The right price……………………………………………………………..……$629
January 29, 2011: 7 nights Ship: Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas
Departure: Sao Paulo, Brazil return with four Brazilian ports, including Rio de Janeiro
Bonus: $150 per cabin on-board credit for select categories
Contact: Cruises To Go Fast Deal #12025
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When a ship almost nobody had heard of, the Clelia II, lost power in one engine in Antarctic waters this week it was tossed around like a toy in the rapids. With 88 Americans on board, the ship was rescued by a National Geographic boat after 55-foot waves smashed windows on the bridge and sent passengers for seasick bags.
Nobody was hurt except the reputation of cruise ships, so it’s time for a little perspective here. There’s a video of the ship’s plight on YouTube, footage taken from the rescue ship, and an attorney who specializes in maritime personal injury law (Jim Walker) has an excellent article about responsibility in incidents such as this — click here to read it.
We have not sailed the 500-mile Drake Passage, where penguins and icebergs roam, but it has always been our understanding that in waters that can be violent, captains will re-route ships through an inside passage if it’s too dangerous. Common sense would seem to dictate that large cruise ships are best suited to this venture. The Clelia II is 290 feet long and has tonnage of 4,077. The Allure of the Seas is 1,187 feet long and its tonnage is 220,000. What do you think?
The Clelia II, which a year ago was floundering on rocks off Cape Horn, is scheduled to depart on another South American adventure on January 4, for 12 days. Suites (there are only suites) go for $8,495 to $15,995 per person.
Go for it.
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Can you tell the difference between these two ships? If so…
How does this happen?
These were two of four ships in the port of Malaga, Spain, at the same time. A woman boarded the Louis Majesty (top) and realized several hours into the cruise that it was going to Barcelona. She on the other hand was going to Rome…as was the Costa Concordia (bottom).
A small boat retrieved her from the Louis Majesty and returned her to the Concordia.
Besides not knowing she was on the wrong ship until she found out where it was going, can you say “security?”
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According to Cruise Critic, Royal Caribbean is increasing its recommended daily gratuities, effective July 1, to $11.65 per passenger ($13.90 if you’re in a suite). These are up from $9.75 and $12 a day, respectively.
So where do $11.65 and $13.90 come from…why not just $11 and $14? Is there some formula that calculates what a ship’s workers are entitled to collect in gratuities? It can’t be 15% of anything you pay, because everybody pays different amounts…in fact, it can’t be any percentage, for the same reason. Or do they just put numbers in a hat, and draw?
And on the subject of tipping, it’s accepted in the industry that there will be this per-passenger, per-day charge because some people will leave nothing anywhere…you know what they say: “The difference between them and a canoe is that a canoe tips.” But it is necessary for cruise lines to leave envelopes for “extra tips” for the room steward, the maitre d’ or your waiter, and ask you to deliver them to the individual(s) on the last night of your cruise?
That’s just laying a guilt tip on you!
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This probably happens more often than we know…
Last Sunday night, Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas changed course to rescue a raft in rough waters between the Bahamas and Cape Canaveral.
On the raft were six people, who were brought onboard and given food, water and medical treatment.
Any guesses where the people on the raft were from?
Let’s see, off the coast of Florida…
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That’s it, we’re done.