Full speed ahead with big, new cruise ships
Be among the first aboard these new cruise ships, with nine debuting now through the end of 2008.
First up? Norwegian Gem. The new Norwegian Cruise Line ship set sail last month on a series of Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona. It will start its U.S. sailings out of New York to the Bahamas and Caribbean on Dec. 22.
Meanwhile, Cunard’s stately Queen Victoria will debut Dec. 11, sailing from Southampton, England, to holiday markets in European ports and the Canary Islands. It is a sister of the Queen Mary 2.
Holland America’s Eurodam will debut next summer with an interesting home port - Quebec City in eastern Canada.
And the gigantic Italian ship MSC Fantasia, launching a year from now, will feature a VIP section with its own English butlers.
A rundown on the new ships: Norwegian Gem
Debut: Sailed starting Oct. 8 in Europe; Dec. 22 from New York, its U.S. homeport. .
Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
Passengers: 2,466
Home port: New York and Barcelona
Itinerary: Caribbean, Mediterranean
www.ncl.com
Queen Victoria
Debut: December 2007
Line: Cunard
Passengers: 2,014
Home port: Southampton, England
Itinerary: Around the world
www.cunard.com
MSC Poesia
Debut: April 2008
Line: MSC Cruises
Passengers: 2,550
Home port: Venice
Itinerary: Mediterranean
www.msccruises.com
Independence of the Seas
Debut: May 2008
Line: Royal Caribbean
Passengers: 3,634
Home port: Ft. Lauderdale
Itinerary: Caribbean, Europe
www.royalcaribbean.com
Carnival Splendor
Debut: July 2008
Line: Carnival
Passenger: 3,006
Home port: Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles
Itinerary: Northern Europe, United States, Caribbean
www.carnival.com
Eurodam
Debut: Summer 2008
Line: Holland America
Passengers: 2,014
Home port: Quebec City
Itinerary: Canada, New England, Florida
www.hollandamerica.com MSC Fantasia
Debut: Fall 2008
Line: MSC Cruises
Passengers: 3,900
Home port: to be announced
Itinerary: to be announced
www.msccruises.com
Ruby Princess
Debut: Fall 2008
Line: Princess Cruises
Passengers: 3,100
Home port: Ft. Lauderdale
Itinerary: Caribbean, others to be announced
www.princess.com Celebrity Solstice
Debut: December 2008
Line: Celebrity Cruises
Passengers: 2,850
Home port: Ft. Lauderdale
Itinerary: Caribbean, others to be announced
www.celebritycruises.com