New Cruise Ships in 2009

Cruise Line: AIDA Cruises

Ship: AIDALuna

Maiden Voyage: March 22

The Inside Scoop: AIDALuna is the third ship in the German cruise line's Sphinx class, and even if it's identical to siblings AIDADiva and AIDABella, it still will offer one of the freshest, most carefree ambiences on any cruise ship. Onboard, the ship just screams fun with eclectic colors in the fabulous Theatrium—where everything from dance performances to shore lectures are held—and a vibrant pool area.

Other high points are its spa (fantastic couples treatment rooms with private balconies and baths for two), its three themed buffet venues (AIDADiva's standout was Markt, designed around an upscale food hall, featuring counters laden with fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, pastries and meats) and a selection of upscale boutique restaurants.

The bad news: AIDA, though owned by Carnival Corporation, makes absolutely no effort at all to reach out to English-speaking travelers. It's not so easy to book the cruises if you lie beyond AIDA's country-specific marketing efforts. So, unless you speak pretty good German, you'll feel adrift.

Where it Will Sail: After a short series of Mediterranean and Western Europe voyages in early spring, AIDALuna will reposition to its seasonal homeport of Rostock (Warnemunde). From there, it will offer Baltic cruises. In September, the ship repositions to its winter home in Tenerife, where it will cruise the Canary Islands.

(Photo: AIDA)

Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises

Ship: Viking Legend

Maiden Voyage: May 10

The Inside Scoop: If you haven't often associated cutting-edge cruise ship designs with riverboats, Viking Legend may turn your head. The 189-passenger ship will feature a pair of splashy suites (310 square feet)—the largest accommodations on any European river vessel. A new propulsion system is another innovation, offering a smoother, quieter and more fuel-efficient ride. Otherwise, more traditional features include a sundeck with 360-degree views, upgraded beds with European linens and a restaurant offering menus that highlight seasonal and regional specialties.

Where it Will Sail: Viking Legend will cruise from May to November, offering river cruises between Amsterdam and Budapest. On these 15-night "Grand European Tour" voyages, the riverboat will sail along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.

(Photo: Viking River Cruises)

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises

Ship: Costa Luminosa

Maiden Voyage: June 3

The Inside Scoop: As I've noted, Costa Luminosa is a trendsetter in that it will introduce a new, smaller design for Costa. The 92,700-ton ship will carry 2,828 passengers and will have the fleet's highest percentage of balcony cabins (68 percent), an innovative 4D cinema, a high-tech golf simulator and a rollerblading track. It will also offer its own twist on Costa favorites, such as the Samsara Spa and spa cabins, a race car simulator and a pool deck with a retractable roof.

Where it Will Sail: After some pre-inaugural cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean in May, Costa Luminosa will offer Northern Europe itineraries from its seasonal homeport in Amsterdam.

Options include 11- to 14-night Baltic, Norwegian Fjords and North Cape voyages. In September, Costa Luminosa will reposition to Savona for Canary Islands, Spain and Morocco cruises.

(Photo: Costa Cruises)

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises

Ship: Costa Pacifica

Maiden Voyage: June 5

The Inside Scoop: The 114,500-ton, 3,780-passenger Costa Pacifica is a sibling to Costa Serena and Costa Concordia. The ship, which will offer nearly identical features—such as the Samsara Spa, race car simulator and two-deck pool area with poolside movie screen—will be designed around the theme of music. This vessel, along with its siblings, features interiors designed by Joe Farcus, who's also known as the oft-wacky visionary behind Carnival Cruise Lines' onboard schemes.

Where it Will Sail: For the duration of the summer and fall, the ship—homeported in Rome—will sail seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises slated to visit Italy, France, Spain, Tunisia, and Malta.

(Photo: Costa Cruises)

Cruise Line: Seabourn Cruise Line

Ship: Seabourn Odyssey

Maiden Voyage: June 24

The Inside Scoop: The 32,000-ton, 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey will be three times the size of Seabourn's existing trio of 10,000-ton, 208-passenger ships. Yet, it will carry just double the number of passengers. All that extra space is being put to good use with new features, including the largest spa on any luxury vessel.

The 11,400-square-foot spa will span two decks and include indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, as well as a Kinesis wall in the fitness center that will combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training into one workout.

Available for rent will be 750-square-feet spa villas, where passengers can spend a decadent half-day lounging in a private retreat and indulging in their choice of spa treatments. New dining options include the avant garde Restaurant 2 with its tasting menu of innovative dishes; the indoor-outdoor Colonnade restaurant, where diners can watch their breakfasts, lunches or dinners being prepared in the open kitchen; and course-by-course, in-suite dining. Also included in the design are traditional Seabourn favorites like a watersports platform and, of course, the line's famed culinary service.

Where it Will Sail: Seabourn Odyssey will spend the summer and early fall cruising the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean before repositioning to Ft. Lauderdale in November. There, it will offer a handful of Caribbean cruises before it moves on to serve the line's first ever world cruise. The 108-night voyage departs on January 5, 2010.

