Crystal Cruises to Require COVID-19 Vaccine for Guests

Crystal Cruises has confirmed it will now require all guests to be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their Crystal cruise.

Guests will need to provide proof of vaccination before embarkation and must have received both doses of the vaccine if recommended by the manufacturer by that timeline, the company said.

“We are encouraged by the progress being made with the COVID-19 vaccines and what this means for our Crystal Family and the travel industry as a whole as we eagerly look forward to exploring the world again,” said Crystal’s interim president and CEO, Jack Anderson. “We know that peace of mind is the greatest luxury; and the vaccine requirement is simply the best way to ensure the safest possible Crystal Experience for all onboard. This sentiment is underscored by conversations with our guests and travel partners and a recent Cruise Critic survey of cruisers that revealed that more than 80 percent of respondents would cruise if a vaccine were required.”

Crystal’s crew, who hail from dozens of countries around the world, will be expected to be vaccinated as well when the company resumes sailing, however, this may not be a viable option for all crew members given their age and/or the availability of vaccines in their home countries, the company said, in a statement. 

“As part of the company’s Crystal Clean+ 4.0 measures, crew members will be tested for COVID-19 prior to leaving their home location to join the ship and must receive a negative result. They also will take a COVID-19 test at embarkation; quarantine for seven days upon arrival; be tested again at the end of that seven-day period and must receive a negative result before beginning their duties,” Anderson noted. “When vaccines are widely available, they will be a requirement of employment for crew which must be completed at least 14 days prior to service.”

In addition to providing verified documentation of their COVID-19 vaccine at the time of boarding, guests will complete an online form acknowledging this requirement before their cruise tickets will be issued. Crystal has published a frequently asked questions document on the advisory alert section of its website for further reference.

Norwegian Cruise Line reverses ban on taking food to cabins

Norwegian Cruise Line said it will once again allow passengers to take food to their cabins from dining venues, reversing a month-old policy.

Norwegian President Andy Stuart said the decision was made after getting considerable customer feedback from a number of channels. In particular, the issue became subject of in-depth discussion on the website Cruise Critic, where a thread attracted more than 65,000 views.

Passengers also called and wrote Norwegian and discussed the change on social media.

Stuart said the ban came about after new Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio toured one of the ships and observed piles of dishes and trays lining corridors and passenger spilling food on their way back to their cabins. It roughly coincided with the adoption of a new room service menu and a $7.95 delivery fee.

Stuart said the idea behind the ban on restaurant food going back to the room was never about revenue, but rather about cleaning up the corridors and improving the passenger experience.

“We're changing the policy,” Stuart said. “We're still going to fix the issue because the issue is the same,” he said.

So instead of banning food, Norwegian will have more frequent inspections of the corridors so dishes get removed quickly.

“It’s another good example of how we listen to customer feedback and act on it,” Stuart said. “We picked the wrong solution."

Liverpool cruise liner Black Watch scoops string of awards ahead of first transatlantic sailings to Canada in decades

Liverpool cruise liner Black Watch scoops string of awards ahead of first transatlantic sailings to Canada in decades

Fred Olsen cruise liner, MS Black Watch at the Pier Head, Liverpool

Fred Olsen’s transatlantic Liverpool cruise liner Black Watch has scooped a string of awards voted for by passengers.

The ship, which will undertake a record 14 cruises from Liverpool’s Pier Head this year, topped three small ship categories in Cruise Critic’s prestigious UK Cruisers’ Cruise Awards 2015.

The 28,631 gross tons liner, which carries 804 passengers, was named best for service, best for shore excursions and best for value.

Black Watch was built as Royal Viking Star for the now defunct five star-rated Royal Viking Line’s long distance ocean cruising, and will sail the first Liverpool - Canada transatlantic crossings since 1971 this year.

The spacious liner will undertake two return voyages from Liverpool Cruise Terminal to Canada in May and August, the first direct sailings to Canada since Canadian Pacific’s flagship SS Empress of Canada closed ocean liner services from her Liverpool homeport 43 years ago.

Nathan Philpot, sales and marketing director for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “At Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, we believe in providing the very best customer experience that we can on our cruise holidays, from start to finish. We are renowned for our ‘service with a smile’ on our smaller, more intimate ships, which is why 58% of cruise guests choose to return to the ‘friendliest fleet afloat’ each year – one of the highest repeat rates within the travel industry.

