2011 Preview: Cunard Line

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 departs Philipsburg, St. Maarten

on the evening of December 15, 2010

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Selecting a line to finish off our special 2011 Preview feature wasn't easy.  There were many lines to choose from that ranged from affordable to expensive, casual to elegant, laid-back to adventurous.  Each deserving in its own right of mention here.  After much deliberation though, we made our choice: Cunard Line.

The line that arguably gave birth to the transatlantic crossing as well as some of the most iconic ocean liners of the past hundred years, Cunard has seen its fair share of ups and downs since Canadian-born Samuel Cunard founded the company in 1840.  Having won the contract to provide mail service between England and North America, Cunard set out with a single ship - Britannia - and sailed into history, making the first crossing from Liverpool to Halifax in just over twelve days.  Famed author Charles Dickens even sailed aboard her in 1842, though he was seasick for the better part of the voyage and unfavorably compared his stateroom to a coffin.

Today, Dickens would be forced to rethink his criticisms: the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and the newly-launched Queen Elizabeth boast a mind-boggling array of staterooms and suites sure to suit every taste and budget.  With these three new ships, Cunard is experiencing yet another successful chapter in its storied history, having fended off stiff competition from the White Star Line in the early 1900's, and successfully surviving the jet-age of the 1960's that decimated many of the famous transatlantic lines.

Sailing into history: the brand-new Queen Elizabeth

arrives in Southampton, UK.

Photo courtesy of Cunard Line

In 2011, Cunard's trio will take passengers to some of the most remote places in the world on a variety of unique sailings.  From World Cruises to classic Liner voyages, it's hard to not get swept up in the old-world charm the line mixes so well with the comforts and requirements of modern cruising.

Then there's the line's flagship, Queen Mary 2.  An astonishing ship by any standard, the Queen Mary 2 is one of the largest cruise ships afloat, and the only true ocean liner built in recent memory.  We sailed on her in 2008 on a short, hurricane-interrupted jaunt to New England and were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of her earlier this month as she docked in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.  Just seeing her at the dock is enough to send a shiver up your spine; the sound her whistles make can travel for miles.  If "the golden age" of ocean travel fascinates you, a trip on the Queen Mary 2 is an absolute necessity.

For more information, why not take a look at our feature from this fall, A Walk Around QM2 at Night?

The Commodore Club aboard Queen Mary 2, facing forward.

 Photo ©  Aaron Saunders

 

So where should you travel with Cunard next year?  Here are two of our favorite itineraries for this last day of 2010:

Queen Mary 2 - 7 Day Westbound Transatlantic Crossing - Various dates, May to December 2011
Day 1 - Southampton, England - Depart Evening
Day 2 - At Sea
Day 3 - At Sea
Day 4 - At Sea
Day 5 - At Sea
Day 6 - At Sea
Day 7 - At Sea
Day 8 - New York, New York - Disembark AM

Pricing for these classic Westbound Transatlantic Crossings start at just $972 per person for an inside stateroom.  Eastbound crossings are also offered, along with crossings of between six and eight days.  Some crossings also feature embarkation in Hamburg, Germany or Cherbourg, France.

Queen Victoria- 4 Day Mexican Getaway - February 13, 2011
Day 1 - Los Angeles, California - Depart Evening
Day 2 - At Sea
Day 3 - Ensenada, Mexico - Full Day
Day 4 - At Sea
Day 5 - Los Angeles, California - Disembark AM

Looking to test out the Cunard waters, or the Queen Victoria?  Why not hop aboard this rare West Coast getaway cruise to Ensenada, starting at just $733.92 per person?  A great way to beat the cold of winter - in style.

For information on these and other Cunard itineraries, be sure to visit their website for details on all that 2011 holds for this venerable line.

2011 Preview: Silversea

Silversea's 292-passenger Silver Cloud passes

beneath London's Tower Bridge at dusk.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

If you follow this blog, you know we had the opportunity to experience ultra-luxury line Silversea firsthand when we sailed to the Caribbean aboard Silver Spirit for nine glorious days. 

And we’re thoroughly hooked - which is why we're taking a closer look at the line's offerings for next year: we can't help ourselves.

