Travel Tips & Trends

New cruise ships for 2009

2009 will be an exciting year as three new ships join AAA-preferred cruise fleets. Each will be the largest ship of its cruise line, with an array of new features.

Celebrity Equinox

The second of Celebrity Cruises' new Solstice class of ships, Celebrity Equinox, sets sail in 2009. Its schedule will aim to balance two of the most popular, and inherently different, cruise destinations-Europe and the Caribbean.

In mid-summer 2009, Celebrity Equinox will sail a short but unique season in Europe, featuring new ports and several overnight stays before transitioning to the Caribbean for the rest of the year and the first quarter of 2010.

The ship will offer a slate of features unique to the Solstice class. One of those is the Lawn Club, a half-acre of real grass on the top deck of the ship where guests can play croquet and bocce, practice their golf putting, and picnic with wine and cheese. Like its sister ship Celebrity Solstice, the Equinox will feature a glassblowing studio with demonstrations by the Corning Museum of Glass.

The ship also features Celebrity's new AquaClass category of veranda accommodations, designed for spa enthusiasts. Guests in AquaClass have unlimited access to the AquaSpa relaxation room, exotic aromatherapy room and steam room, as well as complimentary dining in Blu-an intimate, 130-seat specialty restaurant. Including Blu, Celebrity Equinox will have 10 dining venues, including an upscale lido deck, multiple specialty restaurants, a 24-hour bistro-style café and a majestic main dining room.

Oasis of the Seas

When launched in late 2009, Royal Caribbean's new Oasis of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world. It will have 16 decks, 2,700 staterooms and carry 5,400 passengers at double occupancy.

Oasis of the Seas will introduce Royal Caribbean's new neighborhood concept. The Boardwalk neighborhood, inspired by the nostalgic seaside piers of yesteryear, will include the only working carousel at sea. Boardwalk will also feature the first amphitheater at sea, AquaTheater, with the largest freshwater pool found on a ship. Above Boardwalk, industry-first loft suites will offer expansive ocean views and luxury amenities.

Another neighborhood will be Central Park. This elegant and lively area will evolve from a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere during the day to a space for alfresco restaurant dining in the evening, with entertainment including concerts and street performances. The neighborhood is lined with balcony staterooms rising five decks high, with views of the park below.

Other surprises onboard include two rock-climbing walls, two FlowRider surfing simulators, and the first zip-line at sea, suspended nine decks above Boardwalk.

Oasis of the Seas will sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to the Western and Eastern Caribbean.

Carnival Dream

The new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream will be Carnival Cruise Lines' largest and longest "Fun Ship" yet. Among the ship's highlights is The Piazza. This indoor/outdoor café and live music venue will feature a bandstand where a variety of musical genres will be showcased, along with a large circular dance floor. A massive floor-to-ceiling curved glass wall will separate the room into indoor and outdoor seating areas with stunning ocean views.

Carnival Dream will also take the traditional cruise ship promenade to new heights with its half-mile, open-air promenade encircling the ship on Promenade Deck 5. Here, guests can take a stroll, read a book or relax in one of four "scenic whirlpools" that cantilever out over the sea.

The ship is scheduled to enter service Sept. 21, 2009, with an inaugural 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise from Rome, followed by two additional Mediterranean cruises and a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome to New York. Carnival Dream will begin a year-round schedule of seven-day Caribbean cruises on Dec. 5, 2009, from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.