“We would like to thank all those valued cruise guests who voted for Fred Olsen, and we look forward to welcoming you on board with us again in the very near future.”

Black Watch’s cruise season from Liverpool begins next month with a 13-night sailing to the Canary Islands at Easter followed by a further 13 cruises, including a two-night Dublin mini-cruise in December, a 25 night voyage to the Adriatic and a journey through the Norwegian Fjords in May.

Her sister ship Boudicca was Fred Olsen’s previous Liverpool cruise liner.

9 Fun Facts about Cruise Lines

9 Fun Facts about Cruise Lines

9 Fun Facts about Cruise Lines:

1. An average cruise ship could have six huge diesel engines producing one hundred four horse powers and guzzling three thousand gallons of fuel per hour.

2. Cruise ships on modern design can actually cost about six hundred sixty million dollars.

3. There are nine brand new ships that entered service around the North America coast line every year.

4. A modern luxury cruise vessel is able to be built, fitted out and tested in one-and-a half years though it usually takes about three years.

5. On the average, there are one hundred five thousand meals are prepared every single week onboard a cruise ship. The meals include twenty thousand pounds of beef, twelve thousand pounds of chicken and twenty eight thousands of eggs.

6. There are about one thousand crew members on board the average ships to cater to passengers every need. These people are experts from engineers to waiter to navigators.

7. A modern cruise liner are able to hold three thousand passengers aboard in an absolute luxury.

8. Caribbean is the most popular cruising destination in the world with almost every cruise line operator.

9. The cruise line industry produces two thousand five hundred fifty five gallons of gray water and thirty thousand gallons of black water every single day. Gray waters are wastes from sinks, showers and bath while black waters is what you flush down the toilets.

