The first of these is due in service in May 2009 and is known as Costa Luminosa, she will be followed by Costa Pacifica in June 2009 with Costa Deliziosa coming aboard in 2010. Two yet unnamed ships will appear in 2011 and 2012.

All of these ships are in the Concordia class named after Costa Concordia who arrived in service for Costa Cruises in 2006. A year later, in 2007, Costa Serena joined the fleet and when the building is finished the number of Costa Cruises Ships will be sixteen.

Costa will be offering onboard festivities from Christmas Eve with a continental feast. Christmas Day will see full Christmas dinners served along with carol singers, a visit from Santa and a trivia quiz.

You can spend your Christmas being pampered in the spa, taking a dip in the pool, soaking up the sun and enjoying a variety of shore excursions.

Costa Concordia will depart Italy for an 8 night cruise on 21st December 2008 visiting Tunisia, Malta and Greece.

Costa Serena will depart Italy for an 8 night cruise on 18th December 2008 visiting Spain and Portugal.

Costa Marina will depart Italy for a 14 night cruise on 14th December 2008 visiting Spain, Morocco, Canary Islands and Madeira.

Costa Victoria will depart Dubai for a 7 night cruise on 20th December 2008 visiting Oman, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

For the full press release see The Cruise News.

Onboard you will find cabins that sleep three and four people or if you would prefer you can benefit from the inter-connecting cabins to find a cabin size to suit.

Entertainment is provided for all including plenty of children’s entertainment such as treasure hunts and dance classes.

Details of Costas half term cruises include:

• Costa Serena travelling on a seven night cruise to Greece and Turkey from 26th October 2008.
• Costa Magica travelling on a seven night cruise to Italy, Spain and Provence from 26th October 2008.
• Costa Concordia travelling on a seven night cruise to Spain, Tunisia and Malta from 26th October 2008.

For the full press release see The Cruise News.

This is an additional Conquest class vessel ordered as part of a four-ship deal with Fincantieri, two of which ended up going to the Carnival brand. As a Conquest-class, it will not fit through the Panama Canal. Given that there is an almost two-year lag between this ship and the previous one of this class delivered (Carnival Liberty), there will likely be some progressions in the design.

Estimated Inaugural: April, 2007
Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
Ship Name: MSC Orchestra
Size: GRT: 89,600
Capacity: 2,550 lower berths – 3,000 total & 1,000 crew
Builder: Aker France – St. Nazaire, France

This will be the second of the Musica class.

Estimated Inaugural: May 19, 2007
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Ship Name: Liberty of the Seas
Size: GRT: 160,000
Capacity: 3600 lower berths
Builder: Aker Finnyards – Finland

This will be the second of the “Ultra Voyager-class” When it is delivered the class will still have bragging rights to being the largest passenger ships in the world.

Estimated Inaugural: Spring, 2007
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
Ship Name: Emerald Princess
Size: GRT: 116,000
Capacity: 3100
Builder: Fincantieri – Monfalcone, Italy

This is an additional Caribbean-class vessel ordered as part of the four-ship order with Fincantieri, the only one in the order designated for Princess. It will be the third in the series. It has not necessarily been designated for the Caribbean as the previous two were, but it will likely have a long life in whichever ocean it starts since it will not fit through the Panama Canal.

Estimated Inaugural: May, 2007
Cruise Line: Costa Cruises
Ship Name: Costa Serena
Size: GRT: 112,000
Capacity: 3000 (double occupancy), total capacity 3,780
Builder: Fincantieri – Sestri, Italy

This will be the second of Costa’s Concordia class. Deployment is thought to be year round in the Mediterranean.

Estimated Inaugural: October, 2007
Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
Ship Name: Norwegian Gem
Size: GRT: 92,000
Capacity: 2,384 lower berths
Builder: Meyer Werft (Papenburg Germany yard)

This will be the third in the Norwegian Jewel series with 540 staterooms and suites with private balconies.

Estimated Inaugural: December 11, 2007
Cruise Line: Cunard Cruises
Ship Name: Queen Victoria
Size: GRT: 90,000
Capacity: 2000
Builder: Fincantieri – Marghera, Italy

This ship will be similar to HAL’s line of Vista-class vessels, but with Cunard’s own twists in the design and slightly larger. It will be built to Panamax standards, so it can be used in both the Atlantic and Pacific. 86% of the cabins will be outside, 71% of those with private verandahs. In September 2004 the design was enlarged as part of an order of four other ships from Fincantieri. It was originally slated for 88,000 tons and a capacity of 1968. Eleven meters were added to the length raising the tonnage to 90,000 and increasing the capacity to 2000, but the ship will still be able to transit the Panama Canal.

Initial Deployment: The first two voyages will be round trips from Southampton. Cunard says it will be used for a mix of cruises, ocean crossings and world cruises.