services, wemes to cover the bases from a-z.etty: but the success was not due to bigger and better ships aimed at a ballooning population of the american middle class. by registering ships under foreign flags, companies avoided u.s. labor laws and tax regulations that regular land-based tourism was forced to follow. between 1970-2014, the passenger load grew more than 4000%, from 500,000 to more than 21 million cruisers each year. but the industry's environmental practices and working conditions have drawn a lot of scrutiny. in the last several years, the industry has been plagued with a series of incidents that have hit the headlines and scared passengers and public alike. sick at sea. >> a royal caribbean cruise forced to turn back. when 200 people on board get the neurovirus. betty: from outbreaks on a separate cruises last year to an ebola scare that created panic. >> we knew something bad was happening. betty: to the devastating crash of the costa concordia that killed 32 people and landed its captain in prison. and then th