5 Ways to Get a Cruise Ship Cabin Upgrade

5 Ways to Get a Cruise Ship Cabin Upgrade

2013 Cruisers' Choice Awards: Best Cabins Unusual Cruise Ship Balconies Best Cruise Ship Suites We wish there were a magic elixir you could whip up to get a free or low-cost cabin upgrade on a cruise ship. We'd be chugging it all the time. But sorry -- no can do. Even if there was, as Cruise Critic member Sail7seas wisely pointed out when we polled message board readers on how to nab upgrades, "Do ya really think we'd post it on a public forum?" True enough. If you're sitting by the phone, waiting for the upgrade fairy to call, there are a few basic things to know about upgrades. First off, understand that cruise lines deem certain cabins better than others, even within the same cabin type (inside, outside, balcony, suite). An upgrade means you're moved to a cabin in a better category than the one you originally booked. Does that mean you will relocate from the lowest inside cabin on the ship to a balcony suite? Yeah, right, and the upgrade fairy does have wings and a magic wand. More likely, you'd be moved to a cabin that's very similar to the one you booked but is somehow better in the eyes of the cruise line (on a higher deck, in a more convenient mid-ship location, etc.). You might not notice a difference, but you can brag about being upgraded later. Second, free upgrades -- where your cabin is relocated to a better one at no additional cost -- are fairly rare. "Free upgrades are more of what I consider a thing of the past," says Melissa Gower-Pence, a group cruise specialist with Craft Cruises in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. More common are "upsells," or upgrades for a reduced cost. But if you're still yearning for that upgrade, how do you get one? We contend the best way to land an upgrade offer is to hope and pray, because for the most part, there's little rhyme or reason to who gets a bump. Member paul929207 nailed it on the head when he wrote, "If there was something you could do [to] get an upgrade, everyone would be doing it." Other Cruise Critic members echoed the same sentiment. "I have cruised more than 50 times on a variety of lines and itineraries and have only received one upgrade, so I really do think it is luck of the draw," CRUISERTN wrote on our message boards. "We have had two upgrades in the past couple of years with Princess Cruises, but how and why we really don't know," Putterdude posted. The agents agree. "There is no magic button, it's not that common, and it's always best to book the cabin in which you'll be content," says Jennifer Lennox, a Disney cruise specialist with the agency Off to Neverland in Keller, Texas. That being said, Cruise Critic members do report some strategies that have increased their odds of getting offered an upgrade. Their best recommendations include these five tips -- and one warning why a freebie upgrade isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Book a guarantee cabin. A "guarantee" means you're assured a cabin in the category you requested, but are not assigned a specific cabin until a short time before departure -- usually a week, give or take. If you book a guarantee in a certain category and it's full, you might get upgraded for free. On the other hand, someone else (perhaps a member of the past-passenger program with higher status) might nab the upgrade, and you'd get their cabin in your category. There's no way to know. (Learn more aboutguarantee cabins.) Member CraftyEC reserved a guaranteed Verandah Suite on a Seabourn cruise, which had six subcategories of cabins, all at different prices. "It could have been anything from V1 to V6, and we got V5, which would have cost us more if we'd chosen this." How much more? To give one example, when Cruise Critic checked a V1 suite on Seabourn's seven-day "Turkey and Greek Isles" voyage in August 2015 was listed as $4,999 per person; a V5 cabin like the one CraftyEC nabbed was $800 per person more. Bottom line: Don't book a guarantee in any given category unless you would be satisfied with anycabin in that category. Cruise the same line often. Just like airlines and hotels reward their loyalty program members, cruise lines do, too. An important point to remember is that the more frequent the cruiser, the more likely he or she would be offered a free or paid upgrade. Merely joining a cruise line's loyalty program won't get you automatically upgraded -- even after you've taken a handful of cruises. (Check out our guide to cruise line past-passenger programs.) Cruise Critic member B-52, a Gold-level member (the lowest level) of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program, reported going online two nights before departing on a cruise to find a suite upgrade awaiting approval. A $35 fee was assessed "either for taxes or a suite room attendant -- I'm not sure, but it did not matter. Paid it immediately and printed out a new Set Sail Pass!" B-52 wrote. Complimentary upgrades are generally reserved for those in the highest echelons of loyalty programs -- Crown & Anchor members who have taken at least 55 cruises, for example -- but exceptions certainly happen. Book a free upgrade promotion. Cruise lines occasionally offer special promotions in which two different cabin grades are priced equally -- so if you book the usually pricier cabin at the lower-cabin cost, you're theoretically getting a free upgrade. These "free upgrade" offers can either be for cabins within the same category type or from one category to another (i.e., outside cabins at inside rates or balcony cabins for outside prices). When Dapaddo saw such a promotion, the Cruise Critic member jumped at the chance for an upgrade and ended up with a Spa Deck-level cabin with floor-to-ceiling windows, "and we didn't have to pay anything extra." AceDoc monitors the Internet for such offers. But if you truly want the inside scoop on when such a promotion might happen, book your sailing through a travel agent who's well-versed in cruising. "Travel agents get advance notice of promotions such as this and are then able to offer the upgrade to their clients," said vacation specialist Renee Gerber with Cruise One in Woodstock, Maryland. You can also sign up for cruise line promotional emails to get notices of sales in your inbox. Check out Cruise Critic's frequently updated cruise deals section, too. Sail during low-demand seasons. Ships tend to sell out during peak periods. But during slow times, they may set sail with some cabins left open. Those open spots thus create wiggle room to provide passengers with upgrades. If your off-peak cruise isn't full and the cruise line decreases fares in an effort to boost bookings, that's a good time to ask your travel agent or cruise line representative for a free upgrade -- especially if you're not eligible for the price reduction. "I watch prices before final payment is due," geoherb wrote on the message boards. "On our last two cruises, we've been able to upgrade to better cabins at lower prices a few months before final payment. In one instance, we went from an inside cabin to an outside." What's considered off-peak? The periods between Thanksgiving and Christmas and right after New Year's often see fewer bookings, in general. For specific destinations, low seasons include: May and September in Alaska (when the weather is often chillier than in the summer), September through November in the Caribbean (peak of hurricane season, kids back in school), and early January and May in the Mexican Riviera (when young ones return to school after holidays). Find out more about off-peak times for your preferred cruise destination in our story, Best Time to Cruise. Find an Off-Peak Cruise Just ask. You're really rolling the dice with this one, but why not just ask? What do you have to lose? "Maybe the secret is calling without expecting anything and being very polite," said momoftwinteens, who once landed a free upgrade from an obstructed-view cabin to an oceanview cabin. She made the telephone call directly to Norwegian Cruise Lineafter noticing a price drop once her final payment went through. Most free upgrade decisions are made by cruise line directors or other higher-ups in the revenue department. If you're willing to pay for an upgrade, call your agent or cruise line about two weeks before departure, suggests Gower-Pence, the cruise specialist from Colorado. "These offers are on a first-come basis, and as the agent I act immediately because I know my experienced cruisers really want to take advantage of them," she said. But make sure you work with an agent who has experience in this arena. "I have found that some [travel agents] are better at this than others," kazu said. "Some have relationships with the lines or know their workings. Others do not."

NCL updating pubs, not updating smoking policy

NCL updating pubs, not updating smoking policy

Norwegian Cruise Line will be updating its entire fleet with O'Sheehan's Pub, the new bar that has proven to be popular on its newest vessels - Norwegian Epic, Breakaway and Getaway.

The company's chief executive Kevin Sheehan told those in attendance for Getaway's debut in Southampton this week that efforts are also being undertaken to get more passengers to visit the pub, especially at different times of day.

According to Cruise Critic, he said: "O'Sheehan's has proved to be such a centre point for the ship, for people to gather and socialise, that we have decided to put it on all the ships."

As well as retrofitting the bar across its whole fleet, Norwegian will also be minor changes to Moderno Churrascario, moving it next to Cagney's in the middle of the ship.

Despite such alterations, Mr Sheehan added that Norwegian is not currently planning to change its policies, including those related to smoking on its ships, despite the fact that other cruise lines have recently instigated bans.

Cruise lines working with authorities over Venice lagoon debate

By Hollie-Rae Merrick 

Cruise lines are working with Italian authorities to look at the option of moving the port in Venice to another part of the canal after concerns over the ships' impact on the city.

Speaking at a Clia press conference earlier today, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said the industry was working with officials to find a solution and was looking at different canals to establish which would be the best alternative.

His comments came just days after protesters delayed a procession of cruise ships for over an hour by leaping into Venice's Guidecca canal. The demonstrators believe the cruise ships are threatening the city's foundations and want the port moved to an island away from the city.

Vago said the issue was "deeply emotional" for some Venetians, however the majority support the cruise lines calling at the destination.

He said there was no environmental impact on Venice by the vessels as cruise lines had already agreed to have a low sulphur admission on entering the city.

Vago said lines and authorities were looking at the ecosystems in the waters surrounding Venice to establish whether there was an alternative and appropriate route.

He added: "We (the cruise industry) are important to the city of Venice, everybody understands that.

"One shop out of six lives because of the cruise industry, 33% of the hotel industry lives because of the cruise industry. It is an emotional impact."

Howard Frank, Carnival Corporation's vice chairman and chief operating officer said he agreed that the issue was not a environmental one.

He said the industry needed to do a better job in getting the message out about how environmentally friendly cruise ships had become. 

Royal Princess not expected to miss next cruise

By Tom Stieghorst

Princess Cruises said it does not anticipate having to cancel the Sept. 27 cruise from Barcelona of the Royal Princess.

The newest Princess ship ended its most recent cruise early because of an unexpected power blackout.

Passengers departed in Naples, three days short of Barcelona, and were given a full refund and a voucher for a 25% credit on a future cruise.

Princess said it expects technicians to complete repairs on the ship while it sails without passengers to Barcelona. The next cruise is a 12-day Mediterranean itinerary that ends in Venice.

Royal Caribbean cuts 100 jobs, including Bauer's

By Tom Stieghorst

About 100 people in Royal Caribbean's Miami offices have been let go this week, and the departures include sales executive Lisa Bauer.

Royal Caribbean spokesman Rob Zeiger said Bauer will be leaving by the end of the week. She is currently executive vice president of global sales and marketing, but has held roles in numerous departments at the company over the course of her career.

"She was a terrifically effective executive," Zeiger said. "She made her mark wherever she went. We wish her well."

Zeiger said Bauer's role is being eliminated. Managers who now report to Bauer will report to Royal Caribbean International CEO Adam Goldstein.

The other layoffs were spread across disciplines and up and down the position ranks, Zeiger said.

"This isn't a signal of a shakeup or a restructuring. There are simply ways to make the company run more effectively," Zeiger said. 