Besides representing an obvious step up from mainstream lines in terms of accommodations, service and cuisine, we were also impressed to find all the aspects of big-ship cruising we loved were present, while the things that annoyed us most (like art auctions and onboard photographers) were thankfully missing.

Oooh la la: the separate bedroom in the spacious Silver Suites

aboard Silversea's flagship, Silver Spirit.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

 

While Silversea may not have a new ship to launch this year, the line is keeping things fresh by offering a remarkable number of diverse itineraries that literally encompass the entire globe.  From Asia to the Artic, Northern Europe to the Caribbean, South America to Antarctica, there’s bound to be something for the adventurous traveler in Silversea’s 2011 lineup.

 The Restaraunt aboard Silver Shadow: 

not a bad place to dine for a month.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Looking for something out of the ordinary?  There’s still space available aboard Silver Shadow’s remarkable, 30-day circumnavigation of Australia on January 19, 2011 – a voyage that takes guests to some of the most fascinating ports of call “down under” and avoids the usual hassles associated with over-land travel.  While the $17,638 per guest price tag may initially be off-putting, this is not your usual voyage.  It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, both on board and ashore.  Coming off of our own experience aboard Silver Spirit, a month aboard Silver Shadow sounds heavenly.  Can’t quite swing the time or money needed for the full circumnavigation?  Why not go part way; a 17-day voyage segment from Sydney to Perth is also on offer for $9,995 per guest.

 Silver Spirit tied up in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

On the ship side, Silver Whisper just underwent a major refurbishment that saw staterooms and public areas completely revitalized, and sister-ship Silver Shadow is due to undergo her own makeover in March, just before the start of her Alaska season.  The line has also been quick to measure the success of new features available aboard the line’s 2009 flagship, Silver Spirit; the new poolside Black Rock Dining feature has been such a huge hit aboard Silver Spirit that it has been implemented aboard Silver Whisper, and plans are in the works to offer it aboard the rest of the fleet.

 Expedition cruising in style aboard the intimate explorer,

Prince Albert II.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

In addition, Silversea also offers five-star expedition cruising aboard Prince Albert II.  With just 132 fortunate guests, Prince Albert II is able to travel to some of the farthest reaches of the planet such as Antarctica.

 Pull up a chair and settle down to a nice cup of coffee:

it's all included aboard Silversea ships.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

So what caught our eye for 2011?  Well, everything – but in addition to the aforementioned circumnavigation of Australia, here are two of our favourites for the coming year:

Silver Cloud – Voyage 1113, 15 Days – Bridgetown, Barbados to Lisbon, Portugal – May 4, 2011

May 4 – Bridgetown, Barbados – Depart at 11:00pm

May 5 – Castries, St. Lucia – 8:00am to 11:00pm

May 6 – Roseau, Dominica – 8:00am to 6:00pm

May 7 – Gustavia, St. Barts – 8:00am to 6:00pm

May 8 to May 13 – At Sea, Sailing the Atlantic Ocean

May 14 – Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain – 8:00am to 7:00pm

May 15 – Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain – 8:00am to 1:00pm

May 16 – Agadir, Morocco – 8:00am to 1:00pm

May 17 – Casablanca, Morocco – 6:00am to 11:00pm

May 18 – At Sea

May 19 – Lisbon, Portugal – arrive 7:00am.

Pricing starts at $4,758 per person and includes free round-trip economy class airfare from a number of major US and Canadian gateways.

Prince Albert II – Voyage 7124, 12 Days – Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica to Callao, Peru – October 28, 2011

October 28 – Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica – Depart at 7:00pm

October 29 – Puerto Quepos, Costa Rica – 6:30am to 6:30pm

October 30 – Golfito, Costa Rica – 6:30am to 6:00pm

October 31 – Day at Sea

November 1 – Cocos Island – 7:30am to 5:00pm

November 2 – Day at Sea

November 3 – Isla de la Plata, Ecuador – 1:30pm to 6:00pm

November 4 – Guayaquil, Ecuador – 8:00am to 6:30pm

November 5 – Paita, Peru – 2:00pm to 8:00pm

November 6 – Cruising Isla Lobos del Tierra, Peru – 8:30am to 4:00pm

November 7 – Salaverry, Peru – 6:30am to 4:00pm

November 8 – Callao, Peru – Arrive 4pm

November 9 – Callao, Peru – Disembark AM.

