Image by Citking, February 2009

Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas is the latest cruise ship to suffer a mishap at sea, on 28 May.  The fire spread over several decks in the stern area (shown in the accompanying picture, long before the fire).

There are no reports of injuries and full control of the vessel was maintain at all times, with no loss of power or essential services.

All guests will be refunded in full.

The Grandeur of the Seas was recently refurbished at a cost of $48 million and had only re-entered service on 3 May 2013.  With a fire happening so soon after her return to work there will surely be some suspicion that there may have been a problem left behind by the shipyard.

The ship was again based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, having previously operated from there from 2004 to 2009.

Passengers from the ship will be flown back from the Bahamas to Baltimore.

Image Credit: US Coast Guard, February 2013

The recent status of the Carnival Cruises fleet is that most vessels continue to operate while the safety review mandated by Congressional Committee continues.

However, the troubles on several vessels remain unresolved.

Experiencing problems

• Carnival Dream (generator problems, interruptions to power),
• Carnival Elation (steering: “the tug that is trailing the ship while it travels of the Mississippi is pure a precautionary measure”!),
• Carnival Legend (propulsion).

Out of service

Carnival Triumph is out of service (complete systems failure) until June, with 10 cruises cancelled.

Rebuild delayed

When it was launched in 1996 the Carnival Destiny was the largest cruise ship afloat.  Now she does not rank in the top 50.  The Destiny underwent refits in 2005 and 2010.

The Destiny name is now to be retired as the ship is undergoing a major renovation in Italy, with a budget of $155m.  When it returns to service it will be renamed as Carnival Sunshine.

The Carnival Sunshine rebuild has been delayed in order to install additional backup generators.  To date two of the cruises scheduled for its return have been cancelled in order to facilitate the upgrade.

Carnival Splendor adrift at sea without power
Image credit: US Navy

The safety record of Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Costa Crociere, the operators of the ill-fated Costa Concordia, and the operators of the Carnival Triumph and Carnival Dream, has been savaged by a US Senate Committee.

The nightmarish and horrific conditions we have seen on the news are quoted in a Senate Committee scrutiny of their safety record.

Two recent incidents

Following a recent incident in which the Carnival Triumph drifted for eight days without power, leaving passengers in appalling conditions, there has been a similar incident with their Carnival Dream  Fortunately this time the vessel was docked so although the conditions deteriorated, the trouble did not last as long.  Passengers were not permitted to step ashore in spite of the troubles on board.

Carnival Corporation brands

Carnival Corporation controls the following cruise brands:

• AIDA Cruises, Germany
• Carnival Cruise Lines, United States
• Costa Crociere, Italy
• Cunard Line, United Kingdom
• Holland America Line, United States
• Ibero Cruises, Spain
• P&O Cruises
• Princess Cruises, United States
• Seabourn Cruise Line, United States

Largest cruise company

Carnival are the largest cruise line in the world and operate over 100 ships across their various brands, with nearly 50% of the worldwide cruise market in 2011, so the likelihood of something going wrong somewhere in their fleet is admittedly greater than it would be with a smaller organisation.  However, the real number of incidents is larger than one might think.  Too many, according to US authorities.

Dismal safety record

The chairman of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Senator Jay Rockefeller, has written to the CEO of Carnival expressing his concerns about their “dismal safety record”.

“90 serious events … have occurred on your cruise ships, jeopardizing the safety and lives of those onboard, and prompting Coast Guard marine casualty investigations.  These incidents include groundings, collisions, allisions [the striking of one ship by another], engine room and generator fires, propulsion and electrical system failures that have left ships adrift at sea, and other critical onboard system failures.”

The Senator refers to an “alarming number of onboard fires, major system malfunctions and human errors … have occurred on Carnival’s ships since 2008.”  Despite that, he says there is “no evidence that the company has undertaken any meaningful course of corrective action to improve its safety record.”

“It seems that Carnival has failed to take any meaningful course of corrective action after these continual incidents. This needs to change.”

To put the 90 serious incidents in perspective, in the same time there were fewer than 50 incidents involving the large passenger ships of all other cruise companies combined.

