LNG Powers the Fun

Mardi Gras - You've Come a Long Way Baby

On this Earth Day 2021, Carnival Corporation released a video explaining how Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will play a role in helping them meet their sustainability goals. 

Carnival Mardi Gras will be the first LNG-powered cruise ship to home port in North America. Mardi Gras, which was to have debuted last year but due to the COVID-19 shutdown, her debut is still to come. Sister ship Carnival Celebration is set to debut out of PortMiami in 2022. 

Mardi Gras, the first of Carnival's Excel class ships, required a new terminal. Port Canaveral rebuilt Cruise Terminal 3 to support what is the largest ship in Carnival’s fleet, coming in at 1,130 feet long, 180,800 gross tons and a 5,282-passenger capacity based on double occupancy. 

 LNG creates less exhaust than commonly used cruise industry fuel. It’s an odorless, colorless fuel in its liquid state kept cold at -259 degrees Fahrenheit. The fuel will be stored in three tanks onboard the ship. While the ship will be refueled weekly, the design allows for 14 days of cruising without refueling. The fuel will power the propulsion system as well as everything else onboard the ship. 

 To operate this LNG powered ship introduces new logistic issues which Carnival has planned for. LNG isn't readily available in all ports of call. A special refueling barge will be used in Port Orlando to refuel the vessel in order to comply with necessary safety protocols. Port Canaveral also invested in additional fire training for their personnel and a new fire boat, to address safety concerns with LNG use. 

Watch this video to learn more about LNG fuel and Carnival's commitment to sustainability. You can also visit carnivalsustainability.com to learn more about their environmental goals and progress to date.

 “The introduction of new, more efficient ships, and investments in other technologies and initiatives, we intend to continue to build on our pledge and continue to reduce emissions and exceed our goals,” the video states.

 
View Mardi Gras Itineraries

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Getting to Know Carnival Breeze Cabin

New to Cruising?
Not Sailed on Carnival Breeze?
What to Expect?
 
Once you get on board the ship money is no longer needed so you can tuck your wallet and other valuables in your room safe.   Select a four digit code to lock the safe.

It's dark in here...  

Modern ships are designed with energy conservation in mind.  In order for the lights to operate you need to insert your Sail 'n Sign card, or other card, into the slot.   When you remove the card, lights stay on for a bit allowing you to get out the cabin door before they go off.

Privacy Please!

When you are sleeping, just as in a hotel, you can hang a "Snoozin" sign on your door so that noone disturbs you.

Time to head off for breakfast...   Just put the "Cruisin'" sign on your cabin door so that your steward knows you are out of the cabin.   By the time you return from breakfast your bed will be made and new towels hung in the bathroom.

The Temperature is Just Right !

Each cabin's temperature is individually controlled by the guests.  Next to the bathroom door, you'll find the temperature controls.  They are simple to operate just press the arrow in the direction you wan the temperature to go.   The green LED light shows the current setting.

Rub a Dub - Time to Scrub

If you've not sailed on Carnival before, you might look at the shower controls and say - now what do I do.  You'll notice there are two nobs on either end.  There's also a warning sign that says to be sure to test the water to avoid scalding.   It goes on to say, make sure water temperature is set to 38 degrees.   The right-hand knob has a line which you need to line up with 38.   I suggest taking the shower head from it's holder and turning on the left knob.   Check the temperature and then put the shower head back in the holder.  

Instead of small bottles of shampoo and bath gel, the shower has a built-in dispenser of the two liquids.   There is also a place to hold a bar of soap or any other bottle you might have brought to use instead of the ones supplied.

There are several shelves on both sides of the sink for you to place your various toiletries.  Since we only brought carry-on bags for our cruise, you'll notice several 3 oz. size bottles in our image.   The mirror is a nice touch to get a close-up of your face (eg. when shaving).   There is an outlet that can only be used by a shaver, if you don't have a rechargeable shaver.

Electrical Outlets

There are two 110v outlets and one 220v outlet over the desk / storage unit in the cabin.   We bring a small power strip which makes it easier when you need to charge all your tech gadgets at one time.   Just be sure that you don't overload the circuit or you'll have someone knocking on your cabin door and probably confiscating anything that is not allowed.

There are certain devices which you should never bring with you.  They include things like irons, hair-curlers, and anything with an open flame (eg. candles).  Refer to your cruise documents or Carnival website for details.

