Oh snap! It seems Carnival Cruise Lines has reversed its decision from banning to now allowing cruise guests slated to sail on the ‘Drag Stars at Sea’ theme cruise to dress up in drag. Last week, Vice President of Guest Services Vicky Rey sent an e-mail ahead of the December 2nd Carnival Glory sailing requesting that passengers refrain from wearing their drag attire and that only the perfomers in the show, which are from RuPaul’s Drag Race TV show, would be allowed to dress in drag. Rey stated the reason for the ban was due to the fact Carnival attracts a number of families with children and it was important to keep the cruise “family friendly”.

Well, hell hath no fury like a cruise drag queen scorned! The e-mail prompted hundreds of drag queens booked on the cruise to go viral on the Internet with their anger at Carnival. It quickly became clear that not even the world’s largest cruise line can silence angry drag queens. Today, Carnval’s CEO and President Gerry Cahill issued an apology and said the cruise line had a change of heart in the no dressing in drag policy. “When the group was presented to us we were advised that only the performers would be dressed in drag during the private events. However, we are now aware that this was not clearly communicated to members of the group and therefore anyone who wishes to dress in drag may do so. Please keep in mind that our safety and security procedures require guests to present government-issued ID, and to be recognizably that person,” Cahill says. He added, “At Carnival, we are proud to carry more than 4.5 million guests every year and we welcome them all aboard. We do not practice any form of discrimination against the LGBT or any other community. We sincerely apologize for the miscommunication and for any unintended offense we have caused. Given this misunderstanding, anyone on this cruise who wishes to cancel for any reason may do so and will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, as well as reimbursement for any non-refundable travel related expenses.”

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Carnival Corporation today announced it has reached an agreement for the construction of two new cruise ships – a 99,000-ton ship for its Holland America Line brand and a 135,000-ton vessel for its Carnival Cruise Lines brand.

A memorandum of agreement has been signed with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of a 2,660-passenger ship for Holland America Line scheduled for delivery in fall 2015 and a 4,000-passenger ship for Carnival Cruise Lines scheduled for delivery in winter 2016.  The total cost for the two vessels combined, which includes the U.S. dollar denominated contract price and all owner’s costs, will be approximately $195,000 per lower berth. The memorandum of agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including execution of shipbuilding contracts and financing.

The Holland America ship, which will be a new class of vessel for the line, will enter service five years after the last Holland America ship, the ms Nieuw Amsterdam, delivered in 2010. The Carnival Cruise Lines vessel, also a new class of ship, will be launched four years after the introduction of Carnival Breeze, which debuted in spring 2012.  The timing of capacity additions for these brands is similar to the five year span between upcoming new ship introductions for both Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises (UK), as previously announced.

“Today’s order continues the company’s strategy of introducing two to three ships per year across the corporation’s 10 brands. We have strategically timed the introduction of these new ships to allow ample time for those brands to further grow their passenger base and absorb the new capacity while minimizing revenue yield dilution in the remainder of their existing fleets,” said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Including the newbuilds announced today, Carnival Corporation & plc currently has nine new ships scheduled for delivery – two for 2013, two for 2014, three for 2015 and two for 2016. Arison also noted that the addition of new tonnage is expected, to some extent, to replace existing capacity reductions from possible sales of older ships.

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“There are some amazing cruise deals from cruise lines this fall,” says Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert who is nationally recognized as The Cruise Guy.

Chiron has uncovered some incredible deals that are hard to pass up. A few even include free airfare, free hotel, pre-paid gratuities, and discount shore excursions. It’s important to note that the following fares are starting prices, which means they are for inside cabins. You will almost certainly pay more for an outside cabin.

Here are the deals:

Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess – 7-night Southern Caribbean from Ft Lauderdale to Princess Cays (private beach), Curacao and Aruba. Prices were from $1799 per person now they are from $499 per person.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Dream - 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean from Pt Canaveral (Orlando) to Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya OR Nassau, St John/ St Thomas and St Maarten. Prices were from $1749 per person, now from $399 per person.

Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Journey sailing on December 12, 2012 – 11-night Burma and Andaman Sea Islands from Chenai (Madras), India to Singapore (overnight) with stops at Pt Blair, Rangoon Myanmar (Yangon, 2-overnights) and Phuket. Prices were from $6998 per person, now from $2499 per person. This includes roundtrip air from select US gateways, 2-nights hotel, prepaid gratuities, 50% off shore excursions!!

Princess Cruises’ Star Princess sailing on December 5, 2012 — 17-night South America from San Francisco to Valparaiso (Santiago) with stops at Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, San Juan Del Sur, Puntarenas, Quito (Manta), Callao (Lima) (overnight) and La Serena (Coquimbo). Prices were from $2665 per person, now from $1395 per person.

The message is clear: Don’t miss the boat with these great deals!

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It’s a blissful thought: sailing off into the sunset on a cruise vacation. Cruising can be an exciting and affordable vacation option. Of course, it’s important to find the right cruise at the right price for your getaway. After all, there are more than 160 ships in the fleets of the 24 major cruise lines and thousands of itineraries worldwide.

Here’s what to consider when selecting your cruise.

Style of ship and cruise line

Cruise lines have their own distinct personalities and ships that reflect them. The size of a ship really does matter. Large ship cruise lines Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International provide a party atmosphere with glitz and high energy. Small ship operators like Silversea Cruises and Seabourn focus on quiet luxury and a more refined experience.

