The cruising world started '08 with a strong push. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 2.5 million passengers sailed on 1,063 North American cruises in the second quarter of 2007, the highest level in the last four years. That number is a mere 20 percent of all 2007 cruisers - 12.6 million, per estimates by the Cruise Lines International Association, which represents the major cruise lines. To accommodate these vacationers, at least 12 new ships took to the seas.

For this year, the industry had better keep its hammers handy. CLIA forecasts passenger figures to grow 1.6 percent, to 12.8 million. "Overall, the cruise industry is still reaching out to people who haven't cruised before," says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of Cruise Critic, which publishes an online cruising magazine (www.cruisecritic.com). "Cruising is definitely going to grow."

So what can the Cruising Class of 2008 expect? Here are some developments.

Destinations

Air travelers from the United States may be souring on Europe, but those arriving by sea are just gearing up for the Continent. "Europe is so hot this year," says Paul Motter, editor of CruiseMates, an online cruising guide (www.cruisemates.com). "The farther the dollar drops, the more popular [seeing Europe by cruise] becomes." Specifically, the most scorching itineraries are in the Mediterranean and Baltic.

One of the biggest reasons to cruise Europe is the industry's booking arrangement, which allows Americans to pay in dollars and therefore avoid the weak currency exchange rate. Unlike ground travelers who feel the pain every time they pay for a meal, hotel or transportation, cruisers pay one lump sum that covers all of their major expenses.

"This is a contemporary variation on 'If it's Tuesday, we must be in Belgium,' " Spencer Brown says. "It's a great way to sample Europe. You pack once and sleep in the same bed."

As Europe's popularity grows, though, so do the cruise prices. Rates can be high, and cabins sell out fast. Experts suggest booking six to nine months out. To save money, Motter recommends sailing in May or September.

"As the boat fills, it gets more expensive," he says. "Check for a ship that is not full and be flexible with dates. In the Baltic and Mediterranean, the same itinerary can be 30 or 40 percent less early or late in the season."

Many lines are addressing the demand by increasing supply. Some lines are shifting ships from the Caribbean to Europe (Carnival, for the first time, will have a vessel in the Mediterranean and another in the Baltic) or are docking them in Europe year-round, as Royal Caribbean and Costa are doing.

On this side of the Atlantic, the Caribbean isn't necessarily out, but travelers are seeking islands with fewer tourists and more variety.

Spencer Brown gives as an example St. Maarten, which can welcome as many as six 3,000-passenger ships on a typical high-season day.

"The western Caribbean is overly congested, and cruisers are tired of going to the same old places," she says. "The beaches are packed. People want a change."

For something a little different, experts point to such Central American destinations as Belize and Panama. Motter also sees South America on the horizon: "South America is a longer cruise, and you have to fly there, but the cruises cost the same or are cheaper than Europe - and your dollar goes a lot farther."

Ship innovations

Cruise lines also are building new classes of ships, a major development not seen in more than 10 years. Celebrity is at the forefront with its Solstice-class fleet, scheduled to come out in December. Some companies also are figuring the destination into the design, such as Costa and its glass-domed pools (so cruisers in Europe can swim "outdoors" in colder months).

To attract younger passengers, the major lines are injecting some hipness into their ships. They hope to reach out to families and the under-50 set by adding or promoting such youth-oriented amenities as nightclubs (Crystal Symphony), surf parks (Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and, debuting in May, Independence of the Seas), bowling alleys (Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Pearl), bungee trampolines (P&O Cruises' Ventura), and fencing (Cunard's Queen Victoria). "It's a new energy," Spencer Brown says. "Young and active is where the industry is going."

A CLIA trend report released last month says: "Families and multigenerational travel are the biggest growth area for the cruise industry, followed by baby boomers [ages 43-62] - which certainly dispels the perception that cruises are strictly for seniors or couples. Repeaters and first-time cruisers were neck-and-neck in growth ratings."

Cruise lines are also modifying their dining choices to cater to the growing legion of vacationing foodies. Though dining rooms and assigned seating are still prevalent, ships are creating alternatives such as celebrity-chef restaurants (Wolfgang Puck's Jade Garden on Crystal Symphony, Charlie Palmer's Tastings@2 on Seabourn) and individualized menus.