Ship snapshots

OCEANIA identical; two larger ships coming online in the next two years. Size: 684 passengers, double occupancy; 593.7 feet long; 30,277 tons.

Cruise datebook

The following list includes cruise lines sailing to and from Miami, Port Everglades and Cape Canaveral, between June 7 and Sept. 5. This information has been provided by the cruise lines and is subject to change and cancellation.

CRUISE INDUSTRY

Miami cruise line NCL turns a profit

Norwegian Cruise Line's new strategy shows signs of operating improvements in a challenging cruise environment

CRUISES

Bringing Mom's a winning idea

When my sister Cindy and I decided to take our mom on a fall cruise out of Boston for her 85th birthday last September, we knew that, if nothing else, it would be good for a laugh.

CRUISE LINES

Carnival profit rises 10 percent

Bargain pricing and other measures helped Carnival maintain strong bookings that helped fuel a rise in earnings.

Cruise deals are, well, a deal

Ahoy, bargain hunters. In a dismal economy, one steady bright spot is the falling price of cruises, hotels and airfares. Cruise deals are similar to what they were in the aftermath of 9-11, and some are half the price of last year, say travel agents.

CRUISES

In search of treasures big and small

From toppling glaciers to belly-flopping humpbacks, many of Alaska's most stunning natural wonders are best marveled at from the deck of a ship. You can't even reach the state capital by land.

BUDGET TRAVEL

If ever there was a time for deals, it's now

With more than 40 cruise ships plying Alaskan waters this season, the competition is heating up -- and that means lower prices.

Alaska cruises: Lines and contact info

Fourteen cruise lines have announced they will dispatch a total of 40 cruise ships to Alaska in 2009. They come in three basic sizes: large to mega-sized ships, mid-size vessels and smaller (yacht-size) craft.

CRUISES | EXCURSIONS

Cruise lines reach out after accidents

Book an excursion through a cruise line, and if something goes wrong, the cruise company will back you up. Arrange a shore visit on your own and, depending on circumstances, you could be on your own.

New cruise ships keep pushing the limits

A flotilla of new ships will be taking a bow. In the cruise industry's effort to float your boat, nearly a dozen vessels from name-brand lines will be christened this year. In 2010, a dozen more new ships should set sail, and in 2011 and 2012, another 13 will hit the high seas.

Disney at sea: Capt. Mickey takes your family on a Caribbean cruise

ONBOARD THE DISNEY WONDER -- Wide-eyed passengers whispered with anticipation as they inched toward the front of the long line. Their goal was reaching the star posing for photos and signing autographs.

WEEKEND CRUISES: ONE IN A SERIES

Family cruise to the Bahamas on Discovery

''Mom, they look like dead people,'' one of my daughters whispers. It's 6 a.m. and my family is huddled on deck chairs in the pre-dawn chill aboard the Discovery Sun cruise ship. Other passengers sprawl around us under black rental beach towels, deep in slack-jawed sleep. The 20-something girl next to me is limp, her head resting on the arm of my chair.

WEEKEND CRUISE SERIES

Carnival voyage more entertaining than destination

I was sitting at the bar in the karaoke lounge on the Carnival Fascination when a 30-something woman buying a glass of house red introduced herself.

Weekend cruises get an upgrade

Hop a cruise for the weekend, and you'll find hue-changing martini bars, swirling four-story water slides, sushi and lobster and duvet-covered beds spread with high thread-count sheets.

GOTHCRUISE

The devil of it is, they just want to have fun

Grown-up goths try a mainstream vacation and find they are as much the entertainment as they are entertained.

BUDGET TRAVEL

Make sure the price is right for your cruise

Major cruise lines are adding a dozen new ships and if demand doesn't keep up with supply, you could see some serious discounting.

WHAT'S NEW

Forget shuffleboard -- try glassblowing or croquet

Here's a line-by-line roundup of what cruise lines have in mind for 2008.

CRUISE SHIP REVIEW

Cruise ship review | Cunard's Queen Victoria

The Queen Victoria shares many things in common with her elder siblings, but she's by no means a clone.

Our cruise panelists can answer your questions

Got a question about which ship is right for you? The best cruise line for traveling with teens? Where to find the widest selection of duty-free china? Our cruise panelists can help. Six local cruise enthusiasts will share their experiences and opinions on our new cruise forum.