To make sure a line’s usual clientele and ship size is a good match for you, check over the line’s brochures and site. It also doesn’t hurt to visit the bustling online message boards at Cruise Critic and Cruisemates – member postings can offer valuable insight regarding a particular ship and cruise line.

Where to go

Cruise ships can take you almost anywhere on the planet, from the Caribbean or Europe to Asia or Antarctica, so explore a range of possibilities before settling on a preferred route. When you’ve found a trip you love, go over the schedule carefully. If traveling internationally make sure you have valid passports, visas, and any required immunizations.

If you need to fly to your cruise port make sure you allow enough time to get to the ship. Ideally you should try to get to the port at least a day in advance; this added buffer allows you to start off your hard-earned cruise vacation with less stress.

When to go

The holidays, spring break and summer are high season and that usually means higher prices. The shoulder seasons of mid-fall and early spring offer great cruise deals, and may be even more appealing than high season. An Alaska, European or Caribbean cruise in May or September, when the kids are in school, translates into fewer people in port.

Just before and after shoulder season, cruise lines move their ships from one home port to another in a strategic fleet movement that’s called “repositioning.” Of course, those ships don’t move around empty; instead, what you get is a “repositioning cruise” (or “repo cruise”) — a unique, one-way itinerary that is available only once a year. Repositioning cruises are often highly discounted meaning they are a great value.

Lastly, some of the cheapest cruises come during the Caribbean’s hurricane season, particularly in September and October. The price can come at a cost though — your itinerary may be changed and your cruise could be shortened or prolonged.

Pick a stateroom

Consider your itinerary when reserving a stateroom. If you can afford to splurge, a balcony stateroom provides you a private space to relax and get away from the crowded decks. Still, not all cruises are ideal for balconies. A trans-Atlantic crossing doesn’t make a lot of sense for a balcony since the ship is at sea for days and the weather is often cold or too windy to enjoy the space. On the other hand, the appeal of a balcony on an Alaska, Caribbean, European or South American cruise offers amazing scenery that should not be missed. Smaller inside staterooms are adequate for budget-minded cruisers who seem more likely to spend most of their time utilizing the ship’s public spaces.

A great cabin can make or break your cruise. If you’re on a romantic getaway don’t assume you’ll get a bed for two. Check with the cruise line to make sure you reserve a stateroom that offers a queen or king bed option, not fixed twins or pull-down pullman beds.

Lastly, study the ship’s deck plan. Passengers with disabilities might want to book near elevators. Watch out for staterooms with obstructed views – usually the lifeboat deck and those with close proximity to noisy areas like lounges, discos, theaters, pool areas, room service and steward service areas. Staterooms midship on lower decks are best for those prone to seasickness.

Getting the best price

Cruise lines offer travelers a host of discounts, so consider every source when looking for a deal. Check out your credit card as many offer discounts or points towards cruises. Look at all the clubs you belong to, from AAA, airline frequent flier programs and college alumni associations, to union memberships — see if they offer any deals or special rates for members. Also, if you’ve previously cruised with a cruise line you may be in for a repeat cruiser discount.

The majority of cruises are booked by travel agents. Big online agencies like Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz along with large cruise-only agencies offer competitive prices on a number of cruises. Still, many cruisers prefer to use a local travel agent, but make sure you shop around. Visit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) at Cruising.org and search by ZIP code. When you talk to an agent, ask about last minute specials and if they are holding any group space on various cruises. But keep in mind for popular itineraries the best prices are often booked months in advance.

Lastly, watch your spending once onboard. Cruise lines do not make the bulk of their profits from the actual cruise fare – they make it from onboard spending options like bar tabs, spa services, shore excursions, and boutique purchases.

Don’t be vexed when choosing a cruise vacation. If you do a little research on options and pricing you can board the ship without a care in the world. And that’s the only way to cruise.

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Bon voyage!

Following a highly successful pilot program on Carnival Breeze, Carnival Cruise Lines has begun a fleetwide rollout of a new system designed to ensure that all guests are able to enjoy equal access to sun loungers by preventing seat saving in outdoor deck areas.

Under the new system, shipboard team members monitor sun lounge usage and if they observe a seat that contains a towel or personal belongings but appears to be unoccupied, a notification is placed on the chair indicating the current time. If the chair remains unoccupied for 40 minutes, the contents are removed and held for the guest’s safekeeping.

The expanded policy is scheduled to be introduced on a gradual basis over the next couple of weeks, with fleetwide implementation on all 24 Carnival ships expected by mid-September.

Guests will be advised of the new system via public address announcements by the cruise director, signage in outdoor deck areas, messages displayed on the Seaside Theater poolside LED screen, as well as notices in “Fun Times,” the daily shipboard newsletter.

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Call it a case of not so happy feet for a passenger on a Carnival Cruise Lines cruise. According to a story in the Miami New Times, Kurt Gies is suing the cruise line claiming that his feet

were “burned” from the ship’s deck while participating in the line’s infamous passenger participation spectacle — the ‘Hair Chest Contest’. Gies injuries were received during a September 2011 sailing onboard the Carnival Legend where he states he visited the ship’s medical center for treatment. However, a Carnival spokesperson states there is no record of Gies seeking treatment from the Legend’s medical center. Additionally, Carnival says a video review of the contest does not show Mr. Gies in distress of any kind. Gies is seeking damages for “serious and permanent scarring, disfigurement, and embarrassment,” in his lawsuit.

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