Secrets to Booking the Best Cruise Vacation

Feb. 2, 2010— -- A new year is finally here and who doesn't need a vacation from 2009? The cruise industry fared extraordinarily well, all things considered. Belts were tightened, top-to-bottom expenses were reviewed and necessary adjustments were made. Unlike 2001, no major cruise lines filed for bankruptcy, went out of business or were acquired.

Many brand-new cruise ships, eight in fact, entered the North American-based fleets in 2009. This includes the first two luxury ships introduced in six years -- Yachts of Seabourn's Odyssey and Silversea's Silver Spirit -- as well as Celebrity's second ship in its Solstice Class, Equinox. The big cruise news in 2009, without a doubt, was the introduction of the largest, longest, widest, tallest most expensive cruise ship ever built, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.

Expect nine cruise ships this year, including Oasis of the Seas' sister ship, Allure of the Seas, Celebrity's Eclipse and Seabourn's Sojourn. The most notable debut for 2010 will be Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic, which is 65 percent bigger than any ship in its fleet and the sixth-largest ship in the world when she debuts.

Stay Up to Date on the Latest Travel Trends from ABC News on Twitter

Many people asked if this was the best time to make such pivotal debuts. Keep in mind that the ships were ordered during much different economic times and they couldn't just halt construction. Cruise ships are built for the next 30 years and not just the next three. They're coming whether we're ready for them or not!