Carnival Valor will replace the 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory, which will reposition from San Juan to Miami to assume the Carnival Destiny’s four- and five-day cruises beginning Feb. 4, 2013.  Carnival Victory will be the newest and largest ship to operate year-round four- and five-day voyages from South Florida.

Additionally, Carnival Destiny will offer a 16-day transatlantic crossing departing Miami Feb. 4 and arriving Civitavecchia (Rome) on Feb. 20, 2013. Featured ports on the crossing include Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal; Malaga, Spain; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Genoa and Livorno, Italy.

Beginning Feb. 10, 2013, Carnival Valor will launch seven-day Southern Caribbean sailings from San Juan becoming the port’s newest and largest year-round ship.  The itinerary features extended calls at five tropical islands  – St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.; Bridgetown, Barbados; St. Lucia, West Indies; St. Kitts, West Indies; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.   In addition to featuring some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, these seaside destinations are known for their world-class snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as water sports opportunities.

Carnival Victory will become the newest and largest ship to offer year-round four- and five-day cruises from Miami when it launches service on Feb. 4, 2013.  Carnival Victory’s Miami-based schedule features three distinctly different itineraries, providing consumers with a variety of convenient and affordable cruise options departing from one of America’s top tourist destinations.

Four-day “long weekend” cruises departing Thursdays call at Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico; five-day cruises departing Mondays include stops at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands; the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay; and Nassau, The Bahamas.   Five-day voyages departing Saturdays feature George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  Each of these destinations offers a truly unique vacation experience, with miles of gorgeous white-sand beaches and an interesting array of shore excursion choices such as zip-lining, horseback riding, kayaking, and more.

For additional information visit www.carnival.com or contact any travel agent.

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Up to 30 Europe cruise itineraries are included in the sale, including cruises to the romantic cities and islands of the Mediterranean and Greek Isles, as well as “bucket list” destinations such as the Holy Land or British Isles.

In addition to the sale fares, passengers booking interior or oceanview staterooms can receive an onboard credit of $25 (cruises up to 9 days) to $50 (cruises 10 days or longer), and in balcony staterooms or above can get credits of $50 (cruises up to 9 days) or $100 (for sailings 10 days or longer). All onboard credits are offered per stateroom.

Examples of sale fares include:

• 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises from $1,145
• 12-day Greek Isles cruises from $1,145
• 12-day Holy Land cruises from $1,595
• 12-day British Isles cruises from $1,790

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com.

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Costa Concordia had left Civitavecchia, Italy when the ship ran aground before the ship’s drill was scheduled, although only 600 of the 4200 people onboard had embarked in that port.  Due to the fact the ship listed and ended up on its side a lifeboat drill for all passengers wouldn’t have made any difference.  At least seven bodies were found at designated muster station in their life jackets.

In other news about the crash Reuters reports the ship’s Captain, Francesco Schettino, has admitted he knew as soon as his ship struck a rock off the island of Giglio on January 13 that he had made a catastrophic error and his 30-year career at sea was over.

Reuters says “as he came to within a quarter of a nautical mile of the coast, in water he believed to be deep enough to be safe, he saw foam breaking on what appeared to be a submerged outcrop and turned sharply, exposing the side of the hull to the sharp rock.”

The Captain told magistrates investigating the accident “I may have done something rash, I did do something rash, but God would have made it alright for me if I hadn’t set the rudder to starboard.

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The 3,006-passenger ship will sail on eight-day Caribbean cruises with three uniquely different itineraries that showcase the brilliant diversity of destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida. The eight-day itineraries include Bahamas/Florida cruises with port calls to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Fla., Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas; Eastern Caribbean departures with visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. and Grand Turk; and Exotic Eastern Caribbean cruises to the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Nassau.  There will also be a special seven-day Bermuda cruise departing April 16, 2013.

An 18-day “Brazilian & Caribbean Splendor” voyage sailing from Buenos Aires to New York March 5-23, 2013, visits Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, and Fortaleza, Brazil; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands.

For additional information visit Carnival’s website.

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New Alaska reservations made through February 19, 2012, will receive a mini-suite for the price of a balcony; balcony staterooms for the price of an oceanview, and oceanview staterooms for the price of inside staterooms. Cruise deposits during this time for Alaska sailings are reduced by 50 percent. In addition, the line is offering same category upgrades and e-coupons worth up to $400 in on-board savings (for sailings taking place before December 31, 2012).

