Ship runs aground in the Galapagos

by Kraig Becker on

On Wednesday of this week, a tourist ship named the M/S Alta ran aground, and became stuck on a reef in the Galapagos islands while entering the harbor at Puerto Ayora, along the southern coast of Santa Cruz island. The extent of the ecological damage to the reef has yet to be determined, but fortunately no one aboard was injured in the accident, which was caused, at least in part, due to a malfunctioning lighthouse that normally marks the entrance to the harbor.

The 140-foot long sailing ship is operated by Quasar Expeditions and was carrying 16 Canadian passengers, 8 Ecuadorian crew members, and an Ecuadorian National Park Guide at the time of the incident. All of the passengers were evacuated from the boat, and spent the night in a nearby, ocean front hotel, before continuing on to Darwin Station and the Santa Cruz Highlands the following day. They did cut their tour a day short however, leaving the islands yesterday, rather than today as scheduled.

As of Friday, efforts were underway to remove the Alta from the reef, but the process is a slow one, and caution must be exercised in order to contain any fuel that may have spilled. Initial reports indicated that as much as 3500 gallons had leaked into the harbor, but later reports refuted that number, saying that no leaks had been found. All the fuel will be pumped out of the ship before it is pulled off the reef and into dock for a complete inspection before it returns to service.

One of the hottest topics in sustainable travel over the past few years has been the impact of tourism on the fragile environments of the Galapagos. Fortunately, it seems that this incident will not have any long lasting effects on the region, and it seems like the Alta will be back in service shortly.

Dispelling the top myths about cruise ships

by Scott Carmichael on

Cruise ships have a bit of a bad reputation. Those that love cruising really love it, and will have 10 or 20 voyages in their past. Those that hate it, will claim they’d rather be shot than take a cruise. There are lot of myths about cruise ships, so Gadling is here to help dispel some of them.
You will get sick on the ship



Yes. And you will get sick in your hotel, at the theme park, the grocery store, the train station, the airport, the airplane and the restaurant. Anywhere you are surrounded by people, you’ll always run the risk of catching something. With cruise ships, ship wide outbreaks of illness are pretty rare, but they obviously do happen. And when they happen, they make the news. Thankfully, many thousands of people cruise yearly and never catch anything worse than a nasty hangover.

Take the same precautions you do at any public place – wash your hands regularly, use paper towels to open bathroom doors and if you feel sick, contact the doctor to prevent spreading whatever you may have caught.

(Photo: Bratha @ Flickr)

All you can do all day is eat eat eat

Well, yeah. But is this really a bad thing? Seriously, if you don’t like good food, then you are going to be pretty miserable anywhere you go. Sure, the buffet may not appeal to you, but most cruise ships offer far more choices than just a buffet line.

On many cruise lines, the buffet and main dining room are just two of the dining options available. Some ships now offer fresh Indian food, deli sandwiches, sushi and more. If the main dining room doesn’t appeal to you, you can often pay a small cover charge for an alternative dining experience.


Bad weather means everyone will get seasick

You are on a ship – and even though it is a massive ship, bad weather is going to make it rock. If you have never sailed before, then the first couple of hours will quite simply suck. But most people take a Dramamine or wear a sea sickness wristband and deal with it.

Eventually, the captain will (hopefully) find some calmer waters and the fun can go on, but if you are sailing through a bad storm, you could be in for a couple of nasty days.


You’ll be forced to spend money everywhere you go

Nobody forces you to do anything. Yes – there are quite a few additional things to do on the ship that cost money. But like a trip to Disneyland, you can stay away from the giftshops and other paid attractions and enjoy what you paid for. Fact of the matter is, cruises are cheap. So cheap in fact, that the cruise lines need to add some additional services in order to make a profit.

Thankfully, you can have plenty of fun on the ship without spending money at the art gallery or the spa. Almost all entertainment is free, and dinner is free. If you don’t want to pay for booze, stick to the free tea and juice provided by most cruise lines, or invest in a soda card for unlimited free soft drinks.

