References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 October 2.

1840-1969

1970-1999

2000-2006

2007-end

1970 January Norwegian Caribbean Lines introduces the Skyward cruise ship (capacity 930 passengers). [73.33] November The Royal Caribbean Cruise Line introduces the Song of Norway cruise ship in Miami, Florida. [73.35] 1971 (month unknown) Holland America Line refits the Statendam cruise ship. [73.32] Flagship Cruises introduces the Sea Venture cruise ship (20,000 gross tons) for voyages from New York to Bermuda. [73.35] July The Nordic Prince cruise ship is built for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. [67.7] [73.32,35] (month unknown) Norwegian Caribbean Lines introduces the Starward cruise ship. [73.34] 1972 January 9 Passenger ship Queen Elizabeth destroyed by fire. [1] (month unknown) Royal Viking Line forms with three cruise ships: Royal Viking Star, Royal Viking Sky, and Royal Viking Sea, each with capacity of 500 passengers. [73.35] 1973 January Royal Caribbean Cruise Line introduces the Sun Viking cruise ship. [73.35] (month unknown) The Vistafjord cruise ship is built for Norwegian America Line. [93.20] 1974 (month unknown) French Line's SS France ship is withdrawn due to declining patronage. [67.18] Cosulich Line's Caribia liner is scrapped. [67.21] Holland America Line adds a Slot Machine Room to the Rotterdam cruise ship. [73.32] Home Lines adds a Slot Machine Room to the Oceanic cruise ship. [73.32] Royal Cruise Line introduces the Golden Odyssey cruise ship (10,500 gross tons). [73.35] 1975 (month unknown) Cunard Line introduces the Cunard Countess cruise ship. [73.42] Carnival Cruise Lines purchases the former Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Britain. [75.8] 1976 (month unknown) Delta Queen Steamboat Company introduces the Mississippi Queen paddlewheel cruiser. [72.50] 1977 (month unknown) Norwegian Cruise Line develops the first private-island concept, with Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. [73.21] September 24 American Broadcasting Company begins airing the TV series The Love Boat in the USA. Two Princess Cruises ships are used on the show: Island Princess and Pacific Princess. The TV show helps growth of the cruise vacation industry. The show runs for ten seasons, ending in 1987. [67.30] [74] 1978 (month unknown) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line lengthens the Song of Norway cruise ship with an 85-foot midsection (4589 gross tons, 316 passengers), at Helsinki's Wartsila shipyard in Finland. [88.18] 1979 (month unknown) Flotta Lauro's Angelina Lauro liner sinks in the Pacific under tow to scrapyard. [67.21] Norwegian Caribbean Lines purchases the France cruise ship. [67.31] 1980 May Norwegian Caribbean Line completes transformation of the former SS France into world's largest and longest cruise liner, renaming it Norway (70,000 gross tons, 2000 passengers). [67.18,27,31] [73.28] (month unknown) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line lengthens the Nordic Prince cruise ship with an 85-foot midsection (4713 gross tons, 316 passengers), at Helsinki's Wartsila shipyard in Finland. [88.18] 1981 (month unknown) Royal Viking Line lengthens the Royal Viking Star cruise ship with a 91-foot midsection (6373 gross tons, 219 passengers). [88.18] August 27 Divers begin to recover a safe found aboard the cruise ship Andrea Doria. [1] 1982 January Carnival Cruise Lines introduces the Tropicale cruise ship (36,000 gross tons, 1022 passengers), the first of a new generation of modern cruise liners, the first newly built ship for Carnival. [67.26,31] MSC Cruises' MSC Melody cruise ship is built. [73.10] 1983 (month unknown) Royal Viking Line lengthens the Royal Viking Sea cruise ship with a 91-foot midsection (6121 gross tons, 276 passengers). [88.18] Royal Viking Line lengthens the Royal Viking Sky cruise ship with a 91-foot midsection (6187 gross tons, 276 passengers). [88.18] Cunard Line acquires the cruise ships Sagafjord and Vistafjord from Norwegian America Line. [93.20] 1984 January