In the aftermath of several problems on cruise ships, most notably when the Carnival Triumph had a fire break out in one of the ship’s engine rooms causing the ship to lose power, cruise lines are taking extra steps to make sure that passengers on board are taken care.

There has been an outcry from many asking for cruise lines to take these extra steps.  While these ten Bill of Rights may not be perfect, they are a step in the right direction and most of them seem like “common sense”.

What steps are being taken?  Below are the 10 rights that passengers will now have when they step on board their next cruise.

INTERNATIONAL CRUISE LINE PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS

1. The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided on board, subject only to the Master’s concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port.
2. The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures.
3. The right to have available on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shore side medical care becomes available.
4. The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures.
5. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures.
6. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure.
7. The right to transportation to the ship’s scheduled port of disembarkation or the passenger’s home city in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.
8. The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.
9. The right to have included on each cruise line’s website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations.
10. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each line’s website.

What do you think of these 10 rights?  Do you think they are fair or that the cruise lines should do go even farther?  Cruise Fever would love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.

The 928-passenger and 48,000 ton Viking Star will debut in 2014. Photo courtesy of Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises has dominated the river cruise industry for years with 30 plus ships and 12 more on order for 2014.

And now Viking has announced plans to enter the ocean cruise industry while keeping its focus on elegant ships and exotic destinations.

The new line will be called Viking Ocean Cruises and will be the first new cruise line to emerge in almost a decade.  Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen said that he wants to take a different approach than the other cruise lines have taken saying,

“It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail.  With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises to our itinerary and ship design; privileged-access excursions; and on-board experiences to make destinations the true focus.”

Watch a video tour of what Viking Ocean Cruises’ ships will look like:

The new cruise line has ordered two 48,000 ton cruise ships that can hold 928 passengers each and is expected to order 4 more in the future.  The Viking Star will be the first ship to debut in 2014 and will have initial itineraries in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The smaller ships will allow them to be able to cruise to ports that are inaccessible to larger ships and help keep the cruisers focused on destinations rather than new frills and rides on the ship.

The clientele that Viking will focus on will be similar to Royal Caribbean owned Azamara and will be perfect for those who wish to see more of the world while living in luxury.

Fares will start at $2,999 per person for a 10-night cruise in the Mediterranean but this fare price is all inclusive.  The cost of drinks, meals, wireless internet, and even shore excursions at every port will be included in the fare price, making the price tag a lot more attractive.

Although the ships will be small compared to some of the mega ships of today, the rooms will be quite a bit bigger.  Every room will have a balcony and even the smallest category rooms will have 270 square feet.

And for those wanting to cruise in a suite, the 14 different multiple room suites will offer from 750 to 1,400 square feet of space.

Have you ever been on a Viking River Cruise?  What do you think about this new cruise line?  Let us know with a comment below.

This itinerary on the Carnival Splendor will allow for stops at great ports like St Kitts, St Maarten, St Thomas,  and the islands of Antigua.  For those that want to cruise back to New York instead of flying they can also book cruises from Puerto Rico to New York and make it a 2 week vacation.

The first New York-to-San Juan cruise will take place on Oct. 24, 2014; and there will be two more on Jan. 12 and Feb. 13, 2015. Three San Juan-to-New York voyages will depart on Nov. 1, 2014; and on Jan. 20 and Feb. 21, 2015.

Currently Carnival’s 7 or 8-night round trip cruises that sail out of New York are only able to go as far south as Florida and the Bahamas because of the distance, so these one-way cruises will give New Yorkers grater variety in exploring the southern Caribbean.

The cruise line also announced that it would offer new 4, 5 and 7-day cruises on the Carnival Splendor to Canada and New England. The dates for these cruises will take place from June to October 2014.

What do you think about one-way cruises?  Would you take one and fly back or would you just book another one-way cruise to get back home?  Let us know in the comments section below.

The Breakaway holds 4,000 passengers and is the first of the Breakaway Class ships from Norwegian.  The Norwegian Getaway will be the second when the ship begins sailing year round from Miami in early 2014.  The Breakaway is currently the 8th largest cruise ship in the world.

Staterooms

The Breakaway joined the Epic as the only two ships at sea to offer studio cabins for solo travelers.  Norwegian also did away with the unpopular bathroom design of the Epic and went to the traditional bathrooms to give cruisers the privacy that are accustomed to having.  All cabins have a 26-inch flat screen television, mini-bar, full closet, and inside staterooms are as small as 135 sq. ft.  Cabins are energy efficient by utilizing the room key to control lighting in each room.

On the Breakaway, passengers can choose from studio, inside, oceanview, balcony, spa balcony, mini-suites, and the Haven staterooms.  Guests who book rooms in the Haven will have special access to The Haven Courtyard Area, private restaurant and lounge.

Restaurants

You will not go hungry on the Breakaway as you can choose from any one of 17 dining venues on board to eat at.  Three of these restaurants are included in your cruise fare along with the Garden Cafe (buffet).  In addition to the restaurants, there is a gelato shop and a bakery shop run by Buddy Valastro from the hit show Cake Boss.  In keeping with the NYC theme on board the Breakaway, there are also three Sabrett hot dog stands.

Restaurants included in cruise fare:

• Savor Restaurant
• Taste Restaurant
• Manhattan Room
• Garden Cafe (buffet)
• Room service

Specialty Restaurants

• Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian
• Le Bistro French Restaurant
• Cagney’s Steakhouse
• Teppanyaki
• Moderno Churrascaria
• Shanghai’s Noodle  Bar
• La Cucina Italian Restaurant
• Wasabi Sushi Bar
• Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy

Several of these dining options are coupled with bars and lounges that create a unique space on deck 8 called the Waterfront.  The is a first for a cruise ship as guests are able to enjoy breathtaking ocean views as they dine or enjoy their favorite drink.

