NEWS TO USE FROM CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
130,000-ton Carnival Dream - Largest 'Fun Ship' Ever Constructed - The largest Carnival Cruise Lines ship ever constructed, the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream, will usher in a new era of "Fun Ship" cruising when it debuts in September 2009, offering a host of innovations. Carnival Dream's many features will include The Piazza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live music venue; the most elaborate children's facilities at sea, including expansive play areas and a huge Carnival WaterWorks aqua park; "scenic whirlpools" that extend over the ship's beam; and a variety of new stateroom categories, including those specifically catering to families. Following its debut in Europe and a series of voyages from New York, Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Fla., Dec. 5, 2009.
First Year-Round Schedule from Baltimore - Carnival will launch the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore with seven-day cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride beginning Sept. 13, 2009. It is expected that the Carnival Pride will carry more than 115,000 guests annually from the Port of Baltimore. Including its new Baltimore-based program, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 17 North American departure points, including 11 year-round homeports - the most of any cruise operator.
Carnival Fantasy to Mobile - Carnival - which operates Mobile, Ala.'s only year-round cruise program - will expand capacity at the port by 42 percent when the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy assumes the popular four- and five-day cruise program of the 1,452-passenger Holiday beginning in November 2009. On this route, four-day cruises depart the Alabama Cruise Terminal Thursdays and call at Cozumel while five-day cruises depart Mondays and Saturdays to Cozumel and Calica or Progreso. This fall, Carnival Fantasy will undergo an extensive renovation that will include the addition of a water park, adults-only area and redesigned main pool, all part of the line's "Evolutions of Fun" product enhancement initiative.
Carnival Triumph to New Orleans - The 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph will replace the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in New Orleans in 2009, representing a 34 percent capacity increase from the Big Easy. Additionally, Carnival Triumph will introduce two new seven-day eastern and western itineraries from the port, complementing the line's popular four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises. Carnival is the only cruise line to operate year-round from New Orleans and the Carnival Triumph is expected to carry approximately 200,000 passengers annually from the Crescent City - the most of any cruise line.
Significant Expansion on Jacksonville-Based Cruises - Carnival will increase capacity by 38 percent on its Jacksonville-based cruises when the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination begins year-round four- and five-day departures Sept. 20, 2008. Carnival is the only cruise operator to sail year-round from Jacksonville and, with the deployment of the Carnival Fascination - the newest and largest ship ever homeported year-round in Jacksonville - the line is expected to carry 170,000 guests annually from that port.
Carnival Sensation to Undergo Next Phase of 'Evolutions of Fun' - In January 2009, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Sensation will undergo a multi-million-dollar refurbishment that will include the installation of a water park, an adults-only retreat and tropical-themed mid-ship pool area, as well as renovations to 1,000 staterooms, all part of the line's "Evolutions of Fun" product enhancement initiative for the line's eight Fantasy-class vessels. Carnival Sensation will be the fourth ship to be retrofitted with these features, with Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration already completed and Carnival Fantasy to be refurbished this fall.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
New Airline Fees- Joke
This joke was sent to me from one of my favorite clients.
This may not be too far off in the future!
Attendant: Welcome aboard Ala Carte Air, sir. May I see your ticket?
Passenger: Sure.
Attendant: You're in seat 12 B. That will be $5, please!
Passenger: What for?
Attendant: For telling you where to sit.
Passenger: But I already knew where to sit.
Attendant: Nevertheless, we are now charging a seat locator fee of $5.
It's the airline's new policy.
Passenger: That's the craziest thing I ever heard. I won't pay it.
Attendant: Sir, do you want a seat on this flight, or not?
Passenger: Yes, yes. All right, I'll pay. But the airline is going to hear about this.
Attendant: Thank you. My goodness , your carry-on bag looks heavy.
Would you like me to stow it in the overhead compartment for you?
Passenger: That would be swell, thanks.
Attendant: No problem. Up we go, and done! That will be $10, please.
Passenger: What?
Attendant: The airline now charges a $10 carry-on assistance fee.
Passenger: This is extortion. I won't stand for it.
Attendant: Actually, you're right, you can't stand. You need to sit,
and fasten your seat belt. We're about to push back from the gate.
But, first I need that $10.
Passenger: No way!
