Upon the recent return of the first-ever Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean, Nickelodeon and Royal Caribbean International announced plans for two more joint journeys at sea together in summer of 2009.

Uniworld River Cruises announces special pay-in-full and early booking discounts on river cruises through Russia, and Ukraine, the Black Sea and Istanbul. By planning ahead, guests save money while experiencing the big, bold and beautiful destinations of Russia, and Ukraine, the Black Sea and Istanbul.

Carnival Cruise Lines is set to recategorize of all its stateroom accommodations, fleetwide, beginning with Carnival Valor on August 18. The rest of the “Fun Ship” fleet will be recategorized by the end of the year.

Cruise West has announced 26 itineraries for the 2009 season, including four new and one re-introduced cruise. The four new voyages will visit Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, the Danube River, the East Indies and Melanesia. The Vietnam itinerary is being re-introduced by popular demand. The 2009 cruises include stops in 29 countries and 165 ports worldwide.

Carnival Sensation in a January dry dock will embark on its “Evolutions of Fun” upgrade, a multi-million-dollar refurbishment that will result in an expansive water park, an exclusive adults-only area and a tropical-themed mid-ship pool area.

The first vessel to call in Montevideo port, Uruguay, this coming 2008/09 cruise season is Minerva II which will be arriving November 21st, according to an official report from local authorities.