According to a report in today’s London Daily Mail, Carnival Cruise Lines has banned events aimed at older women searching for younger men on its ships in the future or aka ‘Cougar Cruises’. The ban came about after a media frenzy surrounding last month’s ‘International Cougar Cruise’ that was organized by the Society of Single Professionals and The Singles Travel Company aboard the Carnival Elation out of San Diego.

Carnival says the group was not sponsored or organized by Carnival, but by a travel agent and the company will no longer allow future groups to marketed in this manner. While Carnival scratched the “Cougar Cruise” concept, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are purring at the prospects of hosting two future “Cougar Cruises” in the coming months. Meow!

My colleague Gene Sloan at USA Today has quite a story on a single’s group that has blocked group cabin space onboard a Carnival Cruise Lines vessel. Sloan reports that Los Gatos, California-based Singles Travel Company and singles group The Society of Single Professionals are co-sponsoring a three-night getaway aboard the Carnival Elation, which is geared towards older women who like younger men – aka “cougars”.

Sloan says the article is drawing more comments than another front page story on the recession. Check out Sloan’s story at http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=68499038.blog to get the scoop on this real “Fun Ship” cruise.