Avalon Waterways, a division of Globus family brands, has announced new wine- and music-themed cruises, as the river cruise operator looks to further corner the up-and-coming niche market.

MSC Cruises’ newest ship, the MSC Orchestra, will be christened in the port of Civitavecchia, Italy, on May 14. The second of the line’s Musica class of ships, the Orchestra will sail Mediterranean itineraries from Venice in the spring and summer and from Genoa in the fall and winter.

Royal Caribbean International today announced its largest deployment in Europe with seven ships visiting the continent in 2008.

Europe will be on its up this year as the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) member lines will deploy a number of ships in the region, with diversity and breadth of itineraries and ports, and an unprecedented number of passengers who recognize the incredible value European cruises offer.

Cruise prices in the Caribbean appear to be stabilizing, prices in Alaska are falling and Europe continues to be strong, according to a report from investment firm A.G. Edwards.

In a traditional maritime handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, Carnival Cruise Lines took delivery of the new 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom -the 22nd vessel in the “Fun Ship” fleet.