The Nickelodeon brand of kids’ entertainment has extended its growing influence in the travel industry to include family cruising.

MSC Cruises will be bringing two state-of-the-art ships - including its newest - to Fort Lauderdale for an exciting 2008-09 Caribbean season that features seven itineraries, 16 enchanting ports, the line’s first call in Bermuda and several special theme cruises. [MSC Orchestra]

Princess Cruises said the cruise industry’s traditional “hurry-up-and-wait” disembarkation process will become history as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers. Typically at the end of a cruise, passengers listen to the public address announcements for their luggage tag color to be called, signaling the staggered times they will disembark.

An expansive new aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long water slide, along with an exclusive adults-only area, and a totally redesigned “resort-style” main pool will be incorporated into the Carnival Fantasy when the 2,052-passenger Super Liner undergoes a multi-million-dollar dry dock this fall.

New York-based Apollo Management LP has completed the acquisition of Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) from Minneapolis-based Carlson. Apollo subsidiary Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH), Regent Seven Seas’ new parent, gave the green light for the luxury line to open talks with shipyards for a newbuild.

The world-famous Queen Elizabeth 2 passenger liner on her final world cruise left Montevideo on Wednesday and is expected to call in the Falkland Islands on Friday. It was her tenth and last call to Montevideo.