Carnival introduces guarantee

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled a guarantee, promising to refund 110% of the fare if guests cut short their cruise for any reason.

The offer includes complimentary return transportation and a $100 onboard spending credit for a future Carnival cruise.

To activate the guarantee, passengers must report to the guest services desk within the first 24 hours of a cruise.

The guarantee applies to U.S and Canadian residents only and is valid on three- to eight-day voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Canada and New England departing through April 30, 2015.

“The ‘Great Vacation Guarantee’ is designed to provide an assurance to those consumers who may be considering a cruise that we stand behind our product," said Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Gerry Cahill.

It is designed to give potential cruisers "complete peace of mind," Carnival said.

Carnival will promote the guarantee with ads, through travel agents, and on a section of its website.

Norwegian Dawn overnights in Bermuda due to storm

By Gay Nagle Myers

The Norwegian Dawn spent the night on Tuesday in Bermuda due to Tropical Storm Gabrielle. The ship departed mid-morning Wednesday and is expected to arrive on schedule in Boston on Friday morning.

The Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled to arrive at King's Wharf in Bermuda on Wednesday evening for a two-night stay as scheduled.

JetBlue and US Airways waived change fees for flights to/from Bermuda on Wednesday.

Rain and wind buffeted Bermuda during the storm, but no major damage was reported.
Gabrielle was well out to sea by Wednesday afternoon.

Humberto in the far eastern Atlantic became the eighth named storm of the year and the first hurricane of the season on Wednesday morning.

Humberto poses no threat to land at this stage, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Agents assess pros and cons of Royal Caribbean restructure

Agents are concerned that plans to move the Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises trade and client call centre to Guatemala could impact service levels.

The move is part of a proposed restructure of RCL Cruises to create individual businesses for Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Azamara.

But agents welcomed the dedicated focus on each of the three brands and the proposed creation of a 50-strong Celebrity Cruises guest and trade services team to be set up in the UK.

Moving the Royal Caribbean and Azamara call centre to Guatemala could result in the loss of 100 jobs. A consultation period has begun.

The new structure is planned to take effect from January 1, 2014. Jo Rzymowska, associate vice-president and general manager, will become managing director for Celebrity Cruises. Separate managing directors will be appointed 
for Royal Caribbean and Azamara.

John Sullivan, head of commercial at Advantage, said: “I am concerned about the call centre being moved. When this has happened with other companies the service has suffered.

“But on the flip-side, splitting the three brands is good. Having separate teams should result in our members having enhanced service and support.”

Peter Ruck, of GoCruise with Peter Ruck, said: “This would appear to benefit those agents booking mainly Celebrity Cruises.

“I don’t know of any consumers who want to deal with foreign call centres.”

Speaking to Travel Weekly, Michael Bayley, Celebrity Cruise’s president and chief executive, said: “As the individual brands develop and grow, they have different strategies. At Celebrity Cruises our focus markets are the UK and Ireland, North America and Australia.

“Royal Caribbean has significant focus in the UK and Ireland, but it has significant global sourcing and therefore a greater need for a multilingual global contact centre operation.”

HAL Expands Itineraries out of San Diego

Statendam and Veendam will sail to Mexico, Hawaii and French Polynesia in 2013-2014 seasonBy: Marilyn Green

Cruise

Veendam will sail roundtrip out of San Diego on newly expanded itineraries. // © 2013 Holland America Line

Holland America Line’s (HAL) Statendam and Veendam will sail roundtrip from San Diego to Mexico, Hawaii and French Polynesia during the 2013-2014 season on newly expanded itineraries offering extended port stays, overnight calls and visits to picturesque locations.

“These cruises make it easy for travelers to visit extraordinary locales without the need for international air travel,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs. “Each sailing features varied port calls including some overnights and enriching onboard activities that give our guests a very exciting and comprehensive Holland America Line vacation experience.”

The seven- and 12-day cruises to Mexico sail in November, December and March. Six weeklong Mexican Riviera itineraries onboard the Veendam call at Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, along with scenic cruising along Magdalena Bay, noted for its seasonal migration of California gray whales. Departure dates are Nov. 9, Dec. 21 and 28 (two holiday sailings) and March 9, 16 and 23.