If you do like spending money, you’ll be happy to know that it is made really easy. Your room key is usually also the key to your shipboard credit account, and all you need to buy drinks and lose money at the casino is that piece of plastic.


The ship is filled with old people who just want to sit and play bingo all day

This one is only partially incorrect – yes, there are some cruise lines that cater to a “more mature audience”. But for every passenger that would prefer a cruise on a ship with some younger people, there are probably older cruisers who’d prefer fewer youngsters on their ship. Read reviews on the cruise line, check out the target audience, and pick your voyage wisely.

Obviously, lines like Disney will be catering to families with kids, so you may not enjoy that as a single traveler looking for some hot action, but other cruise likes like Carnival and Royal Caribbean cater to a very wide age range.

All you do is stay on the ship, with only a couple of days at port

You say this like it is a bad thing (Mr. Frommer, are you listening?) To me, getting on a ship and unpacking once then relaxing for a couple of days is just fantastic. There is nothing “dumbed down” about leaving port, then heading up to the top deck for a game of mini golf, or to take a dip in the hot tub, followed by a formal dinner and some late night entertainment.

Sure, if your idea of a vacation involves climbing mountains and hiking for days then yes – a cruise ship will probably seem like hell. But cruising is all about relaxing and having a good time. It obviously doesn’t cater to everyone, but then again, neither does mountain climbing.

Thankfully, you can plan your time any way you want it. If you’d prefer to sit on your balcony with a nice drink, then by all means, enjoy it (and order some free room service). If you’d rather sleep in all day and go berserk at night – nobody will stop you.

The stateroom is tiny, cramped and uncomfortable

The quality and size of your room all depends on how much you are willing to spend. If you go for cheap, you’ll get an inside room with no windows. But if you planned to spend all your time having fun, all you’ll do in your room is sleep. If you spend a little more, you can get a room with a window or a balcony room.

Cruise ship staterooms are surprisingly well designed. They are not like the rooms you saw on The Love Boat. Most rooms nowadays have a desk, flat panel TV, fold out sofabed, multiple closets and shower/bathroom.

I hate being told when I can eat and who to sit with


Yeah, and so do I. Which is why most cruise lines have started offering anytime dining, and the freedom to pick a different table each night. Sometimes, a preassigned table and tablemates can be fun, you do run into some great people, but you always have the risk of being placed next to a real jerk.

When you book your cruise, you’ll usually be asked to pick a dining preference, but don’t worry – a quick word with the Maître d’ will usually allow you to make changes to your dinner times.

With all those people, the ship is going to be crowded 24/7



You’d think so. But once everyone is on board, and everyone is settled in, you’ll be amazed at how quiet it can be. Even on a ship with 3000 people, you’ll often be able to walk up to the outside decks, and not run into a single person. In fact, in my experience, the opposite is true – things can sometimes be too quiet. I’ve wandered around the ship sometimes wondering just where the hell everyone is. Think of the ship like a decent hotel – even with 6000 people at the hotel, things can be nice and quiet.

Obviously, dinner time and shows can be slightly crowded, but these people are in the same vacation spirit as you – so make the best of it, and have a good time.

Auspicious start to Antarctic tourist season

by Kraig Becker on

November marks the beginning of the tourist season in the icy waters off the coast of Antarctica. It is mid-spring down south, and travelers with a sense of adventure, and plenty of cash, are heading to the frozen continent to get the opportunity to visit one of the last true frontiers on the planet, and possibly get a glimpse of Emperor Penguins while they’re in the neighborhood too.

The past few years have been challenging ones for Antarctic cruise ships. In 2007, the MS Explorer sunk after hitting an iceberg, and last year two more ships ran aground while maneuvering through the treacherous waters. Fortunately no one was hurt in those incidences, although the sinking of the Explorer did create an ecological disaster when tens of thousands of gallons of fuel were released into the water.