For those who are worried about the Boardwalk being too cold to utilize in the winter when you first sail out of NYC, the dining options and lounges also offer indoor seating.

Entertainment

There are some great entertainment options on board the Breakaway.  Norwegian has joined Disney as the only cruise lines to offer a fireworks show on every cruise.

The signature show will be the 5-time Tony Award nominated musical Rock of Ages.  Set in 1980′s Los Angeles, songs from this Broadway hit include “We Built This City”, “The Final Countdown”, and  ”Here We Go Again“.

Other shows that are offered are “Burn the Floor, Ballroom Reinvented” and Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy.  For those who love comedy, there is a Second City comedy club that is exclusive to Norwegian Cruise Line.  The dueling piano show at Headliners is a great place to sing along to your favorite songs from the 70s to today.  One important thing to remember is that any song suggestion without a tip is just that, a suggestion.   Remember to bring several small bills so you can hear your favorite songs.  Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club will make you think you are in a New York City jazz club with New York blues star Slam Allen.

Recreation

There is something for everyone on board the Norwegian Breakaway.  For children, there is the Splash Academy for children 3-12 that is Norwegian’s largest kids area at sea full of Nickelodeon fun.  For teens, the Entourage is a great hangout that offers pinball, foosball, air hockey, a Playstation 3, video jukebox, and movies.

The aqua park offers 5 water slides including the fastest water slide on any cruise ship.  There is a special area for children that is themed with Nickelodeon. There are several swimming pools including one for children only.

The sports complex is huge offering the largest ropes course at sea.  There is also a basketball court, 9 hole mini golf course, rock climbing wall, bungee trampoline, and a spider web climbing cage. You can also “Walk the Plank” if you dare.  The plank stretches out 8 feet over the side of the ship to help you conquer your fear of heights.

The casino is larger than the ones you find on other cruise ships and offers the traditional casino games with a wide variety of slot machines, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Poker.  If you do play in the casino, remember to sign up for the Casinos At Sea Players Card so you can earn reward points.

There is also a world class spa on board the Breakaway that offers over 50 treatments. The spa also offers a Salt Room that mimics the natural salt caves found in Europe.

Overall, the Norwegian Breakaway is a game changer for Norwegian and especially the New York City cruise market.

Roughly one million tourists will visit Juneau aboard cruise ships in 2013.  They will visit on one of the record 27 different cruise ships on the 10 different lines that are offering cruises to Alaska in 2013.

Princess Cruises and Holland America each have seven cruise ships stopping in a port in Alaska this season.  Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity have three ships while Royal Caribbean has two ships in their fleet going to Alaska this season.  Disney, Carnival, Silverseas, Oceana, and Regent Seven Seas all have one ship scheduled to visit the 49th state.

The Alaskan cruise season will run until the end of September when the lines re-position the ships to warmer climates.  The Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau expects 2013 to bring in more visitors than last year since there will be more and larger ships scheduled to stop in the Port of Juneau.

Passengers enjoy Alaskan cruises for the amazing wildlife and the unbelievable scenery through the glaciers.  Some of the most popular tours to take while on an Alaskan cruise are whale watching cruises, glacier tours, helicopter tours, salmon fishing, and gold mining and panning adventures.

The smoking policies with different cruise lines and cruise ships are always changing, but we will try to keep this page updated when a company decides to make a change to its smoking policy.  Please let us know if you see any of the details below that need to be updated.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, this is where the cruise lines stand in regards to their smoking policies:

Carnival Cruise Lines: 

Carnival has designated areas where smokers can smoke in public areas, including certain areas of the casino and dance club.  Some areas of the jazz clubs on certain Carnival ships allow for smoking as well.   Almost every other public area is a non-smoking zone, including dining rooms and other public rooms.  Smoking is not permitted in cabins, but some ships allow for smoking on the balconies.  Currently 3 Carnival ships are completely smoke-free: Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines:

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of Royal Caribbean ships except for the starboard side of open decks, cabin balconies, and a designated area of a public room.  Open or closed decks on the portside of the ship are non-smoking zones.    As with most cruise lines the dining rooms are also smoke-free.

Disney Cruise Lines:

Disney does not permit any smoking in indoor areas and does not have designated areas inside for smoking.   Smokers, however, may smoke on open decks on the starboard side of the ships and cabin balconies.  Decks near Mickey’s Pool are non-smoking areas.

Norwegian Cruise Lines:

Norwegian allows for smoking on designated areas of open decks, in casinos, and cigar bars.   Smoking is prohibited in cabins, but it allowed on balconies.  However, only cigarette smoking is allowed on balconies, and pipe and cigar smoking is not allowed there.

MSC Cruises:

MSC does not allow any smoking in cabins or even on balconies.  However, they do allow smoking anywhere in casinos, in a dedicated lounge, and outdoors on one side of the sun deck.   Note: Some of their ships require you to walk through the casino to get to certain parts of the ship, so those sensitive to smoke will not be able to avoid it.

Costa Cruises:

As with MSC, Costa does not permit smoking in cabins or balconies.  They do allow smoking on open decks and in designated smoking areas available in most public rooms.  No smoking is allowed in restaurants and show lounges.

Princess Cruises:

Princess allows for smoking in the cigar lounge, in an area of the disco, the casino, and in some areas on open decks.  No smoking is allowed in cabins or balconies and all food services areas.  Cigar and pipe smoking is only allowed on open decks.

