Been There, Done That? Where Next?

Looking over the horizon to 2008, where will avid cruisers cruise next?

The 2007 cruise season is hardly at full throttle, yet savvy cruisers already are making plans for their 2008 get-aways. And there is plenty on tap. Europe, in particular, appears to loom large. Several companies will deploy a record number of ships in Europe, and for the first time, a ship targeted for both Europeans and non-Europeans will begin year-round sailings in Europe.

• Princess Cruises is among the cruise lines that will deploy a record number of ships in Europe in 2008. Princess’ six ships in Europe will offer 87 departures, 32 itineraries and cruises ranging from seven to 23 days. The company also will introduce eight new ports (Albania, Bulgaria and Montenegro among them) and will stretch the season from April through November. Princess also returns to New York for a third season of Caribbean cruises, operated in 2008 by Caribbean Princess.
  
  
• Likewise, Royal Caribbean will deploy a record seven ships in Europe for 2008, with cruises ranging from four to 14 nights. The line-up includes the new Independence of the Seas, the first Freedom-class ship in the region. Royal Caribbean also will base a ship in Europe for the first time ever year round in 2008 when Brilliance of the Seas cruises from Barcelona on 10- and
  12-night cruises.
  
  
• Celebrity Cruises will operate five ships in Europe in 2008, including the new Azamara Quest. The 710-passenger ship will pioneer 25 new ports in Europe for the new Celebrity Azamara Cruises brand and will offer a series of overnight stays in destinations such as Sorrento, Venice and Livorno (Florence/ Pisa).
  
  
• Oceania Cruises will deploy three of its four ships in Europe in 2008, offering a total of 54 sailings to more than 70 ports, including six new itineraries, more overnights in ports, and maiden calls at Haifa, Israel; Pula, Croatia; Alghero (Sardinia), Italy; and Tangier, Morocco.
  
  
• Holland America Line, which offers some of the industry’s most far-flung and diverse itineraries, adds 26 new ports next year, including Gabes, Tunisia; Macapa, Brazil; Rabaul, New Britain; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; and Timaru, New Zealand. Prinsendam calls at 15 of the new ports.
  
  
• 2008 marks the first time that Cunard Line will have three Queens in service. The newest, Queen Victoria, will offer 21 voyages, including a 106-night maiden world cruise. Queen Mary 2 will be based in New York through the end of 2008 to offer a series of transatlantic crossings, including voyages to and from Hamburg or Cherbourg, as well as weekend getaways and Caribbean sailings.
  
  
• Silversea Cruises’ four ships will cruise to more than 340 ports in 116 countries on 140 different itineraries next year. The company also deploys its second world cruise in January.
  
  
• Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Freedom returns to Europe while Carnival Destiny will operate a new seven-day itinerary from San Juan in 2008. The itinerary features an overnight in La Romana/Casa de Campo, along with visits to St. Kitts, Dominica, Barbados and St. Thomas/St. John. And when launched in July 2008, Carnival Splendor will operate the company’s first-ever Northern European itineraries.

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