A 12-day cruise onboard Statendam sails Dec. 4 and visits Cabo San Lucas, Pichilingue (La Paz), Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Guests have extra time onshore in Puerto Vallarta with an overnight call, during which they can sample local cuisine, learn more about the country’s history or check out the area’s nightlife. This departure also includes scenic cruising in Magdalena Bay.

In Hawaii, the 17- to 35-day Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas itineraries have departures this October and next February and April. Veendam offers four roundtrip San Diego itineraries, adding Kona as a port of call. These sailings have a leisurely pace that combines interesting ports with plenty of sea days to enjoy the amenities found onboard. The 17-day itinerary departs Nov. 16 and Jan. 4, and calls at Hilo, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Lahaina and Kona. The 18-day cruises depart Dec. 3 and Jan. 21 and add an overnight in Honolulu.

Statendam’s three Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas itineraries range in length from 29 to 35 days. Four calls in Hawaii, Maui and Oahu include an overnight in Honolulu and late departure from Lahaina. In French Polynesia, the ship visits Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa and Nuku Hiva — the largest of the Marquesas Islands — with overnight stays in Bora Bora and Tahiti.

Departures from San Diego are scheduled on Oct. 4 and Dec. 16 for a 30-day special holiday cruise. Guests can also join the cruise in San Francisco on Oct. 2 or in Vancouver on Sept. 29 for 32-day and 35-day sailings, respectively. In 2014, the ship departs San Diego on Feb. 14 for a 29-day roundtrip itinerary, as well as April 15 on a 29-day roundtrip cruise. A 33-day itinerary that ends in Vancouver is also available for booking.

HAL is using the days at sea to enrich the cruising experience and prepare guests for the cultures they will encounter through lectures, classes, demonstrations and performances. For example, with the new On Location program, guests on cruises to Hawaii might learn how to hula, make a fresh flower lei or get a ukulele lesson from a local, while cruisers on sailings to Mexico are entertained by an authentic mariachi band during a Mexican fiesta on deck.

HAL’s Explore4 early booking promotion features a free Signature Beverage Package or beverage card, a free specialty restaurant dinner, free or reduced fares for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom and 50 percent reduced deposits for bookings on select 2014 cruises made before Oct. 15, 2013. Guests may receive all four offers when booking a qualified itinerary.

Cruise fares for Mexico itineraries start at $899 for a seven-day sailing and include Explore4 early booking promotion offers. Fares for Hawaii begin at $1,599 for a 17-day Circle Hawaii itinerary with Explore4 early booking promotions. Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas cruises start at $3,699 per person.

Norwegian Breakaway Offers a Range of Cabins

Norwegian Breakaway Offers a Range of Cabins
On the Norwegian Breakaway there are accommodations to suit just about every type of passengerBy: Marilyn Green

Cruise

The Haven has its own pool courtyard. // © 2013 Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Breakaway, the new ship from Norwegian Cruise Line that features a New York City theme, is very much like the city itself when it comes to accommodations. Just like New York, the ship features a wide range of living arrangements that run from economical studios to luxurious staterooms boasting fabulous views.

The Haven
Breakaway’s Haven — with its 24-hour service from butlers trained by the International Institutes of  — follows the luxury enclave pattern of the previous ships, providing exclusivity and luxury with access to the bells and whistles of a large vessel. Passengers can choose to dine in their suites, served by their butlers, and call upon them for a variety of other services. The Haven’s private pool has a dedicated valet to cater to guests’ wishes, and there is a private fitness area and hot tub in the private courtyard as well. Haven guests also receive priority reservations in the ship’s specialty restaurants, as well as priority in the spa and at shows.

On a recent sailing, agents onboard Breakaway were particularly impressed by the Haven Spa Suite With Balcony, with its king-size bed, hot tub and oversize waterfall shower. Occupants have complimentary access to the thermal spa suite with 13 heated loungers, a sauna, a steam room, a solarium, a vitality pool and whirlpools at the 23,000-square-foot Mandara Spa. Outside The Haven’s confines but with access to the amenities, the spa suites run 309 square feet and are designed for two people. There was also considerable praise for the four Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suites With Large Balcony. These 932-square-foot rooms sleep up to four people and feature gorgeous ocean views, a wet bar and a large wraparound balcony, as well as a bath and a half.