Celebrity Cruises:

Celebrity does not allow smoking in their cabins or balconies, but there are many designated smoking areas across the ship.  Certain areas on the port side of the ship are available for smokers.   Smoking is not permitted in the casino or in any food services areas.

Holland America:

Smoking is permitted on Holland America balconies but not in their cabins.   Smokers can smoke on open decks and in designated areas in most public rooms.   Show lounges and food service areas are non-smoking.

Crystal Cruises:

Crystal now does not allow smoking in indoor areas, as they once allowed smoking in cabins.   Outdoor smoking areas will be available in certain parts of the ship and a designated smoking lounge will be available for smokers.

A travel agent with KHM Travel out of Brunswick, Ohio said that the prices for Carnival Cruises that he had been watching for some of his clients took a nice dip and he was able to get them some great deals on a cruise to the Caribbean.

He told Cruise Fever that clients began asking if prices had dropped a few days after the incident with the Carnival Triumph.  While some of his clients normally sail with Royal Caribbean, they were wanting to try Carnival, especially if the price was too good to pass up.

It is not uncommon for cruise lines to cut prices when bookings slow down or when they need to fill a particular sailing that has many unsold cabins.  However, it appears that Carnival has cut prices after a wave of negative backlash hit the company after the well known problems that several of their ships had earlier this year.

A research report from Morgan Stanley on April 4 blamed the incidents with Carnival ships and said that they resulted in “record levels of cancellations and very low bookings from new cruisers. We hadn’t seen such a negative report since the Concordia incident”.

The problems for Carnival started on February 10 when the Carnival Triumph had a fire break out in the aft engine room leaving the ship with minimal power and no propulsion in the Gulf of Mexico.  The ship being towed back to Mobile, Alabama was front page headlines across all major news networks and became the water cooler topic at most work places that week.

A little over a month after the Triumph incident, Carnival ran into more problems when the Dream and the Legend ran into mechanical problems just two days apart.  Carnival had to cancel a couple cruises on the Dream so repairs could be made.

Since these problems occurred, Carnival has stated that they plan to undergo a complete maintenance overhaul of all of their ships to make sure that these problems do not happen again.  However, the negative damage had already been done and while prices did not drop immediately after these incidents, they have now come down to Caribbean cruises being offered as low as $229 a person on the home page of Carnival.com.

It is not uncommon for cruise lines to lower prices in late spring which is generally a slow booking season.  However, these lower prices that are now being offered on Carnival are likely the results of the negative press that the cruise line has received in 2013.

Royal Caribbean is once again raising the bar.  Their newest ship, Quantum of the Seas, will have more amenities and more dazzling displays than any other of its ships.   Some of the new attractions will be a skydiving simulator, bumper cars, a huge wall of screens that change the view throughout the day, and the North Star, which is a jewel shaped capsule that will take passengers 300 foot above sea level.  The North Star concept was inspired by the London Eye.

The two ships being built by Royal Caribbean as part of its “Project Sunshine” are Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.  Although the ships will not be as large as the Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas, the 4,180 passenger ships will have more technology, features, and dazzle than any ships currently sailing.

Watch this video to see some of the features of the Quantum of the Seas.

“The new ship will be such a leap forward in terms of vessel design and guest experiences that we thought the name Quantum of the Seas was perfectly appropriate,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

Royal Caribbean said today that Quantum of the Seas will sail out of the New York area after it debuts in 2014 on seven- to 12-night trips. Itineraries for Anthem of the Seas have yet to be announced. Bookings for Quantum of the Seas will be available to members of the line’s frequent cruiser club, the Crown & Anchor Society, starting on May 27 before opening to the general public on June 4.

So what do you think of this new ship?  Anything you would love to try on it?  Any changes you would make?  Let us know in the comment section below.

The Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled to be launched on April 30 as Norwegian’s second largest cruise ship (The Epic is the largest ship in their fleet).  The Breakaway will be the largest ship to sail out of the Port of New York and will sail seven night cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas.   Even though the ship will be the 2nd largest in Norwegian’s fleet, the Breakaway will be the most innovative.

The headline show on the Breakaway is the Broadway show, Rock of Ages.  Since the ship will be sailing year round from Manhatten, the ship has a NYC vibe to it and will even have Sabrett hot dogs served onboard.  The Breakaway will have 5 waterslides, a massive sports complex on the top deck of the ship that will include a ropes course, rock climbing wall, basketball court and an adults only retreat.  Suite passengers will have access to “The Haven” that includes a private pool, concierge and butler service, and a restaurant that is only available to guests staying in suites.

The Royal Princess will be the largest Princess cruise ship when she sets sail on June 10.  The ship will be the first of two Royal Class ships and will hold 3,600 passengers.  One of the most talked about features of the Royal Princess is the SeaWalk.  The SeaWalk will be a glass enclosed walkway that will extend 28 feet over the edge of the ship.  This walkway will be 128 feet above the water and will provide views that will be one of a kind on cruise ships.

Princess Cruises is famous for their Piazza and the one on the Royal Princess will be 50% largest than the current ones in their fleet.  The ship will have new dining features such as a crab shack and a  fondue dispensary.  Both of these features will be buffet style and will include a surcharge.

The MSC Preziosa was launched on March 23 as the last Fantasia Class ship from MSC.  This 3,500 passenger ship will sail in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, depending on the season.  The Preziosa has the longest water slide (42 feet high and 394 feet long) on any cruise ship.  The ship was built with MSC’s signature Yacht Club, for passengers who want luxury and exclusivity.

