Due to recent increased pirate activity in areas of Kenya and Tanzania, cruise ships have had to change their itineraries in order to ensure the safety of their passengers. According to an article on cruisecritic.com, "passengers have been asked to keep cabin curtains drawn and refrain from using the promenade decks from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 a.m." Telegraph.co.uk reports that P & O cruise ships are still passing through the Gulf of Aden, but stated that the captains have instituted safety measures on board.
During the week of April 9th, Regent Seven Seas Cruises had to amend the itinerary of its world cruise aboard the Seven Seas Voyager to avoid a region with increased pirate activity. According to the article, a letter was sent out to all of the passengers on this ship that included the phrase "as the safety and security of our guests is our number one priority, we will be amending our itinerary to avoid an area of recently increased pirate activity." As per our discussion on crisis management in my night class this past Tuesday evening, this cruise line did an excellent job handling this crisis. They notified their passengers immediately, and made sure that they knew that the safety of all of the guests on board is the number one priority. Well done, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, well done.
While it's not unusual for cruise ships to make itinerary changes to avoid areas with pirate activity, most cruise lines seem to make those decisions in advance, rather than during the actual voyage. To read the full story, click here: http://bit.ly/aqXci2
This article really jumped out at me because I never realized that pirate activity was still an issue today. Sure we've all seen the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but who knew that pirate activity actually still occurred today, and that it's a problem that some cruisers have to face? Have any of you had any run-ins with pirates on your cruises? Do you know of any interesting stories that deal with pirates and cruise ships? Let me know!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Accomodation Station
Although I know we won't be spending much of our time at all on this cruise in our room, except when we're sleeping, I figured I should do some research and see what the rooms on The Majesty of the Seas are like regardless. I wanted to know what they look like, as well as what they come equipped with, so here's what I found...
According to rcreservations.com, "the staterooms onboard Majesty of the Seas exude cleanliness, comfort and relaxation." Whether you choose an interior room, an oceanview room, or a suite with a private balcony, you're in good hands with Royal Caribbean. Each room comes equipped with a flat-screen television, a telephone, a private bath, a shower, a vanity, and even a hair-dryer. It's nice to know that all of the rooms on The Majesty of the Seas come equipped with these features. In addition to my research on rcreservations.com, I also read several different reviews from guests who have stayed in Majesty of the Seas staterooms before and all of their comments seemed very positive, which I was also glad to hear.
To the left, you will find a photo of one of the rooms on The Majesty of the Seas. I also found a video on YouTube showcasing the interior of a stateroom posted by someone who took a three-night, four-day cruise to the Bahamas on The Majesty of the Seas (which is exactly what we're doing). To view that video visit http://youtube.com/watch?v=_ToWvezve8o
According to rcreservations.com, "the staterooms onboard Majesty of the Seas exude cleanliness, comfort and relaxation." Whether you choose an interior room, an oceanview room, or a suite with a private balcony, you're in good hands with Royal Caribbean. Each room comes equipped with a flat-screen television, a telephone, a private bath, a shower, a vanity, and even a hair-dryer. It's nice to know that all of the rooms on The Majesty of the Seas come equipped with these features. In addition to my research on rcreservations.com, I also read several different reviews from guests who have stayed in Majesty of the Seas staterooms before and all of their comments seemed very positive, which I was also glad to hear.
To the left, you will find a photo of one of the rooms on The Majesty of the Seas. I also found a video on YouTube showcasing the interior of a stateroom posted by someone who took a three-night, four-day cruise to the Bahamas on The Majesty of the Seas (which is exactly what we're doing). To view that video visit http://youtube.com/watch?v=_ToWvezve8o
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Transportation Station
After discussion tonight in night class about AirTran Airways, formerly ValuJet (the airline of the infamous plane crash that took place in the Florida Everglades), I figured I should investigate Delta Airlines, the airline that Bryndi and I will be flying with for our cruise, to learn more about the company and to see what others who have flown with Delta before have to say.