Fares for this unique expedition voyage start at just $3,918 per person.

For more information on these and other Silversea voyages, be sure to visit the Silversea Cruises website.  Some 2011 fares are set to increase on January 1^st, so check it out sooner rather than later!

2011 Preview: Norwegian Cruise Line

Along with Allure of the Seas, Norwegian Epic was

one of the major newsmakers of 2010.

Photo courtesy of NCL

When it came time to pick a line for inclusion in this 2011 feature that would be accessible to everyone, from families to singles to seniors, Norwegian Cruise Line seemed a perfect fit.  Why not Royal Caribbean, you ask?  While Royal Caribbean offers a fun, active product, they have received more than their fair share of press this year and last thanks to the launch of their gargantuan duo, Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

Frankly, they don't need the extra press.

While NCL did receive a large press run-up in the days before and during Norwegian Epic's launch this year, many news organizations didn't bother to report on the line's ten other ships or their itineraries.  Which is why we're here: to fill you in on what the major papers and magazines may have missed.

For the past ten years, NCL has made "Freestyle Cruising" their chief hallmark.  What is Freestyle, you ask?  Taking a nod from the open-dining policies of more upscale cruise lines, Freestyle allows passengers to eat where they want, when they want, and with whomever they want.  It also eliminated dress codes, which means passengers on any Norwegian ship could dress for dinner in a tux or blue jeans - it's up to you.

 The innovative (and inviting) Bar Central concept,

as seen aboard Norwegian Pearl.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

The line has also made significant inroads in improving their onboard product over the past decade.  Gone is the older mish-mash of ships with varying amenities and tight cabin quarters; instead, the ships of the "new" NCL feature spacious cabins, some drop-dead amazing suites, and a distinctive personality all their own.  We'd call them somewhere between Carnival and Princess: fun, to be sure, but with little hints of class spaced throughout.  After all, have you ever bowled aboard a ship?  We did when we sailed on Norwegian Pearl, and we have to admit: it's pretty fun. 

The line is even taking the bold move of repositioning Norwegian Epic from the Caribbean to the warm waters of the Mediterranean this coming summer, and were one of the first lines to base a ship, Norwegian Jade, in Europe year-round.  The line hopes that Norwegian Epic's "cool" factor, coupled with a booming European cruise market, will be a win-win for the company and passengers alike.  The line has even partnered with Nickelodeon, producers of the acclaimed Spongebob Squarepants animated cartoon, to offer one-of-a-kind theme cruises certain to appeal to families with small children.

 One of the new spacious Family Suites aboard

Norwegian Star.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

We haven't sailed on Norwegian Epic yet, but we have sailed aboard several other NCL ships.  If you're looking for a good, enjoyable cruise vacation with plenty of activities, spacious staterooms, and an affordable price, it's tough to beat some of NCL's itineraries.  Their onboard entertainment was (and still is) top-notch, and the spas on the line's more recent ships rival those on Holland America and Princess. 

The 2001-built Norwegian Sun, shown here in Vancouver,

now spends her summers cruising the Baltics.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

So where should you sail in 2011 if you're looking for a NCL cruise vacation?  Here's two of our favorite itineraries offered by the line:

Norwegian Sun - 9 Day Baltic Capitals - July 10, 2011

July 10 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Depart 5:00pm

July 11 - Berlin (Warnemuende), Germany - 7:30am to 10:00pm

July 12 - At Sea

July 13 - Helsinki, Finland - 8:00am to 5:30pm

July 14 - St. Petersburg, Russia - 8:00am to Overnight

July 15 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Overnight to 7:00pm

July 16 - Tallinn, Estonia - 9:00am to 5:30pm

July 17 - Stockholm, Sweden - 7:00am to 6:00pm

July 18 - At Sea

July 19 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Arrive 7:00am

Pricing for this Baltic voyage begins at $1149 per person for an inside stateroom.

