Cruise With Christine Pappin

Oceania Riviera Maiden Voyage Delayed

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:56:00 +0000

Year	2012
Gross Tonnage	66,000 t
Length between Pp	210 m
Moulded Breadth	32.2 m
Number of Cabins	629
Max Speed	19.5 knots

Artist Rendition of Oceania Riviera Courtesy Fincantieri

Oceania Riviera Facts

Oceania Cruises announced that the debut of its next ship, the 1,250-passenger Riviera, has been delayed due to recent strikes at the Fincantieri shipyard near Genoa, Italy where it is being built. It is a sister ship to Marina which debuted last year. It was also built by the same shipyard.

Delay Cancels Two Cruises

The maiden voyage of the 66,000-ton vessel has been pushed back to May 16 from April 2, 2012. Two cruises scheduled to take place between April 24 and May 16 are being canceled.

"We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this may cause our guests," Oceania President Kunal Kamlani says in a statement accompanying the announcement. "We are working very closely with the shipyard to ensure Riviera is completed to meet Oceania's high standards of quality and service."

Second Delay for Debut

This is the second announced delay, within the last six months, to the maiden voyage of the Riviera. The line announced in August that the ship's debut was being pushed back from April 14 to April 24. Delays to maiden voyages, while rare, can happen for a number of reasons. In this case, a strike over reorganization planned at the shipyard due to a slowdown in newbuild orders, lasted longer than expected.

Oceania says customers on the canceled cruises will be contacted by the line or their travel agents to discuss alternative cruise dates. Those who choose to rebook onto a later voyage will receive a credit ranging from $250 to $1,000 per person, depending on category of accommodation. Those who do not wish to rebook will receive a full refund.

The new maiden voyage is a 10-day ‘Pearls of the Aegean’ cruise that includes an overnight aboard ship in Venice before departing for Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Monemvasia, Crete, Santorini, Delos, Mykonos and Athens.

Concordia Disaster Rekindles Venice Restrictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:32:00 +0000

Seabourn Spirit Docked in Venice, Italy

Could Concordia Disaster Impact Cruises to Venice

UNESCO has called on the Italian government to restrict access of large cruise ships to culturally and ecologically important areas, particularly Venice and its Lagoon which are visited by some 300 large cruise ships a year.


Arriving in Venice on Star Princess Docked Next to RCCL Voyager of the Seas

UNESCO World Heritage Site - Venice

In a letter sent to the Italian Environment Minister on behalf of Director-General Irina Bokova, the Assistant Director-General for Culture Francesco Bandarin writes that “the tragic accident [of the Costa Concordia on 13 January] reinforces longstanding concern over the risk that large cruise liners pose to sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, particularly the Venice Lagoon and the Basin of San Marco."

After presenting UNESCO’s condolences for the tragic loss of life caused by Costa Concordia accident and praising the efforts of the rescue teams and local population in dealing with the disaster, the letter urges the government to act quickly to develop alternative plans for maritime traffic around the World Heritage site of Venice.

UNESCO contends that the cruise liner traffic in Venice is particularly damaging because of the fragile structure of the city. The ships cause water tides that erode the foundations of buildings. They contribute to pollution and impact the cityscape as they dwarf monuments in the heart of the city.

Venice Canals from Star Princess Deck

Sailing into Venice

Those that follow our blog on a regular basis know that we were on Star Princess last May/June for a 12 Night Greek Isles & Mediterranean Cruise - Rome to Venice. Our captain urged us to be up on the outside decks before 7 AM to see the ship entering into Venice harbor. It was an amazing sight - seeing Venice from a different perspective.

View our photo album on our Facebook Fan Page:

Arriving in Venice by Cruise Ship

As you can see from these images, the pier where we were docked was far from the heart of the city. In fact, one must take a water taxi or use the people mover to get into the city proper.

What Does the Future Hold

UNESCO's plea is not a new one, but it seems to have some new life as Italy's environment minister, Corrado Clini, appeared to take up the cause Tuesday.

"The aim is to free St. Mark's basin from the big ships once new canals have been dug," Clini was quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA as saying during a public appearance in northern Italy.

But Clini added that "in the meantime, it will be up to the port authority and to the city to decide which (sea) traffic is sustainable and compatible" with Venice's particular situation."

Venice officials have said that since tug boats guide the big cruise ships through the part of the lagoon weaving through the city, the risk of accidents is virtually eliminated.

In a city where "cars" are replaced by gondolas and small water craft, it is unthinkable that there could be a ban on larger vessels. Let us hope that the cruise industry, UNESCO, and Italian authorities can work out a plan which protects Venice for years to come and still allows future generations the pleasure of seeing this amazing city of canals from the perspective of a cruise ship.

If a Mediterranean cruise, that includes Venice, is on your bucket list, you might want to plan that trip now in case restrictions are indeed put in place in the near future.

Costa Concordia Fuel Removal

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:41:00 +0000

Video Links:
Click for a video explanation

Preparations Underway to Salvage Fuel from Costa Concordia

Upon becoming aware of the evacuation of Costa Concordia, SMIT approached the owners and underwriters of the Costa Concordia bidding for the salvage contract.

SMIT has an extensive track record relating to marine emergency response, refloating stranded vessels and wreck removals. In the days following the accident, a contract was awarded by the Owners to SMIT and local partners Tito Neri for the removal of the bunker oil and pollution control.

The estimated amount of bunkers in the vessel is 2200 MT of IFO (intermediate fuel oil), 185 MT of MGO (marine gas oil/diesel) and lubricants, distributed over 17 tanks. We have seen conflicting reports of the amount of fuel. The latest number we have seen involves 13 double-bottomed tanks and 10 single-bottom tanks.

In the days following the accident, a contract was awarded by the Owners to SMIT and local partners Tito Neri for the removal of the bunker oil and pollution control.

24 January - Preparation Begins

Following a press conference held by the authorities yesterday on the island of Giglio, which was also attended by representatives of Costa Cruises and SMIT Salvage, it was stated that SMIT Salvage would be allowed to commence with the preparations for the oil removal today. The work will be done in tandem with the search and rescue efforts.

The Process

SMIT Salvage placed its work/crane barge Meloria, pictured above, alongside the Costa Concordia.
Divers from SMIT Salvage will then inspect parts of the underwater ship and make the necessary preparations to remove the fuel from the ship.
Next stage will be the drilling of holes in the fuel tanks and the installation of valves by means of a hot tap.

While the fuel has been submerged, it has become solidified. A hot tap is used to heat the fuel back into a liquid state so that it can be extracted. This process will take several weeks with current estimates at 4 to 6 weeks.

Precautionary Measures

Double containment booms around the ship ( to concentrate oil in thicker surface layers so that skimmers, vacuums, or other collection methods can be used more effectively)
SMIT has mobilized an oil tanker with emergency response equipment including sweeping arms, booms and a skimmer. (to respond to any spill that might occur)

25 January - Preparation Continues

Divers from SMIT Salvage together with its partner Fratelli Neri have made significant progress:

Inspected forward section of the submerged underwater part of the ship
Marked the drilling locations of the heavy fuel oil tanks
Installed second inner protection barrier (oil booms)

Installation of hot tap valves on the outer hull of the vessel and drilling of holes through the hull into the oil tanks must be done before pumping of the oil can commence.

Ongoing Updates

Overall updates of the Costa Concordia search and rescue operations are being made on the following blog post: Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

This post will provide updates on the fuel salvage operations.

As soon as pumping commences, SMIT will provide details accompanied by an animation of the hot tap process which we will share with you here.

Dutch Teen Circles Globe Beats Previous Record

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:56:00 +0000

Laura Dekker Arrives in St. Martin Courtesy Sky News

Youngest Sailor Completes Solo Circumnavigation

of the World

What goals did you have for you teen years? Did you ever consider sailing around the world by yourself before turning 17?

Well, Laura Dekker, a young Dutch girl had that dream and Sunday she completed her goal, breaking the previous record by almost 8 months.

Laura Dekker - Sky News Galleries

Beats Previous World Record

Dutch born 16-year-old Laura Dekker sailed into the harbor of St Martin, completing a journey around the world which began last August from this Dutch and French island in the Caribbean. In order to beat the world record, she needed to complete the circumnavigation at least 3 days before her 17th birthday which is September 20, 2012. Previous record holder, Australian Jessica Watson, completed her trip in May 2010, three days before she turned 17.

The two journeys were slightly different with Laura sailing no more than three weeks at a time, stopping in various ports along the way while Jessica sailed non-stop around the world.