How many times have you entered a hotel room and gone on a hunt for a hair dryer?   You'd have to go on the same hunt here unless you were clued in on the secret in this article.   The top drawer of your storage unit pulls out and has a compartment for the hair dryer.   This means you need to dry your hair outside the bathroom, which shouldn't be an issue since you are provided with robes.

Finally, on the back of the cabin door is the safety information, just like you would find in a hotel room.  Be sure to familiarize everyone in the family with the safety information and do attend the mandatory safety drill.   The ship is required to complete the drill within 24 hours of sailing, but usually this happens before departure (just like on an airplane).  

We've focused on Carnival Breeze in this article because we just completed a seminar at sea on her.  Most of the ships in the Carnival fleet are setup similarly.  There might be variations in the safe and hair-dryer on some of the older ships as the models have changed over time.

We'll touch on a few more pointers in other articles.  In the meantime, if you have a specific question and can't wait, do leave us a comment or contact us by clicking above.

No Power No Travel

Attention iPhone, Android, and PC Users

Keep Those Devices Charged 
If You Are Flying

Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States.

Inbound International Flights

In response to new threats of bombs in familiar devices, such as iPhones, Android phones, and laptops,  TSA has been instructed to carefully screen those devices.   It has always been the case that electronics, especially computers, were subject to careful scrutiny, but effective with the new instructions, closer attention will be given to phones as well.

Does the Device Power Up

According to TSA, "During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening.

Know Before You Go

This is the most recent change in security procedures announced by TSA.  Not all procedures are announced in this fashion.  Security is obtained by several levels of visible and invisible monitoring.

The TSA's Traveler Information tab is a source of good information when preparing for a flight.  When traveling internationally, be sure to check with transportation sights of the countries you are visiting as well.   There are much different security measures in other countries.

For example we once had to fly home for an emergency and flew from Oslo, Norway.   All suitcases and carry-on bags must be unlocked because they will undergo a screening by hand before you even check-in.

Additional Useful Links

Department of Homeland Security Aviation Security

Australian Transportation Safety Bureau
Canadian TSA (CATSA) Security
European Commission Aviation Security

For more links, just use keywords like "security transportation aviation" and country name in your favorite search engine for information relevant to your itinerary.   Your Cruise & Vacation Specialist, airline, or cruise line may also have additional information on their websites.

Carnival Fleetwide Reliability Program

Does the Ship Make Its Own Power?


If you've cruised on Carnival before, your Cruise Director probably answered this question in one of his talks.  Of course everyone knows that the ship has a long extension cord that runs all the way back to Miami.


Carnival in the News

Even if you've never cruised before, you've recently heard news stories about various operational issues onboard Carnival Cruise Lines' ships. While these situations are rare, it does afford the opportunity for review of the fleet operations and to learn ways to improve. Carnival Cruise Lines has done just that, and has announced an ambitious fleetwide program.

Watch this video to see President and CEO Gerry Cahill explain the improvements and then read about the highlights below.


CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES ANNOUNCES FLEETWIDE $300 MILLION PROGRAM TO ENHANCE OPERATING RELIABILITY AND GUEST COMFORT


This enhancement program will cost more than $300 million, and rapid upgrades have already begun. It will focus on the following areas:

• Increased Emergency Generator Power
• Increased Fire Prevention, Detection and Suppression Systems  
• Enhanced Operating Redundancies
• Company to Form New Safety & Reliability Review Board

The actions by Carnival Cruise Lines will expand the availability of hotel services for the comfort of its guests in the rare instance of a shipboard event that involves the loss of main power. In addition, the plan will reinforce key shipboard operating systems to further prevent a potential loss of primary power. The improvement plan is the result of a comprehensive operational review, overseen by parent company Carnival Corporation & plc, initiated immediately after the Carnival Triumph fire in February 2013.

“All of Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships operate safely today. Each vessel already has effective systems in place to prevent, detect and respond to emergency situations, and we meet or exceed all regulatory requirements,” said Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines. “However, by applying lessons learned through our fleet-wide operational review after the Carnival Triumph fire and by taking advantage of new technologies, we have identified areas for enhancement across our operations. These initiatives reflect our commitment to safe and reliable operations and an enjoyable cruising experience for the nearly 4.5 million guests who sail with Carnival Cruise Lines each year.” 

“Our fleet already operates at a high standard of reliability. The investments announced today for Carnival Cruise

Lines, and those we will continue to make, will reinforce our ability to consistently deliver the customer experience that 10 million people every year have come to expect from us across our fleet of 101 ships. Absolutely nothing is more important than the safety and comfort of our guests and crew, and we will use the full resources of our company to meet that commitment,” said Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.

