- July
- Merwede Shipyard of the Netherlands constructs the Royal Clipper ship for Star Clippers of Monaco. The ship features 42 sails, 5000 gross tons, with 259 passenger capacity. [71.33]
- September 7
- Panama issues four postage stamps depicting cruise ships in the Panama Canal. [278.81]
- September 8
- Togo issues a 425-franc postage stamp depicting the passenger liner Empress of Canada. [285.535]
- September
- Premier Cruise Lines ceases operations. [67.29]
- October 2
- Sri Lanka issues a 3.50-rupee postage stamp for the 50th anniversary of the Immigration and Emigration Department, depicting a passenger liner. [285.208]
- October 23
- Royal Caribbean International's Explorer of the Seas cruise ship makes its US debut in New York. [79]
- November
- Cruise ship R6 (30,277 gross tons, 792 passengers) enters service for Renaissance Cruises. [110.29]
2001
- January 24
- Royal Caribbean International's Radiance of the Seas cruise ship first leaves the MeyerWerft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, for sea trials. [79]
- February 1
- Pitcairn Islands issues four postage stamps depicting cruise ships: Bremen, MV Europa, MS Rotterdam, Saga Rose. [278.309]
- March 21
- Royal Caribbean International's Radiance of the Seas cruise ship (90,090 gross tons, 2100 passengers) first arrives at its home port in Miami, Florida. [79]
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- April
- American Classic Voyages' Cape May Light cruise ship enters service on the US coast. [292.9]
- June 4
- The Travel Channel airs Voyager: Beyond The Cruise. The show gives a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world's largest cruise ship afloat, Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas. [79]
- Chandris Lines' cruise ship Amerikanis arrives at Alang for breaking up. [152.33]
- (month unknown)
- Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Spirit and Carnival Pride cruise ships are built. [71.44]
- Silversea Cruises introduces the Silver Whisper cruise ship. [75.14]
- In Holland, the Viking Europe cruise ship (capacity 150 passengers) is built for Viking River Cruises. [89.41]
- August 30
- The Disney Cruise Line celebrates its one millionth guest family. [69]
- November 6
- Royal Caribbean International's Adventure of the Seas cruise ship arrives at Boston harbor from shipyard in Turku, Finland. [79]
- November 14
- Kiribati releases a 75-cent postage stamp depicting a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. [143.171]
2002
- January 16
- At the Fincantieri Shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the keel is laid for Holland America Line Cruise ship Oosterdam. [76]
- March 2
- Holland America Line's Westerdam cruise ship makes its final cruise, an eight-day Eastern Caribbean voyage. [76]
- March 10
- Holland America Line transfers cruise ship Westerdam to Costa Cruciere company. Over its 13-year sailing with Holland America, the ship made 643 voyages with over 1 million passengers. [76]
- April
- Costa Cruises' Costa Europa cruise ship, formerly Holland America Line's Westerdam, enters service following a major refit. [339]
- April 23
- Holland America Line acquires the Seabourn Sun cruise ship. [76]
- June 3
- Holland America Line's Prinsendam cruise ship enters service. Passenger capacity is 794. The ship was formerly the Seabourne Sun. [76]
- (month unknown)
- Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Legend cruise ship is built (88,500 gross tons, 2124 passengers). [71.44]
- July 5
- Royal Caribbean International takes possession of the Brilliance of the Seas cruise ship (90,090 gross tons, 2100 passengers) in a ceremony in Eemshaven, Netherlands. [79]
- July 15
- Maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean International's Brilliance of the Seas cruise ship from Harwich, England, on a seven-night voyage to the Norwegian fjords. [79]
- August
- Norwegian Cruise line purchases the partially-completed hull of the Project America ship. [88.26]
- September 10
- Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp depicting the Regal Princess cruise ship. [143.799]
- November 15
- Holland America Line takes possession of the 1,848-passenger Zuiderdam cruise ship. [76]
- December 2
- Royal Caribbean International's Navigator of the Seas cruise ship (3114 passengers) arrives at home port of Miami, Florida, from shipard in Turku, Finland. [79]
- December 14
- Maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean International's Navigator of the Seas cruise ship from Miami, Florida for a Caribbean tour. [79]
- Holland America Line's Zuiderdam makes its maiden voyage, a 7-day Caribbean cruise. [76]
- December
- The Travel Channel airs Great Cruises: Radiance of the Seas. The show features Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship Radiance of the Seas. [79]
2003
- April 8
- Saint Helena issues a postage stamp depicting the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 visiting Saint Helena. [278.783]
- April 14
- The Travel Channel airs Great Cruises: Adventure of the Seas. The show goes hehind the scenes of the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International's Adventure of the Seas. [79]
- May
- While docked in Miami, Florida, a boiler explosion aboard the Norwegian Caribbean Line's SS Norway cruise ship kills eight crewmembers, seriously injuring ten. [67.18] [73.28] [202.34]
- Norwegian Cruise Line announces new brand NCL America. [88.26]
