Cruise boom sparks new generation of ships and travellers Sylvia Bau, a veteran cruise-goer, is amazed at the rapid growth of liners over the years. Typical of the new generation of ships is Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas. Custom-built for the Asian market and billed as the region's biggest cruise ship, the 345-metre (1,140-foot) vessel can carry over 5,600 guests. Entertainment includes simulated skydiving in a wind tunnel, bouncing on a trampoline while wearing a virtual reality headset and bumper cars, all aimed at an increasingly younger generation of cruise-goers. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES