Princess Cruises - says its newest ship, the "Royal Princess," will operate its debut season in the Mediterranean starting in June 2013, offering 12-day "Grand Mediterranean" voyages between Barcelona and Venice. The line also announced that the new ship's atrium will be larger than those on other Princess vessels and will boast new features such as an Italian cocktail bar, a gelateria, a seafood bar, and a gift shop.

Carnival Cruise Lines - announced its most varied range of itineraries in Europe for 2013 aboard the "Carnival Legend." Highlights include the line's first Norwegian fjords route and its first extended schedule from the United Kingdom. The ship will operate 17 European sailings between April 22 and Oct. 31, 2013, after crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Tampa (and returning there in November 2013). Carnival says it will replace the "Legend" in Tampa next year while it's in Europe.

Costa Crociere (Costa Cruises) extended the deadline for accepting its compensation offer for passengers who were aboard the wrecked "Costa Concordia" to March 31. The terms and amounts of the offer remain the same, however.

(Credit: Princess)