The AIDAstella is a 2,000 passenger ship that is sailing in Northern Europe and the Baltic.  This ship is the seventh in AIDA Cruise’s Sphinx class ships.  AIDA Cruises is owned and operated by Carnival Corp.

For those who want to cruise to the Arctic, Ponant Cruises is launching the Le Soleal in July.  This 260 passenger luxury ship will sail from Greenland and offer views of glaciers, Arctic nature, and unparalleled views of the aurora borealis.

There is also a large list of river cruise ships that have already been, or will be launched in 2013.  Viking River Cruises has 10 new river cruise ships that will begin sailing on the Rhine, Main, and Danube this year.  Other river boats launching this year are the AmaVida, AmaPrima, Avalan Artistry 2,  Avalon Expression, and the Scenic Jewel.

Some of the complaints include “the ocean being too loud” and “the service being too good”.   We got a kick out of what some of these people said, and we’re sure you will too.  Feel free to leave a comment if you have heard any other crazy complaints by cruisers.

1.  One of the complaints that caught the team’s attention came from a woman who was on a Mediterranean cruise.  She kept complaining that the ocean was too loud and kept her from being able to get a good night’s sleep.

She recommended that the cruise ship cabins be made better sound-proofed against the sounds of the sea.”  And here I thought the sound of the ocean was one of the best parts of cruising.

2.  A man was celebrating his honeymoon on a 2 week cruise to the Caribbean.  He complained about the lack of “ceremony” for himself and his new bride, hoping their cabin would be fully decorated in white, with rose-petals, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries awaiting them.   The newlywed cruiser admitted that he did not request any of these things, because he expected the staff to just know about their situation and give them this special treatment at no extra cost.

3.   A woman on a cruise departing from Southampton informed the bonvoyage.co.uk team that she had to re-schedule her whole holiday, as she claimed she was not aware of the fact that she was supposed to take her passport with her on the cruise.

She apparently thought she only needed her passport when going on a fly-cruise, and blamed the cruise company for not texting her the day before to remind her to take her passport.

4.  This one cracks me up.  A couple on a Mediterranean cruise complained that their Captain was rude, and did not comply to their requests for the cruise ship to wait for them.

Before the couple left the ship to visit the port of call, they left a note for the Captain that they would be returning to the ship 2 hours after the planned departure time.  Their reason: “too much to do in port.”

Of course, the Captain pulled the ship out of port at the planned time and the couple had to catch another ship to meet up with their cruise ship at the new port, after which they sought compensation for the travel cost they had to cover.

5.  A woman on a Hawaiian cruise said that she heard that Gary Barlow once cruised on the same cruise ship that she was traveling on.  But when she did not see him on the ship she demanded an explanation as to why he was not on the same cruise again.

6.  A man who traveled on an Alaskan cruise complained that the weather was much colder than he expected.  He wanted to be able to use the pool every day and work on his tan. 

He stated that “all cruises are meant to be hot”, and so he sought compensation for having to buy warmer clothing as he “had only packed minimal clothing for the expected hot weather.”

7.  An older couple on a European cruise complained that the cruise line did not provide them with a packed lunch for every day that were docked in port.  The cruise line never mentioned this option being provided, but apparently the couple thought it would be standard to carry a lunch with them each day.

8.  A woman on a ‘Celebrity Cruises’ ship asked bonvoyage.co.uk for a full refund in June last year, simply because she didn’t see any celebrities on board the ship.  According to her comments, the company was guilty of “false advertising” due to the lack of actual celebrities on the ship.

9.  One couple from Yorkshire complained about the kindness of the staff on board their cruise ship.  They said they had to spend a lot more money on tips then they had planned for because of how excellent the service was.  They then sought out compensation for the cost of the tips they gave out.

10.  Last but not least, BonVoyage.co.uk was contacted by a woman in January this year who expressed her disappointment with her inside cabin not having a window to the sea.

Furthermore, she expressed her frustration as she claimed ‘nobody’ on board was able to install a window for her so she could enjoy the view, and expected “better service next time.”

Have you heard any crazy complaints by cruisers?  Leave a comment below and let us know.

The Breakaway is the first of two ships in Norwegian’s Project Breakaway.  Along with the Getaway, these 4,000 passenger mega cruise ships will be among the largest ships in Norwegian’s fleet.  The largest Norwegian cruise ship is the Epic, which launched in 2009.

After a transatlantic cruise from Southampton, England, the Breakaway will be the largest cruise ship to call the Port of New York home.  The ship will begin sailing seven night cruises to Bermuda out of New York.  In the fall and winter, the ship will sail to the Bahamas and Florida.

The Breakaway will be the most innovative ship in Norwegian’s fleet.  The ship is one of the most, if not the most anticipated cruise ship that will debut in 2013.

Entertainment on board will include the show “Rock of Ages”, the dance sensation “Burn the Floor”, and Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy.  Food Network’s own Geoffrey Zakaria will debut his first restaurant at sea.  The ship will even have a bake shop run by Cake Boss’s Geoffrey Zakaria.

The top deck of the Breakaway will have the largest ropes course on any cruise ship along with five waterslides that are part of the first aqua park at sea.  Passengers will also have the chance to “Walk the Plank”.  Part of the top deck is a three story sports complex that will include a basketball court, nine hole mini-golf course, and a rock climbing wall.

Each cruise will have a dazzling fireworks display, a first for Norwegian Cruise Line.  Disney is currently the only cruise line that offers a fireworks show on their cruise ships.

