Model of Norovirus. Single strand positive sense virus. (photo: Emory.edu)

Recently there has been a couple of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships so we thought it would be good to pull an interview we did last year that tackles the subject.

Our medical correspondent Ed McDonough, PA, joins us to talk about all-things Norovirus and answers listener questions on the virus that can make, break, or delay a cruise vacation.

Here are some tips to maximize your chances of not getting the Norovirus bug while on your cruise, found on Chris Owen’s cruise blog:

• Wash your hands- like on land, our hands contact all sorts of things and people, many of which may have horrible sicko germs, waiting to attack us.  Do y0u know how to wash your hands?   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the people that police these things, have instructions on how to do it.
• Don’t count on the hand sanitizers- those hand sanitizer dispensers all over the ship are mostly for show in the grand scheme of things.  They help but there is no substitution for a good hand washing.
• Avoid touching things- Hand rails on stairs, elevator buttons, attractive small children, walls are all things that some sick person might have touched before you.
• Don’t pick your nose- I know, gross, but a really good way to get germs on your fingers into your body.
• Avoid closed spaces- Cruise ships themselves provide the closed environment that the Norovirus needs to multiply and thrive.  Elevators then, are almost like a closed environment within a closed environment and should be avoided. It won’t kill most people to take the stairs and get some extra exercise either.
• Narc on sickos- If you can’t sleep because strange sick-person sounds are coming from the cabin next to you, tell your cabin steward.  At the very least your steward may appreciate the heads up and take extra precautions when cleaning that cabin.
• Bomb your cabin- Upon entering your stateroom the very first time, drop your bags and blast the entire space with an air sanitizer like Ozium that has “active ingredients that actually cleanse the air” says the manufacturer.  Don’t talk about this “bombing” you have plans for when boarding the ship.  That sort of thing makes security people nervous.

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Listen below:

PLAY IN POP-UP WINDOW

Official opening of Green Thunder. (photo: Carnival Spirit Facebook)

Carnival Spirit is out of dry dock and back in service in San Diego, CA after receiving a brand new thrill slide, adults-only retreat Serenity, and flat screen TV’s in all 1,062 staterooms.

The main attraction called Green Thunder is a thrill slide located on deck 11 that drops you 100′ through a see-through slide at speeds of 20′ per second. Also new is a SplashZone complete with a 150-gallon PowerDrencher dump bucket and water play areas, complementing a corkscrew Twister water slide.

The refurbishment was in preparation for the Carnival Spirit’s upcoming deployment to Australia where the ship will operate eight- to 13-day Pacific Islands and New Zealand cruises beginning in October.  The ship will operate a schedule of Mexican Riviera, Alaska and Hawaii voyages from the U.S. before making the move “Down Under.”

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Examples of the complimentary shore excursions include:

• Glacier Bay National Park: American Cruise Lines brings passengers deep into the heart of this pristine environment on an exclusive tour for an experience unlike any other. Passengers will come face-to-face with impressive glaciers, view snow-capped mountains towering above, and see wildlife all around the ship. A National Park Service Ranger and a Native Cultural Interpreter will join passengers aboard to provide narration and unique insight throughout the exploration, as well as help identify the area’s abundant wildlife.
• Stikine River Jet Boat Tour (Petersburg): A jet boat tour on the fastest navigable, free-flowing river in North America takes passengers through this area’s extraordinary habitat where a variety of wildlife can be spotted, including moose, deer, bald eagles, and brown and black bears.
• Tribal Dance and Cultural Legends Excursion (Hoonah): Passengers will gather at the Heritage Center Native Theater for the Tribal Dance and Cultural Legends performance, showcasing the rich heritage of a people shaped by the wild lands and inland seas of southeast Alaska.
• Mendenhall Glacier and Juneau Tour (Juneau): A guided tour through historic downtown Juneau, plus a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center where passengers can discover the mystery behind the impressive half mile-wide glacier and view it from an unobstructed vantage point.

Seven-night roundtrip cruises from Juneau and 11-night one-way cruises between Juneau and Seattle are being offered aboard the 100-passenger American Spirit.

Photo credit: ACL 

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Costa Concordia earlier this year. (photo: Costa)

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2012) — Immediately following the Costa Concordia accident Costa Crociere started working to ensure the least possible environmental impact to the waters surrounding Isola del Giglio and to safeguard the island’s business activities and tourism. From the outset the measures drawn up by the company have been shared with and approved by the relevant Italian authorities in the spirit of full, transparent and total cooperation. 

Costa has engaged leading international salvage experts Smit Salvage BV to remove the fuel contained in Costa Concordia’s tanks, and has presented a plan to remove other materials and potential pollutants to begin as soon as weather conditions permit. Costa Cruises also is working with the utmost speed on a plan to remove the ship itself — a top priority to protect the environment of Giglio and the island’s tourism industry.

The company has formed a technical committee with representatives from Costa Cruises, Carnival Corporation & plc, Fincantieri shipyard, Italian registry RINA and sector experts, including academics, who will collaborate with the relevant authorities to create a plan. 

As articulated in a letter to Costa Concordia Emergency Commissioner Franco Gabrielli, Costa Cruises has invited 10 companies to present proposals for the removal of Costa Concordia’s hull.  

