Several cruise ships are being unveiled in 2011, DEBORAH STONE reveals just what they have to offer

GOING FOR GOLD
China has become even more popular since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with cruises down the Yangtze River one of the highlights. Now Viking River Cruises (0208 780 7998/www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk) will make the trip even more memorable on board the Viking Emerald, built for the 2011 season.

It has 132 spacious, river-view suites and staterooms, an observation lounge and a sun deck which can also be used as a jogging track. There's also a boutique and in-house tailor.

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Explore the country's waterways on the Emerald's Imperial Jewels Of China trip, which runs from April to October.

The five-night Yangtze cruise from Wuhan in the heart of the country to Chongqing is part of a longer escorted tour which includes hotel accommodation in Beijing at the start of the trip and Shanghai at the end.

Twelve guided tours are included, such as visits to Beijing's Forbidden City and the Great Wall Of China.

A 13-day Jewels Of China cruise from £2,995pp (two sharing), including return flights from Heathrow. Departs Shanghai April 4, 2011.

FAIRYTALES COME TRUE
Family entertainment is a high priority for Costa Cruises (0845 351 0552/ www.costacruises.co.uk) on the new Costa Favolosa, which launches next July.

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There's a 4D cinema, PlayStation World and an open-air aqua park with a pirate galleon.

All the family will enjoy watching films on the giant, open-air movie screen while adults can enjoy some pampering at one of the largest spa and wellness centres at sea.

Costa Favolosa's regular summer sailing will be a seven-day cruise taking in the highlights of Greece, Turkey and Croatia.

Favolosa's inaugural three-night mini-cruise calling at Dubrovnik, Croatia and Koper, Slovenia, from £426pp (two sharing), cruise only. Departs Venice July 4, 2011. British Airways (0844 493 0787/www.ba.com) offers return flights to Venice from Gatwick from £98.

QUEST FOR PERFECTION
Small is beautiful at The Yachts Of Seabourn (0845 070 0500/ www.seabourn.com) which launches its third ship Seabourn Quest next June.

The Quest takes just 450 passengers and her 225 suites have separate living and bedroom areas and 90 per cent offer private balconies.
Passengers can relax in the two-deck spa with Finnish saunas, aromatic steam rooms and a thalassotherapy pool.

The ship also offers yoga, Pilates and t'ai chi classes.

Her maiden voyage is from Barcelona to Athens but in July she tours the Black Sea.

Several ports of call are in the Ukraine including Yalta on the Crimean peninsula, the summer retreat of Russian royalty, and Odessa with its miles of golden beaches.

A seven-day Black Sea Discoveries cruise from £2,699pp (two sharing), including return flights from various UK airports. Departs Istanbul July 11, 2011.

PANORAMIC WONDER
The Avalon Panorama, launched next May, is one of a new breed of upmarket river cruisers.
She's the first all-suite ship which means every cabin is at least 30 per cent larger than the industry standard and all have wall-to-wall panoramic windows. The royal suites also come with marble bathrooms and king-sized beds.

The Avalon Waterways' (0800 668 1802/www.avaloncruises.co.uk) vessel will operate along the Danube connecting waterways between Amsterdam and Budapest from May to November, with excursions to Cologne's stunning Gothic cathedral and Regensburg, one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities.

A 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise from £2,249pp (two sharing), including return flights from Heathrow, departs Amsterdam November 2, 2011.

TASTY VOYAGES
The Oceania Marina will be the first purpose-built ship for Oceania Cruises (0845 505 1920/www.oceaniacruises.com) launching in January 2011.

Renowned for its fine dining, the ship will offer six restaurants including French bistro Jacques and the Polo Grill steak.
The 1250-passenger Oceania Marina will be twice the size of the company's three other ships. It will offer stylish cabins, some with marble bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling sliding windows.

Departing in January from Barcelona, its maiden voyage will include stops at Casablanca and Tenerife before heading to palm-fringed Miami. Other itineraries during the year will feature the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Baltic.

A 14-day Transatlantic Cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Miami from £1,349pp (two sharing) cruise only. Departs Rome November 24, 2011.

easyJet (0905 821 0905/ www.easyjet.com) offers return flights from various UK airports to Rome from £58. British Airways (as before) offers return flights from Miami to Gatwick from £758.