The Breakaway is the largest cruise ship ever built in Germany.  With the sea trials complete, on board operations team will continue to prepare the ship for a series of inaugural events the ship’s maiden voyage across the Atlantic.

Whether you have been on a cruise before or not it always helps to know that each cruise line is different and will offer a different experience for its passengers.  Some may want a cruise that concentrates on fun and games, while another wants a more relaxing cruise filled with luxury and exquisite dining.   Almost every cruise line tries to offer something for both ends of this spectrum, but every cruise company has its perks.  This article will attempt to compare the 5 most popular cruise lines to help you decide which is best for you.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Corporation has the largest market share of all the cruise lines with 10 cruise brands owned and operated by the company.  Most people will cruise with Carnival for their first cruise because of their low rates that lure them in, and most will generally enjoy the experience.  Because they have more ships than anyone else you have more possibilities for destinations around the world.  Known for having more of a party atmosphere, Carnival ships can feel a little crowded in areas like lounges and pool decks when music is playing and games are being played.  But even with a packed ship, there are always areas of solitude where you can get away, read a book, or relax.  Carnival advertises their ships as the fun ships and there is always something fun to do on-board, whether it’s hopping on a water slide or joining in on the on-board games and activities.  This is a great cruise line to start with since it’s very affordable and offers a good variety of activities.

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Norwegian offers a mixture of casual and contemporary cruising.  Their “Freestyle” cruising allows passengers to have a more casual approach to dining anytime they want in a more relaxing atmosphere, which also means no formal attire is required.   There is also a good variety of dining options aboard a Norwegian ship.  Norwegian Cruise Lines, the 3^rd largest cruise line, is also considered a budget cruise line but offers some great entertainment and food services, similar to Carnival.  Some have said they enjoy the entertainment more aboard NCL ships, but most of this comes down to taste and personal opinion.  You will find cruisers of all ages aboard a Norwegian ship.   The entertainment aboard ships like the Norwegian Epic with the Blue Man Group is outstanding.

MSC Cruises

MSC’s main focus and operation has been in Europe and the Mediterranean.  It’s an Italian cruise line that caters to low-budget cruisers who don’t mind a mix of ethnic culture.  Most of the announcements are in 3 or 4 languages, and the entertainment is usually music and dance that is language-indifferent since many different languages are represented in their audience.  Shows also consist of some opera and acrobats.   But MSC has slowly been breaking into the American market and they are still adapting to the different tastes that American cruisers have.  The line has some large, beautiful ships, and the company is the 4^th largest cruise line right now.   The service and food may not be as good as some of the more expensive cruise lines, but you can score some amazing deals on these ships for a very affordable cruise vacation.  Cruisers are usually younger but the ships have an elegant classic feel to them.

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises is another Italian cruise line and is under the control of Carnival.  The line is rapidly expanding with 14 cruise ships, although it is now most famous for the Costa Concordia ship that ran aground in January of 2012.  The line offers some very reasonable prices and is ahead of MSC as far as adapting to North American cruisers tastes.  With Costa you can take Mediterranean cruises in Italy or cruise the Bahamas on one of their cruises out of Florida.   Although one of Costa’s mottos is “Cruising Italian Style” don’t expect only Italian stewards.  The staff is diverse and multi-cultural as any other cruise line now.  Announcements and shows are going to be in Italian and a couple other languages.   There is usually a Toga party the last night of most cruises.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

A notch in class above Carnival and Norwegian, Royal Caribbean offers the largest cruise ships on the seas that provide elegance and adventure.  This is also the 2^nd largest cruise line next to Carnival.  You may pay more for your experience, but many cruisers love Royal Caribbean ships and the staff’s dedication to service.  They also have an excellent kid’s  program that is free all day long until 10pm.  The shows are top-notch and full of amazing talent, and there is plenty of pizzazz aboard with games and activities going on constantly.   The ships are clean and safety protocols like the muster drill are annoying but thorough.  Although a Royal Caribbean Cruise will typically cost more than sailing with Carnival or Norwegian, it is cheaper than some of the other premium lines and you get a good value for your dollar.

Princess Cruises

Princess offers large elegant ships in their fleet with cruises that serve excellent food and service.  This is another company under Carnival, and they have spent the last few years updating some of their ships, including putting a huge movie screen above the pool deck for movie nights.  ON certain ships Nintendo Wii tournaments are held on the big screen as well.   The company is known for great service and amenities, and they allow you to eat anytime you want between 5:30 and 10pm in the main dining rooms.   Their Scholarship at Sea program allows cruisers to learn anything from Photoshop to  cooking while at sea.   Princess offers some of the old time aspects of cruising, like allowing friends of a cruiser to “see them off” by having lunch with them on the ship for a small charge.   Many say the ships have a more relaxed feel and there is a good mix of age ranges aboard.

Disney Cruise Line

Although Disney cruise ships are geared towards kids, this magical cruise line has some of the most beautiful ships on the sea.  With Dreamworks characters walking around the ship, exciting shows, waterslides, and plenty to do for the whole family, Disney ships offer separate areas of the ship depending on what you want to do, whether it’s to have fun or relax.   The cost of a Disney cruise is much more than Carnival or even Royal Caribbean, but it’s one of the best family cruises you can get.  There is a family-friendly atmosphere (no worries about adult-themed shows), great service, absolutely gorgeous ships, and everything that’s magical about Disney.   There are no casinos on Disney ships.

