Crimes at Sea (2)

We have already focused on some very ugly things that can happen on a cruise - not to ruin you trip or your looking forward to it, but to make sure you concentrate on how to keep yourself safe and stop yourself thinking that you don’t have to be unthinking just because you’re on a cruise ship.



And again, this is not just about Prow’s Edge being morbid. As we have said before, more and more popular TV and radio stations, such as NBC Chanel 6 in Miami and WKMG-TV/Local 6 - CBS in Orlando are now bringing the news about crimes at sea. 



Here in our SECOND blog about this topic are a few brief, common sense tips about being isolated on your cruise which might make you a possible target.



Don’t be isolated on your cruise 

Make sure you know where your friends and family are when on a cruise and that they know where you are. No one likes to have tabs kept on them, especially on a vacation, but it works to everyone’s advantage to know where friends and family members should be at various times of the day. 



For those traveling with children, it is recommended that you implement a check in system, where children need to check in with parents at regular, appointed intervals.



This of course does not just apply to being on ship. It is actually equally important when venturing ashore, especially when on your own, that somebody knows what you’re up to and where you’re headed, and when you expect to be back.


Don’t be afraid to report something suspicious

If you sense that something is not right, either on a tour, or on board ship, trust your instincts and report the matter to the cruise security officer. Better safe than sorry!

Avoid deserted areas of the ship while on your own

Just as you would be street wise and sensible on land when you are not sure of your surroundings, so you should stay in public areas where there are other people about, rather than wandering into deserted areas of the ship on your own.



As attractive as that 3 o'clock in the morning walk around the decks to enjoy the moonlight over the tropical seas on your own may seem like fun – it may not be the most sensible idea!

Again - this is not to make your next cruise sound like an horrific, danger-ridden adventure - it's just about being aware of things you might not think of when you're in a holiday mood and have had a few cocktails more than normal.

Our next blog will offer some sensible advice about keeping your stateroom and your belongings safe and secure.



For more information about the reality of crimes at sea visit International Cruise Victims at:
 www.internationalcruisevictims.org



Also see the Prow’s Edge extensive section about Safety at Sea at:
 www.prowsedge.com/cruise-ship-crime.html


Cruise Ports of Call

One of the most popular sections of Prow’s Edge is the part that deals with the main ports of call that are usually the port of departure or port of arrival at the start and/or end of the cruise.



Although things have begun to improve as cruise lines are now starting to concentrate on ports that are featured at the start or end of a cruise, most cruise  lines still tend to concentrate on the ports featured during the cruise where there is usually at least eight hours to at least marginally truly showcase those individual destinations.



Those cruise lines that do offer tours of starting and ending points, they are usually limited to a short sightseeing glimpse of those locations as passengers are whisked off to the airport or collected from the airport and rushed to the cruise trip.



Cruises to Alaska that begin and end in Vancouver, Canada for example concentrate on all the Alaska ports of call and people arriving home eventually have very little experience or new knowledge of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.



To make sure this does not happen to you - it is always a good idea to add at least a night in departure and arrival ports and to take the opportunity to experience what is on offer there.

The very popular part of Prow’s Edge dealing with these ports offer an extensive overview of the port itself, the main attractions, all about the cruise terminals and a host of information from weather and climates, currencies, languages.



For a list of over 50 of these ports take a look at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-ports-terminals.html

Why Cruise? One Stop - Multiple destinations!

It may be an obvious advantage of a cruise as a holiday option but it is a reason for taking a cruise that is rarely pointed out.



In fact, there is no other vacation option that give you this advantage –  the ability to be based in one place and yet enjoy many different destinations and locations.



One of our fans of Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine, Hilda Oscar of Seattle, USA makes it clear.



“What other vacation offers me multiple destinations, different locations, sights and experiences with out having the hassle of finding out how best to get from one to the other and packing and unpacking every single day before carrying on,” she writes to us.  “Obvious yes, but it only really dawned on me now why I like cruise so much. I stay in one “hotel” but move all over the location and get to see lots of different places. What could be more ideal!”



Obvious?

