Has Costa Concordia's Accident Changed How You Think about Cruising?

I cruise a lot; it's one of my favorite ways to travel. Over the years, I've sailed on many ships, including intimate yachts, masted sailing ships, and mid- to large-size cruise ships. Some itineraries were ultra-popular routes in the Mediterranean and Caribbean while some—like our recent Borneo cruise—were definitely off the beaten path. I never once questioned my safety and instead put my trust in the ships' officers and crew and the cruise lines as a whole.


Today, with the sad news that several passengers and crew of Costa Concordia have been lost at sea, I must reexamine the faith I put in others while traveling.


I am saddened by the Costa tragedy and all the families of those lost and those who survived a horrific experience are in my thoughts.


It's difficult to second-guess the situation when hard facts are still being determined but these questions definitely come to my mind...

• Why did the captain wait so long before issuing a mayday?
• Why didn't the captain and executive officers communicate more effectively with fellow crew and passengers in the early moments of the disaster?
• Why didn't the captain order all passengers to go to their cabins to put on warm clothes, grab their passports and medication, and then head to their muster stations?
• Why did the crew seem less than prepared for evacuating the vessel?
• Why did the captain leave the boat before making sure all passengers and crew had been evacuated?

We'll learn more in the days and months ahead, but how will this accident change the way you think about cruising?


As I said earlier, I love this method of travel and it would take a lot for me to shun the industry. Despite this accident, cruise travel is historically a very safe way to travel. (Check out Cruise Junkie's excellent website that details cruise ship accidents and illness reports.)


However, I will think more carefully about the cruise lines that I trust my safety to and why. I'll also be more cognizant of my own personal emergency plans (i.e., always carrying a copy of my passport on my person along with some cash and a credit card).


It's troubling that this incident causes us to question the faith we put into our ship's captain, executive officers, crew, and cruise line home office. There are so many well-trained and caring cruise ship employees.


I can only hope that this incident sparks conversation and that cruise companies make a renewed commitment to ship safety and training protocols. What happened aboard Costa Concordia is a wake-up call and it's up to each of us to press cruise lines to improve safety practices.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Sail the Med This Fall Aboard a Brand New Ship

As you know, we recently returned from a Seabourn Odyssey Eastern Mediterranean cruise. We loved the ship, the ports, and all the terrific people we met along the way. What we weren't too crazy about was the hot, humid weather.

Yes, yes, I know. What were we thinking going to Greece in the middle of July! But, we really wanted to be one of the first passengers aboard Seabourn Odyssey so, in the end, we're glad we booked that particular cruise. However, we both agreed that the next time we sail the Med, it will either be in September/October or April/May.

For those of you who may have some time for a Mediterranean sojourn this September or October, here are a few of the excellent deals that can still be had aboard a quartet of brand new ships.

Fall Mediterranean Cruises Aboard Four Brand New Ships

Seabourn Odyssey (launched June 2009)

• Cruise: 7-night from Athens (Piraeus), Greece to Istanbul, Turkey
• Ports: Athens (Piraeus), Mylos, Rhodes, Symi, and Khyos in Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; cruising the Dardanelles; and Istanbul, Turkey
• Date: October 10, 2009
• Price: Approximately $4,800 pp
  
• Description: Many itineraries aboard Seabourn's newest megayacht, Seabourn Odyssey, are sold out during her maiden season. However, there is still space on this terrific 7-night itinerary. With a guest capacity of just 450, Odyssey is more like an elegant boutique hotel at sea than a cruise ship. She's intimate and comfortable and drop-dead gorgeous.

Celebrity Equinox (launched July 2009)

• Cruise: 13-night roundtrip out of Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
• Ports: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Santorini and Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; Cairo/Giza (Alexandria), Egypt, Jerusalem/Tel Aviv (Ashdod) and Nazareth/galilee (Haifa), Israel; and Naples/Capri (Sorrento), Italy
• Date: September 13, 2009
• Price: Approximately $1,650 for an inside cabin, $2,350 pp for an oceanview, and $2,700 pp for a balcony
• Description: We just sailed aboard Celebrity Equinox and were very impressed. The ship is exquisite from bow to stern and even though she welcomes about 2,800 guests per cruise, she never feels cramped or crowded (although there's sure to be lines for the tenders during peak transit times). Don't miss the extension art collection.
  

Costa Luminosa (launched May 2009)

• Cruise: 11-night roundtrip out of Savona, Italy
• Ports: Savona, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Lanzarote and Santa Cruz, Tenerife in the Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; and Malaga, Spain
• Date: October 21, 2009
• Price: Approximately $1,600 pp for an oceanview and $2,000 pp for a balcony
• Description: While many luxury lines are building larger ships, this Italian mass-market line launched a smaller ship (in relation to the rest of its fleet) in May. Costa Luminosa is a 2,260-passenger cruise ship with amenities that appeal to families and young couples. Sixty-eight percent of the cabins have balconies, each room is outfitted with a Playstation 3, the top deck hosts a unique "skating" track, there's an 18-hole golf simulator, and much more.

MSC Splendida (launched July 2009)
Cruise: 7-night roundtrip out of Genoa, Italy
Ports: Genoa, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Tunis, Tunisia; Valletta, Malta; Messina, Sicily and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Date: October 17, 2009
Price: Approximately $550 for an inside cabin, $750 pp for a balcony, and $1,400 for a suite
Description: Splendida is a large ship (133,500 tons with a passenger capacity of 3,300), but she holds a secret. There's actually a "ship within a ship" concept in play here and if you're used to cruising luxury ships you'll definitely want to book one of the 99 Yacht Club staterooms and suites. As a Yacht Club guest you'll gain access to a private lounge and pool area as well as other upgraded perks.

There's still plenty of time to book a Mediterranean cruise for this fall. Talk with your travel agent or contact your favorite cruise lines directly.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises (Celebrity Solstice)