Princess Cruises introduces the Royal Princess cruise ship. All passenger cabins have at least an outside window. [67.29,31] Lloyd Triestino's Galileo Lalilei cruise ship is sold to Chandris Group, renamed Galileo. [71.36] The Holland America Line introduces the Noordam cruise ship (1,214 passengers). [76] 1985 (month unknown) Home Lines sells the Oceanic cruise ship to Premier Cruise Lines. [67.29] Carnival Cruise Line introduces the Holiday cruise ship (46,052 gross tons, 1452 passengers). [67.31] [71.22] October 7 The cruise ship Achille Lauro is hijacked in the Mediterranean Sea by four heavily armed Palestinian terrorists. [1] [85] 1986 (month unknown) Home Lines' introduces the Homeric cruise ship. [76] 1987 (month unknown) MSC Cruises' MSC Rhapsody cruise ship is built. [73.10] 1988 January Royal Caribbean introduces the Sovereign of the Seas cruise ship, the first large modern cruise ship (73,000 gross tons, 2690 passengers). [67.31] (month unknown) Holland America Line purchases Windstar Sail Cruises and its four-masted 148-passenger luxury sailing ships. [76] November 12 Holland America Line's Westerdam enters service. The ship was formerly the Home Lines' Homeric. [76] 1989 May 8 Netherlands Antilles issues two postage stamps depicting cruise ships at St. Maarten and Curaçao. [143.1215] (month unknown) The Delfin Clipper expedition ship is built in Finland. [67.18] Holland America Line stretches the Westerdam cruise ship by 129 feet, adding 11780 gross tons, and 446 passenger capacity. [88.18] 1990 (month unknown) Carnival Cruise Line introduces the Fantasy cruise ship (70,000 gross tons), for 3-4 day runs between Miami, Florida, and the Bahamas. [67.31] Chandris Group's Galileo cruise ship is renovated, transferred to the Celebrity fleet, and renamed Meridian. [71.36] The Club Med I sail-cruiser is built (14,745 gross tons). [75.16] Royal Caribbean International acquires Admiral Cruises. [88.33] Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of the Nordic Empress cruise ship from Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. [88.33] 1991 August Epirotiki's Oceanos ship founders off South Africa in a storm, with no deaths. [202.33] 1993 (month unknown) The Holland America Line introduces the Maasdam cruise ship (1,266 passengers). [76] The Holland America Line introduces the Statendam cruise ship (1,258 passengers). [76] July 15 Libya issues two 50-dinar postage stamps depicting cruise ships. [153.68] October 6 Premier Cruise Lines announces it is dropping the appearance of Disney characters from its cruise ships as of April 1, 1994. [59.D4] 1994 May 3 The Walt Disney Company announces plans to start the Disney cruise venture. [69] (month unknown) The Nordic Prince cruise ship is sold by Royal Caribbean to Airtours, and renamed Carousel. [67.7] The Holland America Line introduces the Ryndam cruise ship (1,258 passengers). [76] Malagasy releases two postage stamps depicting modern cruise ships. [143.633] 1995 May 20 Disney Cruise Line announces Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. of Italy is awarded the contract to build the first Disney cruise ship. [70] (month unknown) Jos. L. Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, builds the Century cruise ship (72458 gross tons, 1814 passengers) for Celebrity Cruises. [73.42] [93.33] 1996 May Ground is broken on Castaway Cay, private island in the Bahamas of the Disney Cruise Line. [69] (month unknown) The Holland America Line introduces the Veendam cruise ship (1,266 passengers). [76] Cunard Line sells the Sagafjord cruise ship to Saga Group, who rename the ship to Saga Rose. [93.20] October 21 The keel of the Disney Magic cruise ship is laid. [70] December Holland America Line purchases the uninhabited 2400-acre island of Little San Salvador (100 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas) for US$6 million. [76] [150.22] 1997 April 1 Maldives releases 26 postage stamps depicting ships, including passenger ocean liners. [143.714] April 12 The bow half of the Disney Magic cruise ship leaves drydock of Fincontieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy, to meet with the stern section 100 miles away in Marghera. [70] April 15 Joining of the two halves of the Disney Magic cruise ship begins, with variance less than 1 mm. [70] April 18 Joining of the two halves of the Disney Magic cruise ship is complete. [70] May 13 The complete hull of the Disney Magic cruise ship floats for the first time. [70] (month unknown) Maiden voyage guests for the Disney Magic cruise ship are selected by lottery. [69] Celebrity's Meridian cruise ship is sold to Sun Cruises, and renamed Sun Vista. [71.36] The Holland America Line introduces the Rotterdam cruise ship (1,316 passengers). [76] October 15 Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp depicting the sinking of the Titanic passenger liner. [143.794] Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp depicting the sinking of the Lusitania passenger liner. [143.794] December 12 Holland America Line debuts Half Moon Cay as a private island port of call for its cruise ships. [76] [150.22] 1998 (month unknown) Princess Cruise Line introduces the Grand Princess cruise ship (109,000 gross tons). [67.31] The Club Med I sail-cruiser is acquired by Windstar Cruises and renamed Wind Surf. [75.16] Norwegian Cruise Line lengthens the Dreamward cruise ship by 130 feet (11543 gross tons, 506 passengers), and renames the ship Norwegian Dream. [88.18] Norwegian Cruise Line lengthens the Windward cruise ship by 130 feet (11483 gross tons, 502 passengers), and renames the ship Norwegian Wind. [88.18] Carnival Corp acquires Cunard Line. [89.31] July 1 The Disney Magic cruise ship, first of the Disney Cruise Line, departs from Venice, Italy. [69] July 15 The Disney Magic cruise ship arrives at Port Canaveral, Florida for the first time. [69] July 30 The Disney Cruise Line launches its first cruise ship, the Disney Magic, from Port Canaveral, Florida. [60.407] [61.4] [62.393] [69] August 1 Bahamas issues two 55 cent postage stamps (daytime and nighttime) depicting Castaway Cay and a ship of the Disney Cruise Lines. [63.695] September 1 Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp depicting a 1957 Corvette. [143.794] September 10 Malagasy releases 31 postage stamps of the Titanic ship. [143.636] September 27 Maldives issues seven stamps about the ship Titanic. [143.716] (month unknown) Windjammer barefoot Cruises' Fantome and 31 crew are lost in Hurricane Mitch in the Atlantic Ocean. [67.24] [202.33] November 6 Malagasy releases 10 postage stamps depicting famous disasters at sea (Titanic, Lusitania, Atlantique, Normandie, Wilhelm Gustloff, Andrea Doria, Queen Elizabeth, Amoco Cadiz, Estonia). [143.636] 1999 February 14 The first Disney Cruise Line wedding occurs on Castaway Cay. [69] March 18 Namibia issues a $5.50 postage stamp depicting passenger liner Windhuk. [143.1134] May 21 Sun Cruises' Sun Vista cruise ship catches fire off the coast of Malaysia, and sinks. [71.36] (month unknown) The Holland America Line introduces the Volendam cruise ship (1,440 passengers). [76] Norwegian Cruise Line lengthens the former Royal Majesty of Majesty Cruise Line by 112 feet (8480 gross tons, 406 passengers), and renames the ship Norwegian Majesty. [88.18] July 9 The one hundredth sailing of the Disney Magic cruise ship is celebrated. [69] July 14 The Disney Wonder cruise ship, second of the Disney Cruise line, departs from Venice, Italy. [69] August 2 The Disney Wonder cruise ship arrives at Port Canaveral, Florida, from Italy, where it was built. [64.28] [69] August 15 The maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder cruise ship takes place. [69] October 19 Marilyn Carlson Nelson christens the S.S. Navigator cruise ship for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. [91.6] November 21 Maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas cruise ship (142,000 gross tons, maximum 3838 passengers). [79] December 26 Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas cruise ship sets a new record for most guests on a single cruise: 3497. [79]