Norwegian Jewel’s weekly Sawyer Glacier cruises will depart on Saturdays from May 26, 2012 to September 8, 2012 with ports of call including: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Jewel will also sail a seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 19, 2012 and a seven-day Sawyer Glacier from Seattle to Vancouver on September 15, 2012.

Aboard Norwegian Jewel, one of the most popular family activities is Nickelodeon programming. Activities include breakfast with the characters, where kids – and adults – can eat, sing and play with SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Patrick, Diego and more; Dora’s Dance Party, where kids can join Dora and the Nickelodeon cast to dance and sing along; meet and greets with popular Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and many more. There are also other family activities offered, including Nick Jr. story time, family trivia and special arts and crafts sessions.

Also offered in Alaska in 2012 is a new youth program that includes enhanced curriculum and creative themes, such as circus day, theater/technology/sports and port of call day. The new youth program will be offered on Norwegian Jewel for the Alaska season and on Norwegian Pearl beginning June 18, 2012.

The 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl will return to Seattle sailing weekly seven-day Glacier Bay cruises departing on Sundays from May 13, 2012 to September 9, 2012 with ports of call including: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Pearl will also sail a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 6, 2012 and a Seattle to Vancouver cruise on September 16, 2012.

To take advantage of “Norwegian’s Take it to the Next Level” upgrade promotion in Alaska now through February 19, 2012, contact a travel professional. Additional information may be found at NCL’s website.

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*********

I can’t imagine how awful it is to get violently sick on my vacation and wondered why cruise ships seem to be associated with Norovirus most often, at least in the media.

So I asked Brian Rosenthal, MD, MPH (Master of Public Health), who teaches at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York.  He’s also an avid cruiser who has sailed the world aboard all types of cruise ships.

As a public health physician who has sailed aboard dozens of cruise ship,  Dr. Rosenthal’s advice is timely.

AC:  Who is responsible when passengers get sick aboard ship?

DR: There are times when an infectious agent has been isolated on a ship and the cruise line is responsible.  An example is Legionnaires Disease, which is rare.

And, there is always the potential for bacterial food contamination such as e-coli but due to the CDC’s stringent inspections, it hasn’t been reported in many years.  Cruise Lines have become very vigilant about waterborne and shipborne diseases so the reported incidences is rare.   People used to get sick on ships all the time but we just didn’t know what the organisms were.  Now that we know, the media has a heyday with it.

But in the instance of Norovirus, passengers bear the brunt of passing the disease along.

AC: Why Do Outbreaks of Norovirus Happen Aboard Ship So Often?

DR. I don’t think this is a new illness but that we’re hearing about it more often.  I’m sure the outbreaks aboard ship aren’t any higher than they are on land.   There just hasn’t been much coverage of the disease on land.

The thing about ships is that because you’re in a confined space the rate of exposure is statistically greater.  Contrast Disney World.  People aren’t staying in the same hotels or eating in the same restaurants as they are aboard a cruise ship.

AC:  How Can We Avoid Getting a shipborne illness?

DR: There are certain universal precautions that are even more important when you’re aboard a ship.  As important as washing your hands, you have to learn to KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH. This is a normal human condition.  If you sit at a restaurant and watch people eat for five minutes you’ll see what I mean.  Most viruses are not spread by hand to hand contact alone.  They are spread by hand  to hand to mouth (or eyes or nose).  If you had it just on your hands, you wouldn’t get sick.

Shaking hands with the Captain or anyone else won’t get you sick assuming you have no cuts on your hands.  Of course one must be careful about where one puts one’s hands.   If you’re able-bodied, don’t use the banisters or railings if you don’t need to.   This is true in any public space, not just ships …. Train stations, malls. 

If you have children it’s an entirely different matter.  All kids put their hands in their mouth — that’s what children do.  And when they play in groups beit a nursely school or a ship, it’s problemmatic.  If your child does become sick, take a lot of precautions that he or she is the only patient in the family.

And, it is as important that you wash BEFORE you eat as it is after you go to the bathroom which is why the hand sanitizers in food lines are a great idea.

AC: Does the Fear of a Shipborne Illness stop you from Cruising?

DR: Absolutely not!  Everytime out go outside your home is a rish.  You must weigh this against the benefits of having a wonderful time and sharing experiences with family and friends.