"I can't really take in what I've done," she told reporters once back on dry land.

"The sailing was always nice... I often saw dolphins. I enjoyed it a lot and I'm very happy."

Laura had a struggle to overcome before even setting sail. The Dutch courts had blocked plans for her to cast off two years ago, saying she was too young at 14. In July 2010, the Dutch child welfare authorities finally allowed her to depart on her journey. Her parents and a small group of well-wishers were on hand for her homecoming on Sunday. Congratulations for accomplishing such a task at such a young age.

For those of you that aren't quite as adventurous as Laura, you can leave the driving to someone else by joining as passengers on one of the cruise line's World Cruises.

Many any of the major cruise lines offer full world cruises from 65- to 144-enchanting days aboard some of the finest cruise ships in the world. Liner Voyages of 31 to 76 days and Segment Voyages of 12 to 25 days are also available on some cruise lines so you can experience the special ambiance of a world cruise by joining the ship when she visits your favorite part of the world! (Click image or here for upcoming cruises)

Gong Xi Fa Ca! 2012 - Year of the Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Images credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Gong Xi Fa Ca!

Happy New Year

2012 Year of the Dragon

At midnight on January 23, 2012, Chinese people around the world will welcome the new year, ushering in the Year of the Dragon. (Click for Images)

Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin.

The first day of the Chinese New Year – which begins at midnight on January 23, 2012 – is the most important of Chinese holidays, celebrated by billions in China, and by millions of ethnic Chinese around the world. It’s a celebration that lasts for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival.

Each year is associated with one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2012, it’s the Year of the Dragon.

Year of the Dragon

The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Therefore, those people born in Dragon years are to be honored and respected.

Years of the Dragon: 1904 * 1916 * 1928 * 1940 * 1952 * 1964 * 1976 * 1988 * 2000

The Chinese New Year does not fall on a specific date, so it is essential to check the calendar to find the exact date on which each Dragon Year actually begins.

Wishing all my Chinese readers a prosperous New Year

Remembering the Costa Concordia Victims

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:09:00 +0000

Filippo Monteforte / AFP - Getty Images

Life-vest, rope and helmets recovered from the Costa Concordia are seen
during a mass celebrated on Sunday in the Isola del Giglio's church.

Remembrance Mass San Lorenzo Church

Giglio, Italy

Perched atop a hill overlooking the waterfront, The Lorenzo e Mamiliano Church became a safe haven for passengers of Costa Concordia, that had been rescued from the sinking ship on 13 January 2012.

Father Lorenzo tended to their spiritual and technological needs that weekend as he offered prayers and the use of his computer, so that families could contact love ones to tell them they were safe.

The Madonna recovered from the chapel of the Costa Concordia

One week later, Father Lorenzo once again offered prayers, during Sunday mass, for the victims of this terrible tragedy providing reassurance and comfort to the families still awaiting word about their loved ones.

It is fitting that this church sits atop a hill overlooking the port where Costa Concordia sits perched precariously on the rocky shore. When people look up hoping for answers, they see this church, and can take comfort that God is still watching down on those that work tirelessly to find the remaining victims.

Many of the town's people of Giglio have opened their homes and hearts to the passengers and relatives who have unexpectedly converged on this tiny Italian village.

This Madonna statue, rescued from the Costa Concordia, is another symbol of hope amidst this tragedy. Mary's eyes seem to be looking into our very souls providing reassurance and comfort.

The sounds of the rescue continue to fill the air near the stricken ship while atop this hill, there can be a retreat from those sounds allowing for thoughts and prayers for the victims, families, friends, survivors, and anyone involved in this incident.

MAIN BLOG POST (Updated several times since the accident)

Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

Carnival Triumph Cruise Delayed Due to Fog

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Port of Galveston

Fogged In

Carnival Triumph

Departure Delayed

The port of Galveston is a great place to start your cruise vacation. The boardwalk has shops and restaurants for you to enjoy before departure.

Galveston Channel Closed

Due to dense fog (zero visibility) Galveston channel was closed today. Therefore, Carnival Triumph’s arrival today Saturday, January 21st was delayed until conditions improved sufficiently for the channel to reopen for marine traffic. Carnival Triumph remained at anchorage at the pilot station.

Passengers Updated by Cruise Director

It looks like the fog is starting to clear nearer to the terminal and the island. It’s still pretty thick where we are. In his last announcement, Captain Los said that we might be able to board the pilot by 11:15am. This would put us alongside at 12:45pm or 1:00pm. At this point, the phone lines have been opened and are complimentary so that guests can update/change travel arrangements. We’re going to start serving lunch in about an hour. Hopefully, the fog will clear soon.

Arriving Passengers: TEXT CCL1 to 36500 for text updates

UPDATE: Carnival Travel Advisories

The port of Galveston is now open. Check-in is scheduled from 3:00PM–6:30PM and Triumph will set sail around 7:30PM

No impact to the itinerary

###

It is out of respect for the passengers, family, and crew of those aboard Costa Concordia, that we have been restricting our posts to that accident and related safety information. We will continue our coverage of that tragedy, but will once again start to return to coverage of other topics of interest to our readers. We thank you for your understanding. Please continue to pray for all those impacted by this tragedy.

Carnival Corp Taking Steps to Address Safety Concerns

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:58:00 +0000

In the Wake of

Costa Concordia Disaster

Carnival Corporation & PLC is the parent company of Costa Cruises, and as you might imagine, has fallen under scrutiny of the entire world as this tragic accident continues to dominate the news.

Carnival is not burying its head in the sand and ignoring the situation, but besides assisting those directly impacted by the accident, they are taking an internal look at safety within their entire fleet which consists of 10 cruise lines.

Through their Facebook site, they are also answering safety concerns of their guests and providing updates on the Costa Concordia.

If I were CEO of the largest cruise line company, I might be thinking something along the following lines... Everyone would love to turn back the hands of time so that this tragic event could be prevented, but unfortunately that is not possible. We must learn from this, and take steps to make sure this doesn't occur again in the future. Carnival Corporation regards safety as number one priority and will review our safety training and procedures on each of our cruise lines taking any necessary corrective actions discovered during the review process.

That is not a direct quote by any means, but based on various comments on their Facebook page and in the media, it's not that far off from reality.

We too would like to do our part to reinforce safety procedures at sea and to try to answer concerns of our readers utilizing information from Carnival Corporation, CLIA, and other sources.

SAFETY VIDEO

If you are a past guest of Carnival Cruise Lines, you will recognize this video. For the benefit of those who haven’t seen it before, what follows is the safety video shown onboard all Carnival Cruise Lines ships. They use this to help inform guests of procedures to follow in an emergency situation.

It is much like videos you'll find on commercial airlines. Safety is everyone's responsibility - please pay attention to the video as well as familiarize yourself with emergency exits, signs, and other safety related information before you sail.

Carnival Q&A

Q. Many of you have asked about our ships navigation systems and if we have equipment to detect rocks and depth.

A. All of our ships are equipped with the most advanced navigation technology and our officers are expertly trained in its use. Our ships are equipped with two independent depth sensors that can detect variations in ocean floor depth. Further, we have several radars, GPS, electronic charts, gyros etc for safe navigation in all conditions. All bridge systems have a redundant back-up system in case of system malfunction. As part of our comprehensive bridge team management system, we always have multiple people on the bridge watch.

Q. Some of you are asking if it’s safe to go on a cruise.

A. The safety of Carnival Cruise Lines' passengers and crew is our number one priority and we have an excellent record of safe operation throughout our company’s history. Cruising continues to be one of the safest means of travel and marine accidents are an extremely rare occurrence. All of our ships meet or exceed international safety and training requirements, and are equipped with the most advanced navigation technology, which our officers are expertly trained to use.

Here’s a link to additional information on cruise ship safety on the website of Cruise Lines International Association: http://cruiseindustryfacts.com/safety-and-security/ship-safety/

Q. Many of you have asked about evacuation & emergency procedures and training on cruise ships.

A. All Carnival Cruise Lines vessels meet or exceed international safety and training requirements. All of our ships also conduct emergency response drills every 3 – 6 months with the U.S. Coast Guard.

All of our ships comply with international rules that require these drills to be done within 24 hours of departure and in almost all cases, Carnival Cruise Lines' ships do it prior to sailing.

Finally, all of our crew members undergo comprehensive safety training and we are constantly evaluating and updating their training to make sure they are prepared for any emergency.

Carnival Corporation continues to respond to questions from guests and we will share additional information as it becomes available. We too would be happy to respond to your concerns. See our Contact tab for ways to reach us.