Meanwhile, the Haven Aft-Facing Penthouses With Large Balcony have king-size beds and very attractive dining and sitting areas, along with access to the Haven’s features. At 655 to 824 square feet, they accommodate up to four guests. Within The Haven itself, Haven Courtyard Penthouses With Balcony include a king-size bed and a private balcony with a beautiful view; up to three guests can share, although generally two people book these 328- to 349-square-foot accommodations.

Family Accommodations
For families of up to six people, The Haven’s Two-Bedroom Family Villa With Balcony has a bedroom with a king-size bed and a second one with a double sofa bed, plus two bathrooms, with a total of 535 to 545 square feet of space. Another option: Four or five family members can be accommodated in the 218-square-foot Family Oceanview Stateroom With Large Picture Window. Most of these have a bathtub (there are no bathtubs in staterooms 5138, 5140, 5738 and 5740), and a number of them offer connecting rooms, providing options for dividing up family groups.

The 239-square-foot Family Mini-Suites With Balcony on Deck 12 sleep up to four and are located close to kids’ activities. In these rooms, the two lower beds convert to a king-size bed, and there’s an upper bed, sofa bed and bathtub.

Also located near the kids’ programs and aimed at families seeking maximum value, 135-square-foot Family Inside staterooms sleep up to four, with two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and two pull-down beds in a very snug living space.

At the same size, the mid-ship and fore and aft Inside Staterooms each has two lower beds that convert to a queen-size. The Studios on Decks 10 and 11 are another sort of inside stateroom — designed for just one passenger without charging a single supplement — and each have their own private lounge where singles can mingle. This restricted-access complex is made up of 100-square-foot rooms with a full-size bed and bathroom and one-way windows that face the corridor.

Staterooms on Breakaway have a number of thoughtful touches, including storage space and good-size bathrooms with showers that have sliding doors, not curtains.

New Yorkers have a particular view of space, and, as agents explored Breakaway, more than a few of them commented: “This is bigger than my whole apartment.”

Not something one often hears on a cruise ship.

Continuing its sailings round trip out of New York, Breakaway moves from Bermuda to seven-day Bahamas and Florida cruises at the beginning of October.

The clock is ticking for Concordia salvage

By Tom Stieghorst

Time is running short for the next act in the Costa Concordia saga.

Italian authorities have given the go-ahead for marine salvage companies to try to tip the massive ship up off its sloped resting spot and onto a platform shelf constructed on the seabed. Once vertical, workers will be able to weld caissons onto the starboard side that will be used to refloat the ship.

The tipping maneuver, called parbuckling, may be the trickiest part of the entire operation. And despite gaining approvals, the salvage companies may yet hold off on the operations. 

Delays have been the rule rather than the exception in righting the Concordia. Initially the ship was to have been raised and towed away in January, a date that slipped to March and then to September. 

Salvage leaders say they will probably only get one chance once they start the process of winching the ship upright. The ship is being raised by the U.S. company Titan Salvage and Micoperi of Italy. Once up and ready to be removed, it will be towed to the port of Piombino to be scrapped.

Already there is concern about Concordia’s starboard side, which has been under water for a year-and-a-half. It could buckle under the strain as the ship pivots upright.

However, leaving it lie on its side where it ran aground in January 2012 risks further deterioration, as the weight of the ship presses down on structures that weren’t designed for their current loads.

Salvage leader Nick Sloane said the ship has already compressed by about 10 feet since it came to rest on the granite outcrop off Giglio Island.

So the clock is ticking on the parbuckling operation, which is only the first stage of the removal process.

The current plan calls for the ship to remain on its platform over the winter while engineers ready it for refloat in the spring of 2014.

The cruise industry has an interesting in seeing the salvage of Concordia succeed without any further delay. Rightly or wrongly, a procedure that doesn’t go as planned, or one that creates environmental damage, will only create further undesirable associations for cruising in the public mind.

Customers threaten Island Cruises with legal action

By Phil Davies

A group of 50 passengers are taking legal action after an outbreak of illness on the ship Island Escape.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell has been instructed to investigate the concerns of 50 passengers who travelled on the Tui UK & Ireland ship between March and June this year.

The solicitors said many were confined to their cabins after suffering diarrhoea and sickness and there were also complaints about food, damp rooms and overflowing toilets, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.

