The Big Story: 5 Ships to Watch For

Emerald Princess(Princess Cruises)

* Debuts: April 11 in Rome

* Stats: 113,000 tons, 3,080 passengers, nearly 900 staterooms, 15 decks, 14 eateries (including full-service restaurants, burger grills, ice cream bar) and seven bars and lounges.

* Itineraries/prices: Inaugural cruise is 12 days from Rome to Venice via the Greek Isles, Turkey and Dubrovnik, Croatia; from $1,799. Then Emerald moves to Fort Lauderdale to begin round-trip southern and eastern Caribbean itineraries into April 2008. On Oct. 27, for example, a 10-day southern Caribbean trip starts at $899.

Info:800-774-6237, http://www.princess.com/.

Costa Serena(Costa Cruises)

* Debuts: May 26 in Venice

* Stats:112,000 tons, about 3,000 passengers, 1,500 staterooms, 17 decks, five restaurants and 13 bars and lounges.

* Highlights: Grand Prix simulator features the same technology that race drivers use, with G-force effects and peripheral-vision screens . . . Amenities include three-level theater, four swimming pools with slides, casino, tennis court and outdoor jogging track . . . Like sister ship Costa Concordia, the Serena will have a two-deck spa (some suites get direct spa access via private staircase) . . . Supervised activities for children will be available, as well as babysitting.

* Itinerary/prices: Inaugural cruise prices start at $1,499 (30 percent off the regular rate of $2,139) for eight days; the cruise is round trip from Venice, including stops in Katakolon and Piraeus (Athens) in Greece. Serena sails June through October from Venice on seven-night cruises to Mediterranean ports; from $1,229.

Queen Victoria(Cunard)

* Debuts: Dec. 11 in Southampton, England

* Stats: 2,014 passengers, 1,007 staterooms, 12 decks, eight restaurants and 20 bars (including traditional English pub and champagne bar) and lounges. Victoria, sister to Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2, is smaller (90,000 tons), so it can fit through the Panama Canal.

* Highlights: Exterior elevators with glass walls will tower 10 decks high (a first) and the three-deck Royal Court Theatre will have private viewing boxes . . . An oak-paneled library with circular staircase will hold 6,000 titles (three times more than most ships) . . . Amenities include a heated therapy pool and spa with treatments including body wraps and thalassotherapy . . . Supervised youth and child programs, but no babysitting.

* Info:800-728-6273, http://www.cunard.com/.

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