References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here.
A number after the dot gives the page in the source.
Last updated: 2012 February 6.
1990
Carnival Cruise Line introduces the Fantasy cruise ship (70,000 gross tons), for 3-4 day runs between Miami, Florida, and the Bahamas. [67.31]
Chandris Group's Galileo cruise ship is renovated, transferred to the Celebrity fleet, and renamed Meridian. [71.36]
The Club Med I sail-cruiser is built (14,745 gross tons). [75.16]
Royal Caribbean International acquires Admiral Cruises. [88.33]
Royal Caribbean International takes delivery of the Nordic Empress cruise ship from Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. [88.33]
July 20
Viet Nam issues a 500-dong postage stamp depicting a cruise ship. [285.1015]
September 13
Tristan da Cunha issues five postage stamps depicting passenger liners, the Dunnottar Castle of 1942, the RMS St. Helena of 1977-1990, and the new RMS St. Helena of 1989. [285.603]
1991
March 27
Saint Lucia issues five postage stamps depicting cruise ships. [278.813]
April 1
Tristan da Cunha issues a postage stamp depicting the Royal Viking Sun cruise ship. [285.604]
June 17
Pitcairn Islands issues four postage stamps depicting cruise ships: Europa, Royal Viking Star, World Discoverer, Sagafjord. [278.306]
August
Epirotiki's Oceanos ship founders off South Africa in a storm, with no deaths. [202.33]
1992
April 14
Yugoslavia issues a postage stamp marking the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic passenger liner. [285.1130]
August 7
Ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2, en route from Martha's Vineyard to New York, hits an unchartered reef off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Damage is not serious, but the ship is out of service for months. [254.14]
1993
The Holland America Line introduces the Maasdam cruise ship (1,266 passengers). [76]
The Holland America Line introduces the Statendam cruise ship (1,258 passengers). [76]
July 15
Libya issues two 50-dinar postage stamps depicting cruise ships. [153.68]
October 6
Premier Cruise Lines announces it is dropping the appearance of Disney characters from its cruise ships as of April 1, 1994. [59.D4]
1994
February 3
Tristan da Cunha issues twelve postage stamps depicting passenger liners and cruise ships: Dutchess of Atholl (1929), Empress of Australia (1935), Anatolia (1937), Viceroy of India (1939), Rangitata (1943), Caronia (1950), Rotterdam (1960), Leonardo da Vinci (1972), Vistafjord (1974), World Discoverer (1984), Astor (1984), RMS St. Helena (1992). [285.604]
March 23
The Epirotiki Pallas Athene passenger liner (20,477 gross tons) catches fire in Piraeus. [726.26]
May 3
The Walt Disney Company announces plans to start a cruise ship venture. [69]
(month unknown)
The Nordic Prince cruise ship is sold by Royal Caribbean to Airtours, and renamed Carousel. [67.7] (1995 [339])
The Holland America Line introduces the Ryndam cruise ship (1,258 passengers). [76]
Malagasy releases two postage stamps depicting modern cruise ships. [143.633]
December 2
Passenger liner Achille Lauro (former Willem Ruys) sinks off the coast of Somalia. [1]
December 30
Slovakia issues a 10-koruna postage stamp depicting a 400-passenger cruise ship. [278.1166]
1995
May 20
Disney Cruise Line announces Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. of Italy is awarded the contract to build the first Disney cruise ship. [70]
(month unknown)
Jos. L. Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, builds the Century cruise ship (72458 gross tons, 1814 passengers) for Celebrity Cruises. [73.42] [93.33]
September 11
Westbound to New York, cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is hit by a 95-foot wave, denting the forward deck plating. [254.14]
1996
January 8
Saint Helena issues four postage stamps depicting Union Castle mail ships: Walmer Castle, Llangibby Castle, Stirling Castle, and Pendennis Castle. [278.780]
April 29
The Swan Hellenic Minerva cruise ship (12,300 tons, 350 passengers) departs Genoa, Italy, on is maiden cruise. [726.21]
May
Ground is broken on Castaway Cay, private island in the Bahamas of the Disney Cruise Line. [69]
(month unknown)
The Holland America Line introduces the Veendam cruise ship (1,266 passengers). [76]
Cunard Line sells the Sagafjord cruise ship to Saga Group, who rename the ship the Saga Rose. [93.20]
Royal Caribbean Line sells the Song of Norway cruise ship to Sun Cruises. [339]
September 5
Saint Vincent issues fourteen postage stamps depicting cruise ships: Doric, Nerissa, Howick Hall, Jervis Bay, Vauban, Orinoco, Lady Rodney, Empress of Russia, Providence, Regina Victori-Eugenia, Balmoral Castle, Tivives, Imperator, Aquitania. [278.889]
October 21
The keel of the Disney Magic cruise ship is laid. [70]
October 29
Sierra Leone issues four postage stamps depicting passenger liners or cruise ships: SS Great Britain (1846), RMS Queen Elizabeth (1940-1972), SS United States (1952), Legend of the Seas. [278.1123]
December
The Celebrity Galaxy cruise ship (77,713 gros tons, 1870 passengers) enters service with Celebrity Cruises. [253.15]
Holland America Line purchases the uninhabited 2400-acre island of Little San Salvador (100 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas) for US$6 million. [76] [150.22]
1997
January 8
Saint Lucia issues a postage stamp depicting a cruise ship. [278.814]