All of us in the industry are deeply saddened by these events and pray for all those that lost their lives or were injured, for their families and friends, for the crew, for the rescue workers, for anyone in the Carnival "family" who have been touched directly by this event.

MAIN BLOG POST (Updated several times since the accident)

Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

CARNIVAL PRESS RELEASE - SAFETY REVIEW

MIAMI – January 19, 2012 – Following the tragic Costa Concordia accident, Carnival Corporation & plc, parent company of Costa Cruises and nine leading cruise lines around the world, today announced a comprehensive audit and review of all safety and emergency response procedures across all of the company’s cruise lines.

Carnival Corporation & plc and the cruise industry as a whole have maintained an excellent safety record over the years. “However, this tragedy has called into question our company’s safety and emergency response procedures and practices,” said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.

“While I have every confidence in the safety of our vessels and the professionalism of our crews, this review will evaluate all practices and procedures to make sure that this kind of accident doesn’t happen again.”

The review is being led by Captain James Hunn, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and currently the company’s senior vice president of Maritime Policy & Compliance. Following a 32-year career in the Navy, Hunn has held senior positions at Carnival Corporation & plc for nearly a decade, focusing on corporate-wide efforts to establish maritime policy standards, while overseeing the company’s health, environmental, safety, and security practices.

Hunn and senior health and safety executives from each of the lines will review all safety and emergency response policies and procedures, officer and crew training and evaluation, bridge management and company-wide response and support efforts. Hunn will report to the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee of the Board, and to Howard Frank, vice chairman and chief operations officer of Carnival Corporation & plc.

In addition, the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee is engaging outside industry-leading experts in the fields of emergency response organization, training and implementation to conduct an audit of all of the company’s emergency response and safety procedures and to conduct a thorough review of the Costa Concordia accident.

Frank said, “This company-wide initiative will identify lessons learned and best practices to further ensure the security and safety of all of our passengers and crew.”

Carnival Corporation & plc also supports the call for a comprehensive evaluation of safety regulations by the International Maritime Organization, which was requested earlier today by the Cruise Lines International

Compensation Guidelines Costa Concordia

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:34:00 +0000

For Latest Updates please see the following blog post:

Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

UPDATE: 27 Jan. 2012

In addition to the compensation for cancelling cruises, Costa Cruises has also now released details about Compensation for Survivors of Costa Concordia's Accident (Uninjured Passengers)

The Associated Press today is reporting that Costa Cruises is offering survivors of the Costa Concordia accident 11,000 Euro (about $14,500) per person as compensation for their lost baggage as well as the psychological trauma they suffered during the event. This amount is in addition to reimbursing passengers for the full amount they paid for the cruise, their travel expenses and any medical expenses sustained after the accident.

Costa made this announcement after negotiations between Costa representatives and Italian Consumer groups. It does not apply to passengers that were injured or killed, who presumably will be offered more.

Roberto Corbella, who represented Costa in the negotiations, told The Associated Press the deal offered Friday provides passengers with quick, "generous," and certain restitution.

"The big advantage that they have is an immediate response, no legal expenses, and they can put this whole thing behind them."

AP also reports that Codacons, one of Italy's best known consumer groups, has engaged two U.S. law firms to launch a class-action lawsuit against Costa and its parent company, Carnival Corporation & PLC, on behalf of passengers, claiming that it expects to get anywhere from $164,000 to $1.3 million per person, the Associated Press says.

FUTURE CRUISES CANCELLED

As recovery efforts are ongoing for Costa Concordia following the tragic accident Friday 13 January, future sailings on that vessel are cancelled for the near-term. It is unknown whether the ship will ever return to service. At present, the hope is that the fuel can be removed and prevent any environmental impact before bad weather approaches later this week.

Costa has released compensation guidelines for passengers scheduled to sail on Concordia this week through February 25th.

For passengers scheduled on the January 14 departure from Savona, Italy, Costa worked with guests and their airlines to return home. Airline changes will be paid by Costa. A full refund of the cruise amount plus a 30 percent future cruise credit on the amount paid will be provided.

If guests choose to rebook on available sailings in January through March on Luminosa, Mediterranea, Favolosa, Serena or Voyager, Costa will pay for their air fare if booked through Costa’s air/sea department. Rebookings must be made by January 18.

Guests who choose to cancel their cruise on departures from January 15 through January 20 will get a full refund of cruise fare plus a 30 percent future cruise credit on the amount paid. No compensation for air will be provided if they are cruise-only passengers. For passengers who choose to rebook in January, February or March according to availability on Luminosa, Mediterranea, Favolosa, Serena or Voyager, Costa will assist the guest and airline on change fees.

Guests who choose to cancel sailings departing from January 21 through February 25 will get a full refund plus a 30 percent future cruise credit on the amount paid. No compensation for air will be provided for cruise-only guests. Those who rebook can choose any seven-day cruise between now and June at the same price. Costa will assist the guest and work with the airline on change fees for their new cruise on Costa. For assistance or more information, call 800-462-6782.

Extraordinary Images and Efforts at Concordia Site

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Rescue Divers inside Costa Concordia Credit Sky News

Spill Guards in Place Giglio, Italy Credit Sky News

Haunting Images from Site of Costa Concordia Catastrophe

We continue our coverage of this extraordinary event by bringing you a selection of images that are equally extraordinary.

Click for DigitalGlobe Image from Space

Click for Sky News Gallery

USA TODAY Image Gallery

On Friday, 13 January 2012, over 4,000 passengers and crew set sail from Civitavechia, Italy, on a Mediterranean voyage which would take their ship past the small village of Giglio. The captain of their vessel decided to salute the town and some of its inhabitants, that had a tie to the cruise line, and sail close by to shore. There was a rocky coast line, but since they were marked on his charts, he felt that they could safely be avoided.

He wasn't the first captain to do a sail-by like this, but unfortunately, human error or perhaps equipment failure turned a seemingly innocent maneuver into a tragic event.

MAIN BLOG POST (Updated several times since the accident)

Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

Fighting Against Time and the Elements

Since late Friday night, a monumental rescue and recovery effort has been underway just offshore Giglio. Fortunately, the majority of the passengers and crew were safely evacuated, however as of this writing, 6 people have perished and 29 are unaccounted for.   As the hours progress, the chances of finding them alive diminishes.

For the first day or so, the weather cooperated with the rescue workers and they were able to work non-stop, even in darkness. Monday, that all changed as the seas picked up and a light drizzle fell. All work had to stop when the ship shifted slightly.   The rescue efforts have resumed again, but now there is another concern.   A liquid leaked from the ship causing alarm that this could also turn into an environmental disaster.   Barriers are in place to contain any spill that may occur.

There remains 500,000 gallons of fuel onboard the vessel in 17 tanks according to Costa Cruises. The mayor of Giglio and environmentalists anxiously await the removal of the fuel.   A salvage company has been employed by Costa Cruises to begin the fuel recovery once rescue efforts have been completed. If the fuel were to be removed during the rescue efforts, the ship could slip again, increasing the danger of the operation.

Many Unanswered Questions

Why was the ship so close to shore?   Was it human error or faulty maps or equipment?   Why was the evacuation delayed? Why did the captain leave the ship while evacuation was ongoing? Was the crew adequately trained? Were procedures ignored or do they need to be improved?

The "black boxes" have revealed some interesting facts already, making many wonder why the captain took various actions he did on that fateful night.   The investigation will provide answers. Undoubtedly those in the wrong will be held accountable. The industry will learn from these events and take corrective action, just as it did almost 100 years ago when the Titanic hit a very similarly shaped submerged object.

Please keep everyone impacted by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers. While the ship will ultimately be repaired, some lives will never be the same.   Our hope is that out of tragedy good will emerge.

World Maritime Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:53:00 +0000

The World Maritime Day theme for 2012 is “IMO: One hundred years after the Titanic”, which will focus on the Organization’s roots and safety of life at sea.

We had planned to write about this closer to the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, but with the activities of this weekend in Italy, thought that it would be a good time to share the progress that has been made by the International Maritime Community since that tragic day nearly100 years ago. This article will highlight changes that were implemented as a result of the Titanic sinking. Undoubtedly, there will be lessens learned from the Costa Concordia accident, and the next SOLAS Convention will perhaps recommend additional safety changes.

SOLAS Convention

One of the consequences of the sinking, in 1912, of the Titanic, in which more than 1,500 people lost their lives, was the adoption, two years later, of the first International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (the SOLAS Convention).

