cruises and swine flu

This information just in from Carnival. Also note, many other cruise lines are also changing itineraries for the next couple of weeks.
I know many of you who are traveling soon, are getting nervous. But the good thing is, the travel industry is doing a really great job at accommodating people by offering to reschedule without any penalties and so on. This is great news.

Carnival Cruise Lines has decided to cancel all calls at Mexican ports for all current sailings and all voyages departing on Thursday, April 30th through Monday, May 4th. In many cases, we will be able to substitute the cancelled call with an alternative port. Additionally, we are working on alternatives for those itineraries impacted by this decision. Full details will be available by 5pm Wednesday, April 29th. Once final details are confirmed for these itinerary changes, we will send you an automated message listing your impacted bookings for each affected voyage.

In the unlikely event that our new itinerary options are not to your clients liking, we will give them the opportunity to reschedule their cruise at a later date. Those details will also be made available tomorrow.

Our primary concern is your client’s safety. We will continue to monitor the situation and will keep you updated if and when changes are made. The best place to get up to the minute information about these and any further changes is at our web sites, www.BookCCL.com and www.carnival.com.

We thank you very much for your understanding and want to make sure safety is the number one priority.

Thankfully we do not have any cruises to Mexico scheduled until October, in which time, we can reschedule or change itinerary if necessary. As many have noted, it's not just Mexico anymore, so you do need to be careful where ever you are, just make sure you're doing the right things, washing hands, trying not to touch anything without a tissue (think of when you get a shopping trolley and how many have used them before you!) and avoiding being around anyone who has recently come back from Mexico if you can.

Will keep you updated.

Flying to Mexico

Yes it is a worry and anyone who is planning a trip for fun or a work trip, do have some options for canceling.

Though the US has not issued any travel warnings related to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, several of the major legacy airline carriers are responding to customer worries by waiving fees for passengers who want to change their tickets to Mexico.

Continental Airlines said it will allow passengers to reschedule or reroute their travel, without penalty, if they are scheduled to fly to Mexico through May 6.

American Airlines also is allowing customers to change their flights without penalty if they are flying to Mexico through May 6.

United Airlines is issuing a travel waiver to customers traveling to, from or through Mexico through May 6. The waiver allows travelers to make one change to their travel plans without change fees.

Delta Air Lines is waiving the change fee for customers traveling to Mexico through May 4. New travel must originate on or before May 12.

US Airways will waive the standard change fee, advance reservation and ticketing requirements for customers traveling to Mexico through April 30. Customers can move their itinerary up to seven days before or after the scheduled origination date, or apply the full value of the wholly unused tickets toward the purchase of a ticket to an alternate destination (new travel must originate within seven days of scheduled origination date).

This is actually quite incredible, the cruise lines helping people out and waiving the fees! Finally something positive from the airlines!! Yeah.

Keep safe and do follow all the necessary precautions if you are planning a trip to Mexico in the next week or so.

Disney ship from Los Angeles

Here's some encouraging news for Disney fans as well as employment opportunities for Californians!

Disney Wonder to Base in Port of Los Angeles

Disney Cruise Lines recently announced plans to base a Disney cruise ship, the Disney Wonder, in the World Cruise Center at the Port of Los Angeles. The 964-foot-long ship, currently based in Port Canaveral, Fla., will move to San Pedro in 2011. The Disney Magic cruise ship was tested for a limited time from the Los Angeles port in summer 2005 and in summer 2008. The Disney Wonder will operate out of the port for two years with a three-year extension option. If the Disney Wonder remains at the Port of Los Angeles for five years, the cruise line could create as many as 2,600 jobs, mostly in the hospitality businesses around the port, potentially generate as much as $7 million in state and local taxes and serve as many as 250,000 passengers. The Disney line would become the fourth cruise line to launch from the Port of Los Angeles, joining the Royal Caribbean, Princess and Norwegian cruise lines. The Disney Wonder can hold as many as 2,700 passengers and 1,000 crew members.

P&O ships verses Royal Caribbean

Our Australia cruise.
I've had a few people ask me what the difference is with the Rhapsody of the Seas, to the P&O ships. So I'll go through a few things to give you a better idea. The P&O Dawn and Royal's Rhapsody are similar ships in size and have some similar features.

P&O Dawn Stats: - 2,050 passengers,11 decks, 811ft/245 mtrs in length, 70,000 tons, Built 1991, Max Speed: 22.5 knot
Royal Caribbean Rhapsody Stats - 11 decks, 915ft in length, 78,491 tons, Built 1997, Cruising Speed: 22 knots

Passenger facilities: P&O Dawn - Three-storey atrium foyer, casino, jogging track, pizzeria, 9 bars and lounges, five restaurants, internet access, whirlpool spas, library, showlounge, duty-free shopping, medical centre, gym and health spa.
Royal Rhapsody -Royals signature Rock Climbing Wall, outdoor pool, 6 whirlpools, indoor/outdoor pool in solarium with sliding roof canopy, Centrum and open atrium, duty free shopping,8 bars and lounges, adventure oceans youth facilities for 6 months - 17 years old, video arcade, day spa and fitness centre, jogging track, casino, 2 level seating show lounge, medical centre, internet cafe, main dining room, pizzeria, windjammer cafe.

Here's just a couple of observations.

Dawn - Room service
Complimentary continental breakfast delivered to your cabin. A nominal delivery charge applies to all in-cabin meals. The 24-hour room service menu is priced per item. Rhapsody - Room service All meals (including coffee, tea, water, iced tea or lemonade) delivered by room service are included in the price of your cruise (however a late night service charge applies, approx $5).
P&O gym is on the bottom pasenger deck, no windows, Royal is on the deck 10 with oceanviews (much nicer if you really must work out!).