The bow half of the Disney Magic cruise ship leaves drydock of Fincontieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy, to meet with the stern section 100 miles away in Marghera. [70]
April 15
Joining of the two halves of the Disney Magic cruise ship begins, with variance less than 1 mm. [70]
April 18
Joining of the two halves of the Disney Magic cruise ship is complete. [70]
April 23
Club Méditerranée announces it will selll its Club Med cruise ship to Carnival Cruise Lines for US$45 million, with the sale to take place in March 1998. [499.D4]
May 13
The complete hull of the Disney Magic cruise ship floats for the first time. [70]
(month unknown)
Maiden voyage guests for the Disney Magic cruise ship are selected by lottery. [69]
Celebrity's Meridian cruise ship is sold to Sun Cruises, and renamed Sun Vista. [71.36]
The Holland America Line introduces the Rotterdam cruise ship (1,316 passengers). [76]
October 15
Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp depicting the sinking of the Titanic passenger liner. [143.794]
Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp depicting the sinking of the Lusitania passenger liner. [143.794]
November 5
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines issues five postage stamps marking the 85th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. [278.891]
December 12
Holland America Line debuts Half Moon Cay as a private island port of call for its cruise ships. [76] [150.22]
1998
January 2
Saint Helena issues four postage stamps depicting Union Castle mail ships: Avondale Castle, Dunnottar Castle, Llandovery Castle, and Good Hope Castle. [278.781]
May 14
Sweden issues a 6-kronor postage stamp depicting cruis ship Albatros in Stockholm harbor. [285.297]
(month unknown)
Princess Cruise Line introduces the Grand Princess cruise ship (109,000 gross tons). [67.31]
The Club Med I sail-cruiser is acquired by Windstar Cruises and renamed Wind Surf. [75.16]
Norwegian Cruise Line lengthens the Dreamward cruise ship by 130 feet (11543 gross tons, 506 passengers), and renames the ship Norwegian Dream. [88.18]
Norwegian Cruise Line lengthens the Windward cruise ship by 130 feet (11483 gross tons, 502 passengers), and renames the ship Norwegian Wind. [88.18]
Carnival Corp acquires Cunard Line. [89.31]
July 1
The Disney Magic cruise ship, first of the Disney Cruise Line, departs from Venice, Italy. [69]
Saint Thomas and Prince Islands issues two postage stamps depicting the RMS Titanic passenger ship. [278.854]
July 15
The Disney Magic cruise ship arrives at Port Canaveral, Florida for the first time. [69]
July 30
The Disney Cruise Line launches its first cruise ship, the Disney Magic, from Port Canaveral, Florida. [60.407] [61.4] [62.393] [69]
August 1
Bahamas issues two 55 cent postage stamps (daytime and nighttime) depicting Castaway Cay and the Disney Magic ship of the Disney Cruise Lines. [63.695]
September 1
Sierra Leone issues a postage stamp depicting the RMS Titanic. [278.1125]
September 10
Malagasy releases 31 postage stamps of the Titanic ship. [143.636]
September 15
Tristan da Cunha issues four postage stamps depicting visiting cruise ships: Livonia, Professor Molchanov, Explorer, Hanseatic. [285.605]
September 27
Maldives issues seven stamps about the ship Titanic. [143.716]
October 29
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines issues one $20 postage stamp depicting the Titanic. [278.893]
(month unknown)
Windjammer barefoot Cruises' Fantome and 31 crew are lost in Hurricane Mitch in the Atlantic Ocean. [67.24] [202.33]
November 6
Malagasy releases ten postage stamps depicting famous disasters at sea (Titanic, Lusitania, Atlantique, Normandie, Wilhelm Gustloff, Andrea Doria, Queen Elizabeth, Amoco Cadiz, Estonia). [143.636]
December
Ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 dives into a deep swell, breaching a forward storm door, letting in tons of sea water. 75 crew cabins are flooded. [254.14]
1999
February 14
The first Disney Cruise Line wedding occurs on Castaway Cay. [69]
Sun Cruises' Sun Vista cruise ship catches fire off the coast of Malaysia, and sinks. [71.36]
(month unknown)
The Holland America Line introduces the Volendam cruise ship (1,440 passengers). [76]
Norwegian Cruise Line lengthens the former Royal Majesty of Majesty Cruise Line by 112 feet (8480 gross tons, 406 passengers), and renames the ship Norwegian Majesty. [88.18]
July 9
The one hundredth sailing of the Disney Magic cruise ship is celebrated. [69]
July 14
The Disney Wonder cruise ship, second of the Disney Cruise line, departs from Venice, Italy. [69]
July 23
Senegal issues four postage stamps depicting passenger liners, ten of the SS Titanic, one of the SS France, and one of the United States. [278.1067]
August 2
The Disney Wonder cruise ship arrives at Port Canaveral, Florida, from Italy, where it was built. [64.28] [69]
August 15
The maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder cruise ship takes place. [69]
October 19
Marilyn Carlson Nelson christens the S.S. Navigator cruise ship for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. [91.6]
November 21
Maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas cruise ship (142,000 gross tons, maximum 3838 passengers). [79]
December 23
Saint Helena issues a postage stamp for the 100th anniversary of the Union Castle line, depicting a ship. [278.782]
December 26
Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas cruise ship sets a new record for most guests on a single cruise: 3497. [79]
