Cruise Trends for 2011: Most Anticipated New Ships

With at least nine major new cruise ships sailing in 2011, the cruise experts at Cruise Holidays recently voted on which ships are most highly anticipated by cruise travelers. Their top pick: the Disney Dream, which launched on January 26.

The Dream is the third ship in Disney Cruise Lines’ fleet and the first introduced by the cruise line in more than 10 years. The ship accommodates 4,000 passengers in 1,250 staterooms on 14 decks.

Like the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder, the Dream is designed with families in mind. Staterooms feature under-bed storage, convertible sofas, pull-down beds, and split bathrooms (sink and shower in one compartment, toilet in another). Inside cabins have a "Magical Porthole” that displays real-time LED projections fed by on-deck cameras: an innovative way to have an outside view without an actual window.

The Dream also has magically-themed restaurants. In the Enchanted Garden, the setting gradually transforms from day to night; in the Animator’s Palate, LED screens feature Disney characters for real-time interaction with their fans.

There are Youth Clubs and activity centers for kids, tweens and teens; pools that cater specifically to kids, families and adults; and an elegant adults-only restaurant where parents can enjoy time together.
The new ship’s most spectacular feature may be the AquaDuck, the first watercoaster at sea. Guests are propelled through an acrylic tube on a thrilling journey up, down, around and even off the side of the ship before a breathtaking drop into a lazy river.

As terrific as the Dream is, there are other exciting ships set to debut in 2011. Celebrity Cruises’ Silhouette placed second on Cruise Holiday’s list of most anticipated ships. This 2,886-passenger ship, set to launch July 23, will have the same sophisticated style as Celebrity’s other Solstice Class ships. In third place, Oceania Cruises’ Marina is a mid-size ship that can accommodate 1,258 passengers. Launched January 22, the ship features spacious staterooms, lavish bathrooms and gourmet restaurants.

To find out more about how and where you can sail on one of these new ships, talk with a Cruise Holidays cruise expert.