Costa has invested approximately 22 million euros (about $28.1 million) in the past three months for maintenance on five of the 12 ships in its fleet. Ships that were dry-docked for maintenance included the Costa Serena, Costa Europa, Costa Atlantica, Costa Romantica and Costa Fortuna.

Beginning March 15, Disney Cruise Line customers will have access to an online service enabling them to order baby supplies before their cruise and have them delivered to their cabin.

The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS) members named Holland America Line as the “Best Overall Cruise Value” for the 17th year in a row.

Royal Caribbean International announced that CruCon Cruise Outlet Plus in Moultonborough, N.H., was named its top travel partner for 2008 and will receive the President’s Award in recognition for Overall Outstanding Achievement. Cruise.com in Fort Lauderdale and Cruise Planners in Coral Springs, Fla., were awarded the Online Partner of the Year and the Home-Based Partner of the Year awards, respectively. Royal Caribbean International’s annual Travel Partners of the Year awards recognize top performing travel agencies in the United States and Canada. “Congratulations to all the 2008 Partners of the Year,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales, trade and support services. The President’s Award winner, CruCon Cruise Outlet Plus, has consecutively generated significant annual growth by employing innovative marketing strategies to drive bookings among a loyal customer base. Cruise.com, a Vacation.com affiliated agency, was honored for generating growth in sales and aggressively marketing products that drove bookings via the Internet. The agency’s cruise specialists provide exceptional personal service, which also resulted in a high level of repeat client business, Royal Caribbean said. For the second consecutive year, Cruise Planners, an American Express-affiliated franchise network, won the home-based award. The agency has generated consecutive growth in annual sales, developed and marketed to new clienteles, and use innovative sales techniques to drive business to its franchised network of more than 700 travel professionals. Other travel partners recognized by Royal Caribbean include Corporate and Incentives Partner of the Year, Buy the Sea, Plantation, Fla.; Southeast Regional Partner of the Year, WMPH, Delray Beach, Fla.; Northeast Regional Partner of the Year, Largay Travel, Waterbury, Conn.; Mid-Atlantic Regional Partner of the Year, AAA Carolinas, Charlotte, N.C.; Midwest Regional Partner of the Year, Gateway Travel, Farmington Hill, Mich.; West Regional Partner of the Year, Cruise and Travel Masters, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Canada Regional Partner of the Year, Transat Distribution Canada, Montreal.

Carnival Cruise Lines has introduced a new online pre-purchase system for guests interested in booking spa treatments prior to their “Fun Ship” cruise. With the advanced reservations system, available on all 22 “Fun Ships,” guests who have a fully-deposited cruise can log onto Carnival’s website and designate a specific spa treatment and appointment time and submit payment information.

Norwegian Epic is the final name of Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) newest ship, which is currently being built at the STX Europe shipyard in France and scheduled to debut in summer 2010.