hospitalitystyle.com

(January 2010) posted on Thu Jan 21, 2010 EST

And Carnival reinstates its dividend

A rising economic tide is expected to translate into a busier year for the cruise ship industry. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, 14.3 million people will take a cruise in 2010, a 6.4 percent increase over last year. “CLIA's member lines and travel agents responded amazingly well to the economic crisis and have put themselves in a very strong position to succeed in 2010," said Terry Dale, president and ceo.

In addition, the association says these new ships will be launched by its members in 2010:

* Royal Caribbean International's Allure of the Seas (5,400 passengers)

* Norwegian Cruise Line's Epic (4,200 passengers)

* Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Eclipse (2,850 passengers)

* MSC's Magnifica (2,550 passengers)

* Costa Cruises' Deliziosa (2,260 passengers)

* Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam (2,100 passengers)

* Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth (2,092 passengers)

* Seabourn Cruise Line's Seabourn Sojourn (450 passengers)

* Avalon Waterways' Felicity and Luminary (138 passengers)

* Pearl Seas Cruises' Pearl Mist (110 passengers)

* American Cruise Line's Independence (101 passengers)

Beyond the CLIA's optimistic outlook, Carnival Corp. & Plc has offered up another sign of better times ahead for the industry: it has reinstated its quarterly dividend for stockholders, which was suspended effective March 2009. “There has been a notable improvement in our access to the capital markets since the suspension was announced at the height of the financial crisis,” said Micky Arison, the cruise line's ceo.