The 1914 version of the Convention was gradually superseded, respectively, by SOLAS 1929, SOLAS 1948, SOLAS 1960 (the first adopted under the auspices of IMO, then known as IMCO) and SOLAS 1974. SOLAS 1974 is still in force today, amended and updated many times.

Changes since Titanic Sinking

Ice patrol (Graphic - changes in safety since the Titanic)

In the first SOLAS 1914, after the Titanic disaster, ice patrols in the north Atlantic were set up and continue to be a SOLAS requirement.

Speed of navigation around ice

The Commission into the Titanic ruled the loss was due to collision with an iceberg brought about by
excessive speed at which she was being navigated. Under SOLAS, when ice is reported on or near his course the master of every ship at night is bound to proceed at a moderate speed or alter course.

Public address system

There was no public address system on the Titanic and news filtered to the passengers slowly, adding to the disorder and confusion. Under SOLAS, all passenger ships must be fitted with a public address system.

Training of crew in lifeboat drill

The crew of the Titanic lacked training in loading and lowering the lifeboats and few knew which boat they were assigned to. Lifeboats were not filled to capacity because senior officers did not know the boats had been tested and were strong enough. Under SOLAS, every crew member must participate in regular practice drills and have easy access to training manuals.

Lifeboat design

Some people died from hypothermia in the Titanic lifeboats because they were open and gave no protection against the cold. Under SOLAS, lifeboats must be fully or partially enclosed. On passenger ships, partially enclosed lifeboats can be used as they are easier to get into, but they must have a collapsible roof to fold across.

Number of lifeboats

The Titanic did not have enough lifeboats for all passengers. Under SOLAS, passenger ships must carry enough lifeboats (some of which can be substituted by life rafts for all passengers, plus life rafts for 25%.

Immersion suits

The sea temperature when the Titanic sank was below freezing point and many people died in the water from hypothermia. Under SOLAS, a specific number of immersion suits must be carried on both passenger and cargo ships, mainly for the crews of rescue boats.

Location

The land station at Cape Race, Newfoundland and ships other than the Carpathia and the Californian heard the Titanic distress call but the airwaves were crackling and the Titanic’s position was misinterpreted. With EPIRBs and global positioning systems, the position of a ship in distress can be automatically sent.

Distress watch

The Californian was less than 20 miles away but the radio officer had gone off duty when the distress messages were sent. Under SOLAS, every ship while at sea must maintain a continuous watch on the distress and safety frequencies.

Distress alert

The Titanic used radio which had a limited range of 200 nautical miles. Ships can now communicate globally via satellites.

Helicopters and rescue planes

Unavailable in 1912, helicopters and rescue planes are now used to locate, search for and rescue survivors.

Lifeboat drill

No lifeboat drill was held on the Titanic. Under SOLAS chapter III an ‘abandon ship’ and fire drill must take place weekly on all passenger ships. (This is usually held before sailing, but must be completed within 24 hours of embarkation).

Evacuation chutes

Passengers on the Titanic jumped from windows and doorways into the lifeboats as they were lowered, often injuring themselves or other passengers New emergency evacuation chutes are both safer and quicker.

IMPROVING SAFETY AT SEA

It has always been recognized that the best way of improving safety at sea is by developing international regulations that are followed by all shipping nations and from the mid-19th century onwards a number of such treaties were adopted. Several countries proposed that a permanent international body should be established to promote maritime safety more effectively, but it was not until the establishment of the United Nations itself that these hopes were realized. Read more about IMO's history.

Statement from CLIA on Costa Concordia

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:45:00 +0000

STATEMENT FROM CLIA

RE: COSTA CONCORDIA

Fort Lauderdale, FL — January 14, 2012 — The Cruise Lines International Association is closely monitoring the situation with the Costa Concordia. The immediate focus is on attending to the incident at hand, and ensuring the safety and accounting for passengers and crew to the fullest extent possible. On behalf of the Global Cruise Ship Industry, we would also like to pay tribute to all those who worked tirelessly to evacuate the ship to help minimize casualties. CLIA would also like to reassure other cruise ship passengers that all CLIA member lines are subject to the highest safety standards around the world and according to international maritime requirements.

About CLIA

The nonprofit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is North America's largest cruise industry organization. CLIA represents the interests of 26 member lines and participates in the regulatory and policy development process while supporting measures that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise vacations and counts as members 16,000 travel agencies. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org. CLIA can also be followed on the Cruise Lines International Association's Facebook and Twitter fan pages.

Where's My Ship Right Now

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:51:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered if there's a way to find out where a ship is located? There are many times when you might be curious about the location of a cruise ship or other vessel. The most practical situation that comes to mind is when hearing about inclement weather or some other natural disaster. Are there any ships in danger?

How vessel positions are recorded

The system is based on AIS (Automatic Identification System). Since December 2004, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires all vessels over 299GT to carry an AIS transponder on board, which transmits their position, speed and course, among some other static information, such as vessel’s name, dimensions and voyage details.

The chart above is a live interactive map generated by MarineTraffic.com, an academic, open, community-based project. It is dedicated to collecting and presenting data which are exploited in research areas such as simulation of vessel movements in order to contribute to the safety of navigation and to cope with critical incidents.

More about AIS

AIS is initially intended to help ships avoid collisions, as well as assisting port authorities to better control sea traffic. AIS transponders on board vessels include a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, which collects position and movement details. It includes also a VHF transmitter, which transmits periodically this information on two VHF channels (frequencies 161.975 MHz and 162.025 MHz – old VHF channels 87 & 88) and make this data available to the public domain. Other vessels or base stations are able to receive this information, process it using special software and display vessels locations on a chart plotter or on a computer.

Some Ship Tracking Resources

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

Cruise ships and ocean liners

FleetMon - the first public Ship Wiki, your tool for live ...

Shiptracking.eu - Real time ship traffic

Carnival Corporation Official Statement On Costa Concordia

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:40:00 +0000

This statement is from Carnival Corporation & plc in Miami, FL. Carnival Corporation & plc is the parent company of Costa Cruises.

On January 13, 2012, Costa Cruises’ vessel, the Costa Concordia, departed from Civitavecchia, Italy with approximately 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members on a seven-day voyage. At approximately 10:00pm CET, the vessel struck rock off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Italy and sustained significant damage causing the ship to list severely. The order was given to abandon ship and deploy the lifeboats.

Tragically, there are reports of some deaths and injuries. This is a terrible tragedy and we are deeply saddened. Carnival Corporation & plc offers our sympathies and heartfelt condolences to all of the Costa Concordia guests, crew members and their families. Carnival Corporation & plc and Costa Cruises are committing our full resources to provide assistance and ensure that all guests and crew are looked after.

We want to express our deep gratitude to the Italian Coast Guard and local authorities and community members who have gone to extraordinary lengths to assist in the evacuation of the ship and provide support for our guests and crew. We are working to fully understand the cause of what occurred. The safety of our guests and crew members remains the number one priority of Carnival Corporation & plc and all of our cruise lines. Costa Concordia was sailing on a Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) with scheduled calls at Savona, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Palma de Mallorca; Cagliari and Palermo, Italy.

Friends and family members may use the following country-specific contact numbers to reach Costa Cruises:

Click Image for Latest Updates

Italy 848505050
U.S. 800-462-6782
Austria 00438109006565
Germany +4940570121314
France +33155475554
Spain +34934875685
Portugal +34914185951
UK 08453510552

Carnival Corporation & plc is the parent company of ten cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and P&O Cruises (Australia).

Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Click to view more images. (AP/Gregorio Borgia)

Costa Concordia

Runs Aground

in Italian Waters

3 Deaths Reported

Several Missing

UPDATED: DEATH TOLL 16, at least 16 MISSING

In this AP Photo, The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia leans on the rocks after running aground the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, off the coast of Tuscany. The incident tore a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull, sending water through the opening, and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel early Saturday according to the Italian Coast Guard.

It appears that the ship struck a rocky sandbar in shallow waters near the port town of Porto Santo Stefano, which is where the majority of the passengers and crew were taken in the evacuation. According to passenger reports, they were at dinner when they heard a large noise and a blackout followed. Passengers were running through the ship screaming and going to their cabins to get life jackets. Despite crew attempts to keep things calm, it appears there was quite a lot of panic. Some passengers jumped off the ship, reminiscent of the Titanic disaster which occurred 100 years ago this year.

