New ships to cruise the high seas

The big cruise lines are preparing to introduce their new generation of ships, and cruise travelers are in for some innovations and surprises. We're talking merry-go-rounds, giant water parks, hot nightspots and a big focus on the ocean and outdoors.

Dream a big Dream

When it debuts in September 2009, Carnival's new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream will be the largest ship in the "Fun Ship" fleet. Currently under construction in Italy, the 3,646-passenger ship will offer a new space called The Piazza, an indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue with a circular dance floor and whirlpools that extend over the ship's beam so you feel like you're floating above the water. The ship will also have what are being promoted as the "most elaborate" children's facilities at sea, including a huge Carnival WaterWorks water park with two waterslides.
Adults will get their own quiet outdoor retreat and pool called Serenity, and the ship's Cloud 9 Spa is being billed as the "largest and most elaborate" to date. Other cool features include a two-level mini golf course.
The Carnival Dream will introduce new cabin configurations including family cabins for five with two bathrooms (one full with shower and the other with a mini-tub and sink) and "cove" cabins with balconies near the waterline. There will also be spa cabins and suites with special amenities.

The ship debuts in Europe and will do two cruises from New York on Nov. 15 and 23, 2009, before taking up its permanent home in Port Canaveral, Fla., sailing on alternating, weeklong eastern and western Caribbean itineraries year-round. The New York cruises will visit Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas as well as Port Canaveral (near Orlando). For reservations, call 800-327-9501 or visit www.carnival.com.

Big, bigger, biggest

Royal Caribbean is the current record holder for world's largest ship with its Independence of the Seas, a 160,000-ton vessel. But the line will top itself when it debuts the much anticipated, 220,000-ton Oasis of the Seas in December 2009. That is a lot of additional space, and at the shipyard in Finland, Royal Caribbean is adding all sorts of first-time-on-a-cruise-ship features for the 5,400 passengers to enjoy, including an outdoor boardwalk area with a handcrafted merry-go-round, beachside-style shops and eateries, and carnival games.
The ship will have an extensive water park and a Sports Zone with such first-on-a-cruise-ship innovations as a zip line. But what would you expect from a company that earlier brought ice skating rinks and rock climbing walls to cruise ships? ...