The invitation to bid was sent to the world’s leading salvage companies that are capable of performing the work in the shortest time, while ensuring maximum safety and minimum environmental impact. They include:

• Donjon Marine Inc.
• Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co. Ltd.
• Mammoet Salvage BV
• Nippon Salvage Co Ltd. 
• Resolve Marine Group Inc.
• Smit Salvage BV
• Svitzer Salvage BV
• T&T Marine Salvage Inc.
• Titan Salvage
• Tito Neri S.r.l.

Proposals must be presented to Costa Cruises by the beginning of March 2012. The plans will be assessed jointly with the Civil Protection Scientific Committee and a selection is expected to be made by the end of March. That timeline represents the best possible outcome, although given the complexity of the operation, there could be delays.

Source: Costa

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“We are thrilled to be partnering with Spirit Airlines to expand their portfolio of travel offerings to their customers,” said Jeff Tolkin, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of WTH.  “Cruising is one of the best values in travel and we look forward to working with Spirit to make this program a success!”

Source: WTH

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Princess' award-winning blog is now a book, available on Amazon.com.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 2, 2012) – The inspirational travel stories featured on Princess Cruises’ award-winning blog “50 Essential Experiences – The Travel Bucket List” have been gathered into a just-published collectors’ book. The beautifully-produced volume takes readers to some of the most fascinating places around the globe, following in the footsteps of some worldly travelers as they share their favorite travel memories and “must see” places.

The book recounts each of the Essential Experiences from one to 50, just as they were featured on the line’s year-long blog. The site, which became one of the most popular blogs in the cruise industry, attracted millions of views and thousands of comments. Each of the 50 featured stories focuses on a notable travel destination, and each is told by one of the line’s own destination experts – well-traveled employees from both the shipboard and shoreside teams.

“50 Essential Experiences – The Travel Bucket List” is a 328-page softcover coffee table book, filled with dramatic photographs of each destination. The book is available for $18.95 on Amazon.com and in shipboard boutiques throughout the Princess fleet.
“Few people have seen more of the world than our own destination experts,” noted Swartz. “In the more than four decades that we’ve been sailing the globe, many of our longest-serving shipboard and shoreside employees have logged thousands of sea and air miles visiting hundreds of countries, cities and sites. And now their experiences and recommendations will live on in this new book.”

Along with each author’s story, readers can learn more about each Destination Expert through the “Five Revealing Questions” in which they tell more about favorite souvenirs and most memorable travel meals.

Source: Princess Cruises

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(photo: NCL)

Guests sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, 2012, should remember to pack their jerseys and team paraphernalia because they are invited to join in on the excitement of the big game at the world’s largest Super Bowl party at sea.            

This Super Bowl Sunday, guests can transition from a relaxing day at the pool to a high energy celebration to watch the New England Patriots and New York Giants battle it out to determine which team will take home the coveted title of Super Bowl Champion. Parties will erupt in multiple venues on every ship in Norwegian’s fleet*. 

Guests can watch the game on the two-story big screens on Norwegian Pearl, Gem, Jewel and Epic while enjoying a signature cocktail. Guests will also enjoy snacking on game time favorites such as tortilla chips with cheese and salsa, popcorn, hot dogs and chicken wings in the line’s pubs, bars and lounges including O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill on Norwegian Epic; Longboard on Norwegian Sky, Red Lion on Norwegian Dawn , and Henry’s Pub on Norwegian Spirit.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement, guests also have an opportunity to win. With the purchase of a bucket of Miller Lite or Coors Light, guests receive a scratch off card with a chance to win a Miller/Coors t-shirt. With the purchase of any beer bucket, guests will have chance to win a dinner for two in Cagney’s, Norwegian’s signature steakhouse.             

For those looking to experience the action live on board, guests can win big on last minute cruise deals, based on stateroom availability.  Cheer for the Patriots or Giants while sailing to the Caribbean on Norwegian Epic, or Norwegian Pearl from Miami; Norwegian Spirit from New Orleans; and Norwegian Sun from Port Canaveral, along with Norwegian Sky to the Bahamas. 

*excluding Norwegian Jade in Europe

Source: NCL

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Author, journalist, and consumer advocate Chris Elliott joins us to talk about his new book  ”Scammed: ‘How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals.”  Chris will also tackle some questions about airline fee disclosures and cruise contacts.

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Downtown Ketchikan, Alaska. (photo: flickr/pinehurst19475)

The City of Ketchikan Ports and Harbors department began renovating Ketchikan’s oldest and most central cruise ship dock in 2011. The first phase (estimated to take around three years) will replace half of the wooden dock and pilings with more durable materials and additional phases will complete upgrades to the dock, including renovation of the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau facility, and improve vehicle and pedestrian flow on the busy port.

InnerSea Discoveries recently acquired the 76-guest Wilderness Explorer, formerly the Spirit of Discovery. After significant renovations, the ship will sail active, adventure expeditions between Juneau and Sitka beginning summer 2012. The 86-guest Safari Endeavour, formerly the Spirit of Endeavour will join sister company American Safari Cruises’ fleet of three yachts offering inclusive adventure cruises. The Safari Endeavour will undergo major renovation to transform it into an upscale vessel ready to sail in Southeast Alaska in summer 2012.

Source: Alaska Travel News

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Views of Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, La Perla and San Cristobal. (photo: Flikr)

With more than 1.2 million passengers on 493 cruise ships scheduled for 2012, San Juan, Puerto Rico has become a popular port of call. Since San Juan is only a day stop for cruises, passengers need to know how to make the most of their time. With the exception of some resorts, all the beaches in San Juan are open to the public so it isn’t hard to find your spot in the sand.

Destinations worth considering during your stop: