Summary - TST 9

TRANSPORTES, SERVICIOS Y TELECOMUNICACIONES


TST 9

Ferry de Goey
The cruise industry in the twentieth century


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Key words: History of turism; maritime transport; cruises.

[ Abstract ]

This article investigates the development of the cruise industry in the twentieth century by comparing the history of two companies: Holland America Line (HAL) and Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL). HAL started out in 1872 as a liner passenger service between Rotterdam and New York. After the Second World War, HAL successfully transformed itself in an upmarket cruise company operating in the United States. By contrast, CCL only began in 1974 and became a large American cruise company by offering cheap cruises. In 1989, CCL acquired HAL and expanded further through other take-overs in the 1990s. Currently it is the largest cruise company in the world. Several problems threaten further expansion of the cruise industry. These include health safety, an aging clientele, overcrowding of popular destinations, and terrorist attacks.