Cruise ships have come a long way in the last decade as lines push the boundaries when it comes to size, capacity and thrilling amenities to appeal to a new generation of holidaymakers.

These days, passengers can spend time at sea in a lounge where they are served by robotic bartenders, in a spa where artificial snowflakes fall inside a snow room, or in a planetarium where they are taken on a virtual tour of outer space, and still fail to take advantage of everything on board.

From a cycling track suspended above the upper deck to a bar made of ice, these are some of the best amenities on cruise ships.

MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line, recently celebrated the arrival of MSC Divina – one of the company’s newest and most ultra-modern ships – to Miami, where she will sail year-round to the Caribbean.

MSC Divina spent this past summer in the Mediterranean, following her inaugural Caribbean season sailing from Miami between November 2013 - April 2015. Her return to Miami marks a significant milestone for the company as it increases its focus on the North American market.

In addition, MSC Cruises announced that sales for its next-generation cruise ship MSC Seaside, will open on December 15th, two years ahead of her debut, in December 2017. MSC Seaside, which will join MSC Divina in sailing from a newly renovated and expanded dedicated berth and terminal at PortMiami, will be the first MSC Cruises’ ship to head directly to the U.S. from the shipyard, and be the first MSC Cruises’ ship to be christened in the U.S.

ON BOARD THE NORWEGIAN ESCAPE -- It's the coolest new attraction at sea. Literally.

The new Norwegian Cruise Line ship debuting this weekend in Europe is home to a super-chilled "snow room" that is the first of its kind on a mass-market cruise ship catering to North Americans.

The frosty spa retreat on the Norwegian Escape is kept at a nippy 14 degrees Fahrenheit and boasts flurries of powdery snow descending from the ceiling. It's part of a sprawling thermal suite within the ship's Mandara Spa.

"It's very good for aches and pains," says Courtney Neumann, the spa manager on the Norwegian Escape, who recommends lounging in the thermal suite's super-heated sauna before entering the snow room. "The idea is to go from hot to cold, which makes your blood vessels constrict and dilate, which is extremely good for your immune system and blood circulation."

We stress the importance of buying travel insurance, and you should not buy it from the cruise line or tour company you are dealing with. If they should go bankrupt, you have lost your insurance. This might sound unlikely, but we did have 21 companies declare bankruptcy the same day so it does happen. Use a third-party company.

Your cruise holiday is a voyage of a lifetime and we can help you protect your valuable investment.

Majestic. Breathtaking. Awe-inspiring. Those are the first words that come to my mind when I think of Alaska. I’ve been lucky to have experienced two Alaskan cruises, and with each I was simply blown away by the scenery.

If there was one excursion that I’ve been on that highlighted Alaska’s great est assets it was the Best of Juneau — a full day of sightseeing with a visit to Mendenhall glacier, a whale-watching cruise and salmon bake.

This shore excursion was booked directly through Carnival Cruise Line which maximized our time while we were in the port of Juneau. I’m a big fan of booking through the cruise line because there’s never any waiting and there are guarantees you don’t get when booking independently, like getting back to the ship on time!

Some cruisers like the glitz, non-stop action and wealth of resort amenities found on big ships. Others prefer their vacations more low key, and for these folks small ships are the way to go. On small ships, whether sailing or motorized, you and a few dozen — or a few hundred — fellow passengers get an intimate experience, typically focused as much on destination as shipboard happenings.

Here are five popular myths about small ship cruises

There's no place to hide

The itineraries are only about adventure

You're roughing it

Small ships aren't for families

You'll get seasick

Throwing its hat into the ring of private Caribbean island destinations is MSC Cruises with the newly announced Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (rendered above) set to open in December 2017. The opening will coincide with the launch of the line’s upcoming MSC Seaside to be based year-round in the Caribbean, roundtrip from Miami, Florida. 

The project was officially launched yesterday on Dec. 16 in the Bahamian capital of Nassau where Prime Minister Perry Christie and MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago signed a 100-year lease agreement, allowing the line to occupy and develop the island. Vago said, “this is a natural progression for our company, which is growing very rapidly, and we are thrilled about providing this totally new experience for our guests in the Caribbean.”

MSC will invest approximately $200 million in the project to make the one-time sand-extraction station a world-class regional attraction. The cay will be developed over the next two years in conjunction with the Bahamian government and ecologists into a paradise with many fun experiences and 11,400 feet worth of fine beachfront. Plans include the planting of 80 indigenous Caribbean trees, grasses, flowers and shrubs and construction of a Bahamian village, restaurants, bars, shops and an arrival center and gazebo.

The new Amber Cove port on the north coast of the Dominican Republic is rapidly coming together a little more than a month before the first ship is scheduled to arrive on Oct. 6.

The port, being developed by Carnival Corp. and a local partner, already has a 1,280-foot pier, a bus and taxi staging area, cabanas and the finished shells of bars, restaurants and shops.

Landscaping is being planted and the interiors of the structures are ready for build-out.