Cruise industry statistics - the big money data
 

I wouldn't recommend you this if it was not so very well done - informative (huge and up to date statistical data), easy to follow and on one page - my absolutely fav kind of doing review on something.
It is an analysis of the trends and global growth of the cruise industry (2013 statistics, 2014 forecast)
http://www.repositioncruises.com/cruise-industry/
My fav is the cruise ship industry statistics about the number of passenger ships built 2000 to 2014. It shows the boom in ship building in the years after 911, but what it lacks is the passenger capacity by ship for that period. Probably this data is harder to collect, plus the site is about repositioning cruises and not a news site. Because to build 18 vessels in 2002 is not the same deal as building 11 cruise ships in 2011 - the capacity of the 2011 ships is probably the same, if not bigger.
If this is news for you, just think of the fact that the invested money in new builds for 2014 (from what I understand - both ocean going and river cruise ships) is 15 billion USD - and the lines manage to utilize an average of 104% of these ships capacity!^ Absolute magic!

I honestly dont know why the cruise companies are building bigger ships. Bigger doesn't always mean better in customer service and facilities. Well if bigger ships makes more money then I think this is the trend forward

unfortunately many of the "statistics" are NOT - they are from CLIA surveys/polls.. (in other words 'market research' sampling and responses NOT passenger data) also only CLIA members..

if you want ship capacity/utilization for CLIA fleet, their site has it

i would be really curious to see actual age statistics from passenger data

need more yachts that take individual cabin reservations :(

Guys, I guess for this predominantly "mass market" business they need mass market (huge) ships - regular folks don't like both expensive and intimate :)

Mega ships are the destination
 

The mega ships have become the destination.
Royal's Oasis & Allure.
NCL's Getaway & Breakaway.

Sorry but I would disagree that either of NCL's new ships are in the "mega" class as Allure & Oasis most definitely are. Breakaway/Getaway are 144,000 gross tonnes, just a bit smaller than Freedom of Seas never mind the Oasis class ships.