Archive for August, 2009

What are the reason why a cruise ship would be delayed?

Posted 31 Aug 2009 — by rob24hrs
Category Uncategorized

OK – I am a cruise ship captain and this is a common question.

Reasons why a ship would be delayed:

Mechanical failures of some sort- ranging from slow down to total stop. More common on older ships.

Weather – high winds, bad sea state etc.

Port Operations…..for example I can arrive at Piraeus Athens at say 0600 as agreed with vts and then they give priority to Greek ships delaying me by one hour.

But the good news is VERY unlikely you would be delayed by a day AND you can always tell the reception desk you want to disembark today before…yes it is possible. Ships don’t promote the fact but it can be done…you then get a fast ferry or flight to next port beating the ship.

BUT best advice is ALWAYS overnight the day you leave cruise ship. The sea is very unforgiving and if you arrange to fly 3 hours after cruise ship is due to berth you are tempting fate

Best Of Corsica

Posted 31 Aug 2009 — by rob24hrs
Category Corsica


Cap Corse en photos
Cap Corse (Corsica – France)

Other travels in pictures and movies @

http://www.ddpn.net

Frommer’s Cruises & Ports of Call 2009

Posted 31 Aug 2009 — by rob24hrs
Category Cruise Destinations

Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2009 (Frommer's Complete)

Product Description
America’s #1 bestselling travel series

Written by more than 175 outspoken travelers around the globe, Frommer’s Complete Guides help travelers experience places the way locals do.

  • More annually updated guides than any other series
  • 16-page color section and foldout map in all annual guides
  • Outspoken opinions, exact prices, and suggested itineraries
  • Dozens of detailed maps in an easy-to-read, two-color design

A cruise is a complete vacation, so it’s important that you choose the one that’s right for you. Frommer’s Cruises & Ports of Call 2009 is the most user-friendly, opinionated, and comprehensive guide you can buy before you set sail. We provide in-depth coverage on cruises departing from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada.

Unlike rating systems used in other guides, our system is simple. We break down the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children’s activities, entertainment, service, overall enjoyment, and overall value), and rate them from “poor” to “outstanding.” Photos of each ship combine with the text to give a better sense of the very real differences among the various lines.

Most important, this is the only cruise guide that provides the real prices people pay for cruises, not just the rack rates. Other guides tell you that a seven-night cruise aboard Holland America’s Noordam costs $2,639. You can pay that if you want to, but only Frommer’s tells you that the same cruise is selling for $899. We give both the rack rates and the discount price for every cruise we review. This feature alone makes Frommer’s Cruises and Ports of Call by far the most valuable trip-planning book among cruise guides.

Our authors, noted cruise experts who’ve personally checked out every ship sailing in and around North America, offer candid and unbiased opinions on them all. They are completely up to date, with all the latest developments and the newest ships. You’ll also get complete coverage of the major port destinations, with advice on how to spend your limited time ashore.

From the Back Cover

Experience the best a place has to offer on the cruise that’s right for you. Frommer’s. Your trip begins with us.

  • Detailed coverage of the hottest trends in cruising—trips departingfrom all major U.S. ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Mexico, and Canada

  • Exact prices, including cruise rack rates and the average discounted rates for every ship that we review, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget

  • Extensive descriptions of all the major cruise ships sailing in North America, from cabin amenities and ship facilities to shore excursions and recreational activities

  • Comprehensive ship ratings that grade the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children’s programs, entertainment, service, overall enjoyment, and overall value) from “poor” to “outstanding”

  • Special coverage of popular river cruise routes in the United States, including the Mississippi River, California’s Wine Country, the Hudson River Valley, and the Columbia and Snake rivers

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