Though shipbuilding is no longer conducted at the feverish pitch of several years ago, new vessels continue to slip into the water at shipyards abroad.
Perhaps the biggest news comes from Seabourn Cruise Line, which has not introduced a new ship in 10 years. The line now plans to launch a pair of sleek 450-passenger vessels in 2009 and 2010. The yacht-like ships will be built in Genoa, Italy, at the maritime yards of T. Mariotti S.p.A.
Holland America Line will welcome the 2,044-passenger Eurodam to its fleet in summer of 2008 from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
Norwegian Cruise Lines has recruited Aker Yards of St. Nazaire, France, for two new third-generation "Freestyle Cruising" liners, customized for the line's signature fleet of floating food courts; in the wings: NCL also will order a third ship, bringing the line's total outlay for new vessels to $2.8 billion.
And Princess Cruises has under construction at Fincantieri the 113,000-ton Emerald Princess, sister ship to Crown Princess. It is slated for launch in June 2007.
Blueprints for these maiden vessels offer a glimpse of what's new to cruising's seascape.
Take Seabourn, long considered a leader in luxury travel, which will more than double its 634-passenger capacity on its trio of existing ships by adding the two new 32,000-gross-registered-ton vessels.
According to Pamela Conover, Seabourn's president and CEO, each of the new ships "will be three times larger (than those currently in the fleet), but only carry twice the guests. But everything is being designed on a yacht-like scale, so that Seabourn guests walking on board will feel right at home," including maintaining the line's prized nearly one-to-one passenger-to-staff ratio.
The larger real estate, Conover explains, will allow for "some very large suites. With more space, we can offer more variety on board. There will be attractive alternative dining venues to complement (the line's) open-seating" policy, where passengers choose when and where to dine. Deck, pool and spa areas also will be augmented. A truly revolutionary change for Seabourn, however, will be the addition of true balconies. The new ships also will be faster and, according to Conover, allow Seabourn to enhance the line's itineraries. "We will, for instance, be able to mount a real world cruise," she notes.
Perhaps the biggest news comes from Seabourn Cruise Line, which has not introduced a new ship in 10 years. The line now plans to launch a pair of sleek 450-passenger vessels in 2009 and 2010. The yacht-like ships will be built in Genoa, Italy, at the maritime yards of T. Mariotti S.p.A.
Holland America Line will welcome the 2,044-passenger Eurodam to its fleet in summer of 2008 from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
Norwegian Cruise Lines has recruited Aker Yards of St. Nazaire, France, for two new third-generation "Freestyle Cruising" liners, customized for the line's signature fleet of floating food courts; in the wings: NCL also will order a third ship, bringing the line's total outlay for new vessels to $2.8 billion.
And Princess Cruises has under construction at Fincantieri the 113,000-ton Emerald Princess, sister ship to Crown Princess. It is slated for launch in June 2007.
Blueprints for these maiden vessels offer a glimpse of what's new to cruising's seascape.
Take Seabourn, long considered a leader in luxury travel, which will more than double its 634-passenger capacity on its trio of existing ships by adding the two new 32,000-gross-registered-ton vessels.
According to Pamela Conover, Seabourn's president and CEO, each of the new ships "will be three times larger (than those currently in the fleet), but only carry twice the guests. But everything is being designed on a yacht-like scale, so that Seabourn guests walking on board will feel right at home," including maintaining the line's prized nearly one-to-one passenger-to-staff ratio.
The larger real estate, Conover explains, will allow for "some very large suites. With more space, we can offer more variety on board. There will be attractive alternative dining venues to complement (the line's) open-seating" policy, where passengers choose when and where to dine. Deck, pool and spa areas also will be augmented. A truly revolutionary change for Seabourn, however, will be the addition of true balconies. The new ships also will be faster and, according to Conover, allow Seabourn to enhance the line's itineraries. "We will, for instance, be able to mount a real world cruise," she notes.