Attendant: Sir, if you don't comply, I will be forced to call the air marshal.And you really don't want me to do that.
Passenger: Why not? Is he going to shoot me?
Attendant: No, but there's a $50 air-marshal hailing fee.
Passenger: Oh, all right, here, take the $10. I can't believe this.
Attendant: Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?
Passenger: Yes. It's stuffy in here, and my overhead fan doesn't seem to work. Can you fix it?
Attendant: Your overhead fan is not broken, sir. Just insert two quarters into the overhead coin slot for the first five minutes.
Passenger: The airline is charging me for cabin air?
Attendant: Of course not, sir. Stagnant cabin air is provided free of charge. It's the circulating air that costs 50 cents.
Passenger: I don't have any quarters. Can you make change for a dollar?
Attendant: Certainly, sir! Here you go!
Passenger: But you've given me only three quarters for my dollar.
Attendant: Yes, there's a change making fee of 25 cents.
Passenger: For cryin' out loud. All I have left is a lousy quarter?
What the heck can I do with this?
Attendant: Hang onto it. You'll need it later for the lavatory.
This may not be too far off in the future!
Attendant: Welcome aboard Ala Carte Air, sir. May I see your ticket?
Passenger: Sure.
Attendant: You're in seat 12 B. That will be $5, please!
Passenger: What for?
Attendant: For telling you where to sit.
Passenger: But I already knew where to sit.
Attendant: Nevertheless, we are now charging a seat locator fee of $5.
It's the airline's new policy.
Passenger: That's the craziest thing I ever heard. I won't pay it.
Attendant: Sir, do you want a seat on this flight, or not?
Passenger: Yes, yes. All right, I'll pay. But the airline is going to hear about this.
Attendant: Thank you. My goodness , your carry-on bag looks heavy.
Would you like me to stow it in the overhead compartment for you?
Passenger: That would be swell, thanks.
Attendant: No problem. Up we go, and done! That will be $10, please.
Passenger: What?
Attendant: The airline now charges a $10 carry-on assistance fee.
Passenger: This is extortion. I won't stand for it.
Attendant: Actually, you're right, you can't stand. You need to sit,
and fasten your seat belt. We're about to push back from the gate.
But, first I need that $10.
Passenger: No way!
Attendant: Sir, if you don't comply, I will be forced to call the air marshal.And you really don't want me to do that.
Passenger: Why not? Is he going to shoot me?
Attendant: No, but there's a $50 air-marshal hailing fee.
Passenger: Oh, all right, here, take the $10. I can't believe this.
Attendant: Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?
Passenger: Yes. It's stuffy in here, and my overhead fan doesn't seem to work. Can you fix it?
Attendant: Your overhead fan is not broken, sir. Just insert two quarters into the overhead coin slot for the first five minutes.
Passenger: The airline is charging me for cabin air?
Attendant: Of course not, sir. Stagnant cabin air is provided free of charge. It's the circulating air that costs 50 cents.
Passenger: I don't have any quarters. Can you make change for a dollar?
Attendant: Certainly, sir! Here you go!
Passenger: But you've given me only three quarters for my dollar.
Attendant: Yes, there's a change making fee of 25 cents.
Passenger: For cryin' out loud. All I have left is a lousy quarter?
What the heck can I do with this?
Attendant: Hang onto it. You'll need it later for the lavatory.
Airline Fees- all in one spot
Although I never push my clients to use online travel sites, Kayak has been one that I have used many time for checking airline pricing.
Now they have added a chart on all of the airline fees.
Check it out........
http://www.kayak.com/airline-fees
Now they have added a chart on all of the airline fees.
Check it out........
http://www.kayak.com/airline-fees
Monday, August 11, 2008
Carnival Cruises Pulls Fantasy from New Orleans
Carnival abandons New Orleans -- at least for now
Call it the disaster that never ends.
Last month's oil spill on the Mississippi River was supposed to be cleaned up weeks ago. But apparently it's still causing trouble for ships heading to New Orleans, including the Carnival Fantasy, and it appears Carnival has finally given up hope that the situation will be fixed anytime soon.
The line says the Fantasy, which normally is based year-round in New Orleans, will relocate to Mobile, Ala., through at least September.
The announcement affects six Caribbean cruises on the Fantasy scheduled to depart New Orleans on Aug. 9, 14, 18, 23 and 28, and on Sept. 1. The ship will then enter a previously-scheduled dry dock for a massive overhaul before (presumably) returning to New Orleans in October.
The oil spill has been a bit of a nightmare for Carnival, which has scrambled to make last-minute changes to the Fantasy's itinerary in each of the last three weeks. Every week it looked like the oil spill had been contained and the ship could get back into its berth in New Orleans. And every week something went wrong that kept the vessel away.
In each of the past three weeks the ship has been forced to make a last-minute diversion to Mobile to disembark passengers, a change that has left thousands of passengers nearly 150 miles away from where they expected to arrive (and where many have left their cars or scheduled flights for home). Carnival has bused the passengers back to the port of New Orleans.
The diversions also have caused headaches for the thousands of passengers who expected to depart from New Orleans the past few weeks and had to be bused to Mobile to reach the ship.
Carnival says the switch to Mobile for the next month will ensure smooth operations for the vessel. "The decision is based on continued issues and uncertainty surrounding the Mississippi River," it says in a statement. "Based on the potential for additional sporadic closures, along with speed limitations and required hull cleanings, the company cannot provide assurances that it will be able to operate the scheduled itineraries from New Orleans."
Call it the disaster that never ends.
Last month's oil spill on the Mississippi River was supposed to be cleaned up weeks ago. But apparently it's still causing trouble for ships heading to New Orleans, including the Carnival Fantasy, and it appears Carnival has finally given up hope that the situation will be fixed anytime soon.
The line says the Fantasy, which normally is based year-round in New Orleans, will relocate to Mobile, Ala., through at least September.
The announcement affects six Caribbean cruises on the Fantasy scheduled to depart New Orleans on Aug. 9, 14, 18, 23 and 28, and on Sept. 1. The ship will then enter a previously-scheduled dry dock for a massive overhaul before (presumably) returning to New Orleans in October.
The oil spill has been a bit of a nightmare for Carnival, which has scrambled to make last-minute changes to the Fantasy's itinerary in each of the last three weeks. Every week it looked like the oil spill had been contained and the ship could get back into its berth in New Orleans. And every week something went wrong that kept the vessel away.
In each of the past three weeks the ship has been forced to make a last-minute diversion to Mobile to disembark passengers, a change that has left thousands of passengers nearly 150 miles away from where they expected to arrive (and where many have left their cars or scheduled flights for home). Carnival has bused the passengers back to the port of New Orleans.
The diversions also have caused headaches for the thousands of passengers who expected to depart from New Orleans the past few weeks and had to be bused to Mobile to reach the ship.
Carnival says the switch to Mobile for the next month will ensure smooth operations for the vessel. "The decision is based on continued issues and uncertainty surrounding the Mississippi River," it says in a statement. "Based on the potential for additional sporadic closures, along with speed limitations and required hull cleanings, the company cannot provide assurances that it will be able to operate the scheduled itineraries from New Orleans."
Monday, August 4, 2008
What will be next with the airlines?
US Air is no longer offering free coffe or water. Now Jet Blue is charging for pillows and blankets!
JetBlue Airways to charge $7 for pillow, blanket
Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?By Samantha Bomkamp, AP Business Writer
NEW YORK — JetBlue Airways said Monday it will begin charging customers for pillows and blankets.
The carrier has done away with the recycled blankets and pillows used on its flights, and will begin offering an "eco-friendly" travel blanket and pillow that can be purchased for $7 on flights longer than two hours. The pair will come in a kit with a $5 coupon to home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond.
The carrier claims the pillow and blanket feature a fabric technology, developed by CleanBrands, that blocks pesky critters like dust mites, mold spores, pollen and pet dander.
JetBlue already offers free "Snooze Kits" on overnight flights from the West that include an eyeshade and ear plugs.
But the blanket and pillow kit is the latest in a string of a la carte items the company says are providing a revenue boost to help offset the soaring price of jet fuel.
A JetBlue spokeswoman declined to predict how much the sale of these kits will bring in, saying that the company only provides revenue details for specific items in its quarterly earnings conference calls.
The carrier said last month it expects to collect about $40 million from customers buying seats with extra leg room this year.
Its $15 fee for a second checked bag is expected to translate into about $20 million in additional revenue. A ticket change fee, which doubled to $100 in the second quarter, is part of a "basket of fee changes" expected to produce about $50 million in extra revenue in 2008.
JetBlue Airways to charge $7 for pillow, blanket
Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?By Samantha Bomkamp, AP Business Writer
NEW YORK — JetBlue Airways said Monday it will begin charging customers for pillows and blankets.
The carrier has done away with the recycled blankets and pillows used on its flights, and will begin offering an "eco-friendly" travel blanket and pillow that can be purchased for $7 on flights longer than two hours. The pair will come in a kit with a $5 coupon to home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond.
The carrier claims the pillow and blanket feature a fabric technology, developed by CleanBrands, that blocks pesky critters like dust mites, mold spores, pollen and pet dander.
JetBlue already offers free "Snooze Kits" on overnight flights from the West that include an eyeshade and ear plugs.
But the blanket and pillow kit is the latest in a string of a la carte items the company says are providing a revenue boost to help offset the soaring price of jet fuel.
A JetBlue spokeswoman declined to predict how much the sale of these kits will bring in, saying that the company only provides revenue details for specific items in its quarterly earnings conference calls.
The carrier said last month it expects to collect about $40 million from customers buying seats with extra leg room this year.
Its $15 fee for a second checked bag is expected to translate into about $20 million in additional revenue. A ticket change fee, which doubled to $100 in the second quarter, is part of a "basket of fee changes" expected to produce about $50 million in extra revenue in 2008.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Is Europe Cooling Down for Americans?
Since 2003, Europe has been HOT. Take a look at the number of cruise ships in Europe vs the number in the Caribbean over the summer--- Celebrity has none in the Caribbean, Holland American has none in the Caribbean, Princess has 1 in the Caribbean. These cruise lines have gambled on the fact that in the past few years, Americans have been flocking to Europe in record numbers and have put their ships in Europe and Alaska in the summer months.
Europe has been a top destination for most travel professionals in the past couple of years. Who wouldn't want to go to Italy, Greece, France or cruise the Mediterranean or vast rivers in Europe? Europe is great for culture, romance, history, and just about everything!
I have just had 2 sets of clients come back from Europe this week and both said something interesting. The first was a small group of women traveling for the 2nd time on a Globus escorted tour in Europe. Last year, they went to Switzerland and this year to Eastern Europe where many of the countries are still not on the Euro. Out of 42 passengers on the tour bus, their group of 8 and one other couple were American. All others were Canadian and Australian. Last year, their bus was comprised of Americans from all over the US. My next set of clients was a family of 4 from New York. They were on the Celebrity Century going from Amsterdam to Northern Europe, including St Petersburg. Out of a ship of 2000 passengers, only 900 were American. Their young adult children expected to meet many other American peers on the ship and that was not the case.
In both cases, my clients had a geat time but both found it interesting how non-American their travelling companions were.
So my question to the travel suppliers, are you going to keep pushing Europe as much for 2009 and 2010 or are you going to add more cruises and tours closer to home that more Americans will be able to afford? Time will tell- the 2009 itineraries are already out and booking up. Let's see what happens for 2010. It will be interesting.
Europe has been a top destination for most travel professionals in the past couple of years. Who wouldn't want to go to Italy, Greece, France or cruise the Mediterranean or vast rivers in Europe? Europe is great for culture, romance, history, and just about everything!
I have just had 2 sets of clients come back from Europe this week and both said something interesting. The first was a small group of women traveling for the 2nd time on a Globus escorted tour in Europe. Last year, they went to Switzerland and this year to Eastern Europe where many of the countries are still not on the Euro. Out of 42 passengers on the tour bus, their group of 8 and one other couple were American. All others were Canadian and Australian. Last year, their bus was comprised of Americans from all over the US. My next set of clients was a family of 4 from New York. They were on the Celebrity Century going from Amsterdam to Northern Europe, including St Petersburg. Out of a ship of 2000 passengers, only 900 were American. Their young adult children expected to meet many other American peers on the ship and that was not the case.
In both cases, my clients had a geat time but both found it interesting how non-American their travelling companions were.
So my question to the travel suppliers, are you going to keep pushing Europe as much for 2009 and 2010 or are you going to add more cruises and tours closer to home that more Americans will be able to afford? Time will tell- the 2009 itineraries are already out and booking up. Let's see what happens for 2010. It will be interesting.
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