Cruise Industry enjoying Rising Tide of Business

The cruise industry is trumpeting its accelerating growth in a new study that says it generated $35.7 billion in U.S. economic output and supported 348,000 American jobs.

Growth in revenue has been nearly 20 percent over the last two years, part of which may be due to the airlines' continued woes over delays, cancellations, tarmac stranding, mishandled luggage and complaints of poor service.

"The study first and foremost shows the health of the industry," said Terry Dale, president of the Cruise Lines International Association. "It continues to grow and the future is very promising."

This year, the association says, passengers will total a record-breaking 12.5 million. That's small compared to the 64 million passengers carried by U.S. airlines in the month of May, the most recent month for which the government has released statistics.

Still, virtually every cabin on every cruise ship is filled this year. Capacity, say analysts, is the only thing holding back more rapid growth. All the industry needs is more ships to attract more passengers.

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