We applaud Carnival for taking these steps to further demonstrate their commitment to safety of their guests, crew, and ships.  Even in the wake of these events, the overall Cruise Industry still remains the safest means of travel.     

Costa Allegra Adrift After Engine Fire

Costa Allegra Without Power 
Adrift Near Seychelles
Following Engine Fire

Costa Cruises continues to be plagued by disaster this year as the 28,500 ton 820 passenger ship experienced a fire in the engine generator room today at 10:39 CET knocking out power to the engines, lights, and air conditioning.  

636 Passengers - 413 Crew Safe           Emergency Phone #

                                                                       (954) 266-5693

Click for Ongoing Updates (below)

The shipboard fire-extinguishing system and emergency procedures were activated promptly and special fire-fighting squads extinguished the fire. As a precaution, the general emergency alarm was sounded and all passengers and crew members not engaged in the management of the emergency reported to their muster stations. The fire did not spread to any other area of the ship and no injuries or casualties were reported. Inspections of the engine room are ongoing to determine if the equipment can be restarted.

Currently the ship is more than 200 miles southwest of the Seychelles and approximately 20 miles from Alphonse Island.  The general area where the ship is located, off the coast of Tanzania, has seen a rash of attacks by Somali pirates recently.   There is an armed nine-member Italian military team on anti-pirate duty onboard the Allegra, as a precaution.   Although there are no immediate threats, they are prepared to respond if necessary.

Tugboats and other naval and aerial units have been dispatched to Costa Allegra. According to standard procedures, Costa Allegra transmitted a distress signal and the relevant authorities were alerted, including the Maritime Rescue Control Center in Rome, Italy. Costa Crociere and the relevant authorities are actively monitoring the situation.

First Responding Ship Arrived

A French-flagged, 295-foot-long (90 meters) ocean-going fishing ship was the first to arrive on the scene of the stricken Allegra.  The two captains are in contact with each other.  At dawn, Costa will evaluate the assistance which can be provided by the fishing vessel.  Additional vessels and aerial support should arrive during the day Tuesday.

 The Costa Allegra is adrift "and being pushed by the current. It is stable and upright," Giorgio Moretti, the director of nautical operations for Costa Crociere SpA, told reporters in a conference call late Monday from company headquarters in Genoa, Italy. 

Costa has reached out to all the families and relatives of the passengers and crew via the emergency contact numbers.  As of late in the evening over 400 of the passenger's families had been notified.  There is an emergency contact number active (above) for those that have not been in direct contact with the company already.

Here is the first video taken of the stricken Costa Allegra by the Indian Navy:

Ongoing Updates

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as appropriate.  

Costa Allegra Latest Update  (Costa Cruises update)

Related Blog Posts:

Costa Explains Fire Prevention & Fighting at Sea
Costa Allegra Arrives in Seychelles

UPDATE: 9 MAR 10 PM EST


Carnival CEO Micky Arison announced to Wall Street that Costa Allegra would not return to service.  It will either be sold or scrapped in the wake of the fire.   It had been on the chopping block before the fire, since it is the oldest and smallest ship in the Costa fleet. 

Similar to totaling an old car, following an accident, the company has written off the value of the ship on its books since the cost to repair exceeds its value.


UPDATE: 8 MAR 1 PM EST


The company has not determined how long it will take to repair and bring Costa Allegra back into service and restore planned cruises. Costa Cruises continues to conduct inspections and technical evaluations to ascertain what caused the generator-room fire. 

Costa Voyager will replace Costa Allegra's Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises starting March 18th thru the summer.  See the following article for complete details.

Costa Voyager Replacing Allegra in Europe
 


UPDATE: 1 MAR 1 PM EST

6.00 pm (CET) - Costa reported the completion of 2 hour disembarkation process by midday local time.  Costa indicated that "Guests and crew are in good health and no critical situations have been found."   The Seychelles Red Cross and consular and embassy officials were in port to assist their citizens.

Costa also reported the compensation package which included extending their vacation, refunds, and future cruise credits. (Details of compensation plan)

According to press reports, passengers described the conditions as hot and dirty due to the lack of power for air conditioning and sanitary needs.  They also indicated an initial organization when the alarm was sounded along with panic, especially among guests that were separated from loved ones at the time.  Fortunately, the crew did their jobs and it wasn't necessary to abandon ship into the lifeboats that had been deployed.