(Photo: Seabourn Cruise Line)

Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Lines

Ship: Carnival Dream

Maiden Voyage: September 21

The Inside Scoop: The 130,000-ton, 3,652-passenger Carnival Dream may be Carnival's largest ship, but it will also sport a brand new design for the cruise line—with an emphasis on fun, of course! A wraparound promenade (the Lanai, on Deck 5) will not only let passengers take a stroll all the way around the ship, but four cantilevered whirlpools will provide relaxing hideaways with sea views.

On the same deck, the indoor-outdoor Ocean Plaza, with its coffee shops, bars and ocean views, is a gathering spot by day and entertainment venue by night, sandwiched between the casino and various clubs and lounges. The 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa tops the charts as Carnival's largest ever, and it will offer spa cabins, a thalassotherapy pool and thermal suite. New cabin types, such as "cove balcony" cabins—closer to the water line than any other ship's verandah staterooms—are also being introduced, and family-friendly accommodations feature two bathrooms and sleeping arrangements for up to five people. Families with kids will also appreciate the huge kids' area with separate facilities for Camp Carnival, Circle C and Club O2 age groups; two twister waterslides, which will be the longest at sea; and a two-deck mini-golf course.

Where it Will Sail: Carnival Dream will homeport in Port Canaveral and sail alternating seven-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises. The western itinerary visits Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya and Nassau, and the eastern itinerary calls in Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Prior to the ship's arrival in Port Canaveral, it will offer a few Europe voyages, a transatlantic cruise and a handful of sailings from New York as it makes its way to its new Florida home.

(Photo: Carnival Cruise Lines)

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Splendida

Maiden Voyage: July 13

The Inside Scoop: The 133,500-ton, 3,300-passenger MSC Splendida follows the innovative MSC Fantasia. Both are the largest ships ever built for MSC and, as well, offer some fresh new concepts onboard. Among them are French restaurant L'Etoile and the elaborate Yacht Club, a ship-within-a-ship concept (like NCL's Courtyard Villas) that offers a more luxurious ambience on the large vessel.

Other features of note include a Formula One simulator, expansive kids' areas, an Italian wine bar (complete with antipasti) and a covered main pool (for swimming in all kinds of weather).

Where it Will Sail: MSC Splendida will cruise in Europe year-round, starting with seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona between July and November. The ship will visit Tunisia, Malta, Italy and France. In late November, MSC Splendida will reposition to Genoa and sail Eastern Mediterranean cruises to Italy, Greece, Egypt, and Turkey.

(Photo: MSC Cruises)

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Ship: Celebrity Equinox

Maiden Voyage: August 8

The Inside Scoop: Celebrity Equinox is the twin sister to Celebrity Solstice, the first ship in the Solstice class that debuted in November 2008. The 117,000-ton, 2,850-passenger Celebrity Equinox will debut in Southampton and will offer all of Celebrity Solstice's innovations—multiple dining venues, the Lawn Club (carpeted in real grass), a glass-blowing studio and a gorgeous solarium. Differences will be minor; there's a possibility that one or two of the restaurants may have new themes and menus.

Where it Will Sail: Celebrity Equinox will sail 13- and 14-night itineraries from Rome between August 18 and October 23. The ship will visit ports in Israel, Egypt, Greece, Turkey and Italy, including an overnight in Alexandria. Celebrity Equinox will reposition to Ft. Lauderdale in early November, where it will offer 10- and 11-night Caribbean cruises to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, Dominica, St. Maarten, Grand Cayman, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico.

(Photo: Celebrity Cruises)

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Ship: Oasis of the Seas

Maiden Voyage: December 5

The Inside Scoop: Launching on December 5, (with a preview cruise on December 1), the 220,000-ton, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship ever built. The revolutionary ship is divided into seven neighborhoods, with innovative elements like the open-air Central Park with live grass and trees, a zip-line, a theatrical venue that uses the pool as a performance space, two-story loft suites and balcony cabins overlooking the central indoor-outdoor areas of the ship.

Where it Will Sail: Oasis of the Seas will homeport in Ft. Lauderdale. It will cruise the Eastern Caribbean, calling in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau, through April 2010. In May, Oasis of the Seas will add Western Caribbean itineraries to Labadee, Jamaica and Cozumel on alternating weeks.

(Photo: Royal Caribbean)

Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises

Ship: Silver Spirit

Maiden Voyage: December 23

The Inside Scoop: Silver Spirit will carry 540 passengers (compared to Silversea's current largest ships, which carry 382 passengers) but will still offer a high space-to-guest ratio. When the 36,000-ton ship debuts, it will entice guests with all-oceanview cabins (and only 12 without balconies), a heated pool, a supper club and an Asian restaurant. A larger 8,300-square-foot spa will be the ultimate relaxation center with indoor/outdoor areas, a sauna, steam rooms, an outdoor whirlpool, and a tricked-out fitness center with two aerobic studios, top-of-the-line equipment and a Kinesis Wall. Interestingly, the ship will have programming for kids ages 3 to 12—a first for Silversea, which has not previously catered to children.

Where it Will Sail: After a few inaugural sailings in December and January, the ship will be officially named on January 21 in Ft. Lauderdale. Silver Spirit then sets off on a 91-day South America voyage from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles and back to New York. During the summer, the ship will cruise the Mediterranean before repositioning to the Caribbean for autumn and winter cruises.

(Photo: Silversea Cruises)