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Belize close ports to cruise ship

Posted on 18 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

Ebola scare on the high seas: Mexico and Belize close ports to cruise ship carrying health worker who handled samples from ‘patient zero’ who died of virus

The female passenger works at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas
Took a trip on the Carnival Magic trip – due to stop in Belize and Mexico
She handled clinical samples from Duncan – who died of Ebola on October 8
The woman, who is with her husband, had no symptoms but went into voluntary isolation
Hospital has now issued tighter guidelines to stop staff traveling
Belize is refusing to let the passenger ashore because of Ebola fears
The ship will be skipping its final stop in Cozumel, Mexico, Friday and will return to Texas on Sunday

A cruise ship which launched from Texas has been barred from entering Belize and Mexico because it may be carrying an Ebola victim.

The ship is carrying a health worker from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas – the epicenter of the Ebola crisis, where the first patient to die of the disease in America was treated.

The woman – who is now in voluntary isolation to protect fellow passengers – had handled samples from Thomas Eric Duncan, who died of the virulent disease on October 8.

Officials had wanted to move her off the ship so she could fly home. But the governments of Belize and Mexico both denied permission for the ship to dock in order to protect its own citizens.

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A female healthcare worker from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital is reportedly quarantined on board Carnival Cruise ship Magic (pictured) in the Caribbean over an Ebola scare

Tourists enjoy a ride on a catamaran as cruise ship Carnival Magic is seen near the shores of Cozumel October 17

The health worker has so far not shown any signs of the disease since she handled the material 19 days ago, the White House said.

Ebola’s incubation period is two to 21 days. In the wake of the scare on the seas, Texas Health Presbyterian shared news guidelines it had issued limiting staff’s travel.

From now on workers will not be permitted to board planes, ships or trains for 21 days after entering a room with an infected patient.

The New York Post, which reported the memo, said that enhanced monitoring will also be put into place, and staff can volunteer to be taken into care at the hospital if they want.

The government is working to return the woman and her husband to the US before the ship, the Carnival Magic, completes its cruise. The State Department was working to secure their transportation home.

On board: Passengers on the Carnival Magic, pictured, have been separated from the health worker, who put herself in voluntary isolation

Keeping on: Vacations continued for passengers aboard the ship, who were given a $200 credit to their on-board accounts, but had to miss out on a stop in Mexico

An administration official said the cruise ship had stopped in Belize but officials there would not allow the passenger to leave the vessel so she could be flown home.

On Friday morning, passengers aboard the ship learned that they will not be making a planned stop in Cozumel, Mexico, due to ‘a situation beyond the cruise ship’s control.’

The captain of the Carnival vessel made the announcement at around 10am saying that they are being forced to skip the final port on the itinerary and return to Galveston, Texas, Sunday.

‘We greatly regret that this situation, which was completely beyond our control, precluded the ship from making its scheduled visit to Cozumel and the resulting disappointment it has caused our guests,’ the Carnival Cruise line said in a statement to Miami Herald.

A Mexican port authority official said the ship was denied clearance to avoid any possible risk from Ebola.

‘It is the first time that this has happened, and it was decided the ship should not dock as a preventative measure against Ebola,’ Erce Barron, port authority director in Quintana Roo, told Reuters

The company is offering passengers a credit of $200 each to their shipboard account and a 50 per cent discount toward a future trip.

Explanation: This note was handed out to passengers explaining how the spat with Belize meant the woman could not be taken off the ship

Belize stops Ebola health care worker leaving cruise ship

The ship skipped a planned stop in Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday because of delays getting permission to dock from Mexican authorities over Ebola scare

A government official said that when the Texas lab worker left the US on the cruise ship from Galveston October 12, health officials were requiring only self-monitoring.

One official said it’s believed the woman poses no risk but health-care authorities want to get her off the cruise ship and back to the US out of an abundance of caution.

There have been no restrictions placed on other passengers aboard the ship.

Images from aboard the stricken vessel were published by The Denver Channel.

Carnival Cruise Lines said in a statement that the woman, a lab supervisor, remained in isolation ‘and is not deemed to be a risk to any guests or crew’.

‘We are in close contact with the CDC and at this time it has been determined that the appropriate course of action is to simply keep the guest in isolation on board,’ the statement said.

The worker is being monitored for any signs of infection by the ship’s doctor

Ship Portrait of the Costa Mediterranea Costa Cruises

Posted on 1 October, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

Ship Portrait and report from on board the Costa Mediterranea Costa Cruises

The Costa Mediterranea Costa Cruises was built in 2003, is 293 m long and has 85,619 GT. Overall, the cruise ship has 1,057 cabins, of which 660 have a private balcony. For an 11 year “old” cruise ship balcony cabin share of 62% is by no means a bad cut.