Norwegian Dawn - 11 Day Southern Caribbean - November 2, 23 and Dec 14, 2011

Day 0 - Miami, Florida - Depart at 4:00pm

Day 1 - At Sea

Day 2 - Samana, Dominican Republic - 10:00am to 5:00pm

Day 3 - Tortola, BVI - 9:00am to 6:00pm

Day 4 - Philipsburg, St. Maarten - 8:00am to 6:00pm

Day 5 - Antigua - 8:00am to 5:00pm

Day 6 - Dominica - 8:00am to 6:00pm

Day 7 - Bridgetown, Barbados - 7:00am to 5:00pm

Day 8 - St. Kitts, 12:00pm to 7:00pm

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - Miami, Florida - Arrive 8:00am

Pricing for this series of unique eleven-day voyages starts at just $729 per person for an inside stateroom.

For more information on this and other itineraries offered, be sure to visit the Norwegian Cruise Line website.

2011 Preview: Holland America Line

The classic Holland America Line logo,

as seen aboard the Oosterdam.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

One of the oldest and frankly most beloved lines in the world of cruising, Holland America Line is set to ring in 2011 with a slew of new enhancements to their vessels and onboard offerings in addition to their newest addition to the fleet: the 2,104-passenger Nieuw Amsterdam.

 The elegant Nieuw Amsterdam; fourth vessel to bear the name.

Photo courtesy of Holland America Line

The latest evolution in the line’s highly successful Signature Class of vessels that began with 2008’s Eurodam, the Nieuw Amsterdam is the fourth ship in Holland America’s history to bear the name.  While she appears similar to her sisters externally, inside her interiors sport a number of enhancements and elegant touches that make her one of the classiest ships in the fleet.  In 2011, Nieuw Amsterdam sails the warm Caribbean seas before setting out across the Atlantic to spend her summer basking in the history of Europe. 

While we hope to sail Nieuw Amsterdam in the coming year to offer our own unique perspective of the ship, there is a fine photo-tour on Bart de Boer's excellent ShipParade website for those who are curious to see the evolution of Holland America's latest ship.

 The fantastic new "Mix" bar concept aboard the Rotterdam.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

The line also continues to revitalize its existing fleet as part of their ongoing Signature of Excellence enhancement program.  Back in May, we had the opportunity to tour the newly-refurbished Rotterdam and discovered the thirteen-year old ship quickly became one of our favourites.  Similar enhancements were completed aboard Prinsendam, and Maasdam is slated to undergo her own revitalization in April, 2011. 

The Signature of Excellence program has been ongoing since 2004, and is easily one of the most ambitious programs undertaken by any line.  Not only are the ships being kept at the top of their game, the line is also continuing to tweak and refine their onboard product.

One such addition is the new “An Evening at Le Cirque” in the Pinnacle Grill.  Partnering with Le Cirque Executive Chef Craig Hopson, this new culinary experience offers guests aboard Holland America’s entire fleet of ships the opportunity to experience one of the most unique dining experiences at sea.

So what is Le Cirque?  For those unfamiliar with it, the restaurant began life as a trendy Manhattan restaurant that was notable for its excellent cuisine and unique atmosphere.  Today, it boasts several key Manhattan, Las Vegas, and Dominican Republic locations.  An Evening at Le Cirque brings the same whimsical style and award-winning cuisine to the Holland America’s signature Pinnacle Grill specialty restaurants.

For a nominal fee, guests can enjoy the cuisine and stellar service that made Le Cirque an award-winning success on land while enjoying the legendary service that Holland America has built a reputation on since its inception in 1873.

 The intimate Pinnacle Grill aboard the Rotterdam.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

While their onboard product is continually evolving to meet the changing demands of modern cruise passengers, what hasn’t changed is Holland America’s commitment to a wide variety of itineraries.  Though the line continues to tinker with fleet deployment in order to offer more varied sailings in terms of both length and destination, it remains committed to the regions that offered it success in the past, like Alaska and the Mexican Riviera.

Curious where to sail with Holland America Line in 2011?  Here are two of our personal favourite itineraries:

Nieuw Amsterdam – 12 Day Mediterranean Empires – April 30, May 22, July 28, Sept 9, 2011.