Holland America Line

Holland America ships are refined and full of amenities to pamper you on your cruise, including super comfy beddings.  You will find most cruisers on Holland America cruises are retired vacationers and there are not as many activities and “things to do” as a Carnival or Royal Caribbean ship.  HAL ships are great if you just want a relaxing, tranquil, and quiet cruise, and their ships are some of the most beautiful of all the cruise lines, with art work and wood finishes.  There is a classic, old-time, traditional feel to Holland America cruises.  Their entertainment is more low-key and after 10pm most of the activities have come to a dull roar.   Holland America is a subsidiary of Carnival and operates 14 ships to 7 continents.

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises are world-renown for being one of the most luxurious cruise lines to travel on.   The ships are gorgeous and the service is second to none.  They offer destinations all over the world, including a world cruise for those who want an extended cruise experience.  But all of this luxury comes at a cost, as Crystal Cruises is one of the priciest cruise lines to take.   This upscale cruise experience will provide a polished staff to cater for every whim and fancy, and the formal dining is just that, formal.   Getting dressed up is not just a suggestion, and it’s actually enforced.  Crystal cruises have been described as elegant and sophisticated without being stuffy.   The rooms are spacious and beautiful.  This cruise line is a step in class above Holland America and Princess but the formality and price may not be for everyone.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean and is their upscale offering of cruising the high seas.   You will find an older crowd, more traditional, with some nice elegant touches and more sophisticated onboard activities.   The cruise line offers excellent food and service but may be too sedate for younger cruisers looking for a lot of activity. Also, formal dressing in dining rooms are required to meet dress code.   For those looking to just relax and enjoy some refined luxuries on their vacation Celebrity has a lot to offer.   For the class and upscale cruising experience that Celebrity offers the prices are fairly reasonable too.

You will get all kinds of varying opinions when you ask what the “best” cruise line is.  And experiences can differ within the same cruise line with different ships.  Just because you read that one cruise line is horrible from one person, does not mean that someone else may have had the best cruise of their life with the same line.  Hopefully this comparison of the top 10 cruise ships will help.  Feel free to let us know where you agree or disagree with my assessment of the cruise lines in the comments below as well.

The Oasis has been sailing out of Port Everglades in Ft Lauderdale, Florida since the ship was christened in late 2009. Royal Caribbean announced that the cruise ship will head to Europe on a 12 night cruise to Barcelona, Spain on September 1, 2014.  The Oasis will then sail two Western Mediterranean cruises and one to the Netherlands.

The two Western Mediterranean cruises will be five nights long.  The third European cruise will be a seven night cruise from Barcelona to Rotterdam.

After the three European cruises, the Oasis will undergo its scheduled maintenance in a Rotterdam shipyard.  After the drydock, the ship will sail a 13 night cruise back from Southhampton, England to Port Everglades on October 15, 2014.  When the ship returns back to South Florida, the Oasis will resume sailing seven night cruises to the Western and Eastern Caribbean.

The Oasis of the Seas is the second largest cruise ship in the world at 225,282 gross tons.  Her sister ship and largest cruise ship in the world, the Allure of the Seas, is a mere 3 inches longer.

Royal Caribbean’s President and CEO Adam Goldstein wouldn’t comment on whether this was a test run to see if there was a market demand for an Oasis class ship in Europe.  He said, “Today we realize that in the future, as the cruise industry continues to grow around the world and infrastructure continues to develop around the world, that even Oasis-class vessels can be who-knows-where around the world”.

These repairs and updates will take place on 2 ships: the Carnival Triumph and the Carnival Sunshine (previously known as the Carnival Destiny).    The Carnival Triumph which was stranded for 5 days at sea after an engine room fire knocked out it’s power systems, and the Carnival Sunshine which is undergoing a previously scheduled overhaul, are both in repair yards undergoing the overhauls which have been extended.

The repair time for these ships has been extended due to a longer lead time for the needed materials.  The Triumph is expected to return to service by June 3rd, 2013, with an additional 10 cruises being canceled because of this extension.   This extension is going to affect about 30,000 cruisers.

But Carnival is taking care of these cruisers with a full refund, a reimbursement for non-refundable transportation costs, and a 25% off discount on any future 4-5 day cruise.

“We sincerely regret canceling these cruises and disrupting our guests’ vacation plans,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines’ president and CEO.  “We are fully committed to applying the recommendations stemming from our fleetwide review and to make whatever investments are needed despite the difficult decision to impact people’s vacations.”

Cahill continued, “Our team of experts has worked virtually around the clock to determine the best set of solutions and rapidly develop an effective implementation plan for both of these ships. Moving forward, we will have the ability to source materials and schedule improvements much more expediently, thus minimizing the scheduling impact on other vessels.

“I would like to provide continued assurances that all of our vessels have fully effective safety systems, equipment and training in place.  Additionally, our ships receive regular inspections from the United States Coast Guard and other regulatory authorities. The changes we are implementing are focused primarily on improvements to better support continued power and hotel services should unexpected issues arise. In addition, we are applying new learnings and making enhancements in the area of fire suppression and extinguishing.  Going forward, the review will focus on the balance of our fleet.  While this process will take time, it is our highest priority and has the full support and resources of Carnival Cruise Lines and Carnival Corporation,” Cahill said.

Although the Sunshine and Triumph are the only ships currently being repaired with these upgrades, Carnival is looking at implementing some of these changes fleetwide as a comprehensive review of the safety of their ships.

The injuries are not considered to be life threatening and both were admitted to the hospital where they are resting “comfortably”.  The husband was shot in his left side and the wife in her right thigh.  Other tourists in the area rushed by with towels and bandages to aid the Priors after the attack.

P&O issued the following statement, “”Two passengers on Adonia have been hospitalized at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, following an incident on shore.  Local authorities are investigating. Our shoreside customer care team and ship’s medical team are providing support as necessary.”

