Cruising in 2010 - The Year in Review

As usual, the year had it's highs and lows, it's foolish pranks and a crisis or two.  Cruising began recovering from the recession of 2008, but it seems that it was an accident prone year.  The amount of new tonnage on order for 2012 and 2013 is keeping the shipyards in full production mode. Here's the roundup:

• Cruise West ceased operations after nearly 30 years, a devastating blow to a wonderful family owned operation.
• Royal Caribbean introduced the 225,282-ton, 5,040-passenger Allure of the Seas along with 2009 sister Oasis of the Seas. Allure of the Seas claims to be 2" longer than Oasis of the Seas.
• Carnival Splendor suffered engine room fire resulting in stranded passengers and cancellation of 10 future cruises.
• A California RV salesman released the anchor on Holland America's Ryndam while the ship was under way. He reportedly admitted to the act, claiming he was drunk at the time. I don't think drunkeness is an arguable defense.
• President Obama signs the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, designed to enhance the personal security of American passengers aboard cruise ships.
• NCL introduces its 153,000-ton, 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic, which includes outstanding entertainment by the Blue Man Group, a great restaurant selection, and a lot of other fun stuff. Guess size counts.
• The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano screws up the world's travel plans for a month, but Celebrity Cruises makes a bold PR move by sending brand-new ship Eclipse to rescue stranded British travelers in Spain, before she's even christened.
• A 14-year old passenger from Carnival's Carnival Victory was killed by stray gunfire during a gang shootout in St. Thomas.  St. Thomas reacted with improved security measures and reiterated it's great track record as a vacation destination.
• Princess ordered two 141,000 ton, 3,600 passenger ships for 2013 and 2014. 
• NCL announced construction of two 143,500 ton ships for 2013 and 2014 - where are they going to put them all! 
• NCL takes first steps toward becoming a public company, announcing an initial public stock offering.
• Disney took delivery of its new, 128,000-ton, 2,500-passenger Disney Dream which will debuted to the public yesterday.
• Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas was bounced around by wind and big waves off Alexandria, Egypt, resulting in bumps, bruises and the accompanying hysteria and landlubber's fear that the ship was sinking.
• Expediton ship Clelia II is hit by a big wave near Antarctic, limps toward port.
• The port of Philadelphia, citing declines in ship interest, decides to get out of the cruise business, while Savannah, Georgia and Brownsville, Texas start studying their options to get in.  Jacksonville, Florida gets a bigger ship, newer ships head to Orlando.
• Alaska reduces its ridiculously high cruise-passenger tax rate under pressure from the cruise lines, which were taking their business elsewhere. Oceania and Princess commit to future Alaska calls.
• Cunard debuts its 90,400-ton, 2,092-passenger Queen Elizabeth at a gala Southampton ceremony, with the actual Queen Elizabeth presiding.  Loved her hat.
• Oceania's 65,000-ton, 1,258-passenger Marina the line's first purpose-built ship ever, completes sea trials en route to a January 2011 debut.  We'll get back to you if Oceania ever hires a female executive.
  
• Costa lays the keel for its new, 114,500-ton, 3,780-passenger Costa Fascinosa (Can anyone say Carnival Fascination in Italian?)
• Carnival plans cruise world's first private label beer for pub aboard new Carnival Magic.
• MSC debuted the 86,600-ton MSC Magnifica, its eleventh vessel, and orders another new 137,936 ton, 3,300 passenger ship for 2012.  I hope somebody is building some new islands in the Caribbean to send all these ships to.
• Holland America introduces its 86,000-ton, 2,106-guest Nieuw Amsterdam.
• Seabourn debuts its new, 32,000-ton, 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn, a sister to last year's Seabourn Odyssey.
• Royal Caribbean makes deal with DreamWorks for new, family-oriented onboard entertainment.
• Princess's 113,000-ton, 3,070-passenger Emerald Princess loses power after leaving Ft. Lauderdale, and drifts around for four hours.
• Carnival begins offering year-round cruises from Charleston, SC, and plans big Bermuda season for 2011.
• In the Gulf of Mexico, Carnival Ecstasy swerves to avoid hitting a drifting buoy , sending passengers and unsecured objects flying. Hysteria and videotape at 11.
• Two disasters: 1) Huge waves strike Louis Cruises' 40,876-ton, 1,464-passenger Louis Majesty off the coast of northern Spain, killing two passengers  2) three crewmembers are killed when high winds force Costa's 1,494-passenger Costa Europa into pier at the Egyptian port of Sharm el-Sheik, piercing the ship's starboard hull.
• Silversea introduces new, 36,000-ton, 540-passenger Silver Spirit, a decidedly five-star ship that, through a typographical error, is listed as getting only four stars in the new Frommer's Cruises and Ports of Call. Oops.
• Royal Caribbean takes heat (by those who hadn't done their homework) for continuing calls at the resort of Labadee, Haiti, after the January earthquake wreaks havoc in and around the country's capital, Port-au-Prince — this despite the fact that its ships were also delivering relief supplies.