- May 17
- Holland America Line's Zuiderdam cruise ship makes a special 7-day Caribbean cruise celebrating the 25th birthday of Garfield the cartoon cat. The "It's All About Me (at Sea) in 2003" cruise includes Garfield creator Jim Davis, Garfield, and Odie the dog. [76]
- June 3
- Royal Caribbean International's Monarch of the Seas cruise ship arrives in Los Angeles, California after undergoing extensive renovations. [79]
- (month unknown)
- American West Steamboat Company introduces the Empress of the North paddlewheel cruiser (capacity 235 passengers). [72.50]
- Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, builds the Crystal Serenity cruise ship (68,000 gross tons, 1080 passengers) for Crystal Cruises. [90.33]
- July 11
- Holland America Line takes delivery of the 1848-passenger Oosterdam cruise ship, in Venice, Italy. [76]
- July 30
- Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of Serenade of the Seas cruise ship (2110 passengers) in a ceremony in Eemshaven, Netherlands. [79]
- August 3
- Maiden 10-day voyage of Holland America Line's 1848-passenger Oosterdam cruise ship, from London, England, to Norway, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Russia, and Finland. [76]
- October
- Imperial Majesty Cruise Line's OceanBreeze cruise ship is sent to be scrapped in Bangladesh. [74.6]
- November 11
- Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas cruise ship (142,000 gross tons, 3114 passengers) first arrives at Port Canaveral, Florida. [79]
2004
- January 8
- Queen Elizabeth II christens the Cunard Line's RMS Queen Mary 2 cruise liner, the largest ocean liner in the world (151,400 gross tons, 3090 passengers). [5] [25] [67.31] [89.33]
- January
- In Germany, the Project America I ship under construction sinks to deck 3 during a storm. [88.27]
- April 15
- The Holland America Line takes delivery of the Westerdam cruise ship from Italian shipyard Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiani in Marghera, Italy. Passenger capacity is 1848. [76]
- April
- Royal Caribbean International refurbishes the Nordic Empress cruise ship, and renames it Empress of the Seas (48563 gross tons, 1840 passengers). [88.33]
- April 22
- Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of Jewel of the Seas cruise ship (2112 passengers) in a ceremony in Eemshaven, Netherlands. [79]
- April 25
- The Holland America Line holds an official dedication ceremony in Venice, Italy, for the Westerdam cruise ship, and commences a 12-day Mediterranean maiden voyage. [76]
- May 6
- Royal Caribbean International's Empress of the Seas cruise ship (1602 passengers), formerly Nordic Empress, arrives at Cape Liberty Cruise Port, in Bayonne, New Jersey, following extensive renovations. [79]
- May 7
- Royal Caribbean International christens new cruise ship Jewel of the Seas in Southampton, England. [79]
- May
- Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky enters drydock in San Francisco, for refit, and renaming to Pride of Aloha, in preparation for deployment at Hawaii. [88.26]
- June 7
- Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of Aloha cruise ship (77,000 gross tons, 2000 passengers) flies the American flag as the first modern American cruise liner in fifty years. [88.26]
- (month unknown)
- The Carousel cruise ship is sold by Airtours to Louis Cruise Lines and renamed Aquamarine. [67.7] [339]
- Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Miracle cruise ship is built. [71.44]
- Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess cruise ship introduces the first poolside screen with Movies Under the Stars. [1436.35]
- July 4
- NCL America inaugurates its first-ever cruises, seven-day inter-island cruises of Hawaii. [88.26]
- October 11
- The Solomon Islands issues two postage stamps depicting the SS Oceana, and RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. [285.13]
- October 14
- The Travel Channel airs Samantha Brown's First Cruise, filmed on board a Mediterranean sailing of Royal Caribbean International's Brilliance of the Seas cruise ship. [79]
- October
- Holland America Line debuts the Culinary Arts Center on the Ryndam cruise ship. [88.17]
- November 9
- Tristan da Cunha issues six postage stamps depicting merchant ships: RMS Dunnottar Castle, RMS Caronia, SA Agulhas, MV Edinburgh, MV Explorer, MV Hanseatic. [285.607]
- November 10
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands issues four postage stamps of merchant ships: RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, MS Endeavour, MS Lindblad Explorer, SS Canberra. [285.80]
- November
- Costa Cruises launches the Costa Magica cruise ship (105,000 gross tons, 2720 passengers) in Europe. [92.16]
- December 13
- Sierra Leone issues postage stamps depicting ocean liners: Paris, Statendam, Stavengerfjord, Campania, Drottningholm, Lusitania, United States. [278.1138]
- Royal Caribbean International's Sovereign of the Seas cruise ship re-enters service at Port Canaveral, Florida, following an extensive renovation. [79]
2005
- February
- P&O Cruises Australia christens the Pacific Sun cruise ship, formerly Carnival Cruise Lines' Jubilee, after a US$25 million refurbishment. [88.18]
- May
- American Cruise Lines' American Spirit cruise ship (capacity 92 passengers) enters service. [90.16]
- (month unknown)
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line lengthens the Enchantment of the Seas cruise ship by 73 feet (6560 gross tons, 302 passengers). [88.18]
