People took cruises before Ted Arison entered the industry, but a
case can be made that the modern cruise industry began with him.
His entry into the field came just after World War II, when he
took over the family shipping business in his native Israel.
After the firm was sold, he ran his own fleet of cargo ships.
But in 1954, he liquidated everything and moved to the States.
He switched to air cargo for a number of years but his fate, to
be a pioneer in modern cruising, was at hand.
With Knut Kloster, he launched Norwegian Caribbean Lines,
offering the first air-sea packages.
In 1972, he went his own way, starting a new company called
Carnival Cruise Lines.
For nearly two decades, Ted Arison presided over the phenomenal
growth of what is now known as Carnival Corp., comprised of many of
the leading brands in the cruise industry.
In 1990, he returned to his native Israel, turning over the
reins of the company to his son Micky.
When he died on Oct. 1 of heart failure at 75, Ted Arison left
an enormous legacy.
Within the industry, his contributions have been recognized with
many awards, including induction into the ASTA Hall of Fame.
But his contributions went beyond the travel industry.
He spearheaded the establishment of professional basketball in
south Florida with the Miami Heat. He was the chief benefactor for
the Miami-based National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts,
which created Miami's New World Symphony orchestra.
Most importantly, his generosity extended to museums and
hospitals here and in Israel.
His dedication not only to the industry but to such worthwhile
causes long will be remembered.