Cruise Chronicles Blog: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

Vancouver's Canada Place Installs Shore Power for Cruise Ships

Shore power for cruise ships at Canada Place a Canadian first

Saturday, August 22, 2009

River Cruise Ship Fire on Danube River: 150 passengers saved

No word on the ship, just that it was a German river cruise ship.

Passengers saved from burning cruise ship

Friday, August 21, 2009

New updates on Carnival Dream's Ocean Plaza

With some pics! This sounds like a nice place to just kind of hang out and people watch - live music, too!

Carnival Dream's Ocean Plaza coming along.

Today it is All About Holland America....

Many updates from Holland America this morning. I particularly like this one:

Holland America Line Expands Group Advantage Program Features
I mean, martini classes? Who could say no to that?

Then there is their Well-Being, Suite Amenities and Suite Elite Packages featuring select combinations for fitness, luxury and revitalization.

And one day maybe press releases such as this one will actually affect me. 114 days? 128 days? It's all good from where I'm sitting. Holland America extends 2010 Grand World Voyage

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Ruby Princess Pool Used as Canvas by Famed Artist

Ruby Princess Swimming Pool Becomes Latest Canvas for Famed Marine Life Artist Wyland

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tobacco plants yield the first vaccine for the dreaded 'cruise ship virus'

Carnival Cruise Lines Encourages Children to Dream Big With the Virtual Book of Dreams Contest

Monday, August 17, 2009

Was it suicide?

Image via Wikipedia

Alaska State Troopers are asking Holland America why they were so quick to declare woman's death a suicide.

Was cruise ship passenger's death a suicide?

Friday, August 14, 2009

NCL to Promote Customer Interaction on Their Website

Image by ragingwire via Flickr

I like the idea that passengers will be able to post pictures and videos, too. I wonder how much opinions and comments will be moderated.

Norwegian Cruise Line Invites Guests To Share Their Freestyle Cruising Experiences On Company's Web Sit

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Carnival is on a roll this week!

Image by afagen via Flickr

Carnival Ecstasy earns award for guest services

Lesbians Save the World, Carbon Neutral Cruise

What a fabulous idea and kudos to them!

Lesbians Save the World, One Cruise at a Time

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Kennedy Center Chamber Players to Perform on Queen Mary 2

Image via Wikipedia

Not only do I need pots of money but lots of free time. Maybe one day....

Kennedy Center Chamber Players of the National Symphony Orchestra to Present Cunard Command Performances Aboard Queen Mary 2

Crystal Cruises Trips for Foodies..

Image via Wikipedia

Oh, to have pots of money. These cruises sound heavenly...

Fall Trips for Foodies: Crystal Voyages Sate Travelers' Appetites

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Whale dead before being struck by cruise ship

Necropsy results show whale had been dead 5-7 days before being struck

A simple request: more West Coast/Pacific Northwest Cruises ... please?

Dear Carnival/Celebrity/HAL/Norwegian/Princess/Royal Caribbean:

I am sending you all this simple plea although I realize I have more chance of my cat reading it.

Could you please, please, please introduce more West Coast/Pacific Northwest cruises? There are a handful at the beginning and end of the Alaska season and I usually try to go on at least one a season. But there just aren’t enough! Some of you don’t even offer them. Why? I promise you - there's a clientele for them.

They are a great little getaway. If the timing is right you can sneak away on a Friday afternoon and then sneak back in, maybe a little late and a little worse for wear, on a Monday morning, a fantastic little cruise sandwiched in between.

Instead of dragging my lifeless body out of bed early in the morning - exhausted because I've been so afraid of sleeping through the alarm I haven't slept at all - getting to the airport and all the hellfire and brimstone that entails, flying for several hours sustained by chips because there's nothing open in the airport at 5 in the morning, I can sleep in. Maybe enjoy a cup of coffee while I’m reading the paper and then just call a cab when I’m ready to go to the port. Worst case I might have to take a coach or Amtrak to Seattle, just a couple of hours away.

I know these cruises must work for you on a ka-ching basis. I’ve been on them and they always seem sold out with lots of groups and an overall passenger mix whose common goal is to squeeze in as much fun as possible during the cruise. You can dance the night away in the disco and you're not the only ones in the room. You're lucky if you can even find a spot on the dance floor. Most of the people are locals and have been to the ports so the ship IS the destination.

You're creating a future clientele since many of these passengers are first-timers, often referred to or dragged on by former first-timers. These people will in turn spread the love and quite possibly book another cruise.

So please, please, PLEASE - can you bring on more of these cruises? I love the Mexican and Caribbean cruises for their ports and the chance to simply relax and soak up some sun. But I love these ones for the sheer fun of them. I promise you, I will be there with a boatload of friends.