Related Posts:

Carnival Corporation Official Statement On Costa Concordia

Statement from CLIA on Costa Concordia

Extraordinary Images and Efforts at Concordia Site

Compensation Guidelines Costa Concordia (Updated 27 Jan)

Carnival Corp Taking Steps to Address Safety Concerns

Remembering the Costa Concordia Victims

Costa Concordia Fuel Removal (Ongoing updates)

Concordia Disaster Rekindles Venice Restrictions

ADDITIONAL LINKS in THIS BLOG

Costa Concordia Facts Cruise Industry Safety Record

Mandatory Safety Drills About Costa Cruises

UPDATE: 9 AM Eastern 27 Jan. 2012

Costa Cruises negotiated the compensation plan, for uninjured passengers, with Italian consumer groups, announcing a payment of 11,000 Euros (approx. $14,500 US). See updated article above for complete details.

The death toll remained at 16 since the rescue operations had been halted due to bad weather. Preparations for the fuel extraction continued. See related blog post for complete details.

UPDATE: 1 PM Eastern 25 Jan. 2012

Bad weather halted search operations on Wednesday.

UPDATE: 9:00 AM Eastern 24 Jan. 2012

Another body was found somewhere on deck three bringing the death toll to 16. Preparations are underway to begin pumping of the fuel from the 17 tanks onboard the ship. A barge with a huge crane and other equipment hitched to the Concordia as the first step in the removal process. The actual removal isn't expected to start until Saturday.

UPDATE: 9:00 PM Eastern 23 Jan. 2012

Two women were found near the internet cafe by divers today, bringing the death count to 15. Salvage operations are also about to start to remove the fuel in parallel to the continuing search & recovery activity. There is no immediate danger that the ship will slip, so officials have given the go-ahead to begin the fuel operation.

UPDATE: 9:00 AM Eastern 23 Jan. 2012

BREAKING NEWS ... Italian officials say that removal of fuel and the search for victims can be done in tandem. For days, fear had been growing that the stricken ship could sink to the depths of the sea and perhaps leak some, if not all, of the more than 2200 tons of heavy fuel into the pristine waters of Tuscany making this an even greater disaster. This is a very important change in policy, allowing for both operations to be done. The removal of the fuel is estimated to take up to two weeks.

UPDATE: 11 AM Eastern 22 Jan. 2012

Divers have recovered a female body in the aft of the ship, bringing the death count to 13. There is speculation that this latest victim is an unregistered Hungarian who phoned her family from the ship and hasn't been heard from since. That raises the possibility that the missing count may be inaccurate.

Fuel tanks containing more than 2200 tons of heavy fuel are holding while some light fuel from machinery has leaked into the sea. Salvage operations will not begin until the search is terminated. Searching of non-submerged parts of the ship continues as the seas were too rough for submerged sections to be safely explored.

Police divers have entered the captain's quarters retrieving his safe, suitcases, and documents. The investigation continues, with the captain saying that the cruise line was aware of sail by salutes and often did them for publicity. Costa Cruises' CEO contradicted that statement.

UPDATE: 5 PM Eastern 21 Jan. 2012

It is with sadness that we report the death toll has risen once again. Saturday, divers found a female passenger in the aft, near an assembly area of the submerged ship. Additional holes have been blown in the side of the ship to allow quicker access to the interior of the vessel. Eight days since the incident unfolded, rescue efforts continue, however hope of finding any more survivors has dwindled. Cabins are being searched using micro cameras which each cabin taking approximately 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, there was a hard drive salvaged which may contain video footage of the incident. Captain Francesco Schettino remains under house arrest near Naples, charged with manslaughter and abandoning ship before the evacuation was complete. He denies leaving the ship early, stating that he had fallen into a life boat during rescue efforts, however, he was reluctant to return to ship when the Coast Guard ordered him to do so.

UPDATE: 9 AM Eastern 20 Jan. 2012

Once again rescue operations were suspended as the ship slid. Salvage crews are trying to secure the Costa Concordia to rocks with heavy cables as the cruise ship slips into the sea at a rate of 1.5cm per hour. The stricken ship slid by around 5ft (1.5m) deeper into the sea on Wednesday.

The fear is that big waves forecast for the next 36 hours could push the ship off its perch, sending it to the bottom of the sea. Removal of the fuel has not started yet since the search effort is still ongoing.

UPDATE: 1 PM Eastern 19 Jan. 2012

Rescue and recovery operations have resumed after being suspended for most of the day Wednesday as a 1.5 foot slippage stopped the work. Officials are getting more anxious about the ship's precarious position on the rocks as more rough seas are forecast in the next few days. Costa Cruises has deployed barriers which are designed to contain any fuel leak as ordered by local officials.

Two French nationals and a Hungarian violinist are among the confirmed dead that were recently identified. There are still at least 21 people missing. While there is no deadline of completion of the search, the start of the salvage operations, to remove the fuel, is dependent on the rescue efforts terminating. It is estimated that the fuel removal could take at least two weeks.

UPDATE: 9 AM Eastern 18 Jan. 2012

Once again rescue operations were halted on Wednesday, as rough seas caused another slight shift of the ship.Work had continued in the upper sections of the vessel overnight, but the shifting prevented the searching of submerged areas of the vessel.

Workers are still rushing against time as storms are forecast to enter the area on Thursday. The fear is that there could be a fuel spill or the ship could sink to the bottom of the sea, if it were to be shifted from its present position upon the rocks. Since five days have now passed, hopes are very slim that anyone else could be alive in the wreckage.

UPDATE: 1 PM Eastern 17 Jan. 2012

Five additional bodies have been recovered from the scene of the Concordia accident now as efforts continue to account for all of the missing passengers and crew. A race against the clock continues to find all the missing and to prevent an environmental disaster as a "liquid" was seen leaking from the vessel. (see related links above for more about the recovery).

An audio taped conversation between the Captain and the Italian Coast Guard was released to the press, and played on national news yesterday, indicating that the Captain was conducting the rescue efforts from a life boat when the Coast Guard wanted him to be back on board and ordered him to do so. The Captain faces multiple charges related to the incident and is scheduled to appear in court today.

UPDATE: 9 AM Eastern 16 Jan. 2012

The death toll has risen to six, and rescue operations have been suspended as the calm weather changed to rough seas and light drizzle causing the ship to slip 9 cm (4 inches) vertically and 1.5 cm horizontally. The rescuers had been fearing that weather could impact operations. It isn't known when rescue efforts will be allowed to continued.

Meanwhile, Costa Cruises is admitting that human error, in the part of the Captain, played a significant role in this accident.   While they say they will provide him with assistance, it is clear that they are placing the blame solely on his shoulders. It would appear that the focus of the investigation will center around why the ship was so close to shore in the first place as well as what happened next.

UPDATE: 3 PM Eastern 15 Jan. 2012

A honeymoon couple and the chief purser, who had broken his leg, were rescued from the ship on Sunday but news of that was dampened when divers found the bodies of two elderly gentlemen. Rescue efforts continued as there were still 15 people unaccounted for. Meanwhile many have headed home, while preparations are being made to pump the more than 2300 tons of fuel from the vessel. That will have to wait until the rescue operations are completed so as not to cause the vessel to shift in the water.

The investigation is just beginning to determine why the ship was so close to shore and also what went wrong to cause the accident.   Devices similar to the "black boxes" on airplanes will be examined for evidence.

The death toll stands at 5 with at least 64 injured following the accident which occurred around 10 PM Friday night.   Despite being compared to the Titanic, the good news is that it was not as tragic, partially due to changes made to maritime safety procedures and requirements following that disaster.

UPDATE: 5 PM Eastern 14 Jan. 2012

The ship's commander, Francesco Schettino, an 11-year Costa veteran, and a fellow officer were detained for questioning and later arrested on charges of manslaughter, according to media reports. Investigators want to know why the ship never sent out a mayday, among other things. In addition, the ship was evidently sailing between the Tuscan coast and Giglio instead of in open seas, an anomaly.

Costa Cruise's website couldn't handle the traffic and also was out of service. Updates are being provided on their Facebook page:

Costa Cruises Statement Regarding Costa Concordia Jan. 14 - Update #2

STATEMENT 14 JAN – 5.10 am It is a tragedy that deeply affects our company. Our first thoughts go to the victims and we would like to express our condolences and our closeness to their families and friends. In this moment all our efforts are focused on the completion of the last emergency operations, besides providing assistance to the guests and the crew who were onboard in order to have them going back home as soon as possible. The emergency procedures started promptly to evacuate the ship. The slope, gradually taken over by the ship, made the evacuation extremely difficult. We would like to express our profound gratitude to the Coast Guard and all the forces co-ordinated by the Coast Guard, including the authorities and citizens of the island “Isola del Giglio”, who have been involved in the rescue and assistance to guests and crew members. The company will fully co-operate with the relevant Authorities in order to determine the causes of what happened.

