• Print
• E-mail
• Add to My Trips

Vacationers who hit the high seas this year will find a treasure-trove of bargains -- and that's not all. At least 14 new ships, including the world's biggest behemoth and two intimate luxury vessels, plus innovative facilities and more U.S. departures, are on the way.

Unlike your stock portfolio and many businesses these days, cruising is a growing enterprise. Cruise Lines International Assn., the industry's largest North American organization, says its members expect to carry 13.5 million passengers this year, up from 13.2 million in 2008 and 12.6 million in 2007.

A few trends, such as more fees for onboard activities and dining, may inflict mal de mer on the budget-minded, and fans of American river cruising will mourn the decline of their small niche.

But overall, there's much to anticipate in 2009. A look at new and recent changes:

New pricing: Cruise fares went into free-fall after last year's stock market meltdown, so now deals abound. Berths for less than $100 per day, a benchmark for bargains, are not hard to find.

Besides fare discounts, some sailings come with free airfare, cabin upgrades, onboard credit and other money-saving extras. Many lines have relaxed deposit and cancellation rules, making it easier to get a refund if you decide not to go.

For the best deals, steer your shopping to older vessels, longer itineraries and distant destinations. New ships and departures from some U.S. ports can still command top dollar, said Mike Driscoll, editor of Cruise Week, an industry newsletter based in Brookfield, Ill.

"The farther away you go, the more the rates have dropped," he said.

Look out for fees. Although fuel surcharges, which many big lines imposed last year, have been tossed overboard, new charges are floating in.

"We're seeing more a la carte pricing," said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of a consumer information website.

Royal Caribbean International this month, for instance, began charging a $3.95 cabin service fee to deliver food between midnight and 5 a.m.

The line has also been testing a $14.95 surcharge for "premium" steak (say New York strip instead of Black Angus sirloin) in some dining rooms, but as of the Travel section's Tuesday deadline, it hadn't decided whether to make it permanent, spokeswoman Tracy Quan said.

New ships: Think big. Think small. Cruise lines are doing both this year as they put ships into service that were conceived in headier times.

The splashiest debut will be Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, which will sail the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for Royal Caribbean starting in December.

At 220,000 gross registered tons and space for a maximum of 6,296 guests, this oceangoing Hummer is about 40% bigger than any cruise ship afloat. And it comes fully loaded.

Guests can stroll through tropical foliage in an open-air Central Park, view water acrobatics and diving shows in a special amphitheater, ride a carousel and zoom down a zip line, among other amusements.

"It's the most innovative ship in my lifetime," said Spencer Brown, who took a shipyard tour in November.

But not the most intimate, of course. For devotees of smallish luxury vessels, the big news is that luxury lines Seabourn and Silversea are adding new builds, a rare event. The 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey and 540-passenger Silver Spirit will emphasize cabin verandas and swanky spas.

Among bigger lines, notable 2009 debuts include the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream, with the line's largest spa, water slide and children's facilities; two ships from Costa Cruises and one from MSC Cruises, rapidly growing Italian rivals; and Celebrity Cruises' 2,850-passenger Equinox, sister to the Solstice, which made its debut last year and drew positive reviews for its stylish design, spa cabins, solarium and glass-blowing studio.

Now that the spotlight has moved on, it may be a good time to book last year's star ships. They include Holland America's Eurodam, the first in its new Signature class, with private cabanas to rent and spa staterooms; the Carnival Splendor, with a "sky dome" over the pool; and Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, with its surfing simulator, boxing ring and ice-skating rink.

• • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Baltimore Sun
  • Chicago Tribune
  • Daily Press
  • Hartford Courant
  • LA Times
  • Orlando Sentinel
  • Sun Sentinel
  • The Morning Call
  • The Virginia Gazette

• Los Angeles Times, 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012 | Copyright 2009