Not to be pessimistic, but 2012 will probably see some kind of victory for Carnival Cruise Lines in their fight with the Charleston citizens organizations.   Don´t get us wrong, its not that this is the desired outcome, we have seen this movie before.  When the mayor, state Port´s Authority, and other government forces lines up AGAINST the wishes of their citizes, and side with a big business, usually that signals the direction the wind will blow.  But, we still have hope.

One thing that strikes me is how committed they citizens groups are.  We have blogged about the ongoing spat, and we have been contacted numerous times by representatives to ensure that we have the full story and that our reporting is correct.  That kind of dedication will surely help their cause.

Still, we are living in a time of tough economic pressures, and when you position a big business (revenue and jobs) against citizen´s groups, many would prefer to sell out to the big business for the sake of the economic boon it brings.  But, all that glitters is not gold.

If Carnival brings with it traffic and pollution, and at the same time it disrupts the natural order and scenic beauty of a historic city, perhaps the costs outweight the benefits.

Every since the mega earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004, it seems mother nature has had it out for humanity.  There have been numerous earthquakes, in China, Pakistan, Japan, Haiti, and Chile.  Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost.  Floods have ravaged Pakistan, Thailand, the United States, and other parts of the world.  And, who can forget hurricane Katrina?  If the past 8 years has told us anything, it is to expect the unexpected when it comes to natural disasters.

2012 will probably bring more of the same.  People inhabit almost every corner of the globe.  It is almost impossible for a natural disaster to strike and no one be affected.  The fact is that the earth is a dynamic planet, one this not fully understood by our best experts.

Whether the continuing geological situation will affect the world economy and world travel is anther story.  This is much harder to predict.  It seems that after many years of harsh economic times, Americans are looking to start traveling again.  But, all of this can change suddenly due to a varity of factors, including natural disasters.

The American economy is on the rebound right?  If you beleive the economists and the polcitians – we are in what is called a ¨slow recovery.¨ The average American probably has not seen very many job opportunities as of late.  They probably have not been given a raise at work, and if so, not very much of a raise.  They probably feel taht the economy has gotten worse as of the last few years, but not that it is getting much better at the moment.

But, we are still Americans.  Though we get a bum rap in the Western world for not taking enough vacations, we still like to get away every now and then.  The combinations of factors, the economy and American´s need for some of the finer things in life, will push more and more of us to go on bargain basement cruises this year.

Throwing caution to the wind, we predict that Americans will file on to cruise ships in record numbers.  They will pack themselves like sardines into the tiny state-rooms, and dance the night away in the manufactured ambiance of a mega-ship.

If you decide to be among cruisers this year, be warned.  Cruise lines have a facade, behind which is often unsanitary conditions for food preparation and the handling of eating utensils, and linens.  Ourtbreaks of disease is rampant, with Norovirus being amoung the worse offenders.  Sexual predators cruise (pun intended) the ships looking for easy prey.  And U.S. laws may not offer you any protection while you are out of the country.