This coming year, 2012, the cruise is industry will be inundated with cruise anniversaries. The largest of course being the centenary of the Titanic disaster of 1912. Both Fred Olsen’s Balmoral and Azamara Journey have been chartered for a special memorial cruise and will be over the site of the wreck on 15th April.

On a slightly more upbeat note, the start of the ­Peninsular Steam ­Navigation Company 175 years ago will be celebrated in Southampton on July 3rd – all seven ships of the P&O fleet will be on show.

There will also be six new ships making their debuts in 2012.

The Disney Fantasy, which is set to launch at the end of March, will sail from Florida to the Caribbean. The Oceania’s new Riviera, which will be naked in Monte Carlo April this year, will spend the summer months in the Mediterranean before journeying across the Atlantic in November.

The Italy based Costa Crociere and the MSC Cruises also have 3000+ passenger ships – the Fascinosa and Divina – scheduled to launch in May. Carnival Breeze is coming in June, and Celebrity Reflection, the last ship in the Solstice class, will be voyaging in October.