Travel Tips & Trends

New cruise ships for 2008

Options for cruisers continue to expand in 2008, with the introduction of new vessels and itineraries for the following cruise lines.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Splendor, set to debut in July, is a new class of vessel weighing in at 113,300 tons and featuring a total guest capacity of 3,006. The Cloud9 Spa onboard will be the largest in Carnival's fleet and one of the largest spas afloat, with 21,000 square feet of spa and gym facilities, as well as 19,000 square feet of spa-dedicated staterooms. The ship will introduce a host of new features for Carnival, including staterooms with flat-screen TVs, a 5,500-square-foot children's playroom, and a pool covered with a two-deck-high sliding dome. The pool deck will include the SeaSide Theater, two bars, Splendido poolside eatery, Pinnacle Supper Club and more.

Carnival Splendor will sail Carnival's first-ever northern European cruise itinerary.

Holland America Line

Coming in the summer, the new Eurodam marks Holland America's next class of vessels. At 2,104 passengers and 11 passenger decks, the ship is the largest ever constructed for the premium line.

Features include a topside 144-seat Pan-Asian restaurant and 50-seat lounge with panoramic views of the ocean and the pool. Other additions are the Explorer's Lounge Bar, a new specialty Italian restaurant, luxury jewelry boutiques, a new atrium bar area, an enhanced and reconfigured show lounge with theater-style seating, and a new photographic and imaging center.

The Eurodam will continue several established Holland America features: outside-view glass elevators, the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar, the Culinary Arts Center with expert cooking classes and demonstrations, an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

Princess Cruises

Making its debut in November 2008, Ruby Princess features a piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and street entertainers. Dining venues will include the signature Sabatini's Italian trattoria, the Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant, and adults-only restaurant The Sanctuary. Ruby Princess will offer personal choice dining with a choice of traditional or "anytime" seating; the Lotus Spa with fitness center; an extensive children's and teen's center; a wedding chapel; and nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies.

This sister ship to the well-received Emerald Princess and Crown Princess will make its maiden sailing on Nov. 15, 2008. Its Caribbean program will feature calls at Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and the line's private beach at Princess Cays in the Bahamas. The ship's first season will run through April 2009.

Royal Caribbean International

In May, Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas will debut in Southampton, England. This will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe. Sharing the title with sister ships Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, it weighs in at 160,000 tons and holds 3,634 guests.

Like those vessels, Independence will feature the FlowRider surf simulator, the H2O Zone aqua park, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, an ice-skating rink, a boxing ring, and the 1,215-square-foot Presidential Family Suite which sleeps up to 14. A variety of European itineraries will be offered.