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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2020 in Review

click images to enlarge

Looking Back at Historic Year 

As the year drew to a close, we took a look at some of the industry headlines and reviewed our cruise adventures.  COVID-19 made the biggest headlines impacting the cruise industry in 2020. 

Following a year unlike any other in the history of the industry, this Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) State of the Cruise Industry Report offers a look at the trends and analytics propelling the cruise industry forward in the coming year and beyond. 

(Click the link above for the complete report)

CLIA President's Message

"In a year marked by hurricanes, wildfires, and the worst public health crisis the world has experienced in over 100 years, we have seen our industry and our communities challenged in ways we could have never imagined. 

 As with the rest of the world, our plans for 2020 were turned upside down at the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, culminating in the voluntary suspension of cruise operations worldwide in mid-March. In the months that followed, our industry wasted no time engaging leading experts and government authorities to strengthen already robust public health measures and to put people and communities first. With enhanced measures in place, an initial resumption of cruising began in Europe and some other parts of the world, building confidence in the industry’s new protocols and inspiring hope for the future." said Kelly Craighead, CLIA President and CEO.

She also remarked "The reality of 2020 sits in stark contrast to the year that immediately preceded it. In 2019, the global cruise industry welcomed nearly 30 million passengers, creating jobs for 1.8 million people around the world and contributing over $154 billion to the global economy. With this growth came increased recognition of cruising as one of the best ways to experience the world, and our industry was focused on achieving previously unthinkable milestones to pave the path for a brighter and more sustainable future."

Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA), member cruise lines and health industry experts, from CDC and elsewhere, teamed up to outline plans for a safe and healthy resumption of cruise operations.   Those efforts are still ongoing, with the majority of cruises in North America suspended through the first quarter of 2021.

2020 Industry Trends - Putting People First

2020 Industry Trends - Thoughtful Planning

2020 Industry Trends - Following the Science

2020 Industry Trends - Phased Resumption

See our previous post: CDC Publishes Conditional Sailing Orde

Spotlight on Responsible Tourism

Sustainability - Even as CLIA members worked tirelessly to address the impacts of COVID-19, the cruise industry remained focused on its commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Innovation - The cruise industry continues to lead the way in the adoption of cutting-edge maritime environmental technologies.

Progress - CLIA’s annual 2020 Environmental Technologies and Practices Report highlights the progress that the cruise industry continues to make in the adoption of new environmental technologies.

Partnership - The cruise industry continued to lead the way in sustainable tourism management in 2020.

 New Cruise Ships for 2021

 

Our Favorite Cruise for 2020

Having cruised for 30+ years, our cruise selections are driven primarily by destination and secondly by cruise ship. We love exploring new destinations from our bucket list as well as revisiting some of our favorites. Exploring new ships, including older ships we've never sailed on before, is also quite enjoyable. Of course, we love to share with our readers so that they can discover the world that awaits them.  

We had several cruise adventures planned for 2020, including our National Conference onboard the brand new Celebrity Apex, but those were all rescheduled to 2021.

15 Day Australia - Asia Cruise Click on the image to the left for more Blog posts about this trip. While onboard Majestic Princess in January, 2019, we looked at cruises for 2020, taking advantage of the ongoing Anniversary sale.  Our selection was a respositioning cruise which included Southern Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore. There were several options for embarkation, including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. We selected the 15 day itinerary from Melbourne based on cabin availability in the cabin class we were looking for. Due to the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) epidemic, our cruise was terminated in Perth, Australia (cancelling the segment from Perth to Singapore).  Additional photos can be found on our Soouthern Australia Shutterfly page View Our Other Shutterfly Share Pages

What's Ahead for 2021

There's a lot of uncertainty as the new year begins.   At our virtual national conference, cruise line execs told us that they are planning for the gradual resumption of operations.  They all told us that bookings are strong and they were optimistic about the industry recovery once vaccines become more widely available.

It will be a rebuilding year for the Caribbean and Bahamas and another ship building year as well.  What will the added capacity mean?   There are still a large percentage of the population that have not experienced cruising.   The lines, including new players like Dream Cruises and Virgin Voyages, will continue to advertise which will help spread the word.

