This December, Royal Caribbean International will once again make waves with the debut of the world's next largest and most innovative cruise ship, Allure of the Seas.

As did sister-ship Oasis of the Seas, the arrival of Allure of the Seas will bring an unprecedented array of new features and onboard amenities, including one of Broadway's longest-running and most recognizable theatric productions, Chicago: The Musical, which will headline in the ship's main theatre.

A new webisode about Chicago: The Musical aboard Allure of the Seas is now playing at www.AllureoftheSeas.com.

Allure of the Seas will feature Royal Caribbean's exclusive neighbourhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which will include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.

The ship will alternate a Western Caribbean with an Eastern Caribbean seven-night itinerary from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled two longer cruises for 2012.

Balmoral has an epic voyage around South America, departing Jan. 5, 2012 for 89 nights, while Black Watch undertakes a 106-night World Cruise departing from Southampton, England, on Jan. 11, 2012.

Balmoral's cruise, also from Southampton, travels via the Canary Islands and Caribbean and takes in some of North America, visiting Key West, New Orleans and Galveston, as well as Cozumel in Mexico and transits the Panama Canal before travelling around the continent of South America.

The cruise can also be booked in four shorter sectors: Southampton to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Montego Bay to Valparaiso, Chile; Valparaiso to Rio (Brazil); and Rio to Southampton. Prices for the full cruise start from US$13,198 per person.

For those seeking the ultimate in cruising, a world cruise is hard to beat.

This Black Watch cruise travels in an easterly direction, visiting Egypt and the Suez Canal, India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Borneo, Australia -- including the Great Barrier Reef -- the South Pacific including Vanuatu, Fiji, Bora Bora and Tahiti, South America and the Caribbean.

Prices for this all-encompassing cruise start from US$15,673 per person.

Prices are based on two people sharing an inside cabin and include all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes.

The world cruise can also be booked in four shorter sectors: Southampton to Singapore; Singapore to Sydney; Sydney to Callao (Peru); and Callao to Southampton.

See your travel agent for more information.

Carnival Cruise Lines has launched its new, year-round cruise schedule from the historic city of Charleston, S.C. with the Carnival Fantasy.

The 2,056-passenger Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages to The Bahamas and Key West, Fla. from Charleston. In 2011, Carnival will also offer a series of Bermuda cruises from Charleston on the Carnival Fantasy.

Amenities and facilities aboard the Fantasy include a 1,080-square-metre health spa, extensive children's facilities, a variety of formal and casual dining options and 12 lounges and bars.

Also featured is Carnival WaterWorks, an expansive, all-ages aqua park featuring a 90-metre-long water slide, 25-metre-long dual racing slides and a splash zone.

Carnival Fantasy also offers Serenity, an adults-only retreat, and a resort-style main pool area.

Sail on over to www.BookCCL.com for more.