After "Google-ing" reviews of Delta Airlines, I found one on eopinions.com that I would like to share with all of you. This particular reviewer provides a nice overview of all aspects of his experience with Delta, and gives a lot a great details about everything from the level of professionalism of the staff to the cleanliness of the plane and the speed at which luggage was returned to the passengers. He gave Delta five stars out of six, and said that his flight was an overall very positive experience. I was glad to hear this, and relieved to know that it's a safe, reliable, and comfortable airline to travel with. The reviewer mentioned having a connecting flight in Atlanta, Georgia, which is the exact same location as our connecting flight, and he said that this process was very smooth and efficient, which I was also glad to hear. He mentioned that the staff wasn't overly friendly, but that he admired their professionalism. He also said that Delta did an outstanding job at getting all of their passengers their luggage immediately after they got off the plane, which I agree is a definite plus. Feel free to check out the full review at http://www.bit.ly/b0EA10
According to Delta's website, http://www.delta.com, there's a $23.00 fee for each checked bag on a Delta flight when traveling within the contintental United States. I was wondering whether or not there would be a fee for checked bags on Delta flights. I've heard a lot of airlines have been charging for checked bags recently, since fuel costs have gone up, so I figured that might be the case for our flights. Bryndi and I flew to Disney World three summers ago with AirTran Airways and there was no fee for checked bags--my how times have changed!
Do any of you know of any airlines who aren't charging fees for checked bags these days? We didn't really have a choice, as Delta was the airline that was provided for us with our cruise package, and I'm not complaining at all since we're getting our flights for free along with the cruise itself, but I was just wondering if any of you know of any airlines that still aren't charging for checked bags? Also, what airlines have you had the most positive travel experiences with? Let me know!
After "Google-ing" reviews of Delta Airlines, I found one on eopinions.com that I would like to share with all of you. This particular reviewer provides a nice overview of all aspects of his experience with Delta, and gives a lot a great details about everything from the level of professionalism of the staff to the cleanliness of the plane and the speed at which luggage was returned to the passengers. He gave Delta five stars out of six, and said that his flight was an overall very positive experience. I was glad to hear this, and relieved to know that it's a safe, reliable, and comfortable airline to travel with. The reviewer mentioned having a connecting flight in Atlanta, Georgia, which is the exact same location as our connecting flight, and he said that this process was very smooth and efficient, which I was also glad to hear. He mentioned that the staff wasn't overly friendly, but that he admired their professionalism. He also said that Delta did an outstanding job at getting all of their passengers their luggage immediately after they got off the plane, which I agree is a definite plus. Feel free to check out the full review at http://www.bit.ly/b0EA10
According to Delta's website, http://www.delta.com, there's a $23.00 fee for each checked bag on a Delta flight when traveling within the contintental United States. I was wondering whether or not there would be a fee for checked bags on Delta flights. I've heard a lot of airlines have been charging for checked bags recently, since fuel costs have gone up, so I figured that might be the case for our flights. Bryndi and I flew to Disney World three summers ago with AirTran Airways and there was no fee for checked bags--my how times have changed!
Do any of you know of any airlines who aren't charging fees for checked bags these days? We didn't really have a choice, as Delta was the airline that was provided for us with our cruise package, and I'm not complaining at all since we're getting our flights for free along with the cruise itself, but I was just wondering if any of you know of any airlines that still aren't charging for checked bags? Also, what airlines have you had the most positive travel experiences with? Let me know!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Royal Caribbean Increases Presence in Tampa
According to cruiseindustrynews.com, Royal Caribbean International has recently announced plans to upgrade its presence in Tampa, Florida with the launching of one of their newest ships, The Jewel of the Seas.
The Tampa Port Authority reports that this enhancement by Royal Caribbean will take place in November of 2011, through the use of The Jewel of the Seas which holds 2,5000 passengers and an additional 850 crew members. This 90,000 ton, 962 ft. long ship offers passengers an array of dining, entertainment, and recreational options, and will be replacing the ship The Radiance of the Seas, which is scheduled for 44 more sailings from Tampa during the 2010-2011 season before being retired.