The interior is inspired by Italian palaces of the 16th and 17th century, Venetian influences are everywhere to be found in the design. Interior Designer Costa Mediterranea is, like its sister ship “Costa Atlantica”, who lives in Miami interior designer Joseph Farcus. The since 1978 working for Carnival Farcus shows the way on most cruise ships of Carnival Corporation & plc responsible for the interior design and is known for his extravagant and eye-catching style.

Let’s start again on the lower decks.

Deck 1 houses adjacent to the large Giardino Isola Bella Lounge, which represents one of the evening meeting on the Costa Mediterranea, the Selva Disco. The Selva Disco is equipped with a modern stereo system, extending over two decks and has built-in bar with plenty of seating. Overall, Disco is very inviting and appealing.

Located on Deck 2 and 3, as on almost all cruise ships in the bow the great theater. On the Costa Mediterranea it is called Osiris and the theater can accommodate a total of three decks. Contrary to our expectations, the theater is almost classic and simple in design, all seats have small tables where drinks can be parked. This is practical and not universally standard.

On the port and starboard side of the Osiris Theatre are tucked two long passages that call themselves Winter Garden.While the colorful designer lamps on the walls and the wall paneling remember not necessarily to a conservatory but these two transitions are during the day as a perfect retreat from which one even has a pleasant sea view.

Calm down, it should not always go in Winter Garden, because this is at the same time on one side of the access to the Virtual World of Teens traveling on board. In the virtual world the teens can go to various play equipment car race or deliver a duel in virtual soccer. The offer is very diverse. The Squok club for younger guests is located on Deck 5 in the bow area above. Unfortunately, access to the time of our visit was not possible.

Kids & Teens under 18 years traveling onboard most ships of Costa Cruises now. More specifically, traveling up to two children up to 18 years for occupancy of upper beds in the cabin with 2 adults free and pay only the mandatory service charge. We are happy to inform you about regarding the exceptions in person. These rules.

On deck 3, the upper level of the Selva Disco and much of the public ranges. The Talia Lounge is located at the main restaurant Degli Argentieri and is recommended as one of the venues before dinner or as a chill retreat for entertaining evenings with friends and acquaintances. Comfortable lounge chairs invite you to linger and optical separations between the seating arrangements create an intimate atmosphere.

At the rear, the Costa Mediterranea is the large main restaurant Degli Argentieri, which as a classic restaurant is available to guests with reserved tables in table two times. The walls are adorned by Italian designs and sculptures, the overall design is quite restrained and not overloaded cheesy. In addition to a variety of large tables with 8 seats have small groups, couples and families the opportunity to dine at significantly smaller tables. So we can also discover 2 or 4 tables in both the pane and in the open gallery during our tour.

Heart of the Costa Mediterranea is the Maschera d’Argento Atrium with the Maschera d’Argento bar as a central meeting point in the middle. Barstool made of leather and an elegant granite bar stone give rise to a quite high-quality impression.

Well, the colorful plastic lamps and the shrill tones not necessarily meet the taste of a typical German cruise guest but overall the Atrium of Costa Mediterranea quite handsomely. Particularly striking is already at this stage of our tour of the excellent overall impression of the ship. Noticeable signs of wear can be hardly recognizable and the cleanliness is excellent.

A casino may, of course, not missing, looks at the Costa Mediterranea, of course, not very different from how on all cruise ships. Overall, this area shows but bright and friendly, not directly mediated the typical casino character. Beautiful are the various seating.

The casino is directly connected to the Grand Canal Bar Costa Mediterranea.

It now leaves the casino on the starboard side, so you will find yourself directly on the Casanova Square. This open and spacious area connects the casino, the Casanova bar, card room and the front staircase together.

Even if the design is a little playful, so also the Casanova Square does not appear cluttered and tacky. The heart of the Casanova Square is a large staircase in Las Vegas style up to deck 3 The flooring consists mainly of granite, comes across as high and elegant. Only the Casanova Bar sprayed through the use of many gold elements a slightly oriental character.

Laterally from the main course of Casanova Square the traveler has the opportunity to relax and watch the hustle and bustle of the Casanova Square. In addition to different seating is separated separately a cardroom to find. Surely this has to even board games or as a meeting place for a little chat. The materials used here fall directly into the eye – Granite worktops, window sills marble, solid wood chairs and thick rugs nestle perfectly into a harmonious overall picture. We find the widespread statement, the Costa Mediterranea was the “most colorful” ship of the fleet, not applicable.

In the area of the front staircase, we switch to the “Bacco deck ‘(deck 3).

Now we see almost the top of Casanova Square, which is indeed connected by the staircase described to the deck 3. So lie directly above the Casanova bar the Roero Bar and Oriental Lounge. Italian chic with American influences fits as a description for the color scheme of the interior quite well. Comfortable lounge chair, couch many areas, a large dance floor framed by columns and glossy lacquered wood tables are the most striking features of the Oriental Lounge and the Roero Bar.

