It's another big year for new cruise ships — with "big" being the operative word. Many of the liners premiering in 2007 will set sail with more than 3,000 passengers each.

"More and more, the ship is the destination," says Lauraday Kelley of Alexandria, Va.-based Vacation.com. Amenities count "when you've got maybe 4,000 (including crew) floating in what is in effect a 12-floor condo," she adds.

Here's the scoop on five of the newest ships. Rates listed are from the cruise lines, though some offer early-booking discounts. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and do not include taxes and fees. For lower rates, check with travel agents, discount cruise specialists such as Vacations to Go (www.vacationstogo.com) or Web sites like Cruise Compete (www.cruisecompete.com), at which you name your preferred cruise and travel agencies then offer competing bids on the voyage.

NORWEGIAN PEARL (NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE)

Debuted Dec. 16. 93,530 tons, 2,394 passengers, 1,197 staterooms, 15 decks, 10 restaurants, 13 bars and lounges. First regulation-size bowling alley on a ship. Thirty-foot rock wall. Three pools, plus water slide. The Second City comedy troupe — the one that begat Bill Murray and John Belushi — hosts workshops and performs. Entertainment includes the "Garden of the Geisha" show with tai chi, kabuki and drums.

Inaugural season includes roundtrip from Miami to the southern Caribbean; a nine-night voyage leaving March 16 includes stops in Roseau, Dominica, and Bridgetown, Barbados, and starts at $949. Other itineraries include the Pacific Northwest and Panama Canal, Miami-to-Los Angeles roundtrip journeys, and roundtrip from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia. From May to September this year, the Pearl travels roundtrip from Seattle to Glacier Bay, Alaska. (866) 234-0292, www.ncl.com.

FREEDOM (CARNIVAL)

Debuts: March 5 in Venice. 110,000 tons, 2,974 passengers, 1,487 staterooms, 13 decks, two restaurants, sushi and pool bars, and dance, jazz, piano and supper clubs (among others). Twister water slide and four pools, plus the Seaside Theatre (a huge LED poolside screen). Golf lessons and digital coaching system to analyze swing. Casino among the largest at sea.

Many of its first cruises (in the Mediterranean) have sold out; bookings for July and October 2008 start at $1,249. On April 26, 2008, a 14-day transatlantic voyage from Miami to Rome starts at $699. In November, Freedom will sail the western Caribbean on four-day roundtrip voyages from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico (rates from $299); seven-day eastern Caribbean cruises will leave from Miami and include stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Nassau, Bahamas (from $579). Eight-day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale start at $579. (888) 227-6482, www.carnival.com.

EMERALD PRINCESS (PRINCESS CRUISES)

Debuts: April 11 in Rome. 113,000 tons, 3,080 passengers, nearly 900 staterooms, 15 decks, 14 eateries and seven bars and lounges. Exchange vows in the Hearts & Minds Wedding Chapel. Watch flicks on the 300-square-foot screen in the Movies Under the Stars outdoor theater. Amenities include nine-hole putting course, golf simulators, five freshwater pools and jogging track and adult-only Asian-themed spa with ocean-view gym. One of the largest casinos afloat.

Itineraries/prices: Inaugural cruise is 12 days from Rome to Venice via the Greek Isles, Turkey and Dubrovnik, Croatia; from $1,799. Then Emerald moves to Fort Lauderdale to begin roundtrip southern and eastern Caribbean itineraries into April 2008. On Oct. 27, for example, a 10-day southern Caribbean trip starts at $899. (800) 774-6237, www.princess.com.

COSTA SERENA (COSTA CRUISES)

Debuts: May 26 in Venice. 112,000 tons, about 3,000 passengers, 1,500 staterooms, 17 decks, five restaurants and 13 bars and lounges. Grand Prix simulator features the same technology that race drivers use. Threelevel theater, four swimming pools with slides, casino, tennis court and outdoor jogging track. Like sister ship Costa Concordia, Serena will have a two-deck spa (some suites get direct spa access via private staircase).

Itinerary/prices: Inaugural cruise prices start at $1,499 (30 percent off the regular rate of $2,139) for eight days; the cruise is roundtrip from Venice, including stops in Katakolon and Piraeus (Athens) in Greece. Serena sails June through October from Venice on seven-night cruises to Mediterranean ports; from $1,229. (800) 247-7320, www.costacruise.com.

QUEEN VICTORIA (CUNARD)

Debuts: Dec. 11 in Southampton, England. 2,014 passengers, 1,007 staterooms, 12 decks, eight restaurants and 20 bars (including traditional English pub and champagne bar) and lounges. Victoria, sister to Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2, is smaller (90,000 tons), so it can fit through the Panama Canal. Exterior elevators with glass walls tower 10 decks high (a first) and the three-deck Royal Court Theatre features private viewing boxes. An oak-paneled library with circular staircase will hold 6,000 titles (three times more than most ships). Heated therapy pool and spa.

Itinerary/prices: Maiden voyages sold out. On Jan. 6, 2008, Victoria leaves Southampton on its first world cruise, a 106-day "Pathways to the Explorers" with 40 ports (starts at $20,304 per person); about 35 percent of the full world cruise is booked. On Jan. 13, 2008, Victoria sails into New York for the first time, meeting QM2 and QE2 (a first for the trio); from there, the ship sails to L.A. through the Panama Canal. (800) 728-6273, www.cunard.com.

OTHER SHIPS DUE IN 2007