A story doing the rounds on the internet claiming that a Carnival cruise ship has sunk has been described as a “prank”. But it’s more than that, it’s a lie that misleads would-be passengers and capitalises on a real tragedy.
A picture of the partly submerged Costa Concordia, on which 32 people died in 2012, was used with the story, which claimed the Carnival Triumph had sunk off the coast of Mexico.
Continue reading Cruise-ship sinking: a case of hurtful fake news
In common with keen tourists from around the world, Australians are taking to cruising like ducks to water.
The cruise industry is the fastest-growing segment of travel and tourism — and Queensland, my home state, is jumping on the bandwagon big time.
Continue reading Queensland cruises into the futurePeople take cruises for many reasons. So, apart from the niche players in the market who cater to very specific interests, cruise companies have to design their ships to provide something for everyone.
That means paying close attention to the menu, the shore excursions, the amenities and, crucially, the entertainment program.
The northern Italian village of Bormida has hit the headlines because its council is offering €2,000 to anybody who wants to come and live there.
The idea is to boost the population of the village, where rents can be as low as €50 a month. I, for one, am tempted — particularly given Bormida’s close proximity to the borders with Monaco and France, and to the beautiful port of Savona, where Costa Cruises has a terminal.
I’ve been busy on Quora.com again, thanks to a question about which deck is the best to be on a cruise ship.
I’ve adapted the answer I gave there, because the deck level isn’t the only or even the best criterion when choosing a good cabin.
Over at Quora recently, I weighed in on the question: Why are cruises so expensive?
Here’s what I said:
There is one area where the hospitality industry has struggled (or is unwilling) to keep up and be competitive: the provision of internet services.
It is ridiculous in this day and age that some hotels, airlines and cruise ships offer near-extortionate prices for internet access (which, according to the United Nations, is a basic human right, no less).
It’s 10 days until I board the Vision of the Seas in Dubai for my week-long Arabian Gulf adventure.
As I write, I have completed all the formalities I need to rock up to Port Rashid and board the vessel. As long as I remember a few things …
Despite the fact that more and more people remain, or become, single well into their adult years, most travel deals are still offered on a per-person, twin-share basis.
Quite often, that fact is buried deep into the fine print on the brochure or website, and many people have begun the booking process to find that that bargain journey is only going to be a bargain if they can find a friend.
For many travellers, cruising is about dancing. From the couples of a certain age who still like to cut a rug the old-fashioned way to the professionals who perform for the rest of us to watch on in awe, it’s all to be seen on the high seas.
Here’s some video I took on the Costa Diadema of the ship’s animation (entertainment) team and dancers, and some of the passengers, getting into the spirit.
Before I took my first Costa cruise, I researched the company’s vessels on the usual review sites and discovered that they tended to rank lower than the British and American ships.
Delving a bit deeper, I noticed that the criticism was coming mostly from Britons and Americans whose main complaint seemed to be the “Italianness” of the Costa offering.
Basically, some people didn’t like the fact that ships flying the Italian flag catered largely for Italians. They didn’t like the fact that English was demoted in onboard annoucements and during entertainment programs to a second, third or even fourth language. And they didn’t like the food, especially the authentic pizza (presumably because it wasn’t like the pizza they had delivered back home.)
I’m glad I dismissed this for what it was — let’s call it xenophobia — and decided to give Costa a try. Continue reading Review: Costa Diadema
I’ve written before that I think the internet offering will be the next big battleground in the war between cruise operators.
When I first started sailing in earnest nearly four years ago, the internet plans on most ships were appalling. Some of them still are. Continue reading The best connection
Pay careful attention, because I am about to teach you a valuable life skill: how to use an elevator (a.k.a. lift) on a cruise ship.
You may think you already know this, but I’m pretty sure that you don’t. Continue reading Going up (or down)
I’ve just booked my next cruise — for next week (I don’t muck about) — and it will mean travelling on the flag ship of the Costa fleet, the Diadema.
With a capacity of 4,947 passengers plus 1,253 crew, a length of 306 metres, and a gross tonnage of 132,500 (all according to Wikipedia) — and, apparently, a stunning art collection — it’s a mighty vessel, though in most metrics smaller than the Norwegian Epic, on which I cross the Atlantic two years ago.
I’ll be flying into Munich on Etihad on March 10 and then making my way, probably by train, to Savona for the March 12 departure. The itinerary takes in Western Med ports including Palma Mallorca and Barcelona.
This will be my fourth Costa cruise in just over two years. I was hoping to travel with another company this time, but the dates didn’t suit my schedule. And, as usual, Costa had a great last-minute booking deal.
Of course, I will be updating my progress here.
Costa Fortuna, Dubai, Muscat Khasab, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jan 15-22, 2016
I’ve already written about the full experience in my cruise diary, so here are the headlines, which may be of help to potential future passengers: Continue reading Review: Costa Fortuna
A now-completed blog of my cruise on the Costa Fortuna sailing from and to Port Rashid, Dubai via Muscat, Khasab and Abu Dhabi. New posts at the top.
