The opening came one week prior to the arrival of Royal Caribbean International's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas. Local county and city officials, as well as Royal Caribbean executives, were on hand for the opening celebration. Said Port Everglades Director Phil Allen: "There may be bigger terminals that service two ships at the same time, but Terminal 18 was constructed specifically to handle one Oasis-class ship at a time." At 5.5 acres, Cruise Terminal 18 is more than three times larger than it was just 22 months prior to opening when RCCL reached an agreement with Broward County to homeport both of the new Oasis-class of ships at Port Everglades. To accommodate these revolutionary cruise ships, the port invested approximately $75 million to build the terminal. Each Oasis-class ship is projected to generate approximately 584,000 passenger movements annually at Port Everglades. The first of the 225,282-gross-registered-ton ships, Oasis of the Seas, is scheduled to begin sailing year-round from Port Everglades next month, with the second sister-ship, Allure of the Seas, to begin year-round sailings one year later.

Port Everglades website

Since SeaDream's founding in late 2001 it has been honoured annually by this publication. The top three sea-going passenger vessels in the world according to the 2010 edition of the Berlitz Guide are SeaDream I, SeaDream II (and scoring a bit higher) Europa, a cruise ship operating primarily for the German speaking market.

More about the Berlitz accolade

Following the ancient practice of shipbuilders, two commemorative coins were sealed in a compartment in the traditional Coin-Under-the-Mast ceremony, believed to bring good fortune to a vessel. "It is always a meaningful moment to bring a new ship along to this point in the building process,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “With the rich legacy of the name Nieuw Amsterdam, and this being the fourth ship in our 136-year history to carry this name, it is all the more significant for our company."

More about the Nieuw Amsterdam float out.

With fares starting from just £1,799 for seven-day itineraries, guests can experience The Yachts of Seabourn's intimate ambience, all-suite accommodation, personalised service and atmosphere of sophisticated ease for exceptional value for money. Itineraries include a selection of Mediterranean cruises on Seabourn Spirit and Legend as well as this year's new launch, Seabourn Odyssey. Sample itinerary: Monte Carlo to Rome, Seabourn Legend May 2, seven days, from £1,799 all inclusive

For details call Seabourn on 0845 070 0500 or visit the Seabourn website.

The two sister ships, set to debut in 2011 and 2012, will be named the Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa as a result of Costa's "Send Us a Sea of Names" project whereby travel agents and fans sent in name suggestions for the two ships. The Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa - 114,500 gross tons with a double occupancy of 3,000 each - will be delivered in summer 2011 and spring 2012 respectively. The laying of the first building block is set to take place tomorrow (Thursday, November 5).

More about the naming of the new sister ships

Scoring is based on 41 inspection items of the potable water system; food preparation and storage areas; waste management systems including filters, ventilation devices and sanitising temperatures; cleaning sequences and standards of accommodations and public areas; and general environmental health issues. Swimming pools and spas are also inspected.   Crystal Serenity also received a perfect 100 during her most recent call in Canada in May. 

Offered November 2010 through April 2011, the Winter Collection features 30 new ports of call, including Cape Town, South Africa; Walvis Bay, Namibia; and Rangoon, Myanmar, to name just a few. Based on feedback from past guests and agent partners, the line added maiden voyages around Africa, an expanded range of Asia and Caribbean cruises - all told, 13 exciting new itineraries.

More on Oceania's 2010-11 winter collection .

2010 prices in the UK now start from £1,600 per person cruise only for a seven-night Mediterranean voyage departing May 11. Andy Harmer, Crystal Cruises' UK director of sales and marketing, said: "It is incredibly important that Crystal remains competitive in this challenging global marketplace and I believe that our new pricing strategy combined with the onboard credits and price guarantee will prove popular."

More about Crystal's reduced fares in 2010

The programme features voyages from May to October, luring guests into a dream world of "Yacht Cruises" on small scale ships. Le Boréal's inaugural trips include a range of Mediterranean cruises, some magnificent forays into North Europe to explore the Baltic, and a journey into the heart of Iceland's geysers and glaciers.

More about the 2010 summer programme.

Free shore excursions were introduced on selected cruises this year to help boost bookings, and the offer has already been extended to cover all 2010 departures. Regent UK managing director Graham Sadler says the excursions have been so well received they could become part of the cruiseline's all-inclusive product. All drinks, meals in the speciality restaurants, and gratuities are already included in the cruise price. Shore excursions will be included in the cruise price from 2011. The only exception will be the more-expensiveexcursions, such as flights over Alaska, which will be heavily subsidised, rather than free. The offer means an average saving of between $50 and $80 per person for a four-hour excursion. Passengers can book as many as they can fit into the schedule.

Oasis will leave the STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland, on Friday with Captain William Wright at the helm, en route to Port Everglades in Florida where the ship will make its official debut on Wednesday November 11. The transatlantic crossing will be chronicled via daily webisodes broadcast on the Oasis of the Seas website.