Day 0 – Embark in Venice, Italy

Day 1 – Venice, Italy – Depart at 5:00pm

Day 2 – Split, Croatia – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Day 3 – At Sea

Day 4 – Piraeus (Athens), Greece – 8:00am to 5:00pm

Day 5 – Cruising the Dardanelles / Istanbul, Turkey - overnight

Day 6 – Istanbul, Turkey – Depart 5:00pm

Day 7 - Mykonos, Greece – 1:00pm to 11:00pm

Day 8 – Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey – 7:00am to 7:00pm

Day 9 – Santorini, Greece – 8:00am to 5:00pm

Day 10 – Katakolon, Greece – 9:00am to 5:00pm

Day 11 – At Sea

Day 12 – Venice, Italy – Arrive 7:00am.

Pricing for the April 30, 2011 voyage starts at just $1,995.64 per person for an inside stateroom.

Zaandam – 7 Day Alaska Inside Passage – September 18, 2011

September 18 – Vancouver, BC – Depart at 5:00pm

September 19 – Cruising the Inside Passage

September 20 – Juneau, Alaska – Noon to 10:30pm

September 21 – Skagway, Alaska – 7:00am to 9:00pm

September 22 – Cruising Tracy Arm

September 23 – Ketchikan, Alaska – 10:00am to 6:00pm

September 24 – Cruising the Inside Passage

September 25 – Vancouver, BC – Arrive at 7:00am

This is the classic, week-long Alaska Inside Passage cruise that’s simply tough to beat.  Better still, prices start at $795.24 per person for an inside stateroom.  Zuiderdam and Volendam also offer a similar voyage that also includes Glacier Bay from May to September, 2011.

For more information on the entire Holland America Line fleet and itinerary lineup for next year, be sure to pay a visit to their website.

2011 Preview: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

The pool deck of the Europa is seen in this beautiful photo.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

 

If you’ve cruised in Europe, chances are you may have seen the ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.  With their sleek white superstructures and distinctive orange funnels, this Hamburg-based line has won numerous awards and accolades for its yacht-like ships, Europa, Hanseatic, Bremen and Columbus.  In fact, Europa is famous as being the only six-star ship in Douglas Ward’s well-respected Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships.

The line’s history dates back to 1847, when its predecessor, the Hamburg-America Line, was formed.  One of the line’s most famous employees, General Director Albert Ballin, is also credited with literally “inventing” the first true cruise in 1891 as a way of generating additional revenue from inactive liners.  His vision of a voyage where the journey itself was the reward would lay the groundwork for the cruise industry as we know it today, one hundred twenty years later.

 Bicycles are available for passenger use ashore.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Although it caters primarily to a German-speaking clientele, the line also offers a number of voyages designed specifically for English-speaking guests; all onboard activities, excursions, and printed materials are delivered in English.

New for 2011 is a series of voyages offered to North America’s Great Lakes region aboard Columbus.  Due to narrow locks and canals, many mainstream cruise ships are unable to visit this interesting region that borders a large section of the United States and Canada.  The ability to take a 12-day voyage from Toronto to Chicago is certainly not one many cruisers are used to seeing!

 View from the bridge webcam aboard Hanseatic during her

Northwest Passage transit this past summer.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

The line is also poised to resume what is arguably its most popular itinerary: a full transit of the Northwest Passage.  We covered this year’s transit extensively, and the images brought back by the ship’s webcam were nothing short of astounding.  On August 12, 2011, Bremen will sail from Nome, Alaska and transit the Northwest Passage, calling at a number of important and famous locations like Beechy Island, before ending in Reykjavik, Iceland on September 8^th. 

 The Northwest Passage has been an object of desire and fascination for explorers and countries alike since the Vikings first inhabited the region.  Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was the first to successfully transit the passage in 1906, but this Arctic maze of ice and water has claimed the lives of countless others, including Sir John Franklin and the crew of his infamous 1845 expedition.

 Bremen navigating the polar regions.
Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises remains the only line to offer a complete transit aboard a luxury vessel, and this popular itinerary sells out every year. 

So what are we excited about in 2011?  Without a doubt, the Northwest Passage Transit is the most remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime voyage in the lineup – though for most of us, it will be woefully out of reach at €14,035 per person.   However, there’s plenty to choose from in the line’s 2011 itinerary schedule.

 Here’s two of our favourites:

The Great Lakes – Toronto to Chicago aboard Columbus – September 5, 2011

September 5 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – overnight aboard ship

September 6 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Depart 03:00.  Sail through the 45km-long Welland Canal.

