Adonia is the latest ship to join the P&O Cruises fleet. Having previously sailed for Princess Cruises and Swan Hellenic, she moved to P&O as an adult-only ship earlier this year and was named by singing diva Shirley Bassey in Southampton in May.

Baltic, the "hot" region for cruises of the past few years, continues to sizzle, attracting major players including Princess Cruises, which has new 2012 itineraries for the area and offers for the first time the tall ship line Star Clippers.

Continental cruise lines are wooing British customers with more English-speaking voyages and sailing to British shores, notably Hamburg-based luxury cruise company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and the upmarket French company Compagnie du Ponant.

Destination Immersive, the catchphrase from the likes of Azamara Club Cruises, underlining how cruise companies want to get under the skin of a destination with more exclusive tours, longer stays in port and more late-night departures.

Emissions, as strict new rules come into force. Regulations banning heavy fuel oil in Antarctica became law last month, effectively barring large cruise ships from the area.
Further emissions restrictions are due to come into force next year and expected to bring changes to cruise itineraries with fewer port calls and shorter sailings from the UK.

Fantasy, as in Disney Fantasy, the Disney Cruise Line's second new ship which launches in March with features such as the AquaDuck water coaster; Europa, a European-theme adult entertainment district; and the new Animator Magic dinner show.

Grand Event, which is being organised by P&O Cruises for July 3 when its entire fleet of seven ships will be docked in the city of Southampton for the first time in the company's 175-year history.

High-tech entertainment with firework displays on Disney ships, laser spectaculars on Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Dream and top West End and Broadway shows such as Chicago and Saturday Night Fever debuting on Royal Caribbean International's larger ships.

Innovative itineraries with the rise of cultural cruise lines such as Voyages to Antiquity, which is expanding to Asia in 2012 and Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines debuting its new Vistas arts, cultural and special-interest programme.

Jungle, as companies such as Cruise & Maritime, Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines and SeaDream Yacht Club feature the Amazon on their itineraries. Upmarket river cruise company Aqua Expeditions promotes cruises on the Peruvian section of the same river.

Kicking the habit as more cruise lines such as Holland American Line and Norwegian Cruise Line tighten their smoking policies by banning lighting up in the staterooms.

Luxury is on the rise with more upmarket ships such as Seabourn's Seabourn Quest and the launch of premium line Oceania Cruises' ship Marina, to be followed by its second ship Riviera in 2012.

Mekong, the rising star of river cruising. Recent growth by Viking River Cruises and AMA Waterways is now being followed by Avalon Waterways and Uniworld, which is introducing a new boat to the region.

Natural spectacles as passengers clamour to see the Midnight Sun, the Northern Lights, solar eclipses and unspoilt wildernesses in Alaska and the polar regions.

Overnight stays as companies including Holland America Line, Azamara Club Cruises, Cunard and Silversea build in overnight stays at popular ports such as Venice, Barcelona and Istanbul.

Portsmouth, the up-and-coming departure port for the likes of Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, Voyages of Discovery, Swan Hellenic and Hebridean. Next year Silversea will also use the port.

Quest for Adventure, currently sailing as the Saga Pearl II for Saga Cruises. Next year she transfers to sister brand Spirit of Adventure for more off-the-beatentrack voyages to Central America and Canada.

River cruises. The market continues to grow with swish new boats from Viking River Cruises and Avalon Waterways, up-and-coming destinations such as Russia and Asia, and new entrant Hebridean Island Cruises.

Sports as the range of on-board activities grows, from climbing walls on several large ships to the first ropes course at sea on Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Magic and bungee-trampolining on P&O Cruises family ship Ventura.

Titanic centenary cruises marking 100 years since the infamous liner sank in April, 1912. There will be two sailings. One from Southampton aboard the Fred.Olsen ship Balmoral and one from New York on Azamara Cruises' ship Azamara Journey.

UK cruises including those visiting Britain and those leaving from British shores. P&O now has year-round winter sun sailings from Southampton, Silversea has its largest UK programme in 2011/12, Star Clippers makes its UK maiden call in 2012 and Holland America Line is stepping up its ex-UK "no-fly" sailings from Britain.

Voluntourism with Crystal Cruises and P&O Cruises offering options including helping at a food bank in Nova Scotia, lending a hand at a donkey sanctuary in Antigua and visiting a children's village in Manila.

Wining and dining, as this becomes more adventurous with novel restaurants such as the open-air "interactive" Lawn Club Grill on Celebrity Cruises' new ship Celebrity Silhouette, circus-themed Cirque Dreams on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic and Brazilian-style steakhouse on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.

X(e)Xpeditionary cruising as the range of destinations grows with the Russian Far East, Africa and Australasia. There are more luxury options with the likes of Silversea, Compagnie du Ponant, Hapag-Lloyd and Orion Expedition Cruises, which this year added a second ship.

Yachting-style voyages with a greater range of sailings from tall ship lines Star Clippers, Windstar Cruises and German line Sea Cloud Cruises.

ZZZZZZZ. Sleeping easy in a greater choice of suites and cabins as new ships arrive with spa suites, more cabins designed for single travellers, family cabins, villas and loft suites.