There has been a lot of ship re-deployments, with larger ships replacing smaller ones, to allow for social distancing,  The first itineraries that will be sailing will be shorter cruises, 3 - 7 night maximum, to comply with CDC guidelines.  Ship capacity will also be reduced at first, and gradually increase once the world's population has been vaccinated.  Life onboard and in port will be different as new protocols are employed to keep passengers, crew, and countries visited safe and healthy.

We are constantly in communication with our travel partners, learning about the latest itineraries, ship deployments, future cruise credits, and other changes.  We have had multiple re-bookings for some of our guests as these new measures are implemented.  

Travel Professionals are not going away.  In fact, our expertise is even more valuable now, as there are more and more options to sort through.   Matching the right ship and itinerary to the cruisers' desires is one of the biggest values we bring to bear.   Hope to see you on the seven seas in 2021 and beyond. 

Note: while you are waiting for cruising to resume, we can also assist you with land travel.   There are several resorts that have implemented changes to allow for safe and healthy vacations.  We appreciate your business as 2020 has been very devastating for the travel industry (as well as many other industries).

Happy New Year

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Earth Day 2019 Protect Our Species

 Happy Earth Day 2019
April 22nd

Protect Our Species

The world is facing the greatest rate of extinction since we lost the dinosaurs more than 60 million years ago!

But unlike the fate of the dinosaurs, the rapid extinction of species in our world today is the result of human activity!

We love cruising the world's oceans and waterways.  It is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore the earth.  In order to continue doing so, we need to protect the oceans and our land for generations to come.  Each of you can help make a difference in the future of Mother Earth.

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22. Worldwide, various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day events in more than 193 countries are now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.

Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Earth Day 2019 is dedicated to raise awareness about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species and the causes and consequences of this phenomenon. There are many resources on Earth Day Network's site.  Start by downloading their Protect Our Species Primer and Action Toolkit.

What You Need to Know About Coral Reefs 
 and How You Can Help Protect Them

Environmentally Conscious Vacation Experiences

Did you know that Cruise Lines offer an environmentally conscious vacation experience? 

CLIA Cruise Line Members lead, invest, and collaborate to minimize their ships’ impact on the environment.

Help End Plastic Pollution by finding out how many plastic items you consume every year 

and make a PLEDGE to reduce the amount.

Additional Resources:

 (click on the image to enlarge)

U.S. EPA | Earth Day

National Geographic for Kids

4Ocean Earth Day

A Global Concern

When we were in Southeast Asia last year we toured Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.  These signs underscore the need to take action to protect our environment.  We encourage you to start your education on this Earth Day 2019, and take steps to conserve and recycle during your vacations and daily lives.  

Thank you to CLIA, Participating Cruise Lines, EPA, Earth Day Network and their sponsors for efforts to educate and make changes necessary for sustainability.  And thank YOU for doing your part.  

We must work together to protect endangered and threatened species: bees, coral reefs, elephants, giraffes, insects, whales and more.

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Mother Ocean Day

Imagine Life Without the Oceans ...

These days most people take the world's oceans for granted. Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if there weren't the oceans and the species that live in them?

Water is an essential ingredient in human life.  It is estimated that 25% of the world's species live in the oceans.

Had it not been for the brave explorers who navigated the earth's oceans, lands where we live might never have been discovered.

Celebrate Mother Ocean Today

According to DaysOfTheYear website, May 12th is a day set aside to "pay homage to this incredible force of nature and enjoy what it has to offer to the full".  In the image above, we captured the ocean in all her glory from the view of our balcony cabin.  The sun was starting to set, completing the serene view.  This is just one of the many things we love about cruising.

As we take to the waves time and time again, we are reminded that it is our responsibility to preserve the oceans for future generations.  We've written may columns in the past about the need for the cruise lines and passengers to take steps for sustainability.   Simple things, like putting our waste in the appropriate containers on board the ship, will go a long way in preserving the image above.

If you have never cruised the world's oceans, we encourage you to try it some time.  On sea days, you will find a peace that can't be explained, if you immerse yourself in the view around you.  Don't listen to those that might discourage you from experiencing the oceans for yourself.   In fact, we would be honored to talk to you at length about our 30+ years personal experiences on the world's oceans.

For those cruise veterans reading this column, include a peaceful moment like this in your next voyage.   Think about the vastness of the oceans, and those that came before us that discovered our lands.  They braved conditions that were unknown and sailed into the unknown to discover land.

On this Mother's Day weekend let's honor our Mothers, including Mother Ocean.

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I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat