisdictions. In addition, it voluntarily supports the efforts of many outstanding organizations, institutions and agencies to ensure it maintains its leadership role in improving safety, environmental and maritime policies and procedures throughout the world. Here is but a sampling of the organizations that work with today's cruise industry.

• United States Coast Guard (USCG)
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
• The Seamen's Church Institute
• International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
• Det Norske Veritas
• Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
• Marine Safety Agency
• Bureau Veritas
• International Association of Classification Societies
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• U.S. Public Health Service (USPH)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• American Bureau of Shipping
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• International Labor Organization (ILO)
• Lloyd's Register of Shipping
• Germanischer Lloyd
• British Coastguard Agency
• Maritime Security Council
• Registro Italiano Navale Group (RINA)
• European Union