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Choosing a cruise? What’s new on the cruising horizon

Cruise passenger numbers are on course to reach 1.7 million this year, and reach a record breaking two million by 2014, but are you one of those missing the boat?

New figures from the Passenger Shipping Association show passenger numbers are up six per cent on last year, and with even more great places to visit and more new ships together with millions of pounds worth of investment, the industry shows no sign of stopping.

With four river cruise members joining the Passenger Shipping Association, this is also the year to take the slow lane… and enjoy holidays on the river.

Increased investment has seen a series of renovations and upgrades across a number of cruise lines. Viking River Cruises has invested $250m, Avalon Waterways has introduced upgrades to its culinary offering and introduced new themed cruises, while Shearings is now selling new 2011 itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords.

It is difficult to stay up to date with everything that is going on in the booming cruise sector, so here is a snapshot of the new developments in cruising.

New ships

Disney Dream is the third ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet carrying 4 000 passengers. She joins Disney Magic and Disney Wonder with the new Disney Fantasy entering service in 2012.

The new 4,100 guest ship from Royal Caribbean Lines - the brand behind the biggest ships in the world, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas - is to be delivered in Autumn 2014, with an option for a second ship for spring 2015.

Celebrity Reflection, from Celebrity Cruise Lines is set to launch in 2012, with 34 new AquaClass Suites and an additional eight Sky Suites, 19 additional Concierge Class staterooms, and 11 additional inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.

Oceania Cruises’ new recently launched upper-premium cruise ship Marina, is a ship of firsts.

The ship, above, which carries 1,250 guests, boasts the first Bon Appétit Culinary Center, Master Chef Jacques Pépin’s first namesake restaurant at sea, Ralph Lauren Home-furnished Owner’s Suites, luxurious accommodations by Dakota Jackson, a Wine Spectator wine programme and a Lalique grand stairway.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ first ever season of 7, 9, & 12-night Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona onboard the brand new Carnival Magic is ideal for couples of all ages and families.

The new mega yacht from Companie du Ponant will explore the hidden corners of the Mediterranean this year. L’Austral will be christened in April 2011.

In May, Orion Expedition Cruises is add a second specialist expedition cruise ship, Orion II. It will be based in South East Asia offering a wide range of expeditions that will include Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Indonesian archipelago, Borneo, the Inland Sea of Japan and the Russian Far East.

Refurbishments & Renovations

The most significant transformation ever of a Princess Cruises’ ship will take place this spring aboard UK dedicated ship, Grand Princess. During a 24-day makeover, several new features will be added including ten new suites, remodelled casino, enhancements to the Lotus Spa and the Crooner’s Martini Lounge.

The newly renovated Grand Princess, above, will debut in Southampton on May 21.

Viking River Cruise’new 264 passenger Viking Emerald will sail in China from April as a replacement for Viking Century Sun and feature the largest suites in river cruising.

P&O Cruises’ Adonia, exclusively for adults, will be named by Dame Shirley Bassey on May 20, and with 700 passengers, will be the smallest ship in the fleet. Sample a fly-cruise departing November 22 around the Med for 14 nights from just £1,446 per person.

The APT- AmaWaterways partnership is turning its attention to Russia with the 212-passenger AmaKatarina scheduled to enter service in May 2011. It will be the most luxurious vessel sailing the Volga-Baltic Waterway.

Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing three ships back into service following multi-million dollar refurbishments. Norwegian Sun has seen the addition of a new restaurant and a renovated Kids Crew area. Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Spirit will follow this year. Beginning May 8, Norwegian Sun will spend her summer in Europe sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, for the first time in the company’s history.

This spring, Crystal Cruises is spending more than $25 million dollars on Crystal Serenity with a massive redesign of her 531 Deluxe Staterooms, Penthouses and Penthouses Suites; retail centres; expansive outdoor pool deck and other design projects. Following the dry dock, Crystal Serenity will embark on a series of Baltic, North Cape and British Isles cruises before heading to the Mediterranean for a late summer and autumn cruise series.

New trips and destinations

Seabourn’s intimate Seabourn Pride will sail between Hong Kong and Singapore on five 14-day voyages that will each include a call at the up-and-coming beach resort community of Sihanoukville in Cambodia. Departure dates are scheduled between January 4 and March 14, 2012.

Azamara Club Cruises is in Monte Carlo this summer for their first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix. A four-night Grand Prix fly/cruise onboard Azamara Journey costs from £2,342 per person based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom.

A new hosted tour to discover the South Atlantic Island of St Helena has been introduced by St Helena Line, travelling on one of the world’s last working Royal Mail Ships, the RMS St Helena. The 22-day Hideaway Tour departs Cape Town on June 17 and costs from £2,395 per person.

For the first time, Hapag-Lloyd offers guests the chance to discover the Arctic and the Northwest Passage on a shorter, 19-day cruise onboard MS HANSEATIC. Guests will follow the traces of Amundsen and Franklin and explore the ice coast of Greenland as well as the untouched island world in the north of Canada. The short itinerary departs September 2. The Northwest Passage will also be offered in August with MS BREMEN’s 25-day journey.

Viking River Cruises has cruises/tours along South East Asia’s Mekong River. For the first time, Viking has partnered with the 66-passenger RV Tonle to offer a 17-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary.

If you are more of an explorer, try Hurtigruten wcelebrate 150 years since polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen was born and 100 years since polar hero Roald Amundsen and his four men were the first people in history to reach the South Pole. This unique sailing from Spitsbergen to Bergen follows a similar route to that travelled by Nansen in 1896 on his return journey to mainland Norway after three years in the polar ice. The voyage departs on September 7 and costs from £3,196pp.