A spokesman for the Royal Barbados Police said that the attacker stole the woman’s purse and fled.  The couple was believed to be on their way back to the cruise ship when the robbery took place.

The news hit hard with the tourism authority in Barbados.  Incidents like this are extremely rare and they continue to focus on the safety and security of tourists.

The P&O Adonia is near the end of an 85 night world cruise which disembarks on April 3.  The cruise departed from Southhampton on January 8, 2013.  The Adonia is a smaller 30,000 gross ton ship that can carry up to 826 passengers.

Cruise Fever will continue to monitor this incident and update this page if any more information becomes available.

The ship has full power and none of the hotel or safety systems have been affected.  The Legend is moving at a reduced speed of 14 knots (16 mph).  The problem is with one of the ship’s Azipod units that affects the speed that the cruise ship can travel.

Passengers on board will receive a $100 per person credit to their stateroom and 50% off a future Carnival cruise.  Guests will also receive a full refund for any prepaid shore excursions that were planned in Grand Cayman.

This latest news does not come at a good time for Carnival.  It was just over a month ago when the Triumph was making daily headlines on all the major news networks when the ship had a fire break out in one of its engine rooms.  Yesterday the Carnival Dream, one of Carnival’s newest and largest cruise ships, had to shorten and cancel a cruise due to a faulty generator.

Carnival has yet to make any public statement regarding this latest problem.  However, this problem is not as severe compared to what happened to the Triumph and the Dream.  Cruise ships do run into problems like this every now and then.  However, due to the recent problems with Carnival, it will get blown out of proportion by the news media and general public.

Last spring, the Caribbean Princess had propulsion problems and ended up cancelling two cruises so repairs could be made in San Juan.

The Legend left Tampa, Florida on Sunday and made stops in the port of Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Run, Roatan.  The ship has been in service since 2002 and can carry 2,100 passengers and 930 crew members.

Cruise Fever will continue to monitor the situation with the Legend and update this page as more information becomes available.

Cell Phone Tower on Deck

How much does it cost to use my cell phone on a cruise?  This is one of the most asked questions before someone embarks on a cruise.  You may have read stories about misinformed passengers coming home to a $15,000 cell phone bill.  Believe it or not, it is really easy to rack up a $15,000 cell phone bill with a smartphone while out at sea.  Here are some helpful hints that can save you a huge headache and a massive bill.

Keep Your Phone Off

You’re on vacation, enjoying time with your family and loved ones, keep the phone off.  We realize that many would like to have it on in case of an emergency back home, and that is understandable.  All ships have internet access at a fraction of the cost of using your cell phone.  It is an option that can save you a bit of money.

Texting

Your unlimited texting bundle will not cover texts you make while at sea or in a foreign country while in port.  Check with your provider to get the exact rates.  Some carriers such as T-Mobile do not charge for incoming texts, only outgoing.  Every carrier is different so make sure you know the rates before you let your teenage daughter spend half the cruise texting.

Calls

Carriers charge between $3-5 a minute when using the ship’s cell towers.  Some carriers will charge you even if you ignore the call and your voicemail picks up.

Data

If you are going to leave your phone on during the cruise, the first thing you should do as soon as the ship begins to sail out of port is to turn data roaming off.  Data can cost as much as $15/mb.  That is an average of 3 webpages of surfing for your $15.  Also, significant charges can rack up if your phone has features such as push email on iPhones and Android devices.  Your phone will rack up charges without you even taking it out of your pocket.  All this can be avoided by turning data roaming off on your phone.  Some carriers do offer international data packages with Blackberrys and other phones.  You can get a prorated plan added to your account and have full access to the data on your phone.  Every carrier and phone is different so it is always best to check with your provider.

Lastly, do not go to your cell phone provider’s kiosk at the mall and ask the salesperson how much it will cost to use your phone on cruises.  If you ask all 5 salesmen working, you will most likely get 5 different answers.  I had one tell me once it only cost 15 cents a minute extra to make calls while in the Bahamas.  He was only off by $3 a minute and I would of had to pay the charges if I made the calls.  Here are the links to the international roaming rates for the 4 major phone carriers.
Verizon’s rates
T-Mobile’s rates
AT&T’s rates
Sprint’s rates

Carnival is making arrangements to fly passengers home via charter flights.  All passengers will receive a refund of 3 days of the cruise fare that they paid and 50% off a future cruise.  The March 16 sailing has been canceled so repairs can be made. Guests who were scheduled to sail on this cruise will receive a full refund and 25% off a future cruise.  All non-refundable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Original article: Reports are coming in from the port of St Maarten that the Carnival Dream is experiencing mechanical problems and had not left port as scheduled.  The ship was scheduled to head back to Ft Lauderdale at 5 pm on Wednesday.  The issue appears to be a generator problem on the Dream that CCL is currently working on.

This incident comes a little over a month after another Carnival cruise ship had mechanical problems when the Carnival Triumph had a fire break out in one of its engine rooms.  The Triumph had to be towed back to port after four long days at sea with minimal power.

Passengers on board the Dream have said that they are not allowed to leave the ship and the restrooms on board are not always functional.  There were reports of overflowing toilets in stateroom cabins as well as many of the public restrooms.  However, all hotel systems are currently functioning normally since shortly after midnight.

Toilets on cruise ships rely on power to work properly since they operate on a vacuum system to carry the waste away.  Elevators on the Dream are also working periodically.

An announcement was made over the P.A. system on the ship that said they were having problems and working on the generators.  A few hours later, another announcement informed passengers that the problem was worse than they had expected.