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Earlier this week industry giant Carnival Corporation (which owns Costa Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Cunard Line, Ibero Cruises and P&O Cruises) reported a falloff in cruise bookings in both the U.S. and Europe.  Yesterday Royal Caribbean (parent company of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises) also says bookings have fallen to the “low to mid-teen percentages” as compared with a year ago.

Royal Caribbean Chairman/CEO said, “Overall, booking volumes from North America have fallen by low to mid-teen percentages versus same time last year for the last few weeks. In Europe, where media coverage has been more extensive, the decline has been higher, though results vary significantly by country. In aggregate, the company’s other markets, including Asia/Pacific and Latin America, are down slightly.”

Forbes Magazine says that Carnival Corp. CEO Micky Arison’s personal fortune has fallen by a half billion dollars after a year of  political and economic problems capped off by the Costa catastrophe.  According to Forbes, Arison owns roughly 29% of the shipping conglomerate, which includes 101 cruise ships.

While Concordia is the main contributor to the slowed bookings there are other contributing factors:  cruise lines and travel agents ceased advertising during “Wave Season” (when roughly 30% of all cruise reservations are made) and warm winter temperatures in the United States result in fewer people dashing off to warm weather vacations.

Another incident shows that the Costa Concordia accident has a major effect on the cruise industry.   According to USA Today’s Cruise Log, “Seattle-based cruise line Holland America kicked a passenger off a ship this week for “non-compliance” during a mandatory muster drill — an unusual incident that suggests a renewed focus on safety in the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster.  The unnamed passenger was put off the line’s Westerdam on Sunday in Ft. Lauderdale (for non-compliance) just before the ship set sail for the Caribbean.”

Typically the cruise industry lures passengers by offering steep discounts and some of these have been rolled out.   And since the cruise industry weathered 9/11, a disastrous economy, political upheaval in Egypt and the middle East, sky-high airfares, Norwalk virus and inaccurate reports of missing passengers I’ll place my money on Arison getting his half billion back. The Love Boats and Fun Ships will continue to chart an international course.

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The sale includes a variety of cruises to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia & Russia and Northern Europe, plus Princess’ Alaska itineraries. Also included are the cruise line’s Europe and Alaska cruisetours, with savings on these land and sea cruise vacations that travel to the heart of the Alaska wilderness to see the majesty of Denali or that take in some of Europe’s most spectacular inland destinations, including classic Italy, ancient Petra or the Swiss Alps.

Examples of sale fares include:

• 12-day Mediterranean/Greek Isles cruises from $1,690
• 11-day Scandinavia and Russia cruises from $1,740
• 7-day Northern Europe cruises from $999
• 7-day Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers from $799
• 10-day Denali Explorer cruisetours from $1,273

All cruise prices are per person. The Sizzlin’ Summer Sale runs through February 28, 2012, and is available to residents of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Additional sale information and pricing is available at princess.com/summersale.page.

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*  The death toll is 17 people and another 15 are still missing.  Heavy seas hamper divers from locating bodies and salvage teams from siphoning oil to prevent a major environmental disaster.

*  Uninjured passengers who were aboard the ship the evening it capsized have been offered settlements of $14,400 as class action suits form on both sides of the Atlantic.  According to Bloomberg, it will take up to ten months for cleanup.

* Carnival Corporation (parent company of Costa Cruises, Princess, Holland America, Cunard, Seabourn, Cunard Line, P&O cruises and Aida cruises) said the accident has negatively impacted cruise sales.”  After the incident,” says Carnival “we significantly reduced our marketing activities. Excluding Costa, our fleetwide booking volumes, subsequent to the incident through January 25, 2012, declined in the mid-teens compared to the prior year, after bottoming out on January 16, 2012.

“Costa’s booking activity is difficult to interpret because of the significant re-booking activity stemming from the loss of the ship’s use and related re-deployments, however we believe it to be down significantly. Despite these recent trends, we believe the incident will not have a significant long-term impact on our business.”

Carnival says that “as a result of Costa Concordia’s incident, we anticipate other financial impacts to our business, including lower net revenue yields, that are not possible to reasonably determine at this time.”

Regarding the cost of the accident, Carnival said:  “We self-insure for loss of use of the ship, which we expect to impact the 2012 full year net income by approximately $85 million to $95 million. Furthermore, we anticipate approximately $30 million to $40 million of other incident related costs.”

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