- July 16
- Disney hosts a fund-raising event aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship. US$2 million is raised and donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. [65.13]
- July 23
- NCL America's Pride of America cruise ship (81,000 gross tons, 2600 passengers) first sails from the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. [88.29] [91.33]
- August 14
- The Blue lady cruise ship, formerly Norway, arrives off Alang, India, to await scrapping. [92.8]
- August
- The Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, completes construction of Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel (93,502 gross tons, 2376 passengers). [72.16]
- October 11
- Seattle, Washington-based Glacier Bay Cruiseline files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. [72.51]
- October
- P&O Cruises Australia christens the Pacific Star cruise ship, formerly Carnival Cruise Lines' Costa Tropicale. [88.18]
- November 3
- The Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel is christened in New York by Melania Trump, wife of Donald Trump. [72.16]
- November
- Oceania Cruises introduces the Nautica cruise ship, after a US$15 million refurbishment. The ship is the former R5. [88.18]
2006
- February
- The Grand Turk Cruise Center at Turks & Caicos welcomes its first cruise ship, the Holland America Line Noordam. The US$42 million port facility can accomodate two post-Panamax cruise lines. [93.10]
- February 22
- In New York City, actress Marlee Matlin performs the official christening of Holland America Line's new 1,918-passenger cruise ship, the Noordam. The Noordam then departs on her maiden Caribbean cruise. [73.10] [76] [89.36]
- March 23
- A fire on Princess Cruises' Star Princess results in one death, and thirteen injuries. 79 cabins are condemned, another 218 are damaged by fire, smoke, and water. The fire in a balcony results in Carnival Cruises replacing 26,400 balcony partitions on 81 ships, and a change in proceduces in many cruise ship companies. [73.42]
- April 15
- New York City officially opens the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Cost of construction was US$56 million. [73.39]
- April 24
- Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of Freedom of the Seas cruise ship (160,000 gross tons, 3634 passengers), the world's largest, at a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany. [79]
- May
- Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas cruise ship (158,000 gross tons, 3634 passengers) enters service. [67.31] [73.16] [92.58]
- (month unknown)
- Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Inaliani of Monfalcone, Italy builds the Crown Princess cruise ship (113,000 gross tons, 3080 passengers) for Princess Cruises. [75.33]
- June 14
- Princess Cruises holds a ship naming ceremony in New York, hosted by Martha Stewart, for the cruise ship Crown Princess (113,000 gross tons, 3080 passengers). [73.10] [91.42] [92.58]
- June
- Costa Cruises takes delivery of the Costa Concordia cruise ship (112,000 gross tons). [73.10]
- Ambassadors International announces it has formed Majestic American Line combining the five paddlewheelers of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company and the American West Steamboat Company. [92.22]
- (month unknown)
- Louis Cruise Lines charters the Aquamarine cruise ship to Transocean Tours, which renames the ship Arielle. [67.7]
- MSC Cruises takes delivery of the MSC Musica cruise ship. [73.10]
- The Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy, rebuilds Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity cruise ship in a US$55 million makeover, adding 314 balconies. [93.33]
- July
- Costa Cruises is first international company to schedule regular cruises in China and Asia with the Costa Allegra (820 passengers). [110.14]
- July 18
- The SS Nomadic, the last floating link to RMS Titanic, returns home to a great reception in Belfast, Ireland. [27]
- August
- Fred. Olsen Cruise lines takes possession of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Crown cruise ship. [73.28]
- August 22
- Alaskan residents vote 52 percent in favor of taxes on cruise ships and passengers: US$50 per person, and 33 percent levy on cruise ship casino gross income. [92.14] [93.58]
- September
- The former Stella Polaris cruise ship sinks en route to China. [73.28]
- Princess Cruises' Crown Princess makes a 15-degree list on a turn off the coast of Port Canaveral, Florida. The cause is likely a technical malfunction and human error. [73.42]
- German cruise firm Holiday-Kreuzfahrten announces bankruptcy and ceases operations. [73.42]
- October
- MSC Cruises renames the MSC Monterey cruise ship as MSC Monte. [73.10]
- Carnival orders new cruise ships for its Seabourn Cruise Line. [736.14]
- December
- Norwegian Cruise Line debuts the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship (93,502 gross tons, 2376 passengers). [73.16]
- December 18
- Uruguay issues four postage stamps depicting cruise ships: Queen Mary 2, Costa Fortuna, Zuiderman, Star Princess. [285.876]
- December 24
- The Travel Channel airs Great Cruises: Freedom of the Seas with Samantha Brown. The show features Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship Freedom of the Seas on a seven-night cruise of the Western Caribbean. [79]
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