Little information has become available as of Thursday morning, and Cruise Fever is currently waiting for a response from Carnival.  More detailed information should be available shortly.

The Carnival Dream is a one of Carnival’s largest cruise ships and can hold nearly 5,000 passengers and crew members.  The Dream currently sails 7 night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean out of Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Cruise Fever will continue to monitor the situation with the Dream and will update this page as more information becomes available.

February

• February 10 – The Carnival Triumph had a fire break out in the aft engine room leaving the ship without propulsion in the Gulf of Mexico.

March

• March 9 –  Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas had a small norovirus outbreak that affected 108 passengers and crew members.
• March 13 – The Carnival Dream runs into mechanical problems while in the port of St Maarten.
  
• March 15 – The Carnival Legend had to cancel a scheduled stop in Grand Cayman and head back to Tampa.  The ship ran into propulsion problems with one of the Azipod propulsion units.
• March 19 – A British married couple are mugged and shot while visiting the port of Barbados.  They were on a 85 night world cruise on the P&O Adonia.

Cruise Ship Problems in 2012

January

• January 11 – The MSC Poesia hit a reef 2 miles off of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.  Tug boats pulled the ship to deeper waters and the cruise continued.  There was no major damage to the ship.
• January 13 – Costa Concordia hits a reef off the coast of Italy and 32 lives were lost in one of the worst cruise ship disasters of all time.

February

• February 7 – Crown Princess has to return to post 2 days earlier than scheduled due to a 2nd outbreak in the norovirus in as many weeks.  The ship undergoes a thorough 2 day cleaning before heading back out to sea.
• February 23 – 22 passengers from the Carnival Splendor were on a ship sponsored tour in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when they were robbed at gunpoint.  There were no injuries or casualties reported.
• February 27 – The Costa Allegra had a fire break out in the electric generator room causing the ship to lose power.  It took tub boats 2 days to pull the ship back into port so the passengers could disembark.  Costa decided to take the Allegra out of service and will either be sold or scrapped.

March

• March 7 – The FBI arrested the assistant director on the Norwegian Star for having sexual relations with a 16 year old passenger and possessing child pornography.
• March 14 – The Caribbean Princess heads back to the port in San Juan after experiencing propulsion issues.  The cruise was cut short by 4 days and the next 2 cruises were cancelled so repairs could be made to the ship.
• March 16 – The Silver Shadow, a luxury ship sailing near Vietnam, ran into a smaller ship (small freighter) due to dense fog in the area.  The ship received only minor dents and there were no reported injuries.
• March 30 – Azamara Quest has a fire break out in the engine room.  The ship was sailing in Asia off the coast of Borneo and there were no reported injuries or casualties.
• March 31 -  The Carnival Triumph was briefly seized by U.S. marshals in Galveston, Texas after a lawsuit was filed by a family member who died (Siglinde Stumpf)  in the Costa Concordia accident a few months earlier.

April

• April 15 – The Saga Sapphire on its maiden voyage runs into problems with one of its engines and has to end the cruise early.  The vessel returns to the UK so repairs can be made.  The 2nd sailing for the Sapphire was canceled so the ship could be properly repaired.
• April 20 – Small fire breaks out in the engine room of Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.  The fire was quickly extinguished and the ship continued to sail under full power.

May

• May 12 – Carnival announced that the Carnival Freedom had an outbreak of the norovirus and the following sailing was delayed a few hours so the ship could be thoroughly cleaned.

July

• July 14 – The river cruise ship Regina Rheni had a fire break out in the engine room while cruising the Rhine in Germany.  All passengers were evacuated and 10 were taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation.
• July 16 – The Crown Princess has a small fire break out in a cabin due to the wrong usage of electrical equipment.  There were no injuries and two cabins were left without electricity.

November

• November 11 – The Saga Ruby developed engine problems and had to cancel the remainder of its current cruise.  All passengers were given a full refund and were flown back to the U.K.

December

• December 11 – The Costa Pacifica suffered minor damage when the ship collided with a berthing structure after a strong gust of wind blew the ship into a “dolphin”.  The 24 foot gash above the water line was quickly repaired.
• December 13 – The P&O Oriana has a norovirus outbreak with over 400 passengers affected.

The cruise ship was given a special cleaning and departed as scheduled for its current cruise. The last port of call before the Vision returned to port in Florida was in Aruba.

While certain news outlets are calling this the latest black eye for the cruise industry, this wouldn’t even make news if the cruise lines wasn’t required to report the outbreak.  Anytime 2% or more of those on board develop a gastrointestinal illness, it is required that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control be notified.

Sicknesses such as the norovirus are easily spread on cruise ships due to the close proximity of the passengers and crew members.  The norovirus also spreads quickly in schools and dorm rooms.

Out of the thousands of cruises in 2012, there were 16 reported outbreaks of the norovirus.

If you are going on a cruise soon and worried about catching a sickness such as the norovirus, remember to wash your hands often.  While all cruise ships have plenty of hand sanitizer around the ship, washing your hands is the best way to fight germs.  If you are on a sailing where an outbreak happens, stay away from the buffet where germs are easily spread.

Before you go and cancel your cruise because of the news headlines in the past month (Carnival Triumph incident and now this outbreak), remember that over 21 million people are affected by the norovirus each year.  One in 17 Americans will come down with this illness sometime this year.  The cruise industry outbreak average?  Less than half of one percent of all cruises taken each year..

Is this another black eye for the cruise industry?  No, it isn’t even close.  The cruise industry continues to grow with a slate of new mega cruise ships in production or scheduled for production in the next few years.