5 - Silversea Cruises - Silver Spirit

Number five on our list, Silver Spirit evokes the luxurious quality of the shimmering precious metal.  The styling will be a chic 1930's Art Deco; yet feature the latest modern innovations and maritime advancements.  As Siversea's new flagship, its interiors will focus on distinctive luxuries including an expanded spa and even larger suites - 95% featuring a private veranda. The Silver Spirit debuts in December 2009.

4 - Celebrity - Equinox

As sister to the Solstice, the Equinox deserves ranking on this list for genetic reasons alone.

3 - Carnival - Dream

This amazing Dream is likely to be an experience you wont want to awake from.  It will be a standout in the Carnival line, unlike any other Carnival ship in the fleet.  According to John Heald "it seems the stylists were allowed free rein -- and to hell with the cost."

2 -  Yachts of Seabourn - Odyssey

This comfortable 450-passenger yacht will be the first luxury cruise ship built in over six years.  Guests will feel special and cared for by everything from scented Pure Pampering baths drawn by the stewardess to an intimately shared Caviar on the Surf beach party.  The Odyssey will maintain Seabourn's famous industry highest crew to guest ratio.

Among the Odyssey's exotic sailings include Seabourn's first-ever World Cruise in January, 2010. The 108-day voyage travels from Bora Bora to Bali, Sydney to Saigon and Hong Kong to Istanbul, and touches five continents. The Odyssey will launch her inaugural year itinerary from Venice on June 24, 2009.

1 - Royal Caribbean - Oasis of the Seas

With a passenger capacity of 5,400 - need we say more?  The monstrous worlds largest-to-be cruise ship had to have ports of call retrofitted just so the mammoth ship can dock.  With 7 neighborhoods, it has been referred to as a floating suburb.  The ship, in fact, is becoming a destination in and of itself.

Related articles

• Seabourn Takes Top Spots in Condé Nast Traveler Cruise Ship Rankings (cruisetalk.org)