Question #1: What cruise line has the highest (by far) stock price in 2025?
Answer #: Royal Caribbean Line with a $283 stock price as of February 24, 2025.
Question #2: According to the Statitica Research Department (which measure such things), what is the estimated cruise ship passenger total for 2025 (a new high)?
- A) 45.8 million
- B) 37.1 million
- C) 17.8 million
- D) 28.7 million
- E) 33.2 million
Answer #: B. 37.1 million passengers are estimated to cruise in 2025.
Question #3: Florida raked in a whopping $13,670 billion in cruise sales in 2023, according to CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) research. And that number is growing. However, which state came next and brought in $4,438 billion in cruise ship dollars in 2023?
Answer #: California.
Question #4: I traveled aboard the esteemed Queen Mary 2 and had a delightful tour of its immense gallies. They included numerous chefs, cooks and bakers scurrying around. Although English is the official onboard tongue, the staff collectively speak 26 languages. I asked the chefs, what language has the best curses?
Answer #: French. By far.
Question #5: According to CLIA’s Economic Impact Report, what is the approximate amount of money annually earned by employees of cruise lines?
- A) $845 Million
- B) $2.75 Billion
- C) $16.2 Billion
- D) $22.8 Billion
- E) $50.0 Billion
Answer #: E. More than $50 billion in earnings and wages.
Question #6: Gavin Macleod famously portrayed Captain Stuebing on the Love Boat television series back in the 70s. Who, however, played his brother, Marshall, who showed up on the series from time to time?
Answer #: It was Gavin MacLeod, wearing a toupee. Clever, no?
Question #7: Which luxury cruise line employs handsome, elegantly dressed older men onboard strictly to dance with, and otherwise escort single ladies?
Answer #: They would be “The Ambassadors,” working on Crystal Cruises. It’s a nice job if you can get it!
Question #8: Which cruise line (featuring serious fine dining) has a ship with actual Picasso lithographs on some walls, including in a main floor Ladies room?
Answer #: That would be aboard the Oceania Cruises’ Riviera ship.
Question #9: More people fly to Florida to catch a cruise, more than any other state by far. Match Florida airports with its three-letter airport code.
- A) TPA Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport
- B) FLL Tampa International Airport
- C) SRQ Clearwater Airport
- D) CLW Fort Lauderdale International Airport
- E) MCO Orlando International Airport
Answer #: TPA=Tampa, FLL=Fort Lauderdale, SRQ=Sarasota, CLW=Clearwater, MCO=Orange County
Question #10: Big ships provide big fun, yet cruise ships actually come in all sizes. What is considered to smallest cruise vessel in the world?
Answer #: At just 320 gross tons, and maximum number of passengers at 16, the Celebrity Xploration is the world’s smallest cruise ship. It mostly sails around the Galapagos Islands and offers guests a truly intimate experience.
Question #11: Want to go North? I mean up there, to the North Pole? Ony two vessels traverse the treacherous Arctic seas to transport paying customers to the North Pole. Which are they?
Answer #: They are Le Commandant Charcot and the 50 Years of Victory. Le Commandant is a true, luxury vessel, built to rugged, modern safety standards that can host 245 guests. 50 Years of Victory is a very powerful nuclear-powered Russian icebreaker. Unfortunately, it is now off-limits to American passengers due to the war in Ukraine.
Question #12: I love great quotes. Who said, “The great difference between voyages rests not in ships, but in the people you meet on them.”
- A) Edward G. Robinson
- B) Amelia Barr, American 1800s novelist
- C) Ernest Hemingway
- D) Mark Twain
- E) David Sedaris
Answer #: B. Amelia Barr.
Question #13: Where do you go the find the most remote port in the world? Hint, it’s “out there.”
Answer #: The Islands of Tristan Da Cunha, deep in the South Atlantic Ocean. It’s a British Overseas Territory and has 238 residents, as of 2024. The island has no airport, so it is only accessible by boat. The nearest port is in Cape Town, South Africa, some 1750 miles, and a six-day sea journey away.
Question #14: Which woman holds the honor of being “Godmother,” to the most ships?
- A) Dame Judi Dench
- B) Queen Elizabeth II
- C) Oprah Winfrey
- D) Madonna
- E) Sophia Loren
Answer #: E. Noted actress Sophia Loren leads the world which being Godmother to 18 MSC ships! That’s almost the entire MSC fleet.
Question #15: Costing over $2 billion (that’s billion), what is the world’s most expensive cruise ship to date?
Answer #: Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. That’s a lot of shrimp cocktails.
Question #16: As of this year, 2025 – which vessel has the most decks? And how many?
Answer #: This would be a tie between MSC World Europa and MSC World America, each with 22 decks. The World America is just launching, to be christened April 9 in PortMiami by godmother Drew Barrymore. And it begins sailing paid-for voyages on April 12. Bon Voyage!
Question #17: What popular cruise company is offering six ships this season visiting Alaska at the same time?
Answer #: That would be Holland America Line. Try their Alaskan Reindeer Sausage, served in the Alaska Brunch.
Question #18: Women traveling alone, as well as with other women, is a fast-growing segment of the cruise population. In fact, beginning in 2027, one company is now offering a woman-only cruise, with a full woman-only crew. Which is it?
Answer #: The Antarctic Women’s Expedition, run by Aurora Expeditions, is sailing to Antarctica aboard the Sylvia Earle vessel. This 130- seat ship sails from Punta Arenas in Chile on a 10-day voyage scheduled to depart on February 23, 2027. Sounds like fun.
Queston #19: I love paella. Zuzu in Napa Valey does it splendidly. I ask you, where is paella from?
- A) Vicenza, Italy
- B) Venice Beach, USA
- C) Valencia, Spain
- D) Vienna, Austria
- E) Vasco, Portugal
Answer #: C. Paella is from Valencia Spain.
Question #20: Which USA-incorporated city is the farthest south?
Answer #: That would be the city of Honolulu. In Hawaii. It is located at 1_18_19_N_157_51_25_W. That is much further south than the second city, Key West, Florida.
Bonus Question: Phoenicia was named by the Romans, after the ancient Phoenicians who lived there. What is this country known as today?
Answer #: That would be Lebanon.
How did you do?
17-21? Expert Cartographer
14-16? Traveler extraordinaire
11-13? Jeopardy enthusiast
10 or less. Time to buy an Atlas
C: Bob Ecker 2025
Bob Ecker is a travel writer and wine judge based in Napa Valley, California.
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Editor’s Notes:
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Cover photo: Bob Ecker photography
