Cruise industry: 2009 shaping up as another record year

— -- The sharp downturn in the economy in recent months isn't going to stop the growth in cruise bookings.

That's the word from the Cruise Lines International Association, which says major lines are on track to carry a record 13.5 million passengers in 2009 — a 2.3% rise from 2008.

If the forecast holds true, it'll be just the latest in a long string of annual increases for the long recession-resistant industry. The association estimates the industry carried 13.2 million passengers in 2008, a 4.8% increase from the 12.6 million who cruised in 2007. And 2007, in turn, was up from the year before.

The industry has nearly tripled in size since the mid-1990s, when about 5 million people a year were cruising.

Helping to prop up the industry is the rapid growth of cruising among Europeans, Latin Americans and Asians. Through the third quarter of 2008, the industry saw a 30% annual increase in international passengers, and the association estimates that 3.05 million people from outside North America sailed on CLIA member lines in 2008. About 10.45 million people from North American cruised.

The industry's biggest players also have been rolling out significant discounts to keep ships full this winter and for the coming spring and summer. Just last week, for instance, Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced it would throw in free airfare and shore excursions on some voyages to jump start bookings.

The association notes that member lines are unveiling 14 new vessels in 2009. While several of the new ships are small riverboats that carry around 100 passengers, the list of newcomers includes several much-ballyhooed giants such as Royal Caribbean's record-setting, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas.

Other vessels debuting in 2009 include the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey (June), 2,850-passenger Celebrity Equinox (July), 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream (October) and 540-passenger Silversea Spirit (November).

Cruise Loggers, which new ship has you the most excited?