Leeds pensioners Ralph and Patricia Hewitt said they were left traumatised when the ship listed violently to one side after leaving the port of Civitavecchia, near Rome.

The ship lurched suddenly to one side, throwing passengers – many of whom were in bars and restaurants – to the floor and causing injuries, they said.

Then the second week of their trip was ruined when they caught a sickness bug which had been rife onboard

The grandparents joined the Island Escape in May for a week’s Mediterranean cruise and then a week in a hotel in Majorca.

A spokeswoman for Island Cruises said: “We are sorry to hear of this experience on board the Island Escape. As this case is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.

“The ultimate priority for Island Cruises is the health, safety and comfort of all our customers. We operate stringent health and hygiene procedures in line with industry standards.”

Royal Caribbean, MSC further restrict smoking

By Tom Stieghorst

Two cruise lines have announced new restrictions on smoking.

Royal Caribbean International has done away with smoking on stateroom balconies, leaving Norwegian Cruise Line as the only major holdout.

In addition, Royal Caribbean extended its ban on smoking to almost all indoor areas except the casino, which will have a designated nonsmoking section.

However, on select cruises departing from China, a nonsmoking section in the casino will not be available.

Smoking is allowed in the cigar bars on Freedom- and Voyager-class ships and in The Vault, a nightclub on Voyager of the Seas.

The changes take effect starting Jan. 1.

Separately, MSC Cruises said that starting Nov. 2, when the MSC Divina departs Venice on a repositioning cruise to Miami, it will limit smoking on that ship to the Cigar Lounge and the port side of designated outdoor decks.

Smoking won't be permitted in the Top Sail or Black & White lounges or in the MSC Yacht Club area.

In addition, the casino will become nonsmoking, although MSC said the casino manager at his discretion may allow some players to smoke in clearly designated areas.

Divina is scheduled to sail year round from Miami.

Has P&O boss made an Olympian decision about his new cruise ship?

Has P&O boss made an Olympian decision about his new cruise ship?

BY JOHN HONEYWELL 

The publicity machine is cranking itself into gear for P&O's new baby - the biggest cruise ship ever to be built for the British market.

As construction gathers pace in an Italian dry dock, the company has disclosed the team of senior officers who will command the ship.

The long-awaited announcement of the vessel's name is expected to be made before the end of the month, and speculation is beginning to build.

The only certainty is that - in common with every other vessel in P&O's fleet - it will end with an 'a.' Beyond that, predictions (or guesses) have veered from a revival of the much-loved Canberra to something new. My money was mischievously on Carolia - after managing director Carol Marlow - until it was announced she would be leaving the company.

 the chief commercial officer at parent company Carnival UK, told me in July that his boss, chief executive David Dingle, would have a big hand in selecting the name.

"David is a walking encyclopedia of shipping and of P&O," said Tempest. "He knows exactly what has gone before and what the name for the new ship will mean in terms of the heritage of the business.

"Before we can make a final decision there's the whole legal business of registering the name as a trademark and ensuring that we actually own the name."

So it is interesting to see that within the past few weeks, Carnival UK has registered two trademarks with the UK's Intellectual Property Office.

First to be filed, on June 12, was Olympia. It was followed on July 27 byBritannia.

If either of them is the chosen name, it will be an interesting selection. Britannia is, of course, the name of the Royal Yacht, now a tourist attraction in Leith, Scotland, rather than an active ship on Her Majesty's service. Britannia was also the name of the first steamship built for Cunard's Transatlantic mail service, in 1840.

Olympia has been used to name a previous P&O ship, albeit more than 100 years ago.

Both names have other historic echoes. Olympic and Britannic were sister ships to the Titanic, a name you may have heard of and which is guaranteed never to be revived.

Those crew names, by the way: Paul Brown and David Pembridge are to be captains.

Brown joined P&O in 1996 and was first promoted to captain in June 2007 on board Aurora. He then went on to be master on board Artemis, Oriana, Ventura and .

Pembridge joined the company in 1976 and was first promoted to captain in October 2002 on board Pacific Princess. He then went on to be master on board Royal Princess, Sun Princess, Artemis, Oceana, Ocean Village 2, Oriana and Aurora.

Martin Allen and Hamish Sunter have been named as deputy captains, and Darljit Sharma and Keith de la Mare as executive pursers.