September 7 – Windsor, Ontario, Canada – 08:00 to 19:00

September 8 – Sailing Lake Huron

September 9 – Little Current, Ontario, Canada – 02:00 to 20:00

September 10 – Sailing Lake Huron

September 11 – Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada – 05:00 to 06:00 September 12.

September 13 – Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada – 07:00 to 18:00

September 14 – Duluth, Minnesota – 08:00 to 20:00

September 15 – Sailing Lake Superior

September 16 – Mackinac Island, Michigan – 07:00 to 19:00

September 17 – Traverse City, Michigan – 07:00 to 13:00

September 18 – Chicago, Illinois – arrive 07:30 and transfer to airport.

Pricing starts at $3,540 USD per person.

Gems of the Mediterranean – Nice to Barcelona aboard Europa – May 29, 2011

May 29 – Embark Europa In Nice.  Departure 24:00

May 30 – Porquerolles – 08:00 to 13:00

May 31 – Ajaccio – 08:00 to 19:00

June 1 – Porto Cervo – 08:00 to 13:00; Porto Rotondo – 14:30 to 18:00

June 2 – Relaxation at Sea

June 3 – Ibiza – 08:00 to Overnight

June 4 – Ibiza – depart at 06:00; Formentera – 08:00 to 14:00

June 5 – Barcelona, Spain – arrival 07:00 and transfer to airport.

Pricing for this voyage starts at $4,574 USD per person.

For more information on either voyage, be sure to visit the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises website for complete pricing, itinerary options, and ship details.

2011 Preview

Come pull up a deck chair as we look toward all

the exciting voyages 2011 holds.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

With the last week of 2010 upon us, it’s time to start looking ahead to all the exciting voyages that are available in the coming year.

Recognizing that cruisers are looking for variety as well as value, many lines are expanding their fleet deployments to include more itineraries that are unique to the line, or altogether brand-new.  Longer cruises are also a big deal in 2011, and often represent a better per-day value than their week-long counterparts.  Lines are also looking to blaze trails in destinations they’ve never been to: Disney Cruise Line and Oceania will sail to Alaska for the first time next year, and Crystal Cruises returns after a five-year hiatus.  Carnival also makes a return of sorts, choosing to sail the brand-new Carnival Magic in the Mediterranean for the summer season before repositioning to the United States for the winter Caribbean season.

The brand-new Disney Dream will enter service next month.

Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line 

2011 could also be heralded as the year of the special offer: rather than slashing fares to unsustainable levels, many lines are opting to offer incentives instead.  Crystal Cruises, for example, routinely offers up to $1,000 per person onboard spending credits on select sailing.  From time to time, Norwegian Cruise Line runs special upgrade promotions that see cruisers paying ocean-view prices, but gaining balcony accommodations.  And upscale Silversea offers free round-trip airfare from a number of US and Canadian gateways on many of their sailings, as well as onboard credits on select voyages.  With the increasingly unpredictable costs of airfare, it’s hard to overlook the value of such an incentive.

 Oceania Marina, seen in this photo-illustration, will launch

at the end of January.

Photo-illustration courtesy of Oceania Cruises

Finally, 2011 will see the launch of several high-profile ships including Disney Dream, Oceania Marina, and Carnival Magic.  While Carnival Magic represents an evolution of 2009’s Carnival Dream, Disney Dream and Oceania Marina are long-awaited newbuilds for two highly successful lines.  In Disney’s case, Disney Dream is the first newbuild for the line in eleven years.  Marina is the first purpose-built newbuild for Oceania.  Together, they could be two of the biggest game-changers of the year – a fact that is certainly not lost on executives at other lines.

Over the next five days, we will take a look at five different lines to find out where they are headed in the new year, and what you should watch out for.  While each and every cruise line offers something special for the new year, we’ve selected these five because we feel they have something unique to offer cruisers of every style and budget, and aren't always represented in the mainstream media as well as they should be.

From short trips to the Bahamas to month-long voyages that circumnavigate Australia, there’s bound to be something for everyone in 2011.

 2011 promises to be an excellent year for cruisers.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Happy Holidays!

From the Deck Chair