The most widely heralded ship to enter the cruise market this year, Celebrity Solstice, departed Meyer Werft shipyard yesterday in Papenburg, Germany, as the largest ship ever built by the longtime shipbuilder. In a milestone event known as “The Conveyance,” the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice made its way down the River Eems, as tens of thousands of area residents lining the river banks cheered and photographed the historic event.

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With all these new ships coming out, it might become overwhelming to keep up. We received this information from Top Cruise Club a social network built by cruisers for cruisers and they decided to make it easy for you. We present to you the newest and most innovative ships of 2008 (in no particular order).

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In a quarterly service award ceremony at the company’s Miami headquarters, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today recognized five team members with more than 30 years of service. Together, they have a combined 175 years of experience with the cruise line. Of those five, two were celebrated for 40 years of service to the company: Bjorn Svensen of marine operations and Tommy Powell of food and beverage operations. Rounding out the five top service award recipients were Knut Bakken of marine operations with 35 years; Alvin Dennis and Jane Lester, both of hotel purchasing, with 30 years of service each.

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Even with a down economy, it is not preventing vacationers from cruising. Although some other forms of travel have seen a major decrease in guests, there is an increase in cruise capacity compared to last year reports. Comes with no surprise though as the increase might be related to the amazing deals that cruise lines have during economic gloom. Not only are you able to find cruise deals that equal to less than $60 per day, you also will be happy to know that cruising is pretty much an all inclusive vacation adventure. Cruising is the best way to travel by far, because food, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation to and from ports are all included within the cruise fare.

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Disney Cruise Lines has an exciting collection of enhancements awaits the Disney Magic as the ship heads into dry dock Sept. 6-24, 2008. The 2,700 passenger cruise ship will undergo a series of upgrades for guests of all ages.

Here is a glimpse at what’s in store:

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The Yachts of Seabourn has been honored as the “Best Small Ship Cruise Line” by Virtuoso in the luxury travel network’s 2008 Virtuoso Performance Awards. Virtuoso’s member advisors voted on the peer-to-peer awards.

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A cruise along the Nile River is like watching 5,000 years of culture unfold before your eyes. Marvel at the contrasts of landscapes as you sail past old-world villages surrounded by beautiful palm groves. Explore the mysterious city of Cairo where the ancient and the modern coexist in harmony. Come face to face with the towering Sphinx. Take in the extraordinary sight of the sole survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza. Let yourself be whisked away to the magnificent monuments of Luxor, the spectacular Karnak Temple complex, and awe-inspiring Abu Simbel, one of the world’s most magnificent temples.

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Costa Cruise Lines have developed a new type of spa accomodations for Europe getaways. For many spa-going travelers, top spa retreats in mountain locales and countryside villas have made way for a new type of spa experience – cruising the Mediterranean aboard our Costa Serena and Costa Concordia. Both ships boast the award-winning Samsara Spa, a 23,000 square-foot wellness haven featuring Ayurvedic treatments and European-style spa amenities. Exclusive accommodations with direct access to the spa come complete with spa packages and privileges to a private wellness restaurant, creating a “vacation within a vacation” for travelers cruising the ships’ Mediterranean routes.

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Aker Yards France has released information about Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), confirming that there is an ongoing dispute about NCL’s current vessel known to the public as F3.

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Celebrity Cruises today announced new itineraries for Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Mercury, presenting guests with new cruise vacation options from the historic coastal cities of Baltimore, Maryland, and Charleston, South Carolina, along with the brand’s popular Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Correspondingly, the line announced plans to discontinue its Australia and New Zealand cruises previously scheduled for late-2009 and 2010 on Celebrity Millennium.

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