We will continue to monitor this breaking news story and provide updates.

Rescue Efforts Continue

A nighttime operation involving helicopters, ships, and lifeboats evacuated passengers to schools, churches, and other public buildings in Porto Santo Stefano where a reception centre has been established to account for all the passengers and crew.

A team of 40 men and specialist divers are searching the scene and interior compartments of the cabins. There are at least 50 people unaccounted for, and efforts are ongoing to identify everyone. That task is very difficult with some passengers being picked up and housed in private homes and further complicated since passengers would not have had time to get their papers from cabins.

Costa Concordia Facts


Costa Concordia

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises
Ship Name: Costa Concordia
Ship Class/Group: Concordia Class
Year Built: 2006
Year Entered Fleet: 2006
Country of Registry: Italy
Tonnage (GRT): 114,500
Pax (basis 2): 3,000
Max Pax (w/Uppers): 3,780
Passenger Decks: 14
Number of Crew: 1,100
Officers' Nationality: Italian
Cruise/Hotel Staff Nationality: International

Cruise Industry Safety Record

It saddens us to be reporting this tragic accident, and our hearts and prayers go out to the passengers and families of those involved. When an accident of this scale occurs, it is front page news and rightfully so. We would be remiss, however, if we didn't also report the positive side of this incident and the overall safety record of the cruise industry. First let's take a look at the safety record:

The cruise industry maintains an excellent safety record. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, cruising today is one of the safest modes of transportation, and the industry is constantly striving to improve its safety procedures. Over the past two decades, an estimated 90 million passengers safely enjoyed a cruise vacation. In 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a comprehensive safety study that concluded the cruise industry is the safest form of commercial transportation and that international safety initiatives being undertaken should further improve its safety record. Read more about safety initiatives here.

Mandatory Safety Drills

Just like on an airplane, before the ship departs, a mandatory safety drill is held by the ship's captain and crew.   The purpose of the drill is to familiarize passengers with the safety procedures and location of the lifeboats and assembly stations.

The picture here is courtesy of a passenger onboard the Costa Concordia at the time of the evacuation. As you can see, passengers are wearing the life jackets, which are glowing in the dark.   Emergency lighting illuminates the assembly area, and crew members are providing instructions.   (Click the picture for complete image and credits).

This scene, despite being in the middle of a real emergency, shows the safety procedures in work.   One must only think back to 1912 when a similar incident, involving the infamous Titanic, didn't have sufficient lifeboats, life jackets, and the safety procedures and equipment which today's ships utilize. There will undoubtedly be more deaths and injuries resulting from today's tragedy, but by comparison, the story will have a much better outcome.

For those with upcoming cruises, it would not be unexpected for you to have concerns following an incident like this.   For any of our clients that have those concerns, we will be happy to discuss the situation with you. Keep in mind that safety is the number one concern of the entire industry.   We have written time and time again about cancellations and itinerary changes made in the abundance of caution.   The industry will learn from this unfortunate accident, and additional improvements will undoubtedly be implemented.

About Costa Cruises:

Considered to be Europe's #1 cruise line, Costa Cruises has been owned by Carnival Corporation since 1997. Its fleet spans the globe, offering cruises of seven nights and longer to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America and Transatlantic crossings. With its signature "Cruising Italian Style", Costa attracts cruisers from all parts of the globe, especially America, Canada, South America and Europe. Read More: Costa Cruises - Cruising Italian Style

Understanding Wave Season

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:02:00 +0000

Wave

When starting to write this article, we thought it would be fun to look up the definition of "wave" in one of the online dictionaries. It turns out that "wave" is one of the more interesting words in the English language with many different uses and definitions. Let's take a closer look at just a few of those uses and definitions.

As seen in this first picture, noun wave: "A ridge or swell moving through or along the surface of a large body of water. The Sea."

Limiting our definition scope to water for the moment, a wave can be natural (above) or man-made, as seen in this picture taken onboard Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas. One can surf the waves in the Flowrider (shown here in action on Allure of the Seas).

"Waves" were "A member of the women's reserve of the U.S. Navy, organized during World War II, but now no longer a separate branch." While you may have found them on a sea-worthy vessel, they certainly weren't on a cruise ship.

You may find people "waving" good-bye as your ship sails away from port or onboard the ship as you see someone that you just met on your cruise vacation across the deck from where you are standing.

Source: The Free Dictionary / Wave

There is however, an entirely different use of "wave", which you won't find in the online dictionary....

Wave Season

Here "wave" is used as an adjective to describe a particular time of year. The season runs from January to March each year. Putting two and two together, you might be thinking it is the season when waves are more prevalent. While that might be the case in some areas of the globe, that isn't what we are talking about at all.

Wave Season is the cruise industry's peak sales period of the year. Cruise lines typically offer their best deals during the first quarter as they seek to fill cabins and then raise pricing as the year progresses.

Wave Season 2012 is off to a good start and early indications are that consumer confidence is improved from last year this time. We are seeing an increased interest in Europe and Alaska as well as the ever popular Caribbean sailings. The value of a cruise vacation is what continues to drive customers to take to the waves.

The Wise Consumer

There is a local clothing store that advertises on television and has a saying that the 'best customer is an educated customer'. We agree with that.   There are so many product choices in the travel industry all vying for your vacation dollars.   With the introduction of new ships, itineraries, reclassification of cabins, upgraded amenities and services on existing ships, it is hard to navigate the waters alone to find the best value that fits your vacation interests and those of your traveling companions.

Now more than ever, the wise consumer may do some research on their own, but ultimately will turn to their travel professional for guidance and booking.   As specialists, we are here to help you plan that perfect dream vacation.   We aren't limited to cruise vacations if you don't want to take to the waves, but we continue to see cruise vacations as among the best values in the travel industry.   Also, we aren't limited to a particular cruise line, so we can honestly provide comparisons to help narrow your selection.

Timing is Everything - Plan Early

January to March is the time when there are the most consumers looking at cruise vacations.   You might have special needs / wants, such as a mid-ship location, larger cabins holding 3 or more passengers, a handicapped cabin, an itinerary on a particular small ship that has limited occupancy.   You probably aren't the only ones with similar requirements. To quote another popular saying, "the early bird gets the worm".

When looking at special needs such as triple or quad occupancy, handicapped cabins, mid-ship location, etc., there are a finite number of cabins that meet those classifications.   These are among the first cabins selected by early planners. If you wait until late in Wave Season, or worse, later in the year, you may not be able to find your choice, or at the very least, will pay a premium for that selection.

Key Observations for this Wave Season

Cruise fares will be the lowest of the year during Wave Season. The cruise lines have told us that as the year progresses, prices will rise.   There will always be the possibility of a last minute "deal" should the ship not be at capacity, but the likelihood that the available cabin will meet any other requirements you might have is minimized.

Airfare continues to be the largest component of a vacation. We've seen prices rise and capacity fall over the last couple of years.   We've mentioned that cruise lines increased capacity over the last few years, with this year being larger than last.   That helps keep the cruise price down, but the cruise lines have no control over airfare costs (since airlines offer limited bulk cabin allocations for example).

What's the best deal during Wave Season? There are so many offers during Wave Season, it's hard to determine what's the best deal to take advantage of.   We'd suggest you focus on offers that provide cabin upgrades, free or reduced airfare, and other amenities which typically aren't available year-round.   We have offers crossing our desk every day throughout Wave Season. We'll do our best to publicize them on our website, here in this blog, and limit a few to our Facebook Fans only.   So be sure to sign up for our eNewsletter, subscribe to this blog, and become a fan on our Facebook Page.   Call or email us with your bucket list and we can keep watch for you during the next couple of months.

In closing, take advantage of this special season - you deserve a vacation and you deserve to get the best value.

We offer our Best Price & Satisfaction Guarantee so plan with confidence and Take to the Waves this Wave Season.

Hope for Lonesome George

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:50:00 +0000

Could "Extinct" Race of Tortoise be Reborn?

Lonesome George is the last known individual of the Pinta Island Tortoise, one of eleven subspecies of Galapagos tortoise native to the Galapagos Islands. He has been labelled the rarest creature in the world, and is a potent symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos and internationally. It is thought that he was named after a character played by American actor George Gobel.

Scientific Discovery
Reported Today

For more than 150 years, the lost species of giant tortoise, called Chelonoidis elephantopus, was thought to have been extinct. Scientists have never given up their search for a mate for Lonesome George, but things had looked pretty grim until a recent discovery which was published today in the journal Current Biology.