Scrapbooking and classes: Dawn - doe not have any dedicated conference rooms. For any classes you would be using a lounge or dining room outside of meal times. You would be slotted a time frame, 2 -3 hours and then would have to pack up your things. Rhapsody - dedicated conference room which we have Private use for 24 hours a day of fun and crop til you drop time!!,

Now the money matters. Yes you do need to pay gratuities onboard which they suggest $10 per person a day. But you have the option to alter that if you feel someone did not give services to your standard, usually not the case though, they literally wait on you hand and foot! P&O have a $7.50 per person a day gratuity

Comparing rates: - Is hard when they do different itineraries. But working on a 9 night cruise on P&O Dawn in November, the rate for the lowest category inside twin share is $1949.00 AU dollars plus taxes. Following are cruise only rates (scrapbook event fee is extra)
Rhapsody: we have the high deck cabins in our group, but to compare with the Dawn from rate, I'll price the lower deck. The Rhapsody for a 10 night cruise is $1020.31 US dollars includes all taxes. So comparing the two, $1020.31 in AU dollars is $1425.13 a difference of almost $525 AU dollars. Big Difference!! With that sort of saving, that's some fun shipboard money to spend!!

So I hope that's convinced you you've made a great choice. The price is fantastic, the ship is beautiful and the classes will be great, plus the little extras we have in store for you?? If you have freinds or family who would like to go, bring them along, the more the merrier!!

Carnival Ecstasy refurbished

For those booked on the Scrapbook Haus Western Caribbean Cruise, this is going to be the new Carnival Ecstasy!! This is the press release from Carnival


WATER PARK, ADULTS-ONLY RETREAT, RESORT-STYLE POOL, 98 BALCONIES HIGHLIGHT CARNIVAL ECSTASY'S REFURBISHMENT THIS FALL

Multi-Million-Dollar Renovation to Take Place During 28-Day Dry Dock;
Continues Line's Extensive Upgrade for Fantasy-Class Vessels


The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will undergo an extensive, multi-million-dollar refurbishment this fall that will include the addition of an expansive new water park, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a Circle "C" facility for 12- to 14-year olds, and a redesigned resort-style main pool area. Additionally, 98 balconies will be added to existing ocean view staterooms. The refurbishment, which will take place during a 28-day dry dock from September 19 to October 17, 2009, continues a series of major upgrades to the line's eight Fantasy-class vessels. Carnival Ecstasy will be the second ship to have additional balconies added following the success of a similar implementation on the Carnival Sensation earlier this year. Carnival Ecstasy operates year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises from the Port of Galveston. On this route, four-day cruises depart Thursdays and visit Cozumel while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays and call at Cozumel and Progreso. "With a host of new open deck attractions and 98 new balcony staterooms, we're providing Carnival Ecstasy guests with opportunities for even more memorable vacation experiences," said Roberta Jacoby, Carnival's senior vice president of hotel operations. "Plus with today's consumers seeking more affordable, close-to-home vacations, adding these exciting new features makes a four- and five-day cruise on Carnival Ecstasy from Galveston an even greater value," she added.

Exciting Open Deck Features
A signature element of the Fantasy-class upgrades is Carnival WaterWorks, a fun-filled aqua park located on Verandah Deck. Designed with an all-ages appeal, WaterWorks encompasses a 300-foot-long twisting, turning water slide - the longest and most elaborate at sea - along with dual-lane 82-foot-long racing slides, and a wide variety of water spray toys.
In addition, Carnival Ecstasy's main pool on Lido Deck - which includes a swimming pool and two large whirlpools - will be totally transformed to feature a distinct resort-style ambiance. Vibrant oversized umbrellas, thatched roofing and colorful tile work will create a decidedly tropical feel.

Exclusive Adults-Only Retreat
Another new feature on the Carnival Ecstasy will be Serenity, the line's popular adults-only retreat located aft on Promenade Deck. With design elements that include teak decking, large umbrellas and thatched roofing, Serenity provides an ocean-going oasis for relaxation and comfort. Guests can enjoy icy cocktails and frozen drinks while relaxing in plush chaise lounges and chairs. Food service is available in the casual Panorama Bar & Grill located nearby.

Ninety-Eight More Balconies
Private balconies will be added to 98 existing ocean view staterooms on the Carnival Ecstasy to create spacious new 230-square-foot accommodations. Sixty-two of the staterooms will be located aft - with several of these featuring extended balconies - while 24 others will be located mid-ship and 12 near the stern. Several of the Carnival Ecstasy's suites will be modified to feature larger, extended balconies.

Other Enhancements
Also included in the Carnival Ecstasy's refurbishment will be the addition of a new Circle "C" center aimed at the 12- to 14-year-old set. Located on Atlantic Deck 8, the facility will include plasma screen televisions displaying movies and music videos, a high-tech sound and lighting system, gaming consoles and a touch-screen jukebox. Additionally, all of the ship's 1,026 staterooms will be upgraded with new plasma screen TVs as well as updated wall coverings, tile work, carpeting and light fixtures. Extensive cosmetic enhancements will be made to virtually all public rooms and areas, with new upholstery, furniture, and wall coverings incorporated into the Blue Sapphire main show lounge, Neon Bar piano bar, Stripes dance club, the poolside Panorama Bar & Grill and Wind Song and Wind Star main dining rooms. In addition to refurbished elevators and elevator lobbies as well as new lighting and carpeting in the atrium, Carnival Ecstasy's Internet café will be relocated to Empress Deck and new workstations will be included. Public restrooms and guest corridors will be renovated, as well.