I’m sure that you’ve noticed that I’ve been MIA for a bit and I apologize.  However, in my defense I have to tell you that I’ve been engaged in a to-the-death cage match with technology that has prevented me from blogging.

Now, understand, please, that I’m a computer guy.  I had my first computer in 1984 and it was a computer not some silly little Radio Shack thing or something with data stored on a cassette tape player.  It looked a great deal like a very modern desktop machine, perhaps a tad larger but quite handsome nonetheless.  It had a real hard drive, a floppy drive ( I know a number of you folks have no clue what a floppy drive is…) and even sported a color monitor.  Out the door price… a tick over $5000.  People came to visit specifically to drool over the beast.  I have to say that it was my pride and joy.  I recall the glee I felt listening to the squeals and beeps as the modem (another thing many of you have no clue about…) went about it’s job of trying to connect to a remote computer… not the internet… another computer.

One of the most challenging things I did back then was to send an image.  Sending someone a picture of something was much like inventing television.  It didn’t work well at all and when it did the result sucked.

Here we are… over 25 years later and I am being thwarted by the same problems.  Gone are the modems with their squeals and beeps.  Gone are the CRT color monitors replaced by flat screen LCD panels and gone are the massive financial investments necessary to own a computer.  However, getting an image from A to B still remains problematic.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, I rely heavily on pictures to convey experiences, thoughts and moods.  I love being able to do this.  In fact, I find it so necessary that I pay a service to host my pictures.  I know that there are sites out there that will host images and even videos for free but my needs are a bit greater than most so I elect to pay a yearly fee to have pictures available on demand for all of you wonderful folks to view. 

You might wonder where this is all leading… well… it’s leading here.  This blog thingy is wonderful.  It lets me play like I’m a writer and lets you read my miserable musings as I play like I’m a writer.  However, this blog thingy has limits.  Normally, I don’t mind limits.  Everything has limits.  I walk fifteen feet and I find the limit of my office.  I take 4768 pictures and 4769 will not be added to the memory card in my camera.  I drive my Bonneville at 130 mph and I find the limit of my driver’s license.  I try to post a picture that’s more than 430 pixels wide and I find the limits of my blog.

430… seems like a strange number, doesn’t it?  Why not 400?  Why not 500?    Where in the world did 430 pixels come from and, for that matter, why is it measured in pixels?  Why not feet, inches, kilometers or centimeters or even perhaps fish?  Pixels?  Who out there has a pixel ruler?  If you have one may I borrow it?  Do digital guys measure important parts and pieces in pixels?  I don’t know the answer to any of these questions and I’m not sure I want to know the answers.

So, what does all this have to do with me not blogging recently?  Simple.  It’s all about size… size matters.  The pictures I take are big… not necessarily good but they’re big.  They’re so big that in order to get them uploaded to the aforementioned hosting site I need to resize them.  I get out the magic dust that Irfan provides me and reduce them by a huge percentage.  Then, summoning all of my tech savy, I sent them across the internet to appear magically at the far end in my photo albums.  TAAAADAAAA! 

OK, so, my pictures are now over there and I want them here.  I want my pictures to meet that magical 430 pixel number so resizing is once again in order.  The website that I pay hard cash to has a thingy that lets one resize pictures online and save the resized copy.  This is cool.  At least it would be cool if it worked.  It says it works.  It dutifully reports to me that my pictures have been resized and saved as I commanded.  It affords one a feeling of power akin to what a Harry Potteresque wizard must feel… a feeling of power until the whole thing goes awry.

Weilding my wizard wand I command my resized picture to appear here following a paragraph or two of drivel.  POOF!  There it is!  At least there is the left 1/15 of the image.  You, my friends, get to see a wall or perhaps some random individual wandering past a random location while all of the good stuff exists only in the ether off to the right where no one can see. 

I suspect this is how the Klingon Cloaking shield works… the ship is really there… it’s just so far off to the right that it’s not visible. 

Foo. 

I want to finish adding my review of the Dream… I really do but it relies so heavily on pictures that to post it without them would be like replacing your Avatar 3D glasses with a blindfold.

I have to say that tech support at said web site is working on it… so they claim.  I’m hoping that the fix is coming (so is Christmas and my next cruise…) and that I’ll be able to complete the rest of my review before we sail on the Carnival Ecstasy. 

Keeping me from being able to add pictures is like handcuffing an Italian and asking him to talk.  It just doesn’t work out right.  I can say that.  I’m Italian.

So, in the meantime, I’ll try to add some musings handcuffed though I am.  I also promise that I’ll be taking hundreds of pictures on the Ecstasy and I promise that I’ll get them added here even if I have to do it with tape and glue.

Technology.  Foo. 

Ciao

Mach

MSC Lirica tied up at Pier 1, Old San Juan

Introduction to San Juan, Puerto Rico

In 1508 the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon established the town of Caparra behind a protected bay on the north shore of Puerto Rico. In 1521 the town was abandoned and resited to the island of Old San Juan. In the early 16th century, San Juan was the base for Spanish expeditions to undiscovered parts of the Caribbean.
Nowadays the original section of San Juan offers an authentic Old World atmosphere with over 300 original Spanish 16th and 17th century buildings. It also contains many shops, restaurants, bars, and casinos for travelers to visit and see.

18century Spanish Villas in Old San Juan

Cathedral de San Juan
This beautiful cathedral dates back to 1592, on the same site of the previous cathedral that was destroyed by a hurricane. Located on Calle Cristo, this gothic structure contains the tomb of Ponce de Leon, a renowned Spanish seaman, and the 1st governor of Puerto Rico.

La Fortaleza
Another must-see is La Fortaleza, San Juan’s most ancient fortification, built in 1540. It later became the official residence of the governor. Guided tours lead youon a walk through the opulent interior, with gilded banqueting hall, high galleries, and rooms furnished in period style.

Escambron Beach
All beaches in San Juan are public, and Escambrion beach, on the Atlantic coastline is amongst the most beautiful in the city. It’s easy to get to, and gives fabulous views along the coastline to El Morro. Condado beach, just further along the coast, is also worth a visit.
Shopping
Most of the shopping in Old San Juan is centered on the multitude of stores along Cristo, Fortaleza and San Francisco streets. As an alternative make your way to the two markets to find a big range of jewelry, fashions, art and souvenirs. One of the markets is situated at the Plaza de la Darsena, by pier 1, the other on the Paseo de la Princesa, a short distance west of pier 1.

Suggested Cruises

Knowledgeable cruisers pick San Juan as an alternative to a Florida port. Due to its central Caribbean location, San Juan provides quick access to unique Southern Caribbean ports, such as the Netherland Antilles and the Windward Isles. A two-hour flight removes the need for the long cruise to these areas from mainland Florida. The choice of cruises on offer from Puerto Rico includes the Leeward Isles (USVI, St Maarten, St Kitts, Guadeloupe), the Windward Isles (Dominica, St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada,Tobago), and the Netherland Antilles off the northern coast of Venezuela (Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire). Several cruiselines offer cruises from San Juan, such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, PO Cruises, Princess Cruises, Silversea and Celebrity Cruises. For a comprehensive listing see cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Map of San Juan Port

San Juan Cruise Port
There are three main pier areas in San Juan port. Old San Juan quays 1-6, the Navy Frontier pier, and the Pan American pier. Most times ships calling at San Juan dock at the Old San Juan Piers, so passengers can walk into Old San Juan. Cruise ships based out of San Juan will dock Old San Juan pier 4, or the Pan American Pier, about a 15 minute cab ride from Old San Juan.

Transferring to the Cruise Terminal

From the Airport
San Juan airport is situated about ten miles from the Pan American dock and 12 miles from the Old San Juan quays. It usually takes around three quarters of an hour in a taxi for the journey. The cost is around twenty dollars. There are supplemental charges for luggage.

Other Information
Official Language Spanish and English
Currency US Dollar
Weather Puerto Rico basks in near summer weather year-round, with daily highs varying from 75 to 85F.
Timezone Atlantic Standard Time GMT-4

This week we return to Carnival Dream to speak with two of her officers who were instrumental in shaping Carnival’s Newest and largest ship.  Captain Carlo Queirolo was the first master of Carnival Dream and Hotel Director Donato Becce was the first  man in charge of the ship’s hotel operations (i.e. just about everything a guest comes into contact with).  Both men started working on the hip when she was still in the shipyard and continued through her entry into service and her first cruising season.  Thus, they know the ship well and have shaped the vacation experience that guests encounter on the Dream.

I spoke with Captain Queirolo about the ship from a nautical perspective.  After serving in the Italian Navy and on cargo ships, Queirolo came to Carnival in the early 1990s.   He has since served on almost all of the Carnival ships and has had the responsibility for bringing four ships into service.

Mr. Becce served with both Cunard and Renaissance Cruises before coming to Carnival.    He also managed land-based hotels and has taught in the field.  I asked him to focus on some of the highlights of Carnival Dream that make her different than previous Carnival ships.

My interview with Captain Queirolo is at http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalDream-art-captain.html

The conversation with Mr. Becce is at http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalDream-art-HD.html

A couple of items in the news . . . .

Carnival Fascination has emerged from the drydock after a multi-million dollar refurbishment.  She is the sixth of Carnival’s Fantasy-class ships to go through the “Evolution of Fun” process.  From a nautical perspective, these ships have many years of useful life in them and it is nice to see a major line up-grading their hotels so as to remain competitive in the first tier of the market.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean has announced that Grandeur of the Seas will be deployed to Palma de Mallorca in Spain in May 2011.  The idea is to serve British and Irish guests who like to take their holidays in Spain.  This is another indication of the British and Irish attachment to Royal Caribbean that has been developing over the last few years.  It all began with the idea of trying to market Legend of the Seas to the British market during a deployment in Southampton several summers ago.  To the surprise of many, this very American-style product was accepted by the British.  So, Royal decided to deploy the larger Navigator of the Seas there.  She too was accepted and so Royal substituted the even larger Independence of the Seas for Navigator when Independence entered service.  This was so successful that Royal is going to base her in England all year next year.  Now, a second ship will be sent to the Med to serve the British/Irish fly-cruise market.

Carnival Hotel Director Donato Becce

Hi Everyone,

In breaking news all of Tasmania turned up in full force to watch the depart of a massive cruise ship.  Here is a photo of the event, it took a lot of effort to squeeze all of the Tassies into a single frame!

In more news, I’m now back in Perth after a couple of weeks away.   It feels like I’ve been away for ever.   I’ll be putting up some more photos once the jetlag wears off.   I’ve certainly missed seeing everyone’s photos.

Thanks,

Jamie

For over twenty years despite protest and objections from the governments, people, officials and Nature groups powerful countries such as the United Kingdom keep on sending new shipment of radio-active waste through the Caribbean Sea. The Caricom ( Caribbean Community) countries do not have the facilities to handle a spill of any kind and the big guys refuse to supply them with any.

The Caribbean Sea is not just a body of water with thousands of indigenous  sea life but it’s also a way of life for the people and a principal source of livelihood and socio- economy activity. Any accidental spill God forbids would result in massive devastation of sea life and may have a domino effect on Tourism and the inhabitants of the Islands. However this means little to the elites and this sort of bullish behavior is both despicable and unacceptable!

It’s hard enough for these struggling economies to deal with waste from Cruise ships that generate up to 1300 cubic  meters of liquid waste daily.

As a Calgarian, I’m not allowed to let this story get by without comment:

In a floating hotel cash-grab scheme gone horribly wrong, a group of Edmonton investors are leaving a group of Olympic-bound terminally ill kids high and dry.

From the CTV story:

Thirteen terminally ill children and their families who were set to take in the spectacle of the Vancouver Olympics may see that last wish dashed after accommodation plans fell through less than two weeks before the Games.

The families are among approximately 800 people who were supposed to stay in a cruise ship that was to serve as a floating hotel during the Games. But the investment company behind the project cancelled the plan. Many people are left with nowhere to stay, including the children who had planned to attend the Games with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Edmonton’s Newwest Special Projects confirmed it pulled the plug on accommodations for the Norwegian Star cruise ship because sales were slow and expenses were too great. It’s a business decision that throws into turmoil the Olympic travel plans of people from around the world.

Why are land-locked Edmontonians trying to cash in on a transformed cruise ship? It’s not your area of expertise. Stick to the stuff you’re good at, like drilling for oil or reminiscing about how good your hockey team was 25 years ago.

I just hope these Make-A-Wish kids find a place to stay. I’d offer up my place, but I don’t think any kid’s wish is to sleep on a slow-leak inflatable floor mattress. Plus, I’ve got a two week supply of naive Korean tourists booked on that mattress at $500/night.

(thanks to Mel Woytiuk for the story)

Le Boreal is a magnificent and spacious yacht. It has a rather sleek profile along with large, curved windows –showcasing French and Italian design. Boarding the Le Boreal Cruise Ship will provide port hoppers leisure and relaxation as it cruises to unique port stops and rare destinations. Le Boreal like most Le Boreal ships, have advanced naval technology without sacrificing an invigorating interior design and the warmth of a cruise ship. Holding up to 264 passengers, Le Boreal travels all year round.

Ship Highlights

Le Boreal is one of the most advanced cruise ships that travel to the Antarctic. The vessel is equipped with naval technology that eliminates the use of anchors even in precarious areas. Le Boreal’s planned expeditions include 19-day cruise trips to Falkland, South Georgia and of course Antarctica.

Cuisine on Le Boreal Cruise

Port hoppers may dine in the cruise ship’s spacious dining area. The menu boasts a selection of both local and international favorites that will surely wet every traveler’s appetite. If you want to dine alfresco, go straight to Le Boreal’s Grill Restaurant and have some grilled snappers or a steak.

If you are not the type who likes crowded places, and just want to relax in your cabin, you can ring for room service –they are available 24/7.

Entertainment and Nightlife

Le Club Lounge is the place to go to for a few cocktails before dinner and maybe a few more before settling in for the night. For those who love films or theatrical performances go straight to Le Boreal’s auditorium. The cruise ship’s auditorium is what Le Boreal reviews rave about so you might as well sit back and relax and watch the newest movies.

For port hoppers who want a quiet place in the cruise ship, the library is the place to be. The Le Boreal library has a selection of books that will delight bookworms and book lovers. One can even enjoy a bottle of wine while reading. If you’re feeling lucky, go play some Blackjack in the casino.

Recreation

Leisure amenities onboard Le Boreal includes a swimming pool, a spa, a steam room patterned from a Turkish bath along with a variety of health and fitness equipment. If you want to just hang out, you can go to the sun deck during the daytime to bask in the sun and breathe in the sea breeze.

For those who love to swim go to the pool early in the morning. The swimming pool is packed during the daytime and at night.

Cabins

The suites come in different sizes. If you are traveling alone, you can opt for a 200 sq. ft. room. If you want a bigger room however, go for the ones that are sized at 300 to 400 sq. ft. All rooms include air-conditioning systems, a private balcony, a satellite TV, DVD, Ipod player, a minibar, computers that are wi-fi ready, a satellite fax and telephone and of course an assortment of soaves and shampoos.

Onboard Fees

Medical, laundry and internet services are not free so be sure to have some spare change with you. The cocktails are not included in the cruise fee so if you are on a tight budget, try to go easy on the tequila.

Kids

Le Boreal does not restrict kids to board the ship but parents must be reminded that the ship is built for adults. There are no facilities or programs available for children onboard.

Alaska

I can hardly believe it myself, but I’ve managed to stay put in one place for almost 7 months! My goal was six, so I’m pretty proud of myself. I’ve been living in Burlington since I finished massage school in June (Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage – I highly recommend it to anyone interested in becoming a bodyworker) and working in the cafe at Healthy Living as well as Oasis Day Spa on Wednesday evenings. I’ve also been doing lots of yoga at Evolution and working on my handstands. My next goal is jumping into crow from downward dog. Maybe in about 10 years…

I never thought I would share an apartment with my brother, but it has worked out surpisingly well. He got the better deal, though, because I brought home tons of free food while working at HL and have kept the place clean and relatively neat. I’m sure I’ll be sorely missed when I’m gone. I don’t think Mark, the new roommate, will be acting as Will’s personal maid.

So, that brings me to “A new year, a new adventure”! I’m taking off for Costa Rica on Friday to meet the Sea Lion – one of Lindblad’s National Geographic cruise ships. For those of you who didn’t follow my last blog, also called whereonearth, I started working for Lindblad a few months after I bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii in November 2007. I worked for them as a Steward/Senior Steward for about a year, traveling to Alaska, the Columbia River, and Baja, then took a year off to go to massage school and visit friends and family back here in Vermont. Now it’s time to get back on board, this time to Costa Rica for a month, then up the Pacific Coast to Seattle and finally up to Alaska, where I’ll disembark in June. I’m looking forward to getting back on the ship meeting new people, exploring new and places and visiting old territories, but I’ll miss the friends and people I’ve gotten to know in and around Burlington these past 6 months. I feel like I’ve set down a few roots and whether or not Burlington will become my home town, I’m know I’ll be back again to visit. Until then, check back for stories about my adventures, photos of places I go, people I meet, and things I see, and anecdotes about living on a 152-foot ship with 62 guests and 25 crew. There are bound to be mishaps and shenanigans.

RATES STARTING FROM         INTERIOR           OCEAN VIEW           BALCONY

CARNIVAL ELATION 3 Day San Diego 3/12/10 $279 $299 N/A

CARNIVAL IMAGINATION 3 Day Miami 3/12/10 $259 $289 N/A

CARNIVAL ELATION 4 Day San Diego 4/26/10 $309 $349 N/A

CARNIVAL IMAGINATION 4 Day Miami 4/26/10 $279 $309 N/A

CARNIVAL SENSATION 4 Day Pt. Canaveral 4/11/10 $299 $329 N/A

CARNIVAL FASCINATION 5 Day Jacksonville 4/12/10 $349 $419 $559

CARNIVAL ECSTASY 5 Day Galveston 4/12/10 $399 $439 N/A

CARNIVAL FREEDOM 6 Day Ft. Lauderdale 3/21/10 $469 $549 $719

CARNIVAL GLORY 7 Day Miami 3/21/10 $459 $509 $709

CARNIVAL LEGEND 7 Day Tampa 4/11/10 $569 $629 $729

CARNIVAL SPIRIT 7 Day San Diego 4/04/10 $539 $589 $649

CARNIVAL MIRACLE 8 Day Ft. Lauderdale 3/20/10 $579 $729 $829

The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel.

ADDITIONAL SHIPS & SAIL DATES AVAILABLE

Terms and conditions:

Cruise only rates are in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Government fees/taxes are additional for all guests. Rates vary according to sail date and are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Offer is not combinable with any other discount or promotional offer. Guarantees only. Offer is applicable to categories IS/OV/BL only. Some restrictions (including stateroom/category availability) apply. Request fare code PCD. Ships’ Registry:The Bahamas and Panama.

Email salty@saltydogcruises.com or call us at (203) 937-5381.

Coco Cay, The Bahamas

This week Beyondships focuses on Coco Cay, a private resort in the Bahamas developed by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and used as a port of call by that company’s cruise lines, principally Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, during cruises to the Caribbean and/or Bahamas.  The ships stop for the day and transport passengers, food, and beverages to the island via tenders.  Then, in the late afternoon, the tenders take the passengers and what remains of the supplies back to the ship.  No guests sleep at the resort. .

Coco Cay is a man-made a tropical paradise created for the pleasure of the cruise ship’s guests.  The island itself is a relatively small outcropping of coral that has been transformed into an appealing venue with sandy beaches shaded by tall palms.  In the developed area there are a wide range of facilities including bars and places to have something to eat.  One can hire all sorts of watercraft including catamarans, jet skis, and kayaks.  One can swim, snorkel, scuba or fly above the water on a parasail.  Alternatively, one can lie on a deck chair or in one of the hammocks strung between the palms.

Much of the island has been left relatively undeveloped, however.  As one gets further away from the developed area, the beaches become less crowded until there is only the occasional fellow passenger passing by.  Alternatively, there is a nature trail that one can follow to the other end of the island.  This takes one through the dense indigenous vegetation and over numerous (and often slippery) rocks.  The rewards for such an expedition are some very nice views and something that one does not often find these days: silence – - there is no sound of cars, airplanes, or music.  It can be quite startling to hear nothing but the water lapping against the shore..

Places like Coco Cay are fantasies.  They are created by the cruise line.  As a result, they are not cultural experiences.. However, they also do not have the poverty and crime that plague the so-called real world.  They are places to come for a day just for the enjoyment – - an escape if you like.   Like a tropical Brigadoon, they disappear when the cruise ship sails.

Beyondhips’ photo tour of Coco Cay begins at . http://beyondships.com/RCI-CocoCay.html

   . 

Turning to items in the news . . .

During Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s fourth quarter conference call with securities analysts, RCCL Chairman Richard Fain indicated that even though Oasis of the Seas has been a big hit with customers and is commanding premium prices, the company will probably not build another such ship after Allure of the Seas, which is currently under construction in Finland. This should not be too surprising as the size of the Oasis class ships limits where the ships can go and they are very expensive to build.  Fain gave no indication of what type of ship would be built for the company’s Royal Caribbean International subsidiary after Allure of the Seas.  Three Solstice-class ships are currently on order for RCCL’s Celebrity Cruises subsidiary.      

During her recent Panama Canal cruise from California to Florida, Coral Princess diverted to participate in a rescue at sea.  A Columbian fishing boat had sunk and the cruise ship, various other vessels and aircraft made a search for survivors.  Three people were rescued.

Norwegian Cruise Lines announced that Norwegian Epic, scheduled to enter service later this year, will be sailing in Europe during part of the 2011 season.

Cunard’s Queen Victoria made her maiden call in San Francisco on January 27 as part of her world cruise.  Queen Victoria is scheduled to do a series of cruises from California in 2011. 

This week Beyondships focuses on Coco Cay, a private resort in the Bahamas developed by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and used as a port of call by that company’s cruise lines, principally Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, during cruises to the Caribbean and/or Bahamas.  The ships stop for the day and transport passengers, food, and beverages to the island via tenders.  Then, in the late afternoon, the tenders take the passengers and what remains of the supplies back to the ship.  No guests sleep at the resort. .

Coco Cay is a man-made a tropical paradise created for the pleasure of the cruise ship’s guests.  The island itself is a relatively small outcropping of coral that has been transformed into an appealing venue with sandy beaches shaded by tall palms.  In the developed area there are a wide range of facilities including bars and places to have something to eat.  One can hire all sorts of watercraft including catamarans, jet skis, and kayaks.  One can swim, snorkel, scuba or fly above the water on a parasail.  Alternatively, one can lie on a deck chair or in one of the hammocks strung between the palms.

Much of the island has been left relatively undeveloped, however.  As one gets further away from the developed area, the beaches become less crowded until there is only the occasional fellow passenger passing by.  Alternatively, there is a nature trail that one can follow to the other end of the island.  This takes one through the dense indigenous vegetation and over numerous (and often slippery) rocks.  The rewards for such an expedition are some very nice views and something that one does not often find these days: silence – - there is no sound of cars, airplanes, or music.  It can be quite startling to hear nothing but the water lapping against the shore..

Places like Coco Cay are fantasies.  They are created by the cruise line.  As a result, they are not cultural experiences.. However, they also do not have the poverty and crime that plague the so-called real world.  They are places to come for a day just for the enjoyment – - an escape if you like.   Like a tropical Brigadoon, they disappear when the cruise ship sails.

Beyondhips’ photo tour of Coco Cay begins at . http://beyondships.com/RCI-CocoCay.html

   . 

Turning to items in the news . . .

During Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s fourth quarter conference call with securities analysts, RCCL Chairman Richard Fain indicated that even though Oasis of the Seas has been a big hit with customers and is commanding premium prices, the company will probably not build another such ship after Allure of the Seas, which is currently under construction in Finland. This should not be too surprising as the size of the Oasis class ships limits where the ships can go and they are very expensive to build.  Fain gave no indication of what type of ship would be built for the company’s Royal Caribbean International subsidiary after Allure of the Seas.  Three Solstice-class ships are currently on order for RCCL’s Celebrity Cruises subsidiary.      

During her recent Panama Canal cruise from California to Florida, Coral Princess diverted to participate in a rescue at sea.  A Columbian fishing boat had sunk and the cruise ship, various other vessels and aircraft made a search for survivors.  Three people were rescued.

Norwegian Cruise Lines announced that Norwegian Epic, scheduled to enter service later this year, will be sailing in Europe during part of the 2011 season.

Cunard’s Queen Victoria made her maiden call in San Francisco on January 27 as part of her world cruise.  Queen Victoria is scheduled to do a series of cruises from California in 2011.

Many people were shocked by the images of Royal Caribbean Cruises docking in the private and armed security protected beaches of Haiti last week. They were shocked that holiday makers could indulge in their luxurious whims whilst less than 60 miles away hundreds of thousands of people lay dead, dying, starving and injured in the aftermath of the one the worlds most devastating natural disasters. An entire country had been leveled and near destroyed, yet still the rum cocktails flowed…

It could be argued that there really wasn’t much that could have been done by the Independence of the Seas not docking in Haiti, and while it does seem distasteful they at least brought commerce and income to a country in dire need of some kind of support. Despite that it still stands as a pretty powerful image of disconnect between the wealthy west and their poorer neighbours – it creates a clear impression of people just not caring.

And the same, I’m sorry to say, with this advert – specifically the opening line.

“Have you ever seen a glacier whilst sunbathing? Why not?”

I’ll tell you why not, since you asked. It’s because we’re slowly killing our world. It’s because the glaciers are being eroded by decades of environmental mismanagement and dragging a floating city half way round the world so that self important pompositors can artfully glance at the crumbling remains of a planetary balance is not helping.

It has the smug air of conceited social climbers – caring less about a collective contribution to the world and more about personal indulgence.

“Oh you simply must see the arctic tundra – such a natural beauty, such a shame it’ll be gone in 30 years. Have you tried the dolphin meat, it’s exquisite”

This is an advert for all the pricks in the world. This is a product for the people who use their 4×4’s for the school run; nestled in their cocoon of comfort believing that ethical behaviour is all well and good but they really deserve an arctic cruise because they’ve worked bloody hard at the office these last few months.

Obviously Royal Caribbean Cruises aren’t the sole contributors to the unsustainable way of living; all products have a ecological footprint of one size or the other. Just buying a bottle of Coca Cola contributes to the oppression of huge swathes of indigenous people as well as a destructive environmental policy. Few luxuries, though, have such an obvious adverse effect on the planet as indulgently visiting the one place on Earth that scientists agree shouldn’t be visited.

Have you ever watched a polar bear drown?  Have you ever eaten a giant panda? Ever gone whaling? Ever tested nuclear weapons? Ever mined a wildlife preserve?

Have you ever holidayed next to a disaster area?

Why not?

Exclusive 2010 Anniversary Offers
Crystal Cruises is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of luxury cruising with the most exciting and dramatic savings in its history! Explore the world with Crystal Cruises and take advantage of exclusive Anniversary Gifts especially designed for you.

Celebrate with Crystal and enjoy:
• New 2-for-1 Fares on all voyages
• “All-Inclusive. As You Wish.” Spending Credits on all voyages
• Free Business or Economy Class Air on most voyages
• Price Guarantee on all voyages
• And more!
2010 features a continued emphasis on distinctive destinations, port intensive itineraries as well as many overnight calls. From the exotic areas of the Middle East and Africa, to the cosmopolitan centers of Europe and the charming culture of Australia and New Zealand, there is something for everyone. Now is the perfect opportunity to experience why Crystal has earned more awards than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history.

General terms and conditions:
2-for-1 Fares are per person based on 50% of the Brochure Fares (note: Brochure Fares, in effect as of 9/21/09, may not have resulted in actual sales). Free Business Class Air promotion applies to categories PH, PS & CP on designated Europe sailings, Trans-Atlantic flight only; Free Economy Class Air promotion applies to all other categories on designated Europe sailings and all categories on other select sailings and both promotions are available from select gateways, routes and carriers. $2,000 per couple “All-Inclusive. As You Wish.” shipboard spending credit is the maximum credit available, is non-transferable, cannot be used in the casino, for bingo, redeemed for cash or credit and cannot be applied as a deposit toward a future cruise. All offers may not be combinable with other promotions, apply to first two guests in stateroom or Suite, are capacity-controlled, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. For complete details, terms and conditions for the offers listed above, contact Salty Dog Cruises. Ships’ Registry: The Bahamas.

Email salty@saltydogcruises.com or call us at (203) 937-5381.

Salty Dog Cruises is pleased to offer Celebrity Cruises and their latest Exciting Deals. These offers are special rates for upcoming cruises with limited availability. Only a selection of staterooms are available, and these rates must be booked on Tuesday, 2/2/2010. Take a look at the great cruise deals listed here and make your plans for a terrific cruise.

5 Night Western Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Century – (Feb 20, 2010 to Feb 25, 2010) $949.00 USD
4 Night Western Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Century – (Feb 25, 2010 to Mar 01, 2010) $259.00 USD
7 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Summit – (Mar 06, 2010 to Mar 13, 2010) $799.00 USD
14 Night South America & Canal Cruise – (Mar 14, 2010 to Mar 28, 2010) $799.00 USD
7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise – (Feb 28, 2010 to Mar 07, 2010) $1,199.00 USD
11 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise – (Mar 08, 2010 to Mar 19, 2010) $749.00 USD
7 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Summit – (Feb 13, 2010 to Feb 20, 2010) $699.00 USD
10 Night Western Caribbean Cruise – (Mar 19, 2010 to Mar 29, 2010) $649.00 USD

* Celebrity Cruises reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement on all guests if the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel exceeds $65.00 per barrel. The fuel supplement for 1st and 2nd guests would be no more than $10 per guest per day, to a maximum of $140 per cruise; and for additional guests would be no more than $5 per person per day, to a maximum of $70 per cruise.

* All prices are per person, double occupancy, cruise only. The staterooms available at these prices are limited. All itineraries and prices are current at time of transmission and subject to change without notice. All prices are in U.S. dollars. Government taxes and fees are additional. Certain restrictions apply.

Email salty@saltydogcruises.com or call us at (203) 937-5381.

Football fans who are traveling by plane from one South African host city to another during the 2010 world cup will be subjected to stricter hand  luggage restrictions, especially when traveling between Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. The aim of the new rules is to cut flight delays, say the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

With the new restrictions, football supporters traveling in economy class are allowed to carry one travel bag and one laptop. Business class and first class passengers are allowed two bags and a laptop bag.

The weight of each bag may not exceed 7kg, with the maximum dimensions being 56cm + 36cm + 23cm. The Airports Company of South Africa has said that the restrictions will be implemented at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg from 20 January 2010, and Cape Town and Durban international airports from 6 February 2010.

ACSA has said that these new requirements will be verified thoroughly at security checkpoints at OR Tambo in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport and Durban International airport.

ACSA is responding to the huge increase of hand luggage, due to the fact that more and more passengers are checking-in at home or though the self-service kiosks. As a result, the number and size of hand luggage bags is not checked very often. One of the implications of this is that often hand luggage cannot fit into the cabin, meaning it has to be manually loaded into the hold of the plane. This results in flight delays.

“During the World Cup especially, we cannot afford to have flights departing late. ACSA and the airlines are of the view that introducing the hand luggage restrictions will significantly improve flight operations. ACSA will make additional resources available to assist the airlines,” said ACSA communications manager Solomon Makgale in a media statement this week.

“We fully understand that this will require an adjustment in passenger behaviour, however, we are confident that passengers will cooperate and give us the necessary support.”

More 2010 World Cup News on Twent10:

• Cape Town Stadium goes rugby!
• No base camps for Eastern Cape
• And MORE basecamps for 2010!
• Police spends €130m on 2010 WC
• Cool Tool: distances South Africa’s nine host city
• FAQ: Getting from A -> B in South Africa during 2010 world cup
• Cruise ships used as hotels in 2010

In addition to Hailee we had two of the staff of Cruise Critic at our Meet & Mingle. Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor, and Melissa Paloti, managing editor, were there chatting, interviewing and enjoying the gathering.

The folks at Carnival offered to take a group photo of us so Eli, one of the folks from the entertainment staff, organized a parade of Cruise Critic members to the Atrium where we essentially took over for the photo shoot. Great fun!!

A few stuck around to have a cocktail at the Lobby Bar but most went on their way knowing that the boat drill would be coming up soon.

We returned to our cabin to take care of a few things first. I wandered out to the balcony and because our cabin is at eye level with the waiting area in the cruise terminal we could see folks, quite a few folks, still milling about. It was already past 4 PM and our scheduled sail away was 5 PM. A glance at the Deck 0 boarding area showed passengers still filing onto the ship. We speculated about reasons and the only thing I could come up with was flight delays as the weather had gotten worse throughout the afternoon. I still don’t know the real reason for all the delays. I talked with a friend a Carnival and he responded with an official position. He said that because the normal boarding procedures could not be used and the requirement to go through Deck 0 boarding was delayed. This is from his email:

The embarkation challenges for the Carnival Dream in New York were due to the fact that we were not able to use our normal passenger gangway and board through Deck 3 into the ship’s lobby. The delays were not at security screening nor the check-in stations but rather at the entrance to the vessel itself. Based on the configuration of the terminal and ship, it was necessary to board through a crew area on Deck 0 where there are a limited number of elevators which caused significant backups.

We are currently examining the situation to determine what modifications can be made to alleviate the situation for the Carnival Dream’s final voyage from New York next week. Once the ship arrives in Port Canaveral, we will be able to use our normal gangways and do not anticipate any issues with the boarding process.

So, embark was slow and sail away was delayed. We wandered the ship and I took pictures here and there, marveled at many of the tiny details that Joe Farcus had added to the ship and many of the elements that he had carried over from the Carnival Splendor. Many of the colors and accents borrowed made the experience more comfortable, more familiar. On the passenger decks panels in the hallways have whimsical art applied very much like the wall art on the Splendor…

There were great new additions that took a bit of searching to find. If you like to do scrapbooking and want pictures printed right now you have an option!

This station allows you to make cards, album pages, booklets and more!

Eventually, the call came for the boat drill. For the fist time on the Dream the new boat drill was used. I’ve read others say that there was a great deal of confusion. We saw some of that as well. Our muster station was C4 which turned out to be in the Chambers Conference Room. The marking to the location was poor and several of the staff members I talked to had no clue where that was. We actually got flat wrong directions at one point. I knew we were in the Chambers, I just wanted directions and the answers I received were confusing, indeed.

Once in place the boat drill was quite painless. No life jacket, no standing about for 30 minutes just a quick safety briefing and a video, perhaps 12 minutes or so once everyone was in place.

With the briefing over we decided to head up to the Lido Deck for a snack before dinner. We popped out on the Panorama Deck to find that we were underway!

The above photo was shot at a very unique camera setting that reduces the size of the image and concentrates the available light so it’s reduced here, as well.

As we left port there was an air of excitement spreading throughout the public decks. Sadly, once clear of the wall of buildings that were shielding us the wind made itself obvious. The forecasts were for 35 gusting to 40 and I can guarantee that they were all of that.

I grabbed a few pictures of the skyline as we made our way out of the harbor area…

It certainly was an impressive sight.

We slid back inside as the wind was beginning to howl and the temperatures were just barely above 40. The wind chill was amazing and we were both in need of some warm air and a bite to eat.

We finally made it to the Deli to grab a sandwich. We both got the Combo which was corned beef and pastrami on rye. The meat was shaved very thin making it amazingly tender. It was warm, very good and filling enough to hold us ’til dinner.

We were both anxious to sail past the Statue of Liberty so I would occasionally get up and run out onto the aft end of the Lido Deck to look for her. When she finally came into view she was well off the starboard side of the ship. The wind was ripping making standing difficult, let alone taking pictures but I was able to get a few pictures that were fair, at best.

RATES STARTING FROM INTERIOR OCEAN VIEW BALCONY
CARNIVAL IMAGINATION 3 Day Miami 1/29/10 $139 $159 N/A
CARNIVAL FANTASY 4 Day Mobile 2/04/10 $239 $259 N/A
CARNIVAL SENSATION 4 Day Pt. Canaveral 1/31/10 $199 $239 N/A
CARNIVAL DESTINY 5 Day Miami 1/30/10 $269 $369 $449
CARNIVAL TRIUMPH 5 Day New Orleans 2/20/10 $259 $369 $409
CARNIVAL CONQUEST 7 Day Galveston 3/21/10 $599 N/A $849
CARNIVAL DREAM 7 Day Pt. Canaveral 3/20/10 $559 $699 $909
CARNIVAL GLORY 7 Day Miami 2/28/10 $499 $639 N/A
CARNIVAL LIBERTY 7 Day Miami 2/06/10 $449 N/A $889
CARNIVAL SPIRIT 7 Day San Diego 4/04/10 $549 $599 $659
CARNIVAL TRIUMPH 7 Day New Orleans 4/03/10 $559 $629 $869
CARNIVAL VICTORY 7 Day San Juan 3/14/10 $459 N/A $799
CARNIVAL FREEDOM 8 Day Ft. Lauderdale 2/27/10 $649 N/A $1179
CARNIVAL MIRACLE 8 Day Ft. Lauderdale 3/04/10 $619 N/A $779
The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel.
ADDITIONAL SHIPS & SAIL DATES AVAILABLE

Terms and conditions:
Cruise only rates are in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Government fees/taxes are additional for all guests. Offer applicable to Senior citizens over the age of 55. Proof of age required at embarkation. Request farecode PSE. Rates vary according to sail date. Sailings within range may be slightly higher. Black out dates within range may apply. Rates are subject to change without prior notice and are subject to availability. Offer is capacity controlled and is not applicable with any other discount or promotional offer. Some restrictions (including category/ stateroom availability) apply. Ships’ Registry:The Bahamas and Panama.

Email salty@saltydogcruises.com or call us at (203) 937-5381.

We have put together a collection of old photos of Tenerife, there must be many more lurking out there and we will add to this gallery as we find them. If anyone has any digital images please let us know and we will add them to our blog for everyone to see.

The first camera which produced a dry plate negative for producing multiple copies of photos was invented in 1871 by Richard Leach Maddox. By 1884, Eastman (Kodak) had invented paper based film and by 1898 cellulose film was patented which led to the first mass produced camera. The Kodak Brownie camera was on sale during 1900 but cameras for 35mm film were not available until 1915.

Tenerife is 10 million or more years old which means the history of Tenerife has only been recorded on film for a virtual snapshot in time. There are not many old photos of Tenerife published on the internet although we suspect there are many more preserved in museums, published in history books or gathering dust in an attic somewhere.

We hope you enjoy our collection of old photos of Tenerife that we have pulled together and that we are able to add more in the future.

Just click on any image to see it full size, then click on your back space key to go back and select another. If you want to see an enlarged image just click on the full size image.

See Specifically old photos of Los Cristianos

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Estate Agents Tenerife for Tenerife Properties

We hung clothes, drawered those things that needed to be drawered and readied ourselves for the Meet & Mingle. Having not had the opportunity to visit the Caliente previously we headed out 30 minutes early.

I have to say, the Caliente is cool… very cool. Stitch allows that it harkens back to the days of disco. This ain’t no disco place I ever saw!! Look at this!!!

That, boys and girls, is in the Caliente!!! In fact, there’s a BUNCH of ‘em!!!

The venue is remarkably cool and I was so grateful to get this place for our M&M.

Our Meet & Mingle was scheduled for 2:30 to 3:30 PM to allow us to meet before the boat drill, which was scheduled for 3:30… or so…

As 2:30 approached folks began arriving. Lots of smiles were exchanged as we had all met on the roll call but most of us never in person.

The list of folks who attended is long, indeed, and we ended up with about 120 folks there. That’s one heck of a Meet & Mingle!!

We were thrilled to have Hailee Steberger, the Godchild of the Carnival Dream Waterpark, and her parents join us!

Royal Caribbean Ship at anchor at Labadee, Haiti

Royal Caribbean returned to Labadee Haiti this past week. It was the first time the Royal Caribbean ships have stopped at Labadee since the devastating earthquake leveled Port au Prince on January 12, 2010.  Labadee is Royal Caribbean’s private resort and is located on the northern coast of Haiti. The Labadee resort area did not sustain any damage from the earthquake and was able to reopen to passengers of Royal Caribbean cruise line this past week.

Royal Caribbean has taken some criticism since returning passengers to the Resort. I for one applaud the company for bringing tourist back to this country that urgently needs the money. Royal Caribbean has pledged one million dollars toward the relief effort in Haiti. And with the return of the ships to Labadee brings urgently needed supplies and food for the people of Haiti. Royal Caribbean is using every ship in it’s fleet that calls on Labadee as a supply ship for the relief effort bringing much needed food, supplies and personnel. Royal Caribbean has contributed the largest proportion of tourist revenue to Haiti since 1986, employing 300 locals and allowing another 200  locals to sell their wares in the native market within the resort. Royal Caribbean pays the Haitian Government $6 (US) per passenger that arrives on their ships to Labadee. This means that a Voyager Class ship that holds 3114 passenger pays a total of $18,684 per visit. There are at least 3 ship visits per week at $18,684 equals $56,052.00 per week. Plus all the money the passengers spend at the native market, Royal Caribbean is pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into Haiti every month. And they have been doing this since 1986!

Zip Line at Labadee

More than any other company in the United States, Royal Caribbean has been helping Haiti for over 20 years. So the next time you hear one of these pompous radio talk show host beating up on Royal Caribbean for bringing tourist back to Labadee, ask yourself, what has that talk show host done for the people of Haiti before or even after the earthquake? Some food for thought.

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, then you will know by now that I don’t just blog about Mama. In my travels throughout the Caribbean and Europe I have formed some “opinions” as an ESL teacher and a former employee in the hospitality industry, especially while working on cruise ships.

This post is about Haiti. Not because I want to jump on any popular bandwagons so much as I have an opinion about some of the things I have been reading online. I’ve been following an online news survey and am shocked that the votes are at a 49/51% split.

Basically, the gist of it is whether or not it is a good idea for the cruise ships to resume their port of call in Labadee, Haiti. If you want to participate in this vote go to this link:

http://travel.newsvine.com/_question/2010/01/19/3779083-should-cruise-ships-have-returned-to-haiti?pc=20&sp=40#discussion

At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney, here are my 2 cents worth: The island of Labadee is 60 miles away from the earth quake zone. The government of Haiti receives approximately $6 per cruise ship passenger in tax fees, multiply that by approximately 4,000 passengers per day and the money is pretty considerable to help their economy. This does not include the countless jobs that these “vacationers” create for locals. So, do the math.

(Also click here if you want to read an article about Royal Caribbean going to Haiti)

Some have voiced that it would be insensitive to be sipping cocktails on the beach when not too far from them there is death and devastation. So my question is this: Is it better to just ignore Haiti altogether then? If you are on a vacation on a ship and it goes to Haiti and you don’t feel comfortable sitting on a beach while tragedy is near, then perhaps you would feel better donating all your vacation money to their cause?

I’ve witnessed far too many “tourists” who take for granted that if they pay top dollar for a vacation then they should be exempt from reality. Sorry to disappoint 50% of these voters but the real world doesn’t exactly work that way. You want a beautiful beach and a nice vacation, I get that. But these places are not just placed on earth for our desires. Real people live in these countries with real issues.

I used to work in the corporate world and I know what it’s like to scrimp and save for that perfect vacation on my 2 weeks a year escape from the office. If I had not had the experiences since then working on the side of tourism and hospitality I would probably want to pretend that all was well with the world too. But, in fact I am proud that I had the opportunity to expand my world view and really see clearly. I don’t know how it is even possible these days to still live in a bubble? Ignorance is not bliss, it is just simply ignorance.

When Katrina hit New Orleans I was on one of the Carnival ships sent there by FEMA. I lost my job along with thousands of other crew members. I was also going to be separated from my husband to be. Not something I was very happy about when we had already waited a full year to get on the same ship together. But, that’s life. I made the choice to stay on board (much to the dismay of my boss), and I volunteered for 2 weeks. Yes, I was nervous. They were still randomly shooting at anything and I was fearful to even walk on the outer decks when we first arrived.

Our “guests” were roughly 2,500 male police officers with guns! I was one of only 10 women that remained on board. Keep in mind that these NOLA police had not slept for days, had a shower or a descent meal and most of them also lost their own homes and families in the devastation. Oh, and not to mention they were being shot at by looting civilians. (one female crew member had a gun pulled on her while unlocking a cabin door! Lets just say that these boys were tired, hungry and a “bit jumpy”).

I’m only stating my opinion here, but I also know that most of my readers are Expats and/or seasoned travellers. So, I welcome your feedback and encourage you to go to the above link and cast your votes!

LOWEST RATES. PRICE PROTECTION. TOTAL PEACE OF MIND.
THE REWARDS OF BOOKING EARLY!

You have earned the right to enjoy a wonderful cruise at a great price. That’s why we are offering Early Saver rates good enough to save you big bucks off your next vacation sailing.

Simply book your vacation 3 months in advance for a short cruise, or 5 months in advance for a cruise lasting at least 6 days, and you’ll save up to 20%.

And you are guaranteed that you’re getting our absolute lowest rate. If, after you book your Carnival cruise,
you find a lower Carnival advertised fare, Carnival will match that rate and issue the difference in onboard credit. How’s that for reassurance that you’ve made the right choice!

Check out some of these Early Save Rates available through Salty Dog Cruises right now:

SHIP LENGTH DEPARTS RATES STARTING FROM INTERIOR OCEAN VIEW BALCONY
CARNIVAL ELATION 3 Day San Diego 4/23/10 $259 $289 N/A
CARNIVAL PARADISE 3 Day Long Beach (LAX) 4/30/10 $249 $279 N/A
CARNIVAL IMAGINATION 4 Day Miami 5/10/10 $269 $299 N/A
CARNIVAL PARADISE 4 Day Long Beach (LAX) 5/03/10 $219 $289 N/A
CARNIVAL INSPIRATION 5 Day Tampa 5/17/10 $349 $379 N/A
CARNIVAL FREEDOM 6 Day Ft. Lauderdale 9/05/10 $359 $449 $559
CARNIVAL CONQUEST 7 Day Galveston 8/29/10 $449 $569 $739
CARNIVAL DREAM 7 Day Pt Canaveral 9/11/10 $579 $649 $729
CARNIVAL LEGEND 7 Day Tampa 8/22/10 $499 $579 $649
CARNIVAL LIBERTY 7 Day Miami 8/28/10 $479 $579 $709

The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel.

ADDITIONAL SHIPS & SAIL DATES AVAILABLE

Email salty@saltydogcruises.com or call us at (203) 937-5381.

Terms and conditions:
Early Saver: Cruise rates are in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to change at any time without prior notice. Government taxes and fees are additional for all guests. A non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is required at the time of booking for all guests to secure confirmed accommodations. Fares are backed by a unique price protection policy. Full names are required for each guest. Offer is valid for new bookings only and is not combinable with any other discounted or
promotional offer. Available on sailings 3 months prior to sail date for short cruises (5 days or less) and available on sailings 5 months prior to sail date for long cruises (6 days or longer). Savings are based on Fun Select rates and vary by sailings. Category restrictions and exclusions apply. No name changes are allowed. A $50 service fee may be assessed per person for ship and/or sail date changes made prior to the final payment due date. Cancellation penalties apply. Request Early Saver. Ships’ Registry: The Bahamas & Panama.
Price Protection: Price protection applies to new Early Saver bookings only and requires payment of a non-refundable and non-transferable deposit. Applies to cruise fare only. Applies only to a Carnival.com or Carnival advertised fare available to the general public and excludes group rates, membership programs, charters or other Travel Agent promotions not offered by Carnival to the general public, including but not limited to travel agent rebates. To submit a Price Protection claim, visit carnival.com/earlysaver. When submitting a rate lock request, you must provide the lower rate amount and where the rate can be found. Requests will be accepted up to two business days prior to sailing. Lower rate must be: (i) for the same ship, sail date, stateroom category and number of guests; (ii) a Carnival advertised rate (iii) available for booking at the time the request is reviewed by Carnival’s reservation agents. Verified rate difference is issued as an on-board credit. The on-board credit is non-refundable, non-transferable and has no cash value. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited. Rate lock is not combinable with other promotions. Price protection will be subject to the prevailing fees and/or fuel supplement if applicable. Program subject to change at any time without prior notice.