Yes!  But how many regular cruisers ever put that at the top of their list of reasons to take a cruise as a holiday option.



In a study with reader participation at Prow’s Edge last year about “reasons to cruise” and anther one earlier about “why cruise”, not one singe reader put this at the top of their list.



Number one on the list, the number one reason to take a cruise, was about the food.  People praised the luxury of all the amazing food and menus (and meals) aboard a cruise.



The next main reason our readers gave for cruising, in no real discernible order, were referring to the appeal of the entertainment offered on most cruise ships, from cabaret shows to pool side competitions.



The most obvious reason and advantage to a cruise barely made the list.

Hardly anyone pinpointed that one of the main advantages of a cruise as apposed to another kind of vacation is that you get to see many different places and you only have to unpack once.



When you wake up each day you are somewhere different, and you haven’t had any hassle getting there. You haven’t had to spend countless hours checking into yet another hotel, or jolting from one island to the next, or from yet another port or city to the next.


As Hilda says : You want to see somewhere new? Every day? What could be easier than a cruise!”



And she’s right!  In fact - there really is no better way to see any area.  Nothing easier or more comfortable.



A Cruise for Better Health - Part 1

There are hundreds of reasons to take a cruise.  It is no longer just to get from point A to B or to head from one of the popular cruise destinations so you don't feel too out of date at your next bridge party or pub session.

Over the next few weeks, Prow's Edge will explore these very many reasons that tempt people to take a cruise.  It might just give you the impetus to follow suit.

We begin with the very popular motive to cruise - to regain and aid a better status of health.

The worst thing about ill health, even at the final stages of recovery, is the exhaustion one experiences.  This is a typical complaint for those recovering from cancer – that the burden is not just recovering from the cancer, but from the medications used to aid you.  And exhaustion is one of the common complaints.

There are obvious reasons why a cruise would be a great idea - and one of those is the fact that you don't have to spend any time in the kitchen and there are no dishes to wash, and best of all, for many ill people, there is no need to think of what to eat, how to get it and find the energy to do so.

The advantage of taking a cruise as apposed to booking a hotel in some sunny resort somewhere, is that the choices and availablity of different meals on a cruise ship can never be matched on land. So, if you are recovering from something major, and just don't feel like eating at 10am, there are plenty of other options throughout the day - even cabin service if you're having a "rum" day!

Many cruise lines also offer special programs for people who have to follow special diets

We here at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine often hear about another reason that cruises are so helpful for those recovering from mega illnesses – the people around them who have stood by them so valiantly, get a chance to avoid those chores for a while (especially cooking) and actually get a break themselves.

Taking a cruise allows them to actually relax for the first time and to refuel a little. The advantage of a cruise really suits everyone in this situation!

CHECK IN OUR NEXT POST HERE AT THE PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE BLOG WHERE WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WHY CRUISES ARE SUCH A GREAT IDEA ANYONE RECOVERING FROM ILL HEALTH.

Add you own opinions about traveling for better health or write to us at social@prowsedge.com

Chef Lineup for Celebrity Cruises

In 2011, Celebrity will present a total of 12 guest chef theme cruises on its award-winning Solstice Class ships with food-and-wine themed activities emphasizing the love of fine food and wine.

Activities may include a meet-and-greet cocktail reception, guest chef-led cooking demonstrations highlighting techniques and ingredients, book signings, and a “Star Chefs” cook-off featuring an interactive cooking competition, complete with a special recipe booklet featuring the guest chef’s creations. For a fee, guests also can participate in hands-on cooking classes led by the guest chef in the ship’s galley, or enjoy an exclusive food-and-wine-pairing dinner designed and presented by the guest chef in either Murano or Tuscan Grille, two of the five specialty restaurants onboard.

Guest chefs include celebrity Chef Sara Moulton; Chef Dean James Max of 3030 Ocean in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and five other restaurants; Chef Timon Balloo of Sugarcane in Miami; Chef Govind Armstrong of 8 Oz. Burger Bar in Louisiana, Los Angeles, and Miami’s South Beach;
Chef John Suley of Gotham Steak at Miami’s Fontainebleau Resort; Chef Angel Palacios of La Broche in Madrid, Spain; and Chef Jordi Valles of The Ritz-Carlton in Cancun, Mexico.

