Everybody needs a break, including the cruise lines. So after taking a deep breath in 2005, they'll begin rolling out new ships en masse starting again in 2006.

Newbuild deliveries have slowed for a couple of reasons. Cruise lines have needed time to absorb the unprecedented influx of new tonnage, which in this decade has grown at a rate of nearly 10 percent a year. In 2004 alone, a record number of new berths came on line, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's New York-based marketing group. Another culprit has been the high value of the euro (the currency used by participating member-nations of the European Union), which has been consistently strong against a weak dollar. A 20 percent difference in the exchange rate can have a dramatic effect on the cost of a cruise ship: A $500-million vessel becomes $600 million--adding substantially to the overall cost and the per-berth cost, a common measure of shipbuilding economy.

Even so, at presstime order books were slowly beginning to fill up again. In 2004 orders for significant new tonnage were placed by Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, MSC Cruises, and Princess Cruises. These followed on the heels of announcements in late 2003 by Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International for large new ships. However, some time will pass before these vessels enter service. Once the fabrication process begins, it takes about 18 months to construct a ship, according to Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison--nine months for the steel work and nine months for the interior outfitting.

Despite the temporary slowdown in deliveries, cruise travelers will have at least a few inaugurals to sample this season. Without question, the biggest news for 2005 is Carnival Cruise Lines' 110,00-gross-registerton/2,794-passenger Carnival Liberty--not because of her size, but because the vessel is scheduled to operate Carnival's first-ever season of Mediterranean voyages. Beginning on July 20, the Carnival Liberty sails eight departures roundtrip from Rome. These 12-day cruises call at seven ports, including an overnight in Venice.

Another newbuild that has finally found a home is P&O Cruises' forthcoming 85,000grt/1,968-pax Arcadia. This hull was originally ordered as the fifth vessel in Holland America Line's Vista Class. She subsequently was transferred to Cunard Line and redesignated as the Queen Victoria. However, she will emerge from the shipyard in April flying the P&O banner, and will be the largest cruise ship built exclusively for the British market. The vessel's contemporary design "will raise the quality of the P&O fleet still further," according to the company, and features such modern amenities as alternative dining and 677 balcony cabins.

Norwegian Cruise Line hopes to have its next generation of newbuilds in the water by the summer of 2005. The Norwegian Jewel will be NCL's largest vessel based on capacity, registering an estimated 92,000 gross tons with lower berths for 2,376. Building on the successful "Freestyle Cruising" design introduced on the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn, NCL's newest ship is expected to offer 10 different restaurants plus the usual array of health and recreational facilities. The casino, however, will operate with "the highest table limits at sea," according to the company. The Norwegian Jewel enters service in August with cruises to Europe, Canada/New England, and the Caribbean.

Elsewhere, NCL may have a busy year as it introduces the long-awaited and much-delayed 88,000-grt/2,114-pax Pride of America. Originally dubbed "Project America" by the initial owners, American Classic Voyages, the partially completed hull was purchased by NCL in August 2002 and towed to a shipyard in Germany. In January 2004 the hull took on substantial amounts of water during a storm and sank up to deck three; it was subsequently salvaged and repaired. Now NCL hopes to have the ship in service in Hawaii in time for this summer, with a projected delivery date of June 6, 2005.

One mid-size ship with a new name will be the 30,277-grt/684-pax Nautica, third in Oceania Cruises' fleet of former Renaissance vessels. The Nautica is scheduled to make her debut in late November, sailing an inaugural season of cruises to Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The Nautica will finalize Oceania's plans for expansion, at least for the time being. "She completes our initial vision of a three-ship fleet," said Tim Rubacky, manager of strategic development and communications, "but that's not to say we're not keen to expand beyond that should the opportunity arise."

On the small-ship front, American Cruise Lines is preparing to launch its third new ship in five years when the American Spirit begins service on May 28, 2005. At 92 passengers, the vessel is nearly twice as big as her fleetmates, the 2000-built American Eagle and 2002-built American Glory, which both carry 49 guests. In her first season, the American Spirit travels the East Coast from Maine to Florida on cruises that run six to 14 nights.

Looking ahead to 2006, several other cruise lines have new ships on tap. Two European brands--Costa Cruise Lines and MSC Cruises--have vessels scheduled to come on line. Costa has ordered a 112,000-grt/3,004-pax vessel intended for year-round service in the Mediterranean. MSC, which has grown recently due to the addition of two former First European Cruises ships, expects delivery of a 2,550-pax Panamax newbuild registering 90,000 gross tons, with deployments to be announced. A sister will follow in 2007, bringing the suddenly burgeoning MSC fleet to nine ships.

Also next year, Holland America Line welcomes the Noordam, fourth and last in its Vista Class of 85,000-grt/1,848-pax ships, which completes not only the series but the points on the compass: Each ship is named for a direction, with previous installments named for south, east, west, and now north. Princess Cruises plans a 3,100-pax sister to the Caribbean Princess, a mega-vessel registering 113,000 gross tons. NCL expects the 92,000-grt/2,376-pax Pride Of Hawai'i; while technically a sister to the above-mentioned Norwegian Jewel, the ship is intended for the Hawaii market, as her name would suggest, and will be the third ship in the company's U.S.-flagged NCL America fleet.

However, the biggest splash of 2006 will undoubtedly come from Royal Caribbean International, which intends to introduce the "Ultra Voyager," a pumped up version of its highly regarded Voyager Class, which began with 1999's Voyager of the Seas. This new incarnation, called Freedom of the Seas, will be roughly 15 percent bigger at 158,000 grt and carry 3,600 passengers, based on double occupancy. At presstime, RCI had released no further details on the ship but did say there would be significant new features to the design. The line also announced it had exercised its option for a second "Ultra Voyager," with an expected delivery date of spring 2007.

Not to be outdone, Carnival Corporation in late September announced a five-ship order that the company hailed as "historic" and "unprecedented." The order will include one ship each for Carnival and Princess to be delivered in the spring of 2007. Two more vessels are scheduled to follow in 2008, with brand designations to be announced. In addition, Cunard will receive an upgraded version of its previously announced Queen Victoria. The new QV will have a Queens Grill and Princess Grill, a grand ballroom, British pub, classic library, and Todd English alternative restaurant--all hallmarks of the Queen Mary 2.

A couple of other lines have new orders hanging in the balance. At presstime, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises was considering whether to move forward with expansion plans. "The earliest they would have a newbuild would be 2007," said a spokeswoman. "They do have an option until the end of the year, but given the euro/dollar exchange rate, it's not likely they'll exercise it." Over in Europe, the Norwegian Coastal Voyage has scaled back its plans to build five new cruiseferries. Three have already been constructed, but the last two remain on hold. "There's been no official announcement," confirmed a spokeswoman, "but nobody's talking about building them." Disney, which has been the source of speculation regarding a new ship, also is standing pat. "We continue to look at opportunities for a new ship," a spokesman said, "but at this point there's nothing to announce."