Carried by taxpayer

Adding to concerns about the line is the fact that these disasters cost the taxpayer money.  Rescuing the Carnival Splendor cost the US Coast Guard and the US Navy in excess of $3.4m.  It cost the US taxpayer a further $780,000 in the case of the Carnival Triumph.

It does not help their reputation that Carnival are coming under fire for paying as little as 1.12% in corporate tax.  The nominal corporation tax in the USA is 35%.

The company must respond to the Senate Committee by 1 April 2013.  In addition to answering a number of searching questions, Carnival must also provide Safety Management Certificates and all vessel operational plans for the Carnival Dream, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Splendor, including, but not limited to each vessel’s Safety Management Plan, Emergency Response Plan and Vessel Security Plan.

Image credit: Mwnuk, February 2012

Passenger safety instructions will in future be provided on cruise ships prior to leaving port.  This is effective immediately for cruise lines belonging to the three largest cruise industry associations.  This exceeds the legal requirement to conduct muster drills within 24 hours of commencing the voyage.

The three industry organisations who have reached this agreement are:

• European Cruise Council  The largest organisation by number of members and associate members (64).
• Cruise Lines International Association (North America)   The largest association in terms of number of passengers serviced.
• Passenger Shipping Association (UK)  The longest-established of the major cruise associations, now over 50 years old.

The agreement is binding on the companies that are members of these industry associations.

Passengers arriving too late for the safety briefing will receive separate individual or group safety briefings that meet the legal requirements for musters.

This decision arises from a comprehensive review of cruise ship safety conducted by the industry, following the Concordia disaster that resulted in 32 passengers missing or dead.  The evidence is that some 600 of the 3000 passengers on that vessel had not received muster training at the time of the accident.  The official investigation into the Concordia is continuing and may well recommend formal legislative changes of the sort that the industry has now adopted.

Image credit: Tomás Castelazo, June 2044

A cruise at sea has been said to be the ultimate prescription for relaxation and to revive flagging spirits. One is waited on hand and foot and entertained lavishly.  So it is easy to let down one’s guard.  The risks are low, but there are still some hazards.

The risks

The main risks on board are:

• Theft
• Assault
• Rape
• Norovirus epidemics
• Falling off the ship
• Running aground

Off these, only falling off the ship and running aground are unique to a ship or boat.  These all occur, though a sea cruise is a pretty safe environment and you are more likely to experience crime on land than at sea.

Theft

There is a perception that cruising is for the well-healed.  While not everyone on board is rich, the rich are likely to be aboard.  As far as valuables are concerned, if you do not have it with you, they cannot take it.  Travel with a minimum of valuables.

Use the ship’s safe for valuables worth over $10,000 as those goods are a particular target of thieves.  The cabin safe is probably okay for lesser valuables, particularly for temporary storage, but be aware that they usually have a master code, or may be cracked by bumping.

Do not leave valuables in plain sight.  And do not be flash with your jewellery.  That includes not leaving it on the night-table.

Most modern ships are floating palaces and are brightly lighted.  But there may be areas of the ship that are poorly lit and with little or no traffic.  Avoid such areas, or spend the minimum amount of time there.  Be aware of your circumstances and be alert to being followed.

Use a door alarm when you are in the cabin.  Actually, you should apply all of the usual precautions that you would when staying a a hotel.  (See our article  Be safe and secure at your Hotel)

Assault

People have been injured in fights on board.  Lazy days and ready access to copious amounts of alcohol do not bring out the best in everyone.  Walk away from aggressive situations and inform the ship’s staff.  If there is exceptionally bad service do not try to remedy it by getting aggressive.  Seek peace.

Docks are not the safest area and may be a place for robbery or assault.  Avoid wandering around into unauthorised or lonely areas.

Rape

The same advice for avoiding rape on land applies at sea.

Watch your drinks, do not be alone with a stranger, never go to crew quarters, do not entertain crew in your cabin.  Do not explore the ship by yourself.

While shipboard romances are legion, you need to exercise caution in who you pair up with, and under what circumstances.  Get to know someone well (which is hard on a ship because they are out of their usual milieu, and so are you) before you spend time with them alone.

Keep careful control of your children and apply all the precautions that you would normally apply on land.

