Carnival Cruise Lines (www.carnival.com) passed something of a milestone last week, when the firm became the first cruise line to surpass one million fans on their corporate Facebook page (www.facebook.com/carnival).

Facebook users can log on and "like" Carnival's Facebook fan page, which also serves as a gateway to interactive polls, exclusive videos and even the opportunity to interact with fellow "Fun Ship" aficionados. Users can also explore the line's YouTube, Twitter and Flickr pages quickly and easily.

Jim Berra, Carnival's chief marketing officer, remarked that: "Facebook is so much more than just a social media tool to share company news and information. It is a terrific way to engage our fans with us and with each other in fun, entertaining and interactive ways that capture the essence and spirit of the Carnival brand."

Carnival was one of the first lines to fully embrace social media, creating their Facebook page in 2007 and recruiting senior cruise director John Heald to write a small blog about life aboard Carnival's ships. Heald's self-dubbed "Blog Thingy" (www.johnhealdsblog.com) would go on to be one of the most-read on the Internet, earning Carnival legions of followers and making Heald one of the most-known cruise personalities since Captain Stubing.

But the announcement also helps to underscore the expanding role of social media in the cruise industry. Nearly every major cruise line has its own dedicated Facebook page and Twitter feed, and many boast comprehensive Flickr photo galleries and behind-the-scenes YouTube videos. Some even maintain their blogs, and many are surprisingly well written.

A decade ago, gathering information on a cruise was like pulling teeth. Many cruise lines had very basic websites that still required a lot of further research to truly find what you're looking for. Now, you can get up-to-theminute coverage of a maiden voyage, for example, complete with photos, videos, tips and tricks, and answers to just about any question you can think of.

Some lines even take things one step further. Ever wished you could look up itineraries on the go, or price out that lastminute getaway cruise? Well, as the saying goes, there's an app for that. Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean all have Apps for the Apple iPad and iPhone that are designed to make your cruise planning experience even easier. While these could take some cues from the hotel industry (download the excellent Inter-Continental Hotels app to see what I mean), the overall trend is encouraging.

As for Carnival, you can bet on seeing an expanded social media presence in the months leading up to the launch of Carnival Breeze in June, 2012.

Visit www.fromthedeckchair.com for more cruise information, including voyage reports, phototours and daily news.