News item: Puerto Rico is doubling the number of hotels, and doubling the number of hotel rooms, over the next decade because of an annual increase in tourist traffic of three per cent (2013) that is topping out at 1.6 million. For the cruise community, Puerto Rico is San Juan. In a one-year period, San… Continue reading Puerto Rico Plans to Market Cruisers
It's About 'Gratuities' on Cruise Ships…
The problem with tipping is tipping. When does it start and when does it end. On cruise ships, sometimes you never know. On almost all cruises, you pay "gratuities" up front. End of story? Not necessarily. On almost all cruises, there's the suggestion that you can tip room stewards, servers, bartenders, spa specialists…something a little… Continue reading It's About 'Gratuities' on Cruise Ships…
Timeline For Boarding 6,200 Passengers
ON BOARD ALLURE OF THE SEAS — Here you have the biggest cruise ship in existence. Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. It carries 6,000-plus. On this cruise, 6,200 and change. That means in the space of about four hours, that many passengers must be processed in the cruise terminal and boarded onto the ship.… Continue reading Timeline For Boarding 6,200 Passengers
World Cup No Economic Fit for Carnival
ON BOARD THE CARNIVAL FREEDOM — The largest cruise line in the world isn't carrying the biggest sporting event in the world this year on stateroom television…and there's a good reason why. Passengers on Carnival ships sailing in waters surrounding North America are not glued to the The World Cup, as most of the world… Continue reading World Cup No Economic Fit for Carnival
How 'Accident' Changed Cruise Doctor's Life
Ricardo Mejia's trip to becoming a doctor on a cruise ship started by accident on the beach. On his way back home to Colombia from Chicago, where he'd spent three years studying emergency care at Northwestern University, Dr. Mejia had a stopover in Miami so he visited a Colombia expat and his family. At that… Continue reading How 'Accident' Changed Cruise Doctor's Life