More about the arrival of Oasis of the Seas

Special classes, events and, in most cases, shoreside options will augment voyages throughout the Middle East, Australia/New Zealand, Europe and beyond. A new Science & Technology theme joins classic favourites such as Crystal's Wine & Food Festival (set for seven cruises, with two back-to-back options), Mind, Body & Spirit, Jazz, Golf, Film & Theatre Festival and Big Band. Additionally, Crystal's annual President's Cruise adds special programming and events in celebration of the line's 20th anniversary of luxury cruising.

More about Crystal's Experiences of Discovery

The site allows visitors to experience the beauty and features of Holland America Line's newest Signature class ship through interactive videos, photographs, animation and renderings that bring the ship to life. Says executive vice president Richard Meadows: "We are using the latest technology to present our new ship's diverse amenities in a way that informs, engages and inspires our guests. This new site allows us to share all the wonderful details with cruisers who are anxious to experience the Nieuw Amsterdam."

More about Nieuw Amsterdam microsite

The work, to be carried out at the Blohm + Voss GmbH shipyard in Hamburg, is scheduled to start on December 2 as Black Watch returns from a Canary Islands cruise. She will resume on December 14 with a five-day European Christmas Markets mini cruise from Southampton. A new casual dining area is to be created in the space where the Braemar Lounge and Garden Cafe are currently situated - midships on Deck 6, Lounge Deck. The transformed area will become the Braemar Garden, with seating for more than 120 persons, and replaces the Garden Cafe which currently seats only 80.

More about the Black Watch makeover.

Paul Gauguin Cruises, recently acquired by Pacific Beachcomber, the leader in French Polynesia luxury destination resorts, operates among the islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific. In 2008 the 332-guest vessel was the ranked the best small luxury cruise ship by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

Luggage Concierge, Crystal Cruises' exclusive partner in door-to-door luggage delivery service, is offering the line's guests the convenience of shipping their luggage to and from every Crystal cruise in 2010 at reduced two-for-one pricing. In fact, the new pricing for shipping two bags in 2010 is even less than shipping one bag in 2009.

More about the Crystal luggage service

After her delivery from the shipyard in mid-June Norwegian Epic will sail to Rotterdam for a two-night inaugural cruise departing on June 19. This will be followed by a one-night cruise from Rotterdam to Southampton on the 21st. Her Southampton inaugural will be followed by a transatlantic crossing to New York where she will be christened on July 2 ahead of a three-night inaugural cruise over the July4 Independence Day weekend. Once Epic arrives at her home in Miami, the ship will sail a two-night inaugural cruise departing on July 8. Epic’s first seven-day Eastern Caribbean voyage is scheduled for July 10and is currently on sale, along with the ship’s alternating Western Caribbean sailings.

More about Norwegian Epic.

The celebrated chefs will take part in cooking demonstrations, lessons, Q&A sessions and book signings while on board, in addition to spending time with their teams in the galley and in the restaurant with passengers.

More about the superchefs at sea

The familiarisation trip will provide the perfect opportunity for agents to fully acquaint themselves with the Seabourn product. Simultaneously a group of VIP trade partners will be experiencing the line’s newest super contemporary yacht, Seabourn Odyssey, as she sets sail from Istanbul.   Seabourn director Andrew  Magowan explained: "We are looking forward to demonstrating Seabourn's exceptional levels of personal service which will enable agents to really understand what our product is all about - there are some aspects which simply cannot be explained in a brochure and have to be experienced to be understood. "We are committed to ensuring our key agents understand what differentiates us from our competitors and identifying the customer who would be attracted to our style of cruising."   Agents will join Seabourn Legend in Barcelona and Seabourn Odyssey in Istanbul on Saturday.

More about cruising with Seabourn

The appointment of Jo Sillence, formerly as senior reservations consultant for P&O and Princess, is testament to Seabourn’s continued commitment to growing the UK market and coincides with the planning of next June's launch of Seabourn Sojourn Europe director Andrew Magowan said: “Jo has exceptional experience of working across a number cruise products in the luxury sector, so there is no doubt she will be an asset to our dedicated and growing sales team. We have a busy and exciting 12 months ahead, so Jo’s input and support could not come at a better time for us.” As well as managing numerous agents across the country, Sillence has simultaneously held the position of account manager for the UK’s largest independent cruise specialist.

These unique odysseys combine the luxury of sailing on intimate, elegant ships with expanded journeys to diverse regions of the world, featuring visits to must-see traditional ports, as well as exotic destinations that are off the beaten path. Says Trudy Redfern, UK managing director: "Our Grand Voyages are perfectly suited to the traveller who has the time and passion to indulge in travel on a grand scale. You can explore the most desirable ports of the Mediterranean for 35 days, sail for 40 days around South America and the Caribbean, or take a diverse 64-day voyage that spans from Capetown to Istanbul - and unpack only once." More about the 2010 Grand Voyages

This 'once in a lifetime' journey will follow the original itinerary passing Cherbourg calling at Cobh crossing the Atlantic and arriving at the site of the Titanic for the 14th & 15th April exactly 100 years on from this tragic event where a memorial service will be held to pay tribute to the brave passengers and crew who perished. Passengers can choose either a 12 night cruise from £2,595pp or a 21-night cruise from £3,114pp.

Visit the Titanic Memorial Cruise website or call 01676 540560.