The scientists analyzed the genome of a closely related species, Chelonoidis becki, which lives on Isabela Island, the largest of the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The island lies about 200 miles (322 kilometers) from Floreana Island, where C. elephantopus was last spotted before disappearing, likely due to hunting by whalers, some 150 years ago.

The two species of gigantic tortoise, both living in the Galápagos Islands (famously studied by Charles Darwin), have different shaped shells. The shells of C. elephantopus on Floreana Island were saddle-shaped while tortoises on other islands, including C. becki, had domed-shaped shells. These giant tortoises can weigh nearly 900 pounds (408 kilograms) and reach almost 6 feet(1.8 meters) in length.

Researchers have discovered tortoise that had shells shaped more like the saddle-shaped variety and after further research have identified that there is a hybrid race of offspring. They found that 84 of the tortoises had genetic indicators that one of their parents was a C. elephantopus, 30 of which were less than 15 years of age. Given the 100-year lifespan of the tortoises the researchers say there is a good chance that their C. elephantopus parent would still be alive.

If this hidden tortoise population can be located, scientists can establish a breeding program and regenerate the race. Perhaps Lonesome George won't be lonesome forever.

Cruising the Galapagos Islands is one of the most amazing cruises we've ever taken. We walked where Charles Darwin studied, saw unique species which can only be found on those islands, and saw Lonesome George and other Galapagos Tortoise of all ages.

Search for "Galapagos" to find more blog articles about our Galapagos Xpedition cruise.

Introducing Norwegian Breakaway

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:41:00 +0000

Norwegian Breakaway

to Sail from New York Year Round

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that Norwegian Breakaway will sail from her year-round homeport of New York City to the Bahamas & Florida and the Caribbean during her inaugural winter season.

Following a summer inaugural season sailing seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda, Norwegian Breakaway will embark on a series of 25 seven-day cruises to the Bahamas & Florida beginning on Sunday, October 13, 2013.

The ship will also sail two 12-day Southern Caribbean itineraries on January 5 and 19, 2014, along with two Weekend Escape cruises on January 17 and 31, 2014.

These cruises go on sale to Norwegian’s top travel partners and Latitudes Rewards members (past guests) today and to the general public on Friday, January 6.

Norwegian loves the Big Apple! Norwegian has had a long-standing commitment to New York and now is bringing their newest ship there year-round! In the summer of 2013, the ship will sail to beautiful pink sand beaches of Bermuda. They'll dock at King's Wharf for three days, giving you the freedom to explore the beaches, golf courses, restaurants, shops and history at your leisure, and you'll have three relaxing days at sea to enjoy all the incredible amenities of this world-class ship.

Click "like" if you are excited to sail to the Bahamas & Florida on Norwegian Breakaway!

View Norwegian Breakaway Itineraries (click here)

Happy New Year 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

10 ... 9... 8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

Happy New Year 2012!!

A warm greeting to all my faithful readers and to those of you joining for the first time. I wish you many happy, healthy and prosperous days in this brand new year. May the year be filled with many sunny days, warm ocean breezes, visits to cruise ports, and relaxing sea days aboard a cruise ship.

Introducing New Ships in 2012

Carnival Breeze - spring, 2012
Celebrity Reflection - fall, 2012
Disney Fantasy - April, 2012
MSC Fantastica - May, 2012

In the upcoming months, several cruise lines will be introducing new ships. Carnival Corporation is completing the 2 ship Carnival Magic class when Carnival Breeze sets sail in springtime. Celebrity Cruises completes the popular Solstice-Class with the introduction of Celebrity Reflection in the fall. Disney Dream gets a sister this year in April when Fantasy joins the fleet. MSC Cruises will introduce a new ‘Fantasia’ class cruise ship (technically called U32), and the 12th in the MSC Cruises fleet this year.

Selecting the Right Ship

These new ships add capacity to these cruise lines and give you additional options. Besides new ships, existing ships are getting face-lifts with new features being added, primarily based on passenger feedback and acceptance of the features on recent ship builds on the same or other cruise lines.

Just like picking a hotel room for a land-based trip, you can also apply your preferences to the cruise ship which will serve as your floating hotel. Some people prefer small ships while others only sail on the newest and largest vessels. With the increasing number of ship modifications and additions, we are confident that your want list can be satisfied. We can help you narrow the field to those ships that meet your needs.

Completing Your Bucket List

What is on your bucket list of destinations or cruise ships?

Is 2012 the year you plan to complete a trip from that list? Whether it's a far away exotic destination like Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific or something close-by like Bahamas and the Caribbean, you'll find a cruise ship sailing to your ports of call of choice.

Choose Your Destination

Land or Sea ...Choice is Yours

We still feel strongly that cruising is the best vacation value, but we realize there are times when you want more time in the destination or some other reason compels you to select land-based travel.

Resorts & Tours Overview

For those that aren't aware, we can assist you with all your travel needs, not just cruise vacations. We have partnered with some of the premier travel providers to offer Resort Deals in addition to independent travel.

One thing you should also know is that the cruise lines have heard you and are offering overnight and longer stays in several ports of call, so you don't necessarily need to chose land to be immersed in a destination. Azamara Club Cruises is one cruise line that can take you to lands that her big sister lines, can't and offer extended stays in the various ports of call.

New Year Resolutions

It's that time of year to make New Year resolutions. Some of you will decide to make changes in your lifestyle which will improve your health - such as healthy eating or exercising. For those that haven't been on a cruise before, that doesn't mean you have to forgo your trip. There are full-service spas and fitness centers on most cruise ships and healthy menu choices available throughout the day. Cruise lines will be happy to accommodate any special dietary requirements - just be sure to tell your cruise specialist at the time of booking so that notes can be put on your reservation.

We hope that you add a resolution to take some time for yourself to regenerate. Plan some vacation time on a cruise ship or at one of the many resort destinations. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of special offers in the upcoming months.

Happy New Year
The Sea is Calling ...

2011 In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:21:00 +0000

Recapping Some of the Major Stories of 2011

Notable Cruise Line Highlights

Three Queens Meet ... On a cold wintry day in January, 3 queens met in New York Harbor. Cunard Lines Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria  rendezvoused by the Statue of Liberty as crowds watched an amazing fireworks display. Read more ... Royal Rendezvous New York

Watching Live ... Kevin Sheehan, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, appeared on CBS televisions popular "Undercover Boss" where he learned first-hand what the crew faces to bring Freestyle Cruising to their guests. Read more ... NCL's Boss Goes Undercover

New Ships ... Several ships entered service this year including Disney Dream, which is the first of two new ships being added to that fleet.   Read more ... Welcome Home Disney Dream

Returning to Service ... One of the most notable cruise line events in 2010 was the fire aboard Carnival Splendor. The ship returned to service this year where it continues to be one of the few ships in the Mexican Riviera.   Read more ... Carnival Splendor Resumed Cruises

These are just a few of the top cruise line stories making the headlines of our blog posts this past year.

Political Unrest & Other Issues

Economics, Violence, Unrest ... Poor economic conditions prompted strikes and political unrest in several European & Middle Eastern countries this year impacting cruise line schedules. Since cruise lines take passenger and crew safety very highly, many itineraries were changed to avoid conflict areas. Here are some of the notable stories:

Bahrain Protests Spark Cruise Changes
Cruise Lines Pull Out of Mazatlan
Unrest in Tunisia Prompts Cruise Changes
More Changes for Mexican Ports of Call

Egypt Travel Alert Impacts Cruises
Protests in Egypt Prompt More Cancellations
Protests in Athens Greece

Weather & Natural Disasters

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Snow storms, Volcanic Eruptions ... There were several natural disasters and weather-related interruptions to travel, including cruises, this past year. The most devastating event had to be the earthquakes and resulting tsunami in Japan. The entire world watched as the country tried to avoid a nuclear disaster.

Historic Snowstorm Predicted
Severe Tsunami Impacting Japan & Hawaii
Strong Quakes Continue to Rattle Japan
Massive New Zealand Quake and Tsunami Alert
2011 Hurricane Season in Review

After the Tohoku Earthquake
Grímsvötn Volcano Causes Travel Woes
Iceland Volcanic Ash Grounds Flights
Puyehue Volcano Erupts in Southern Chile

As 2012 dawns, the cruise lines that are in the Mexican Riviera are still avoiding Mazatlan, some of the eliminated European and Middle Eastern ports of call have had some limited resumption of service, and weather will continue to impact schedules. We will continue to monitor changes in the industry and events that have an impact on cruise schedules in the upcoming months. Wave Season is about to start, so contact us with your bucket list so that we can watch for specials that might be of interest.

