A Carnival Legend returns

Posted on 16 February, 2012 by Spacejunkie2

A Carnival Legend returns

By Lee Hayhurst | Feb 14, 2012 12:42PM GMT

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a return to cruising in UK waters for the first time since 2008 with the deployment of Carnival Legend to Dover.

The 2,600-capacity ship, which was named in 2002 by Dame Judi Dench in Harwich, will operate 17 cruises from the Kent port between April 22 and October 31 2013.

The decision to bring a ship back to the UK reflects Carnival’s ambitions to significantly grow brand awareness under new managing director Adolfo Perez.

Carnival was forced to put plans to establish a permanent base in the UK on the backburner when the financial crisis hit in 2008 after it named Carnival Splendor in Dover.

But Perez said the line believes now is the right time to re-establish its global expansion with the UK being one of its key markets outside of the US.

“Our goal is to grow the cruise market by attracting new-to-cruise,” said Perez. “The fact we are putting a ship in the UK’s backyard gives us access to UK guests and our marketing campaign is going to drive the brand.”

As well as Baltic cruises Legend will also sail in the Norwegian Fjords and around the British Isles as well as some Mediterranean cruises.

The positioning of the ship in Dover and the British Isles cruise, with ports of call in Scotland and Ireland, means Carnival will be able to showcase its product to more agents.

Carnival expects there to be an international mix of guests onboard its ex-UK cruises, but to be sourcing more UK passengers than it has ever done in the past.

A brochure featuring the UK deployment is due out in May and Perez said he would be looking for trade support.

“We realise how important the trade is for us to be successful in the UK so we have been in discussions with many trade partners here and we are very excited about working closely with the trade,” he said.

Carnival tightens cancellation policy

Posted on 7 February, 2012 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival tightens cancellation policy

By Donna Tunney

Carnival Cruise Lines modified its cancellation penalties for voyages of at least six days, excluding Europe cruises.

Passengers who cancel their cruise 75 to 56 days prior to departure are now charged a cancellation fee equaling the minimum deposit on the voyage.

Passengers who cancel their cruise 55 to 30 days prior to departure are charged 50% of the cruise fare.

Previously, the date ranges were from 75 to 46 days prior to departure for forfeiture of the deposit and 45 to 30 days prior to departure for forfeiture of 50% of the cruise fare.

The change places Carnival in line with cancellation policies of other cruise lines, Carnival said. The new policy is effective with new bookings made on or after Jan. 30, 2012.

Costa clarifies compensation policy for Concordia passengers

Posted on 26 January, 2012 by Spacejunkie2

Costa clarifies compensation policy for Concordia passengers

By Donna Tunney

Costa Cruises clarified its compensation policy for passengers who were aboard the crippled Costa Concordia, which hit a rocky reef and capsized off the Italian coast Jan. 13.

The line said it would refund the full cost of the cruise, either directly or through the passengers’ travel agencies.

It also will reimburse all travel expenses incurred both reaching the port of embarkation and on the homeward journey, including any independent arrangements made for transfers.

Additionally, onboard expenses will be refunded, any credit card charges will be credited to the account and any cash deposits will be refunded, Costa said.

Costa also will reimburse any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

It said that “every effort will be made to return the valuables left in the cabin safe,” and that information on the return of personal belongings and other forms of compensation will be communicated.

The embattled cruise line came under fire in recent days after a media outlet in the U.K. mistakenly reported that Concordia passengers, who evacuated the vessel in what’s been described as a chaotic and unorganized way, were being offered only a refund and 30% off a future Costa cruise. Other media have picked up the erroneous report.

“The 30% future cruise discount, in addition to a full refund, is intended for guests [who were] scheduled to sail on Costa Concordia from Jan. 14 onward,” the line stated.