A Cruise Log guide to the new ships of 2011

For some cruise fans, there's nothing like a new ship, and this year there will be plenty of new ships from which to choose.

Six major cruise lines that market to North Americans are unveiling new oceangoing vessels in 2011, including industry giant Carnival and family-focused Disney Cruise Line (rolling out its first new ship in more than a decade, the Disney Dream).

Ordered several years ago when the economy was booming, the new Class of 2011 includes two first-of-its-kind vessels. In addition to the much-awaited Disney Dream, the first of a new series of ships at the line, the year will see the first ship in a new series for Oceania Cruises.

The four other new ships for 2011 will be sisters to already existing vessels. Luxury line Seabourn, for instance, is rolling out its third and final Odyssey Class vessel (click HERE for a photo tour of the series). Celebrity Cruises is unveiling the fourth in its popular Solstice Class series (click HERE for a photo tour of the most recent Solstice Class ship, the Celebrity Eclipse).

RELATED:  A photo tour of the new Disney Dream under construction

Four major lines that, notably, won't have a new ship in 2011 are Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America. Princess and Norwegian each have two ships on order, but they don't begin arriving until 2013. Neither Royal Caribbean nor Holland America has a single ship on order.

With the peak period for bookings — aka Wave Season — now underway, the Cruise Log offers the following guide to 2011's major new vessels (click on the ship names below to go to a full page on each of the newcomers that offers details on on-board features, home ports, itineraries and pricing).

In addition to the oceangoing vessels listed below, there are a number of new river ships under development for 2011 from such river lines as AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways. We'll have a full report on them soon.

Cruise Log Guide to New Ships of 2011 (oceangoing vessels)

Page 1: Marina (Oceania Cruises)
Maiden voyage: Jan. 22

Page 2: Disney Dream (Disney Cruise Line)
Maiden voyage: Jan. 26

Page 3: Carnival Magic (Carnival Cruise Lines)
Maiden voyage: May 1

Page 4: Seabourn Quest (Seabourn)
Maiden voyage: June 20

Page 5: Costa Favolosa (Costa Cruises)
Maiden voyage: July 7

Page 6: Celebrity Silhouette (Celebrity Cruises
Maiden voyage: July 23

Cruise Loggers, have you booked one of the New Ships of 2011? Share your thoughts in the comment area below.