Rapparee, the Costa cruise line is owned by Carnival, a corportion based on American and UK capital (Trading at $45 in March last year, now at roughly $30).
The QE 2, and 50% of all cruise line business, as previously noted, are owned by the Carnival corporation.

Bobert, my wife and I both enjoyed cruises but always get an outside cabin and keep the life jackets and shark repellant handy. The outside cabins are the only ones that can get fresh air when the generators go off line. A supply of barf bags is also useful to toss your waste to the fish, since the plumbing could quit. A liner without power soon stinks worse than Uncle Louie's outhouse. And a supply of candy bars and peanuts, since most of the food on board rots.