"We've experienced a very welcomed growth trend in Tampa as a cruise port in recent years, and Royal Caribbean's decision to again enhance activity at the Port of Tampa is testimony to the strength of the Tampa cruise market," said Richard Wainio, Tampa's port director and CEO.
Passengers on The Jewel of the Seas will enjoy many different cruise options including two, five-night and a four-night voyage to the Western Caribbean from Tampa.
I found this article particularly interesting because I never realized that cruises left from Tampa. In all of my research and conversations with seasoned cruisers, I've only heard of cruise ships departing from the Port of Miami--I never heard mention of cruises leaving from Tampa. I think it's wonderful though, that there is a port in Tampa, and that Royal Caribbean plans to enhance its cruise travel through this port. Have any of you used the Port of Tampa for the departure and arrive of your cruises? If so, how does it compare to the Port of Miami?
To view the full article, visit http://bit.ly/aCykbe
The Tampa Port Authority reports that this enhancement by Royal Caribbean will take place in November of 2011, through the use of The Jewel of the Seas which holds 2,5000 passengers and an additional 850 crew members. This 90,000 ton, 962 ft. long ship offers passengers an array of dining, entertainment, and recreational options, and will be replacing the ship The Radiance of the Seas, which is scheduled for 44 more sailings from Tampa during the 2010-2011 season before being retired.
"We've experienced a very welcomed growth trend in Tampa as a cruise port in recent years, and Royal Caribbean's decision to again enhance activity at the Port of Tampa is testimony to the strength of the Tampa cruise market," said Richard Wainio, Tampa's port director and CEO.
Passengers on The Jewel of the Seas will enjoy many different cruise options including two, five-night and a four-night voyage to the Western Caribbean from Tampa.
I found this article particularly interesting because I never realized that cruises left from Tampa. In all of my research and conversations with seasoned cruisers, I've only heard of cruise ships departing from the Port of Miami--I never heard mention of cruises leaving from Tampa. I think it's wonderful though, that there is a port in Tampa, and that Royal Caribbean plans to enhance its cruise travel through this port. Have any of you used the Port of Tampa for the departure and arrive of your cruises? If so, how does it compare to the Port of Miami?
To view the full article, visit http://bit.ly/aCykbe
Friday, April 16, 2010
Cruise Insurance...Are You Covered?
I found an article on cruisecritic.com discussing cruise insurance and whether or not passengers are covered in the event of a natural disaster. With the recent volcanic ash eruptions taking place in the United Kingdom, a popular travel destination for many cruisers, as well as the earthquakes that have recently hit Haiti and Chile, it's important to consider your coverage when traveling. I was happy to find this article and would like to share a few things that I learned.
The article recommended buying third-party insurance when paying for a cruise or booking another big vacation, which is something I never thought about before but quickly realized is a good idea. The article also mentioned that travel insurance covers situations such as cancellations or delays due to inclement weather, uninhabitable residence or destination due to fire, flood, or similar natural disaster, sickness, injury, or death of an insured family member, strike, financial default of an airline or cruise line-resulting in the complete cessation of services, and being involved in or delayed due to a traffic accident en route to departure. The article also mentioned that in order to be covered, these incidents must be unforeseen-AKA once a strike is announced or a plane is delayed you can't go buy travel insurance and expect to be covered.
I learned a great deal from reading this article including that it's best to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. Good advice. Have any of you bought travel insurance before your cruises or any other vacations that you've taken? Let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Also, check out the full article http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3804
The article recommended buying third-party insurance when paying for a cruise or booking another big vacation, which is something I never thought about before but quickly realized is a good idea. The article also mentioned that travel insurance covers situations such as cancellations or delays due to inclement weather, uninhabitable residence or destination due to fire, flood, or similar natural disaster, sickness, injury, or death of an insured family member, strike, financial default of an airline or cruise line-resulting in the complete cessation of services, and being involved in or delayed due to a traffic accident en route to departure. The article also mentioned that in order to be covered, these incidents must be unforeseen-AKA once a strike is announced or a plane is delayed you can't go buy travel insurance and expect to be covered.