We wish you all a Healthy and Prosperous New Year. The Sea is Calling ...

Nautical Connection to Boxing Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:48:00 +0000

BOXING DAY

In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated December 26th, the day after Christmas. However, strictly speaking, Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas.

Behind the Tradition

December 26th was the day to share the Christmas Box with the poor. Traditionally wealthy people and homeowners in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Today Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday which is observed in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations.

To protect ships

During the Age of Exploration, when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land, A Christmas Box was used as a good luck device. It was a small container placed on each ship while it was still in port. It was put there by a priest, and those crewmen who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box. It was then sealed up and kept on board for the entire voyage.

If the ship came home safely, the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the voyage. The Priest would keep the box sealed until Christmas when he would open it to share the contents with the poor.

Merry Christmas 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:18:00 +0000

Merry Christmas

One of our favorite cruise ships is Celebrity Constellation. In preparing this column we searched the web for an image that had the grand staircase decorated for Christmas. Click on the image to go to the album on Flickr. Thanks to gailf548 for sharing these pictures of the holiday decorations.

Images like this usually stay with you for some time and when you close your eyes, you can sometimes see them again as if you were seeing them for the first time.

We've had the good fortune of being able to add other images to our memory banks this year. Our major cruise adventure this year was a 12-Night Mediterranean & Greek Isles Cruise. We've posted stories on our blog and pictures on our Facebook Fan Page. If you've not read our posts yet, see Diary of Cruise with Chris to Greek Isles
for links to individual blog posts and the various photo albums.

One of the many highlights of that cruise vacation was visiting The Vatican during our pre-cruise stay in Rome. Last night the Pope celebrated midnight mass inside St. Peter's Basilica. The mass was broadcast across the world to millions of viewers. The alter was setup in front of the entrance to St. Peter's tomb which can be seen in this image. This year's mass had a special meaning since we had actually been there just over six months ago. See more images in our album: St. Peter's Vatican.

For those that have never been to Rome, we highly recommend adding this to your bucket list of places to visit. We actually stayed in central Rome and explored the city by mainly walking from one attraction to another. Our hotel was near the Roma Termini Train Station, so we transferred to the ship by train. Rome is one of those destinations which you could spend days exploring and still not see it all. That shouldn't stop you from seeing the popular attractions during a pre-cruise stay. Make sure to throw a coin into Trevi Fountain, so that you'll return one day.

Holidays are a time for family and friends and a good time to share vacation photos and stories. My wish for you this Christmas Day is that you are sharing the day with those that you love and care about, and who have mutual feelings for you. For those that are away from home, such as cruise ship crew and those serving their countries in the armed services, may the peaceful images in your mind help you to be close to those you love, if only in your heart and mind.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives by sharing our adventures and cruise industry information. My blog and Facebook fan page are my gifts to you. I hope you enjoy them. Merry Christmas to all.

Happy Hanukkah 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:14:00 +0000

Happy Hanukkah ! The Holiday Season has arrived. The eight-day Festival of Lights begins tonight December 20th at Sundown and continues through December 28th. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled. More info....

We love cruising around the holiday time because the ships are decorated for the season. As you know the ship's crew is made up of many nationalities and faiths. So too are the passengers that board the vessel for each cruise. The cruise lines try to make the environment fitting for all regardless of their beliefs and also will accommodate special requests to help you celebrate.

Holiday time is a time for families. Regardless of the holiday that you celebrate, there is one common theme ... spending time together as a family to celebrate the holiday. As we walked along the decks of the ship and saw the decorations, we couldn't help but think about the ship's crew. For the most part, the crew will not be spending time with families this holiday season. They will be onboard providing service to passengers just like they do every day of the year.

This past week we saw troops leaving Iraq, some of which were heading home to families and friends in time for the holidays. Many of them have missed several holidays. Unfortunately, not all military will be home for the holidays, so once again let us keep the troops and their families in our thoughts, that they remain safe and can one year safely return in time for the holidays.

Whether you are together for the holidays or separated by many miles, may this be a season filled with joy and happiness. Thank you to those that serve, both on the ships and in the military - our thoughts are with you and your families during this time. Happy Holidays to All.

Chipwrecked on Carnival Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:24:00 +0000

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)

December 16 marks the release date of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED!, the third installment of the blockbuster movie franchise produced by Fox 2000 Pictures that was shot aboard the Carnival Dream.

Filming took place primarily on Carnival Dream’s open decks with scenes featuring actor Jason Lee (reprising his role as Dave Seville) and the antics of the three beloved chipmunks shot within the ship’s expansive outdoor recreation areas.

Tropical ports on the Carnival Dream’s western Caribbean itinerary, including Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya, also provided a stunning backdrop for many of the movie’s shipboard scenes.

The Chipmunks certainly picked a fabulous itinerary for their little adventure. This public pool right in the heart of Costa Maya's port shopping district is the perfect place to soak up some Caribbean sun, have your favorite beverage, or relax in one of the shady areas.

The Chipmunks and The Chipettes (three female counterparts to the Chipmunks) go on a cruise trip with the Chipmunks' owner/manager/father figure, Dave Seville. During the cruise, the 'Munks and 'Ettes turn the ship into their personal playground, causing trouble and running amuck as they will. Eventually, their chaotic behavior gets them ship wrecked on the Isles of Scilly, everyone getting lost in the process. As Dave sets out to look for the lost chipmunk trios, the six find a new castaway on the island who turns out to be more than a match for the trios.

Speaking of movies, you can watch movies, concerts, news, sporting events, and even watch others shake their "groove thing" on Carnival Dream's Carnival Seaside Theatre. It is a 12'x22' jumbo-sized LED screen with a crystal-clear picture and a 70,000-watt, easy-to-hear sound system. This is one of the innovations on the Dream which sails 7-day sailings, year-round, from beautiful Port Canaveral, FL to the exotic Eastern and Western Caribbean.

More Changes for Mexican Ports of Call

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Pappin) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:03:00 +0000

MS Oosterdam in Mexican Riviera

New Cancellations for

Mazatlan & Acapulco

Earlier this year we brought you articles about the violence in Mazatlan which prompted several cruise line changes in the Mexican Riviera region.

Holland America Line has just confirmed that the MS Oosterdam, which sails 7-day sailings to the Mexican Riviera from San Diego, will now feature two consecutive days in Puerto Vallarta instead of a visit to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.

Several cruise lines, including Holland America, made modifications to schedules earlier in the year following a wave of violence, which included a shooting of a passenger in the leg and another widely publicized shooting in a hotel parking lot. The changes were made in the abundance of caution despite Mexican authority promises of increased security. See our related blog posts: Carnival and NCL Skip Mazatlan Calls and Cruise Lines Pull Out of Mazatlan for more background.

Calls for all lines in Mazatlan have fallen from 200 in 2010 to 30 this year, with only about a third of 2011 calls in 2012. Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Star will return to the region in 2013 with, as of this writing, calls to the traditional ports of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta during the seven-day voyages from Los Angeles.

Cliff Divers in Acapulco

Acapulco Itinerary Changes

If you were planning on seeing the popular cliff divers in Acapulco on one of Holland America's Statendam's 14-night Panama Canal Explorer cruises sailing from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego or Rotterdam's 30-night Inca Empire South America voyage departing February 3, you will be disappointed. Both ships will spend additional time in Santa Cruz Huatulco instead of a call in Acapulco.

A crime wave began in August, with a reported 148 deaths, prompting the government to reinforce the local police force of 1500 with an additional 3000 troops from Army, Navy, and Federal Police. The death toll has fallen since that action, but HAL and luxury line Seabourn have still cut calls in Acapulco. Oceania, Regent Seven Seas and Silversea have left their handful of 2012 calls on the schedule at this time, but all lines will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments in the interest of safety if warranted. For the lines that have pulled out, they will work with local authorities to determine when and if it is safe to resume calling in the port.

See our International Travel tab her or on our Facebook Fan page for important information for anyone traveling abroad. You need to be aware of entry / exit requirements, health concerns and precautions, and any travel advisories for any port of call that you visit. There are general guidelines to make your vacation worry free to the extent that it can be. Being prepared and aware of your surroundings is the best advice we can give you when traveling, even at home.

Specifically,

For those traveling to Mexico, please consult the U.S. State Department's Travel Warnings at:

Mexico Country Specific Information