Celebrity Cruises’ latest slate of 2008 and 2009 cruises, opened for sale with holiday sailings including a five-night Western Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Miami on December 24, 2008, with stops in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and George Town, Grand Cayman, and on December 29 out of Miami, another five-night sailing that will call on Key West and George Town.

The Norwegian Jade will be the new name of the Pride of Hawaii when it is reflagged and deployed to Europe, NCL Corp. said Monday.

Cruise line NCL will place three of its newest Jewel-class ships in Europe beginning in March 2008. This is the response to the positive reaction of European consumers in respect to the innovative Freestyle Cruising concept of the cruise line.

Bermuda has been one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations since modern cruising began in the 1960s. And for many good reasons, including perfect weather, world-class golf courses, tennis, shopping, colonial history, picturesque pastel-colored towns and villages, pink sand beaches and a proximity to North America that welcomes cruises of five-days or more from as many as seven East Coast homeports.

Travelers wanting to “cross the pond” in the comfortable sophistication of a Celebrity Cruises vessel have eight dates from which to choose. Today, the top-rated line opened bookings for transatlantic voyages in 2008. A repositioning cruise from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida also opened last week.

Royal Caribbean International has taken delivery of its newest Freedom-class vessel, Liberty of the Seas, from Aker Yards during a ceremony in Turku, Finland.