- In 2009, the cruise line industry generated more than $35 billion to the U.S. economy and created nearly 314,000 jobs in the U.S.
- Each cruise ship undergoes more than 60 safety, environmental and health inspections each year, which is equivalent to more than one inspection each week over the course of a year.
- In 2010, CLIA ships received an average Center for Disease Control sanitation score of 97, surpassing the minimum inspection score of 85.
- In addition to announced and unannounced safety inspections, the U.S. Coast Guard annually conducts a Certificate of Compliance examination for every cruise ship that ports in the U.S. for compliance with both federal and international regulations. The Coast Guard can bar a cruise ship’s sailing if safety standards are not met.
- 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. A very small percentage occur on cruise ships, which are the only entity required to report Norovirus outbreaks to the Center for Disease Control.
- Cruise ships are like buildings with 24-hour security guards. Only passengers and crew on the ship’s manifest may enter. Each ship has embarkation and debarkation controls, including biometric verification for all passengers and crew.
- Foreign nationals must have work visas issued by the U.S. State Department for U.S. port calls.
- The average ship has more than 16 miles of sprinkler piping, 5,000 sprinkler heads, six miles of fire hose, five firefighting teams, 4,000 smoke detectors and 500 fire extinguishers.
- Ships have more than enough lifeboats, life rafts and life preservers for every person on board.
- Independent surveys show that 95 percent of cruise passengers are satisfied with their cruising experience. Fifty percent of our passengers are cruising for at least the second time.