UPDATE: 1 MAR 8:00 AM EST

9:00 AM CET - Costa Allegra docked at Port Victoria - Mahé, Guests disembarkation has started.

After three days at sea without power, Costa Allegra arrived in port and began disembarking passengers. Costa Cruises has a 14-member "Care Team" onsite to assist with the process.  

376 guests out of 627 have accepted Costa Cruises’ proposal to continue their vacation in Seychelles. They will be accommodated at Costa Cruises’ expense, in high-quality hotels on the following islands: Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette and Cerfs. 

Costa Cruises also arranged homeward flights at the end of their vacation. The remaining 251 guests decided to return to their homes on flights arranged by Costa Cruises, departing Mahé Thursday evening, March 1.


In a press conference in Mahe', Seychelles, where the Costa Allegra cruise liner arrived this morning, Costa Allegra Captain Niccolo' Alba reported: the fire was extinguished "in an hour" and the behaviour of all staff members on board was "outstanding". During the press conference broadcast live on SkyTg24, Captain Alba stated "The Costa Allegra staff was great. The behaviour of all staff members on board was "outstanding". Captain Alba also underscored "They all followed my instructions to the letter, and they all behaved as great professionals."



UPDATE: 29 FEB 10:00 AM EST

• expected arrival time in Mahé is 9 AM local time (1 AM EST) Thursday
• situation onboard is stable and weather conditions good
• meals consist of fruit, cold cuts, fresh bread, soft drinks; mineral water available for hygiene 
• hotels and flights have been optioned in preparation for passenger arrival
• "Care Team" onboard Wednesday to plan repatriation with passengers

UPDATE: 28 FEB 2:00 PM EST

•  two additional tug boats and a second fishing vessel have reached Allegra
• a generator was delivered to the ship by the Indian Navy
• ship is maintaining a speed of 6 knots under tow
• a helicopter will deliver flashlights and more bread on Wednesday
• there is no lack of food or comfort items at present
• Costa Cruises‘s "Care Team" has arrived in Mahé (14 member team)
• 8 members of the "Care Team" and 2 Seychelles Immigration Officers to board ship Wed.

UPDATE:  28 FEB 8:00 AM EST


Much has happened since our last update:

• towed by the french ocean fishing vessels "Travignon";  route direction is Desroches island
• guests onboard were served a cold breakfast and kept informed by the captain
• helicopter took off from Mahè bringing to the ship both food and communication devices (satellite phones and VHF radios)
• original plan was to disembark passengers at Desroches island but that was changed to Mahé / Seychelles 
• two additional tugs will assist with the towing to Mahé / Seychelles - ship is scheduled to arrive there on Thursday at 6 am local time
• supplies will be provided by helicopters until the ship arrives in port

The original plans were to tow the ship to Desroches island and disembark the passengers there. In fact, passengers were told to prepare their baggage for arrival in the morning. After review by Costa and other Maritime officials, it was determined that the island didn't have the necessary infrastructure to support the safe disembarkation of the passengers. Also, there was a lack of hotels which would have meant the passengers would have to be ferried to Mahé / Seychelles by tenders. That process would have taken as long as towing the ship directly instead and thus the plans were changed. Additional tugs will be employed to hasten the journey to the new disembarkation point. Helicopters will provide essentials such as food and comfort supplies as needed. 

Costa Cruises is working with all the Authorities responsible for the coordination of the emergency, to ensure the best possible assistance to all our guests and make their discomfort as short as possible and to reach their next destination. The Company is sincerely sorry for the inconvenience: absolute priority is to make it as short as possible. 
 

Despite the bad news that another Costa cruise ship was involved in an emergency situation, it appears that emergency procedures were followed, authorities notified, and the passengers and crew are safe.  Congratulations to the captain and crew for handling the emergency situation without incident.

The ship departed Saturday, Feb. 25, from Diego Suarez, Madagascar, and was cruising toward the port of Victoria (Mahè, Seychelles) where it was scheduled to arrive Feb. 28.

Electricity at Sea

Ship's power cord stretches behind the ship all the way to Miami

Does the Ship Make It's Own Power?
If you have been on a few cruises I'm sure you've heard at least one Cruise Director go through his Top 10 list of Passenger Questions.  This question typically makes the list.   The response is usually, "No, we have a long electrical cord that stretches behind the ship all the way to Miami".

