The Caribbean continues to be the destination of choice for most cruise passengers, according to a new survey. The region topped the Cruise Holidays 2012 Cruise Trends ranking with 59.88 percent bookings, leaving Europe (including Mediterranean, Baltic, Scandinavia & Greek Isles) a far second at 11.47 percent.

Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas will operate 19 Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises in winter 2012-13. The cruises range from 10 to 15 nights roundtrip from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

Cruise prices remain in consumers’ favor going into 2012, according to the Cruise Holidays 2012 Cruise Trends survey. The firm’s research shows that prices for Caribbean and the Mediterranean cruises remain lower than they were in 2008, 2009 and 2010. But prices have actually risen slightly since 2011.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway, scheduled for delivery in April 2013, will sail from New York City to the Bahamas and Florida during its inaugural winter season. Bahamas sailings will begin Oct. 13 after a previously announced summer of Bermuda cruises.

The German cruise vessel ‘Deutschland’ docked Monday at the port of Rosario on the mighty Paraná River which is also the hub for Argentina’s grains and oilseeds basin.

Emerging from a challenging year that left cruise executives with furrowed brows, cruise lines have already taken steps to shore up and protect their 2012 business. However, they can only take action based on what's obvious at the moment.