After another incident: Is the Carnival Splendor cursed?

by Melanie Nayer on

The unfortunate fire that disabled the engine operating systems on board the Carnival Splendor is just one more notch in the cruise lines bad karma bedpost. Seems this ship has been sailing against some pretty spooky seas over the past few years, causing some to wonder: Is the Carnival Splendor cursed?

The Carnival Splendor, which was on its way to the Mexican Riviera, has been drifting off the coast of Mexico since Monday. The Coast Guard has dropped food and supplies to the ship and news reports from this morning say the ship is being pulled toward San Diego today. However, this isn’t the first time Carnival has run into trouble.

Back in October, a cruise staffer jumped overboard and has yet to be found. On October 31, a crew member was so ill he apparently needed an airlift to a hospital in San Diego. Seems this vessel – which is said to be twice the size of the Titanic – has had its share of bad luck.

So what’s next? Gawker.com wants to know: Could the cruise ship be cursed? Carnival isn’t taking any chances right now. The company announced it is canceling the next voyage of the Carnival Splendor, which had been scheduled to begin on Nov. 14 in Long Beach, California. Certainly a safe bet, but we’d also suggest maybe burning a little sage and placing rosemary leaves under the pillows of all guest rooms… just to be safe.

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Carnival Splendor in nightmare engine fire incident – Navy airlifts supplies

by Scott Carmichael on

What was supposed to be a week long Mexican Riviera cruise on board the Carnival Splendor, has turned into a nightmare for the passengers. Three days ago, a massive engine fire knocked out almost all the facilities on this 3300 passenger vessel.

Propulsion systems, electricity, climate control, water and entertainment were all disabled, and the ship was been stuck 200 miles off the coast of San Diego. The situation was so bad, that the U.S. Navy had to be called in to supply food for the stranded passengers. The USS Ronald Reagan used its helicopters to drop thousands of pounds of supplies and Navy sailors were airlifted to the Splendor to assist with unloading.

The 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members have cold water and toilet usage back, but most other services are still disabled. A tug boat reached the ship yesterday, and she is expected to arrive in San Diego tomorrow.

Carnival has made hotel and flight arrangements for the passengers, and everyone is being offered a full refund and a complimentary future cruise on Carnival.

Sadly, the ship has already has its fair share of bad luck – and despite being less than two years old, some are already asking whether the vessel is cursed. For more coverage on the Carnival Splendor fire, head on over to our friends at AOL Travel News.

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[Image: US Navy / Getty / AP]

IAATO explains climate change for Antarctic travelers

by Kraig Becker on

The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) continues to be a great source of information and education for travelers heading south to the frozen continent. Last week we told you about their efforts to keep the sailors aboard private yachts, well informed of the issues involved with navigating the Antarctic waters, helping to make the region even safer for travel. But beyond promoting safe travel in the Southern Ocean, the IAATO’s other chief concern is protecting the environment. To that end they have released a document entitled “Climate Change in Antarctica – Understanding the Facts” which is designed to educate Antarctic travelers about the threats to the environments which they’ll be traveling through.

The document, which was created in collaboration with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), is a fair and unbiased look at the impact of climate change on Antarctica, which plays a vital role in the circulation of both the atmospheric and ocean currents. Additionally, Antarctica contains 90% of the world’s ice and 70% of its fresh water, which makes it all the more valuable for the long term health of life on Earth.

Antarctica has long served as a barometer for the health of the planet, and as climate change continues to spread, its impact on the continent is undeniable. For instance, temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula have increased by more 3ºC over the past 50 years, which is nearly ten times the average rate for the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the large ozone hole that made news years ago, has led to a 15% increase in westerly winds, which have helped to insulate the continent, keeping Antarctica’s interior largely unchanged in terms of temperature and snow fall.

What does all of this have to do with travel to Antarctica? Clearly the report demonstrates how fragile the environment is there, and how important it is to protect it – something the IAATO has a vested interest in. The organization works with its members to help limit the impact of travel to the region, and in the process reduce their carbon footprint. The idea is for travelers to visit but have zero impact on the place, ensuring that it remains a healthy and vital destination for future adventure travelers to enjoy as well.

The Antarctic travel season is just now getting underway, and with the global economy remaining sluggish, a number of travel companies are once again offering excellent deals for tours to the region. If you’ve ever had a desire to visit the the place, this may be the best time to go.

[Photo credit: IAATO]

Ask Gadling: You have to go home half-way through a prepaid tour or cruise

by McLean Robbins on

For this edition of Ask Gadling, we’ve turned to Lauren Volcheff, the vice president of marketing for Last Minute Travel. Should a guest need to depart half-way through a pre-paid tour or cruise, they should visit the Purser’s Desk or Guest Services desk and ask for help obtaining a “cruise interruption request.” Volcheff says:

A guest can request to debark the ship at a specific port of call at any time during the cruise. The ship will be able to provide insight and walk the guest through the process, provide the necessary paperwork, coordinate with local customs and immigration authorities, and even help with transportation to the airport or hotel, as needed. Passengers will be responsible for associated costs and securing flights back to home country.

Cruise ship passengers should understand that each country’s immigration laws and procedures – not the cruise line – determines how smoothly or complicated the process is for debarking the ship permanently. For instance, some countries will not allow cruise lines to authorize debarkation of passengers, due to visa restrictions.

If a guest needs to leave mid-way through a pre-paid tour, they should consult with the specific regulations of that tour. Certain exceptions – for illness, family emergency, or injury – may be built into the contract.

[Flickr via Bruce Tuten]

Antarctic tour operators offer tips for independent sailors

by Kraig Becker on

The Antarctic tourism season is just getting underway and travelers the world over are preparing to make the journey to the bottom of the planet where they’ll be treated to one of the most remote and untouched destinations on Earth. The vast majority of those travelers will book their visit with a travel company and will end up cruising the Southern Ocean aboard a ship that is specially designed to safely navigate those waters.

But some of the more adventurous travelers will actually make an independent journey to Antarctica, electing to sail aboard their own private yachts. To help those sailors, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) has released a set of guidelines and requirements for those traveling off Antarctica aboard a sailing or motorized vessel that carries 12 or fewer passengers. Those guidelines are designed to not only help keep travelers to the region safe, but also protect the fragile Antarctic environment as well.

Amongst the resources made available for independent travelers sailing below 60ºS are information on the permits and legislative requirements from various countries of origin, as well as guidelines for anticipating some of the potential risks for traveling in the area. The IAATO also spells out etiquette for contact with indigenous wildlife, as well as encounters with other ships, both private and commercial. These resources and much more can be found at IAATO.org/yachts.

The IAATO is an organization that works with its members to promote safe and environmentally friendly travel to Antarctica. Over the past couple of years there have been several high profile incidents in the region, but the IAATO has made some positive recommendations to help its members to avoid future issues while keeping clients safe and preventing environmental disasters. As a result, there are fewer vessels traveling the Antarctic waters and the region is safer to visit than it has been in some time.

For adventure travelers, Antarctica often represents their ultimate destination. Whether the travel their on a commercial tour or as an independent sailor, the IAATO is dedicated to helping them realize their dreams of seeing that place in a safe and responsible manner.

[Photo credit: The IAATO]