2007's new ship launches

COSTA CRUISES' COSTASERENA

Will Launch In: May 2007

Backstory: Piggybacking on the success of CostaConcordia, which debuted in July 2006, Serena will enjoy many of the same attributes, including its size (112,000 tons and 3,004 passengers), the fabulous Samsara spa, and a high ratio of balconied cabins. Using a slightly extended version of Carnival's Destiny-class platform and sharing Carnival's designer, Joe Farcus, this ship will nonetheless have its own imprint, "cruising Italian style," as Costa's tagline suggests.

Quirks and Highlights: Adapting the same technology that Formula One race car drivers use in their own racing simulators, CostaSerena will feature a Grand Prix simulator with "real-time vehicle modeling," including peripheral-vision screens, and accurate braking, accelerating and G-force simulations. CostaSerena also offers the Samsara Suites; these special accomodations, which originated on Concordia, spotlight spa-oriented amenities, from room service cuisine to proximity to the facility itself (via a private staircase).

Itineraries: CostaSerena will begin its service sailing seven-night cruises from Venice to Eastern Mediterranean ports of call such as Dubrovnik, Istanbul and Katakolon.

PRINCESS CRUISES' EMERALD PRINCESS

Will Launch In: April 2007

Backstory: This ship follows its closest sister -- Crown Princess -- in ambience and orientation. We know that the 116,000-ton, 3,110-passenger Emerald Princess will, like Crown Princess, featured already-classic attributes such as a casual lobby-level wine bar, an international coffee and pastry cafe, and a sunny/shady adults-only retreat (the Sanctuary) located forward on the Sports Deck.

Quirks and Highlights: The spa has been enhanced and expanded, the lobby/atrium area, known here as the Italy-inspired Piazza, features fabulous (and often wacky) artistic performances -- and is also a gathering point due to the coffee bar/bakery (which has on-the-spot pastry chefs and galley and which, as a result, produces the most marvelous warm-and-melty chocolate chip cookies in all of cruise-dom). Sabatini's has been refreshed and redesigned and now sits at the stop of the ship -- with glorious views and a lovely terrace for al fresco dining.

Itinerary: Emerald Princess will spend spring and summer (and early autumn) in Europe alternating 12-night Mediterranean and Greek Isle cruises; it will move to Fort Lauderdale in October where it will alternate Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries.

PRINCESS CRUISES' ROYAL PRINCESS

Will Launch In: April 2007

Backstory: Although it isn't a newly built ship like the others on our list (Princess picked up this 30,000-ton, 680-passenger ship, sister to Pacific Princess and Tahitian Princess from Swan Hellenic, where it will sail as Minerva II through March. We're including the "new" Royal Princess (an homage to the much loved original Royal Princess, a circa 1990s ship that has gone to a new home in the U.K.) because it is a welcome addition to Princess' intriguing sub-fleet of "boutique" ships. Formerly R8 in the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises family, this small ship offers an intimate ambience for Princess guests who prefer to avoid the big ship environment but who still want to enjoy Princess' brand of service and dining. Royal Princess is an almost exact replica of the line's existing boutique vessels -- Tahitian Princess and Pacific Princess. Indeed, all three were part of Renaissance's specially commissioned R-series of ships.

Quirks and Highlights: Royal Princess' cabins are significantly smaller than those found on most Princess vessels, but the air of intimacy and country club decor make up for the tight spaces. Princess has configured the dining areas to include Sabatini's and a 24-hour Lido Deck cafe; the library will boast over 4,000 titles, making it one of the best-equipped at sea.

Itinerary: Royal Princess will start service in Europe, with one seven night and then 12-night voyages in the Mediterranean, Greek Isles and Holy Land, and will transition for 14 night Southern Caribbean/Amazon cruises throughout the winter.

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