Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas sails from Ft. Lauderdale on seven-day crusies, with stops in ports including Labadee, Haiti; St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Falmouth, Jamaica. In 2010, the ship was introduced as Royal Caribbean's newest and most advanced at a cost of of $1.4 billion to build, according to the cruise line. When it sailed on its inaugural cruise, it was about a third larger than any other any other passenger cruise ship, according to Royal Caribbean. It has 13 retail shops, 21 pools and 24 restaurants. Some cabins have more than one level, with sleeping quarters upstairs and a living room below. The ship features upscale specialty restaurants, a casino with nearly 500 slot machines, an exercise center with nearly 200 machines and a 1,380-seat theater for Broadway-style shows. There are 40-foot-high rock-climbing walls, a basketball court and a sports bar. The ship can hold more than 5,000 passengers.
Royal Caribbean International
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132
866-562-7625
rccl.com
Carnival Dream sails on seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Port stops include Cozumel, Mexico; Belize; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Isla Rotan, and St. Thomas. In 2010, the Dream was one of Carnival's largest ships and included an adults-only area with a bar and hot tub, a spa, miniature golf and a specialty steakhouse. The Dream, which launched in 2009, has an aqua park called WaterWorks. It has a 300-foot water slide, which in 2009 was the longest water slide aboard any cruise ship, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 NW 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178
305-406-4779
carnival.com
The ms Veendam is perfect for those seeking a smaller, more intimate ship. It can carry 1,350 passengers and sails from New York City on seven-day cruises to Bermuda. It features four dining areas, organized activities for children and teens, and a new media center, called the Digital Workshop, for free learning about digital photography, videos, blogging and other aspects of social networking.
Holland America Line
300 Elliott Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
206-281-3535
hollandamerica.com