With the 2009 tourist season barely underway, there has already been in incident in the Weddell Sea, off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, where a Russian icebreaker called the Captain Khlebnikov became trapped by ice for the better part of two days. The ship, which carries roughly 100 passengers, found itself stuck behind large icebergs when winds shifted, causing the ice to close all access to open waters. While the boat was never in any real danger, it was unable to continue along its intended route, preventing those aboard from following their intended itinerary.
Late yesterday, the winds shifted once again, and the Captain Khlebnikov was allowed to return to its scheduled route. It is now estimated that it’ll be three to four days late getting back to port, but will make its appointed rounds, allowing the passengers to get their close encounter with the penguins after all.

Hopefully this will be the only incident in the Antarctic waters this season. In the greater scheme of things, it was a rather minor issue, but as ship traffic increases at the bottom of the world, and more people travel there, the chances of a true disaster striking, seems to be almost inevitable.

Last Chance to Get to Greenland on the Cheap

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Okay, it’s not at the top of many people’s travel lists. Who thinks about Greeland? Well, I do, and I’ve wanted to go for a while. Hurtigruten is pretty sympathetic to this fact and has a new deal that makes it pretty easy to get it to one of the most remote destinations in the world … but, you have to act fast. This deal expires on August 31, 2009, and space is limited.

Hurtigruten’s new ship, MS Fram, has 318 berths and takes its guests around a seascape that hasn’t changed in 5,000 years. On land, much is frozen in time as well, with Hurtigruten’s passengers able to move among villages that have seen little of what the rest of the world would call progress. Eqip Sermia Glacier, icebergs in Disko Bay and Jakobshavn Ice Fjord (a World Heritage Site) are on the itinerary, as well as guided walking tours of Inuit towns, such as Qeqertarsuaq, Ukkusissat, Itelleq and Ilulissat.

Curious about the deals? Check them out after the jump.

“Three Countries – One Deluxe Ship” – a At a savings of 64 percent to 67 percent ($8,667 to $13,117 in savings), the voyage starts in a European country and ends in New York (by way of Canada). Along the way, you’ll explore one of the world’s most remote destinations (Greenland), and guests on the 18-day voyage aboard the MS Fram are treated to a unique historical perspective as they are joined by Benedicte Ingstad, the daughter of the famed explorer Helge Ingstad. Ms. Ingstad joined her parents, Anne Stine and Helge, on their expedition to L’anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland in 1960, where they discovered and excavated what is believed to be the “Vinland settlement” of Leif Eriksson from around AD 1000 – 500 years before the Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of North America. Other highlights include visits to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: L’anse Aux Meadows, Red Bay (provisional World Heritage list) and Gros Morne National Park. The September 22 departure ranges from $4,249 to $7,249 and include flights from New York/Newark, one night hotel in Copenhagen.

“25% Off + 2 Hotel Nights” – This deal results in a cost savings of $1,990 to $5,745 per person and comes with a pretty hefty perk: two free hotel nights in Copenhagen, Denmark. Guests will have a chance to poke around the medieval city. And, the stop in Denmark stretches the 8- and 15-day Greenland sailings into 10- and 17-day vacations. The reduced prices for the four August and September departures are $4,597 to $15,862 per person.

“Go Solo And Save” – Interested in checking out Greenland on your own? Solo travelers can pay the same rate as if they were sharing a cabin, a savings that can reach 47 percent ($3,065 to $19,034 off brochure prices). Single passenger prices are $6,129 to $21,149.

Pink Floyd Cruise – Great Gig in the Sea

by Annie Scott on

This is an opportunity you don’t see every day. On May 1st to May 4th, 2009, you can take a Pink Floyd themed cruise in the Bahamas.

The cruise will include special guests, private parties, entertainment by Think Floyd USA – The American Pink Floyd Show, and “numerous other Pink Floyd themed experiences that will be one of a kind.”

My first question was “Is marijuana legal in the Bahamas?” The answer is no, but there’s gonna be a lot of Pink Floyd. And there’s a 24-hour pizzeria. It’ll be just like college.

The ship, the Carnival Imagination (pictured) is totally decked out – there’s a waterpark, a golf course, an adult-only “Retreat,” a tropical-style pool, lots of delicious dining options, and some of the largest staterooms afloat.

The prices, before taxes and pre-paid gratuities, are $389 – $889 per person (based on double occupancy). Call (800) 851-9622 to book!