New Ships for 2007
Watch the Horizon for New Cruise Ships With Familiar Profiles

Welcome to 2007 and an all new "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.

With the new year comes even more choice: the new—and not so new—ships for 2007.

All New & Class-y
The more things change, the more they stay the same... we aren't quite sure who first made that observation, but it's certainly true with the current wave of cruise ships. Only one entering service in 2007, Cunard Line's Queen Victoria, is a new design (in reality, she was originally destined to be a Holland America Line Vista-class vessel and was lengthened and reconfigured for Cunard). The rest are recognizable as additions to previously introduced ship classes.

2007 New Ship Launches:

• Carnival Freedom—The newest 110,000 ton ship in the Carnival "Fun Ship" fleet introduces the line's first Greek Isles cruises in its maiden season. Watch for the 2,974-passenger ship to make her Caribbean debut in November.

• Emerald Princess—The 116,000 ton sister ship to Crown Princess is slated for christening in Santorini, Greece and offer a tried-and-true Princess experience to her 3,100 passengers.

• Liberty of the Seas—Royal Caribbean breaks the string of new ships bound for Greece when the second 158,000 ton Freedom-class ship heads for a rendezvous with 3,643 passengers waiting to sail to the Caribbean from Miami.

• Costa Serena—This sister-ship to Costa Cruise Line's 112,000 ton Costa Serena, featuring an equally expansive Samsara Spa, will offer year-round cruises in the Mediterranean to 3,800 passengers.

• MSC Orchestra—The second of three 90,000 ton Panamax ships joins sister-ship MSC Musica in the MSC Cruises fleet.

• Norwegian Gem—The 93,000 Jewel-class ship enters the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet in New York City-Caribbean service for 2,384 passengers.

• Queen Victoria—The all-new 90,000 ton royal entrant in the Cunard Line fleet will follow the line's tradition of world cruising and multi-levels of accommodation and dining for 2,000 passengers.

Not-So-New-Ship Re-launches:
Things get a bit confusing with a trio of entries into cruise lines that typically cater to American passengers. The ships are familiar favorites—all three 30,000 ton ships were built for now-defunct Renaissance Cruises in 2000 and 2001. Subsequently, they sailed for Swan Hellenic or Pullmantur Cruises. Each 700-passenger vessel has been rejuvenated to sail for Princess Cruises as Royal Princess and Celebrity Expeditions as Celebrity Quest and Celebrity Journey.

What's Really NEW?
We'd like to share the insider details. Alas, the cruise industry is secretive when it comes to the new features they plan on adding to wow passengers. At the very least, expect to find a FlowRider surfing simulator on Liberty of the Seas, a bowling alley on Norwegian Gem, and "Water Wars" on Carnival Freedom. Beyond that, instead of star-gazing for answers or predictions of what's to come, we'll report the latest in Cruise News to keep you up to date.

Happy New Year!

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