NCL makes its mark with its always casual, open-seating dining and a nearly constant stream of innovations, which include three ships now sailing year-round among the Hawaiian islands. Overall its new ships are standouts -- Dawn, Star, Sun, Spirit, Pride of Aloha, and Pride of America give the newest Royal Caribbean and Princess ships a run for their money. Sails to: Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Bermuda, Hawaii, Canada/New England.

After launching four new ships between 1999 and late 2002 and rolling out its flexible dining program, NCL hasn't slowed down in the innovation department. The line's latest project is Hawaii, where it has positioned two of its newer ships year-round to do inter-island cruises for its new U.S.-flag brand, NCL America. Plus, the line has the older foreign-flagged Norwegian Wind on longer 10- and 11-night cruises round-trip out of Honolulu that include the Hawaiian islands and Fanning Island, some 1,000 miles south of Hawaii (foreign-flagged ships are required to call on at least one foreign port). NCL sails other places too, including Alaska, Caribbean, Bermuda, and New England. Of its fleet of 10 ships, 6 are new and cutting edge -- the 2,000-passenger Pride of Aloha (formerly called Norwegian Sky), 1,960-passenger Norwegian Sun, 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn and Star, 2,000-passenger Norwegian Spirit, and 2,146-passenger to-be-launched Pride of America -- and 4 are midsize vintage-1980s vessels that just can't live up to their newer fleetmates.