Port officials say cruise traffic up in Baltimore, even more cruises expected next year

November 3rd, 2009 Royal Caribbean profit falls 44 pct in 3QCHICAGO — Travelers are still vacationing, but they're spending less when they do, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said in reporting that its third-quarter profit and revenue tumbled because it deeply discounted fares.

October 26th, 2009 CruiseCritic.com awards annual editors' picksPENNINGTON, N.J. — Royal Caribbean won the award for best family cruise line and Carnival won in the category of best for first-time cruisers in CruiseCritic.com's annual editors' picks awards.

October 12th, 2009 Winter cruises to Norway and the Arctic CircleNEW YORK — Most travelers who book winter cruises are trying to escape the cold weather by heading to Mexico or the Caribbean. But the expedition cruise company Hurtigruten is betting that some travelers will bundle up to experience the unique wildlife, culture and scenery of Norway above the Arctic Circle.

September 22nd, 2009 Carnival profit falls 20 pct, still beats StreetCHICAGO — Carnival Corp. said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit fell nearly 20 percent, but the results were still better than expected as fuel prices fell and more travelers booked cruises.

September 21st, 2009 Cruises to sail from Charleston, SC, year-roundCHARLESTON, S.C. — The Carnival Fantasy ship will homeport in Charleston year-round beginning in May.

September 17th, 2009 Environmental group grades cruise shipsANCHORAGE, Alaska — An environmental group released its report card Wednesday on how well cruise ship companies operating in American waters are doing to reduce pollution, and not one received an overall grade of "A." Friends of the Earth graded 10 major cruise ship lines, including some of the biggest names in the business, such as Carnival Cruise Lines. Carnival received a "D-minus." The report issued the highest grade — a "B''— to Holland America Line.

September 14th, 2009 Disney to offer its 1st Alaska cruises summer 2011CELEBRATION, Fla. — Disney Cruise Line is offering cruises to Alaska for the first time in 2011.

July 30th, 2009 Crime reports may become mandatory on cruisesMIAMI — Legislation is heading for full House and Senate votes that would force cruise lines to carry rape investigation kits and publicize records of crimes committed at sea. A House committee on Thursday unanimously approved the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act.

July 29th, 2009 Report: Cruises slide in US as total rises in '08MIAMI — Fewer Americans took cruises in 2008 than 2007, according to new industry data, showing that cruising's core constituency may be weakening despite continued growth in the pastime worldwide. For the first time since 1998, when the Cruise Lines International Association started publishing economic impact reports, fewer cruise ships set sail from U.S.

June 8th, 2009 New 'You Deserve a Cruise Campaign' offers dealsFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Cruise Lines International Association is launching a campaign called "You Deserve a Cruise" to highlight deals for cruises sailing later this year and next year.

May 11th, 2009 Tips for booking the right cruiseNEW YORK — TravelSmart Newsletter has a two-part series with tips for booking and taking cruises in its May 15 and June 15 issues. Both issues are available free for the asking by calling 800-327-3633, or you can visit www.TravelSmartNewsletter.com.

April 26th, 2009 HAMBURG/ROME - An Italian cruise ship carrying 1,500 passengers and crew was able to fend off a pirate attack off the coast of Somalia, the German subsidiary of Italian MSC Crociere confirmed Sunday. The ship was attacked at around 2035 Somali time (1735 GMT) Saturday evening by armed pirates firing shots from a small speedboat, 330 km from the Seychelles where it had last anchored.

March 14th, 2009 KOCHI - Despite the global slowdown, the current fiscal is another good business season for the Cochin Port, which would host 36 cruise ships by March-end, an official statement said Friday. 'By the end of this fiscal, the port would host about 22,000 cruise tourists and about 10,000 crew members.

January 12th, 2009 SYDNEY - An Australian cruise ship in the South Pacific Tuesday had to turn a full circle to pick up a drunken passenger who jumped overboard after an all-night party. It took the 70,000-tonne Pacific Dawn 45 minutes to return to the point where the 22-year-old Sydney man was seen by crew leaping from the deck.

January 9th, 2009 LONDON - Hollywood star Tom Cruise is convinced his daughter from actress Katie Holmes will become an actress after two-year-old Suri tried to storm the stage during a performance of Holmes' Broadway play 'All My Sons'. Cruise stopped letting Suri watch from the side of the stage after she almost made an impromptu cameo on the stage, imdb.com reported.