Carnival has now revised all itineraries visiting Mexico with sailing dates through June 15, 2009.
Please see the updated item posted on May 4, 2009.
http://cnd-cruiseblogger.blogspot.com/2009/05/swine-flu-h1n1-carnival-cruise-lines.html
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Costa Luminosa Delivered
Fincantieri delivered the 92,600-ton Costa Luminosa today at their Marghera yard near Venice (Italy). Costa Luminosa becomes the thirteenth ship in the Costa fleet. A photo and video are on the Cruise News Daily website.
Police Foil Two Different Approaches to Smuggling Drugs on Cruise Ships
It seems that drug mules who try to smuggle illegal drugs aboard cruise ships come at both ends of the age spectrum.
Three American women (ages 36, 28 and 19) from the Pittsburgh area were arrested in Curacao when they tried to return to their cruise ship in Curacao with two of them allegedly carrying 24 pounds of illegal drugs taped to their bodies in 16 separate packages. Police said they obtained the drugs in Curacao and intended to smuggle them on Norwegian Spirit, which was making a port call at Curacao during its repositioning cruise from New Orleans to Boston.
What made the police begin to watch the women? They said they stood out from the rest of the passengers because they were so much younger.
Then we have the other end of the spectrum.
Two Spanish women in their 60's were arrested this week when they allegedly tried to bring cocaine into Spain aboard an unidentified cruise ship when it docked at Cadiz. The two women said they were tourists, but police say they are drug mules who picked up 59 pounds of drugs when the ship was in a Brazilian port and were supposed to hand them off to two others in Spain.
Police alleged the older women were used as mules by an organized drug gang with connections in South America and Europe because they would arouse less suspicion. They said it was the first time they have seen that method used. Police also arrested seven other members of the alleged gang.
Three American women (ages 36, 28 and 19) from the Pittsburgh area were arrested in Curacao when they tried to return to their cruise ship in Curacao with two of them allegedly carrying 24 pounds of illegal drugs taped to their bodies in 16 separate packages. Police said they obtained the drugs in Curacao and intended to smuggle them on Norwegian Spirit, which was making a port call at Curacao during its repositioning cruise from New Orleans to Boston.
What made the police begin to watch the women? They said they stood out from the rest of the passengers because they were so much younger.
Then we have the other end of the spectrum.
Two Spanish women in their 60's were arrested this week when they allegedly tried to bring cocaine into Spain aboard an unidentified cruise ship when it docked at Cadiz. The two women said they were tourists, but police say they are drug mules who picked up 59 pounds of drugs when the ship was in a Brazilian port and were supposed to hand them off to two others in Spain.
Police alleged the older women were used as mules by an organized drug gang with connections in South America and Europe because they would arouse less suspicion. They said it was the first time they have seen that method used. Police also arrested seven other members of the alleged gang.
Coast Guard Medevac from Canirval Miracle
We always find video of helicopter evacuations from cruise ships somewhat amazing. It requires true skill and professionalism between the helicopter crew and the ship's bridge crew to coordinate the delicate process.
Tuesday evening the US Coast Guard received a call from Carnival Miracle for assistance getting a 3-year-old boy to a shoreside medical facility. The ship was cruising off the Mid-Atlantic coast of the US at the time. A rendezvous was set for Wednesday morning 200 miles southeast of Elizabeth City, NJ, and at 6:53am, the Coast Guard HH-60 helicopter was hovering above Carnival Miracle's deck, and the child was flown to a hospital in Wilmington (NC) for treatment. Coast Guard video is below.
Tuesday evening the US Coast Guard received a call from Carnival Miracle for assistance getting a 3-year-old boy to a shoreside medical facility. The ship was cruising off the Mid-Atlantic coast of the US at the time. A rendezvous was set for Wednesday morning 200 miles southeast of Elizabeth City, NJ, and at 6:53am, the Coast Guard HH-60 helicopter was hovering above Carnival Miracle's deck, and the child was flown to a hospital in Wilmington (NC) for treatment. Coast Guard video is below.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Swine Flu - Itinerary Changes for Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has issued the following statement canceling their calls in Mexico and detailing the alternate itineraries:
4/29/2009 Statement on Swine Flu
In light of the travel warning issued yesterday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico because of concern over swine flu, Princess Cruises has modified its itineraries to suspend calls to Mexican ports through the few remaining voyages of the spring season, which concludes next month.
Six Princess ships are currently scheduled for calls in Mexican ports through May, as they reposition to Alaska for the summer season. In total, eight itineraries and 22 calls in Mexico are affected, and passengers who are booked on these cruises will either visit alternative ports or spend an additional day at sea.
Coral Princess
April 26-May 15
The ship had the following stops scheduled in Mexico: Cabo on Apr 28, Acapulco on Apr 30, Huatulco on May 1, Manzanillo on May 11 and Puerto Vallarta on May 12. All of them will be replaced with sea days and a call at San Juan del Sur will be added on May 2.
Island Princess
Panama Canal - April 23-May 11
The ship was scheduled to stop at Huatulco on May 3 and that will be changed to a sea day.
Pacific Princess
Panama Canal - Apr 24-May 14
The ship was scheduled to stop at Puerto Quetzal on May 4, Acapulco on May 6 and Cabo on May 8. It will now stop at San Juan del Sur on May 3, Puerto Quetzal on May 5, and remain at sea until it reaches San Francisco on May 11.