I learned a great deal from reading this article including that it's best to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. Good advice. Have any of you bought travel insurance before your cruises or any other vacations that you've taken? Let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Also, check out the full article http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3804
Broadway Onboard
As I was YouTubing Royal Caribbean Cruises tonight, I found a video titled "Royal Caribbean Productions-Hairspray," and, being the extreme Broadway fan that I am, immediately clicked on this video to see what it was all about. Upon watching the video, I realized that it was an advertisement for a production of the musical Hairspray opening onboard Royal Caribbean's ship, Oasis of the Seas. Even though we'll be traveling on The Majesty of the Seas next month when we take our cruise, this video brought to mind all of the entertainment available on cruise ships that I've heard so much about from veteran cruisers, and gave me hope that we might get to see Hairspray or another awesome Broadway show while on our cruise! Even if we don't get to see a Broadway style show, I'm sure whatever entertainment they have available on the boat will be spectacular, and I'm so glad that this video reminded me of all of the fantastic entertainment available on cruises!
To all of you veteran cruisers out there, what types of shows/entertainment was available on your cruise(s)? What were some of your favorite shows that you saw? What do you recommend we check out while on board? Bryndi and I especially love Broadway shows, but it doesn't take much to entertain us, so any suggestions of shows or other forms of entertainment that we should check out while cruising are welcome!
Also, if you'd like to see the video I watched for yourself, just click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-9jyxWWTZM
To all of you veteran cruisers out there, what types of shows/entertainment was available on your cruise(s)? What were some of your favorite shows that you saw? What do you recommend we check out while on board? Bryndi and I especially love Broadway shows, but it doesn't take much to entertain us, so any suggestions of shows or other forms of entertainment that we should check out while cruising are welcome!
Also, if you'd like to see the video I watched for yourself, just click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-9jyxWWTZM
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Swimming with Dolphins & Parasailing
So Bryndi and I were talking about the cruise the other night (it has become our favorite topic of conversation, as of late...), and we were discussing things we both really want to do while on this "royal" getaway next month. Bryndi mentioned that she REALLY wants to swim with dolphins and I think that's an incredible idea! I'm not sure if I'll partake in that adventure or not, only because I've heard it can be rather pricey and I'll be traveling on a fresh college graduate's budget, but I told Bryndi that I support her decision to swim with dolphins 100% and will be her cheerleader/photographer throughout the whole experience!
I then mentioned that I would like to parasail in the Bahamas if I can find a decent enough deal while we're there! Parasailing is something that I've always wanted to do, and I figure where better to do it than over the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas, right!? I think it would be an experience of a lifetime and I would love for this to happen if we can make it work! I know I mentioned shore excursions in one of my previous posts and said that I probably wouldn't partake in them in order to save money, however, if we can find good deals I think it would be worth it to swim with dolphins and parasail. I don't mean to sound like a hypocrite, but I believe that if we do our homework and research the best and most cost-efficient ways to swim with dolphins and parasail, we can certainly justify making this happen.
Do any of you have any suggestions for us? Have any of you readers swam with dolphins or parasailed in the Bahamas before? Also, do you think planning these two adventures through our cruise line or independently makes more sense/would cost less? Let me know!
I then mentioned that I would like to parasail in the Bahamas if I can find a decent enough deal while we're there! Parasailing is something that I've always wanted to do, and I figure where better to do it than over the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas, right!? I think it would be an experience of a lifetime and I would love for this to happen if we can make it work! I know I mentioned shore excursions in one of my previous posts and said that I probably wouldn't partake in them in order to save money, however, if we can find good deals I think it would be worth it to swim with dolphins and parasail. I don't mean to sound like a hypocrite, but I believe that if we do our homework and research the best and most cost-efficient ways to swim with dolphins and parasail, we can certainly justify making this happen.
Do any of you have any suggestions for us? Have any of you readers swam with dolphins or parasailed in the Bahamas before? Also, do you think planning these two adventures through our cruise line or independently makes more sense/would cost less? Let me know!
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