Norovirus epidemics

Illness on a ship has the same causes and can be prevented by the same precautions as illness on land.  Follow this advice from our article on Avoiding illness while travelling – General precautions

“Good personal hygiene, particularly about one’s hands is critically important in preventing infection whilst travelling.  Wash your hands before and after using the toilet, after handling money, and before meals.  Also wash your hands before touching your face or putting your fingers in your mouth.”

Carry alcohol-based handwash and disinfect your hands after having used the toilet, after you have shaken hands with anyone, and before eating.

Treat everywhere outside your cabin as contaminated.  Disinfect all the surfaces you touch inside the cabin with disinfectant wipes.  Do this even though your cabin has been serviced.  There are two reasons for this.  1) the staff member that cleaned your room might be ill, and 2) they have just cleaned your neighbour’s cabin, and your neighbour may be infected.

It is wise to carry diarrhoea medicine with you in your first-aid kit.  Stay hydrated if you do become infected (and there is useful advice at the above link, particularly with regard to oral rehydration therapy [ORT]).

Falling off the ship

Ships are fast, the deck is high off the water and the sea is inky black at night.  If you fall off, you are unlikely to be spotted.  Even if you are spotted there is a good chance that you will not be recovered.

The answer is “don’t fall off the ship”.  While this may seem obvious, many people are the architects of their own demise by trying to climb from one balcony to another, balancing on the handrail, emulating the famous scene from Titanic. or other such antics that are unsafe.  The sea is an unforgiving mistress.

Running aground

Even some very famous ships have run aground, largely through inattentive watch being kept, or navigational errors.  As a passenger you obviously can’t do anything to prevent it.  You need to be able to respond safely.

Pay attention when the compulsory safety instruction drill is held.  Know your escape route – you may need to find your way to safety in a dark passage listing at an angle.  Even if you have an outside cabin with a balcony, the passage you have use to escape may be narrow and dark.

Know where to access and how to use safety equipment.

If the ship is listing after running aground, proceed to the side of the vessel that is closest to the water.  That is the side that they will launch the lifeboats from.  Unless the listing angle is very small, lifeboats cannot be launched from the side sitting highest out of the water because the boats would be launched on to the side of the ship.

If you are unfortunate enough to run aground do not panic.  Stay on the vessel until there is a safe way off it.  People who go it alone and dive into the sea are much more likely to be injured or killed.  Even a damaged ship is a safer place than an unprotected person being thrown about by waves among rocks.

Embarkation

Depending on the efficiency of both the cruise company and the port authorities, this can take anywhere from an hour to three hours.  If you are going out of the sovereign territory of the country you are departing from, you will need your passport.  Where your final destination is a different county, you will need to provide proof of return at the passport control departure point.

Baggage

Unless you have a spacious stateroom, we recommend taking one compact suitcase.  Space is usually at a premium in cabins and you would want it to take up as little room as possible.  At embarkation, your luggage will be checked in and you will see it again once on board.  It will be outside your door, usually within an hour of being on board.

On board account activation

Once on board, before you can buy anything (even a drink of water on some ships), you will need to have activated your account.  On most cruises, you will be given a key card to your room that is also linked to your account.  You will use this card for all transaction on board.  They will require a minimum deposit to activate and should you run out, it can be topped up with cash or linked to your credit card.  Our suggestion is cash, as a credit card authorisation will be taken and then the actual amount taken at the end of the cruise.  The initial authority, though, will take several weeks too reflect back on your account, depending which bank you’re with.

Emergency drill

This is performed on all ships and in most cases on the first or second day of the cruise.  There will be a lifejacket in your cabin which will indicate which muster station you need to report too.  A sign of good staff knowledge of emergencies, is that any staff member should be able to help direct you.  It will be announced that it is just a drill and not a genuine emergency.  It is compulsory for all passengers to attend.  After all, should the unthinkable come to pass, better to be prepared.

During this drill, you may also be shown what to do in a case of ‘man overboard!’.  Our best advice on this – don’t be the man or woman overboard!

On board entertainment

Many cruises offer a specific program that you can follow to the letter if you wish to be occupied most of the day and night.  Depending of the nature of the cruise, the entertainment may be repeated on a weekly cycle.  If you are on a short cruise – no problem.