Sapphire Princess
April 25-May 2:
Instead of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo, the ship will now visit San Diego and Catalina (Ensenada service call/no debark)
May 2-May 9:
Instead of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo, the ship will now visit Santa Barbara, San Diego and San Francisco (Ensenada service call/no debark)
Sea Princess
Panama Canal - May 9-May 24
The ship was scheduled to stop at Huatulco on May 18, Acapulco on May 19 and Cabo on May 21. it will now call at San Juan del Sur on May 17, Puerto Quetzal on May 18 and then remain at sea until it arrives San Francisco on May 24.
Star Princess
April 27 - May 7
Instead of Acapulco, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo, the ship will now visit Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Catalina, and San Diego (Ensenada service call/no debark)
We are sorry that circumstances beyond our control have caused these itinerary changes, and we recognize that these modifications may cause some disappointment among our passengers. However we hope our passengers will also agree that adhering to the recommendations of the CDC is the best course of action for the safety of our passengers and crew.
Our ships and medical staff are already well equipped to prevent and contain the spread of contagious diseases, including swine flu. Even though the risk of contracting this illness is very low, we will be taking extra precautions, and will be guided by advice from the CDC and other health authorities.
In an abundance of caution, some of the measures we are taking onboard all our ships worldwide include:
# We are enhancing our screening practices for passengers and crew embarking our ships.
# We are adhering to CDC guidelines for reporting and treatment of persons with suspect swine flu.
# We will isolate and treat passengers and crew with suspect swine flu. Anti-viral medications that effectively treat the swine flu are currently available onboard all Princess ships.
# We will continue our rigorous cleaning and sanitization of our ships to minimize the spread of any contagious disease. Our ships are routinely cleaned with a disinfectant proven to be highly effective against the flu.
# We are communicating to our passengers and crew that they should take extra care to practice healthy habits such as washing their hands often.
# We are asking passengers and crew to report to the medical center immediately if they exhibit any symptoms of flu.
As always, we will continue to do everything possible to protect the health of our passengers and crew.
4/29/2009 Statement on Swine Flu
In light of the travel warning issued yesterday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico because of concern over swine flu, Princess Cruises has modified its itineraries to suspend calls to Mexican ports through the few remaining voyages of the spring season, which concludes next month.
Six Princess ships are currently scheduled for calls in Mexican ports through May, as they reposition to Alaska for the summer season. In total, eight itineraries and 22 calls in Mexico are affected, and passengers who are booked on these cruises will either visit alternative ports or spend an additional day at sea.
Coral Princess
April 26-May 15
The ship had the following stops scheduled in Mexico: Cabo on Apr 28, Acapulco on Apr 30, Huatulco on May 1, Manzanillo on May 11 and Puerto Vallarta on May 12. All of them will be replaced with sea days and a call at San Juan del Sur will be added on May 2.
Island Princess
Panama Canal - April 23-May 11
The ship was scheduled to stop at Huatulco on May 3 and that will be changed to a sea day.
Pacific Princess
Panama Canal - Apr 24-May 14
The ship was scheduled to stop at Puerto Quetzal on May 4, Acapulco on May 6 and Cabo on May 8. It will now stop at San Juan del Sur on May 3, Puerto Quetzal on May 5, and remain at sea until it reaches San Francisco on May 11.
Sapphire Princess
April 25-May 2:
Instead of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo, the ship will now visit San Diego and Catalina (Ensenada service call/no debark)
May 2-May 9:
Instead of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo, the ship will now visit Santa Barbara, San Diego and San Francisco (Ensenada service call/no debark)
Sea Princess
Panama Canal - May 9-May 24
The ship was scheduled to stop at Huatulco on May 18, Acapulco on May 19 and Cabo on May 21. it will now call at San Juan del Sur on May 17, Puerto Quetzal on May 18 and then remain at sea until it arrives San Francisco on May 24.
Star Princess
April 27 - May 7
Instead of Acapulco, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo, the ship will now visit Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Catalina, and San Diego (Ensenada service call/no debark)
We are sorry that circumstances beyond our control have caused these itinerary changes, and we recognize that these modifications may cause some disappointment among our passengers. However we hope our passengers will also agree that adhering to the recommendations of the CDC is the best course of action for the safety of our passengers and crew.
Our ships and medical staff are already well equipped to prevent and contain the spread of contagious diseases, including swine flu. Even though the risk of contracting this illness is very low, we will be taking extra precautions, and will be guided by advice from the CDC and other health authorities.
In an abundance of caution, some of the measures we are taking onboard all our ships worldwide include:
# We are enhancing our screening practices for passengers and crew embarking our ships.
# We are adhering to CDC guidelines for reporting and treatment of persons with suspect swine flu.
# We will isolate and treat passengers and crew with suspect swine flu. Anti-viral medications that effectively treat the swine flu are currently available onboard all Princess ships.
# We will continue our rigorous cleaning and sanitization of our ships to minimize the spread of any contagious disease. Our ships are routinely cleaned with a disinfectant proven to be highly effective against the flu.
# We are communicating to our passengers and crew that they should take extra care to practice healthy habits such as washing their hands often.
# We are asking passengers and crew to report to the medical center immediately if they exhibit any symptoms of flu.
As always, we will continue to do everything possible to protect the health of our passengers and crew.
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