Where Did You Hide The Electricity in my Cabin?
Perhaps that's a more up to date question that should be on the Cruise Director's list and it deserves an answer.   On most ships you'll find a limited number of electrical outlets in your cabin.   There may only be one 110v and one 220v along with one special outlet in the bathroom that can only be used for your electrical razor.  Often you need to hunt for the outlet which might be under a desk or behind something on a shelf.

Cabin outlet on Allure of the Seas

Allure improves on Oasis of the Seas Design
We've all heard about the two inch difference between the Allure of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas.   What you might not have heard is that the Allure learned many lessons from its little sister, Oasis.   One of those lessons was that the electrical outlet needs to be visible and it needs to accommodate more than one appliance.

In this day and age where every gadget comes with its own charger, and for who knows why, they all have to have different connectors, it is typical for a traveler to arrive at the hotel room or ship cabin with a bag full of chargers.  With a limited number of outlets, one must "timeshare" to get all their devices charged.

Allure of the Seas has a unique new design.   Three outlets are in a round housing that is mounted on one side of the counter.   While this is an improvement, it still offers a challenge which we've demonstrated in the included image.  Many chargers have oversize plugs (eg. transformers) which take up more room.   Unless you prepare in advance, you could be limited to one or two usable outlets.

In this picture we have three devices plugged in:  the hairdryer that is in the cabin, my extension cord for my PC, and my cell phone charger.    The cell phone charger and the hairdryer are both devices that have over-sized plugs.   We solved that problem by traveling with short extenders that have a normal plug on on end and the outlet on the other.  They are about three inches long and can fit nicely in your bag of chargers.   We travel with three of those typically.   My set of 3 were purchased at Big Lots for $3 and they have more than paid for themselves.

iPod Charging / Playing Station on Allure of the Seas

iPod Docking Station 

Another new feature that Allure of the Seas adopted from her little sister's experiences was the addition of an iPod docking station in the cabin.    When its time to retire to bed for your long (or short) nap,  plug in your iPod for some of your favorite tunes.    The timer will turn the device off after its played for awhile if you like.

If you just need to charge your iPod, dock it on the other side and you don't need any extra wires.    This helps free up one of those precious plugs on the opposite end of the counter top.

Some Devices Should Stay Home

The final point that I want to make is each cruise line has their list of electrical devices which are not allowed on the ship.   They ban devices such as irons which could cause a fire if left unattended.   Fire is the worst enemy at sea so it is very important that you heed the guidelines the cruise line provides.   Each cruise line has the list posted on their website in the FAQ and may also include it in the embarkation documentation.   If you aren't sure about a device, leave it home.

Stay Plugged in at Sea, but Stay Safe 

Hurricane Bill Passes Bermuda

Still time for Golf ... As Hurricane Bill approached Bermuda

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

As a service to my clients and readers, I continue to monitor Hurricane Bill. If you are looking for updates on the hurricane and impact to your cruise, click the following link.

Keeping an Eye on Hurricane Bill / Cruise Ship Impact

That post has updates several times a day, including information about any changes to cruise itineraries as a result of the tropical storm.

BERMUDA UPDATE

Credit: NASAOES Project

The islands of Bermuda were spared a direct hit as Hurricane Bill passed between Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States as predicted. Since Hurricane Bill's closest point is now northeast of the islands, the hurricane watch has ended. That doesn't mean that danger doesn't remain. A tropical storm watch is still in effect and should remain so as winds continue until around midday Saturday. High swells, dangerous surf and deadly rip-currents will continue well into the weekend, especially along South Shore. Hurricane force gusts are still possible early today in association with squally showers and thunderstorms. According to a source on the islands, it has been a windy night with numerous power outages caused by the tropical storm gusts. Bermuda's electric company has worked through the night but there are approximately 3800 customers still without power. Rain and thnderstorms rolled through Bermuda starting around 9 PM Friday accompanied by heavy winds in excess of 50 or 60 MPH. The forecast for today is cloudy with occasional light rain or showers and strong to gale force gusts. Tomorrow will see some sun and occasional showers and thunder. <Bermuda Weather Service> Fortunately for the residents and tourists of Bermuda, Hurricane Bill will soon only be a memory as it continues its path northward towards the Atlantic Canada region and beyond. As power is restored, and the tropical storm continues to move away, services (such as ferry operations) will resume. For cruise passengers arriving Monday, on the Grandeur of the Seas, they should expect sun with some morning showers and temperatures in the upper 80s. The return home should be much smoother than the trip across to Bermuda. Happy cruising in calmer seas !!