Such down-to-earth activities such as walking the promenade decks can be quite lovely at sunset or when coming into port and will provide an outlet for the energy gained from the high intakes of delicious food, common to cruises.

On board a cruise recently, we entertained ourselves by obtaining a game of Scrabble from the reception at a deposit of US15 which was refunded on return of the game.

Disembarkation

This usually takes a lot quicker than embarkation!  You will be given a coloured label for your baggage and be directed to a certain area of the ship in groups, before disembarking.  Your baggage will need to be ready outside your door, with labels attached, the night before disembarkation.

In short: the advertised price is seldom the final amount you will have to pay.

Here are the most common extras:

• Port fees
• Tipping – service fee
• Room deposit

… And the costs of any keepsakes that you may purchase on board.

Port fees

Port fees vary per cruise and are commonly between US100 to US500 extra.  For a number of small island nations in the Caribbean charging fees for tourist ships is a major part of the national income, and the cruise liners make sure that you make a personal contribution.

Tipping – service fee

The tipping service fee is calculated on a daily rate.  This is over and above any personal tips that you give on board.  Logically, the longer the cruise, the more this will be.

On a European ship the service fee may typically range between 4 and 10 Euros per day.

Deposit

The deposit for your room account, has to be paid on boarding and is commonly in the range of US250 to US1500.  That is refundable, though anything that you charge to your room account will be deducted.  As most cruises do not include all drinks, it’s most likely that you will use a portion of the deposit.

The current (January 2011) advertised price for a Mediterranean cruise according to Royal Caribbean’s web site is US599.00 for a seven night cruise.  Once the port and service charges have been added that goes up to US788.90.  That is still good value but it is 31% more than the price that attracted you in the first place.  Keep in mind too that this does not include the deposit for the room account.

Cruises are a great way to see the world, while staying in a first class hotel and many of them are themed, so you will be pampered and there is a world of choice.

Westerdam Cruise Ship in Cape Town

I’d like to do a cruise, how do I book it?  There are three means for this one: through an agent, via the Internet or direct.

Travel agent

Unlike the airlines, most cruise companies offer travel agents a commission, though this does not cost the client any extra.

One large benefit of booking through an agent is that if anything goes wrong on board you will have somebody that will be able to speak on your behalf.  That can be particularly important if you become incapacitated.

When a recent cruise by a 5-star cruise liner reached the Canary Islands some passengers were astonished to see the body of one of the passengers being discreetly removed from the ship.  Upon inquiry it emerged that with the large number of particularly elderly people that enjoy cruises these days, it is rare that a year goes by without a cruise company having to employ their procedures for handling a death on board.  While few contemplate the prospect of dying on holiday, a travel agent can help with ensuring that repatriation and paperwork are proficiently handled.

Online via the Internet

When booking through the web you have total control of the booking.  The cruise company usually provide details for contacting their call centre, which can be handy.  Cruises also provide one of the better value on-line products, when compared to other travel services.  Why?  You can do the whole thing, from paying, to pre-booking your table without having to call them.

While you may be able to do the whole thing with an airline booking online, things are more likely to go wrong.  A travel agent I know recently had a client who had booked online and paid extra to pre-book his aisle seat.  Then he had to change his flight.  That dropped his reservation for the seat and he had to pay a second time to reserve the seat on the new flight.  The travel agent managed to organise a refund for him, which he could not have done by himself.  Generally speaking, you are not likely to encounter such hassles with booking a cruise on-line.

Direct

The cruise lines extend the same price if you book direct (i.e. by phoning the cruise-liner company).

For many this can possibly be the best way.  This is perfect for those who don’t enjoy sharing their credit card details, in any way, on the web.

A big advantage over booking online is that the cruise line staff may often be aware of specials that are coming up and not on line yet either and can advise of these.  You should always make a point of asking about specials as they are not duty bound to volunteer the information.

Special prices may come up close to departure.  It is not unheard of for prices being as low as 25% of the normal rate.  Empty berths bring in no revenue for the cruise company and they would rather travel fully booked.  Our tip for the very best price?  If you can afford the slight risk that you may not get on board, choose a less popular voyage, plan to cruise, save up your money, and then wait.