Rates for the remaining 2011 Savor Your Destination guest chef theme cruises start at $699 per person.

More information is available at www.celebritycruises.com. and for the latest in cruise food news from all the cruise lines take a look at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine Food News

MSC Mediterranean Cruises from $499

MSC introduces a variety of cruises this winter to the temperate Mediterranean with rates starting from $499 per person plus.

The 8-, 9-, 10-, and 11-night Mediterranean cruises sail to some of Europe’s most historic locales and remarkable landscapes, allowing guests to experience the destinations while enjoying the European and Italian ambiance of MSC Cruises.

Here are some highlights of the Golden Odysseys Mediterranean cruises:

• MSC Magnifica: 8-night, Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Venice, calling in Bari, Italy; Rhodes, Greece; Alexandria, Egypt; Katakolon, Greece; and Dubrovnik, Croatia; February 28 and March 8; rates from $499 per person plus $58.80 in GFTs
  
  
• MSC Splendida: 11-night, Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Rome) or Genoa, calling in Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; S. Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain; Funchal, Portugal; and Malaga, Spain; February 5 and 6; rates from $889 per person plus $47 or $55.90 in GFTs, respectively; (Other available dates include March 9 and 10)
  
  
• MSC Splendida: 11-night, Eastern Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Genoa or Civitavecchia (Rome), calling in Katakolon, Greece; Heraklion, Greece; Marmarmis, Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt; Piraeus, Greece; and Palermo, Italy; February 16 and 17; rates from $889 per person plus $44.25 or $33.30 in GFTs, respectively
  
  
• MSC Splendida: 9-night, Eastern Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Genoa or Civitavecchia (Rome), calling in Katakolon, Greece; Heraklion, Greece; Alexandria, Egypt; and Piraeus, Greece; February 27 and 28; rates from $599 per person plus $36.85 or $27.09 in GFTs, respectively
  
  
• MSC Fantasia: 11-night, Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Genoa, calling in Barcelona, Spain; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Funchal, Portugal; S. Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain; Arrecife de Lanzarote, Spain; Malaga, Spain; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; March 3 and 25; rates from $599 per person plus $63.40 in GFTs.

In addition to experiencing Europe the European way, guests onboard MSC Cruises will also enjoy the following:

• A family-friendly vacation, with activities, facilities and menus designed with the youngsters in mind. Plus, kids 11 and under cruise free on all European cruises when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.
• International cuisine with an emphasis on Italian and regional specialties
• Exciting international entertainment
• Superior wellness activities, including the latest spa treatments

For more information about MSC Cruises’ Golden Odysseys this winter, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional or for an overview of MSC Cruises take a look at PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE CRUISE LINE PROFILES - MSC CRUISES

Royal Caribbean Revitalizes 5 Cruise Ships

Good new for fans of the Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean has announced that two more ships will be added to the 3 cruise ships already programmed for extensive improvements and enhancements.

The Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas join the Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas for revitalizations planned for 2011 as part of the cruise line’s 40th Anniversary - just a taste of what Royal Caribbean calls “The Royal Advantage”, the cruise line’s commitment to provide guests with the industry’s most innovative cruise ships, exciting destinations and superior Gold Anchor Service to help create an extraordinary cruise vacation.

“The Royal Advantage is our commitment to continuously contemporize and innovate our vacation offering and deliver the highest the standards of guest satisfaction through our Gold Anchor Service,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International.

“The planned enhancements of five ships in 2011 will help expand some of the most successful programs that we have launched on our incredible Oasis-class ships to deliver these new ‘wows’ to more ships in our fleet. With November 7 marking our 40th anniversary, we are proud to continue to deliver more to see, do, and love than ever before to our guests.”

For information about these improvements, take a look at the latest new pages at Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine and in particular, http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-news-royal-caribbean-ship-revitalizations-1109.html

For the official Royal Caribbean web site visit: http://www.royalcaribbean.com