Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk Zipline

New Ships for 2009
Watch the Horizon for New Cruise Ships Sailing Our Way

It's almost 2009 and the beginning of "Wave Season"—the time of year when winter doldrums set in and it's time to think of warm sea breezes and booking a cruise.

All New
2009 will see the introduction of ships that are first in their "classes" as well as some that follow a familiar profile. Cruise Diva is happy to preview the Class of 2009.

2009 New Ship Launches:

• Oasis of the Seas—Royal Caribbean's next BIG thing, she'll be the world's largest cruise ship at 220,000 tons when she begins sailing in the fall. Oasis heads for Fort Lauderdale and a rendezvous with 5,400 passengers waiting to play in her neighborhoods, zip-line over the deck, and surf through the Caribbean.
• Carnival Dream—First in a new Carnival class, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream is set to launch in September. She features a large spa and fitness center and Spa Staterooms & Suites that have private access to the spa. She also boasts a new category of staterooms that sleep five and feature a full bathroom with shower, plus a separate washroom with sink and junior tub. For maximum fun, there is Carnival's signature Water Works.
• Seabourn Odyssey—As the first of a new class of ultra luxurious ships to be introduced in nearly a decade, Seabourn Odyssey promise to continue the line’s tradition of understated elegance and signature features in a larger setting at 32,000 tons. With more space, there are more pools, more hot tubs, and a two-deck spa for the 450 passengers to enjoy beginning in June.
• Silver Spirit—Silversea Cruises plans to introduce their mid-size luxury vessel in December 2009. At 36,000 tons, Silver Spirit will carry only 540 passengers who will be pampered by 375 crewmembers. With one of the most generous space-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry, the stylish interiors promise a 1930’s Art Deco flavor.
• Costa Luminosa—The most innovative of the Costa ships, at 92,700 tons, when she sets sail in June 2009 on diverse European itineraries, Costa Luminosa will boast the line's highest percentage of cabins with balconies—772 out of a total of 1,130. The ship's 18-hole course golf simulator, the most sophisticated on any cruise ship, was inspired by thirty-seven real courses.
• Costa Pacifica—At 114,500 tons, this sister-ship to Costa Concordia will carry 3,004 passengers with Italian style and flair when she launches her Mediterranean cruises in June 2009.
• MSC Splendida—Second in MSC Cruises' newest and largest class, she's weighing in 133,500 tons and can carry 3,900 passengers (make that 3,300 at double occupancy) through the Mediterranean. As with sister-ship MSC Fantasia, the ship has an exclusive VIP area.
• Celebrity Equinox—The newest sister of the Solstice-class, Celebrity Equinox won't fit through the Panama Canal, but there will be a lot on board for her 2,850 passengers to do when she launches in fall 2009.

What's Really NEW?
We'd like to share the insider details. Alas, the cruise industry is generally secretive when it comes to the new features they plan on adding to wow passengers. While Royal Caribbean and Carnival have shared a lot of information, the rest aren't saying too much. You can get the details we have here:

• Oasis of the Seas — Two more neighborhoods make a splash when Royal Caribbean takes "the beach" to sea.
• Royal Caribbean Offers More Oasis of the Seas Details — A second Oasis of the Seas reveal, includes more neighborhoods and surprises.
• Oasis of the Seas— A first look at the neighborhoods aboard Oasis of the Seas
• Your Carnival Dream Is About To Come True — Get a sneak peek at Carnival Cruise Line's largest “Fun Ship” ever, Carnival Dream.

Instead of star-gazing for answers or predictions of what's to come, we'll continue to report the latest in Cruise News to keep you up to date.

Happy New Year!

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