Compared to current new buildings in the Internet zone or the Internet Point with integrated library seems relatively small.For the separate room next to the Oriental Lounge is a quiet retreat where you can read undisturbed own or borrowed magazines or books.

Shopping fans are certainly in the Via Condotti store and buy there one or another souvenir, a new bag, clock or necklace.

On the way towards the stern we cross again the region of the atrium, discover the Photoshop and Photo Gallery.

As on Deck 2 are the main Degli Argentieri Restaurant is a bar and a lounge upstream. The bar is part of Dionisio Dionisio Lounge and loads during the day for a cocktail, a cup of coffee or tea. In the evening meet for an aperitif or a nightcap.

So we leave the two lower decks 2-3 and go up on deck 9 First welcomes us in the front area of the ship Venus Beauty Salon, where the friendly staff upon request conjure a new haircut or offer completely customized nail treatments.

Next door extends over two decks of Ischia Therme Spa area with great ocean view fitness area, treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish steam bath, whirlpool and relaxation areas. The hot tub is a large area surrounded with glass walls, which are supported by white columns. This makes it possible to look directly from the jacuzzi in the gym and on the sea.

As the Costa Mediterranea was put into service eleven years ago, as the Ischia Thermal Spa was one of the largest spa areas at sea. Today, size and design are certainly no more records on but ultimately convinced everything perfectly and brilliantly clean. The Costa Mediterranea is so far flawless.

If we now also on the sun deck, then drop another first hot tub and large pool Armonia eye. Even if the design therefore on deck in typical Costa dress comes and we did not like the yellow Costa-lanterns still so convinced the excellent overall picture here. Flooring, pool tiles, sun beds, showers – how old was the ship again? Somewhere wear tracks must be found, we believe. However, stick to the shower head not even water stains, the glass sparkles in the sun as well as all metal railings and boundaries. The varnish wood railing around the pool deck glistens with the water on the Elbe to the bet, the Elbe water rather has a slight yellow tinge.

We go further in the direction Armonia Lido. When Armonia Lido is in principle to the outside of the buffet restaurants. This is covered by a glass roof trailable (Magrodome) and exactly in the middle are the Cadmo pool and an additional Jacuzzi. The covered Cadmo pool has the same size as the Armonia pool and is well suited to swim a few laps.

Instead of the silver-colored aluminum-Chairs would certainly appealing wooden look and would create a warmer atmosphere than the bare metal. For Pool Events is a fully equipped stage available.

Extra space is now offering the Perla del Lago Buffet restaurant as well as the Posillipo Pizzaria. Both restaurants actually merge into a main restaurant at the stern of the Costa Mediterranea and although their age quite inviting designed and easy split.

The different dishes, salads and drinks can be found respectively at different stations, so that should hold at peak times the queues in particular limits.

Very good like the fact that there are still a number of inclusive beverages with meals at the drink counter. These are not “real” fruit juices but at least the offer is in direct comparison to competitors MSC here yet. Iced Tea, Coffee and tea are also still available for free.

In the Pizzaria obtained at any time of the day quite a large selection of pizzas.

The real fun is the whole free area at the stern of the Costa Mediterranea. Besides the fact that this large outdoor deck is covered with real wood and surprised us very positively, there is another pool plus jacuzzi. We like to mention again that the optical state is absolutely perfect. For the supply of drinks is also ensured, since the Apollo Bar is adjacent to the region of the Apollo Lido.

On deck 10 the water slide in the Costa Mediterranea is installed in its size certainly is, even after 11 years still standard, although, of course, no more cheers will trigger. The entire sun deck is spacious and incidentally occupied with wood. Sun beds are available in sufficient numbers. Too bad that there is no shade.

The kids pool on Deck 11 (Lido Squok) is actually more of a wading pool and somehow completely unattractive. Even in this area there is no awning. On hot summer days or in warm trades you are exposed unprotected to the sun and felt certainly rather Sahara atmosphere as refreshing water fun. In addition, although the completely flawless, non-slip flooring, but it has been heated up uncomfortably on the day of our visit on board. The outside temperature was a mere 24 degrees. Running without shoes is likely to be impossible in sunlight for children.

Best views and excellent food served in the à la carte Club Restaurant Club Medusa. This magnificent specialty restaurant is located on deck 10 and 11th

The chefs offer an exceptional dining experience in an elegant and luxurious atmosphere in the Club Medusa Restaurant.The whole area is very open and flooded due to a glass dome light completely. Some places offer beside the culinary experience even one of the senses. If you sit on the balcony in the atrium, so it looks the same nine decks into the depth.Food in high altitudes could be called that.

Only criticism as part of our tour aboard the Costa Mediterranea is the children’s pool, which would have loveless can not be made and no sun protection. The multi-purpose sports court on deck 11 before the signal mast leaves nothing to be desired, however. Sea breeze is likely to provide a permanent cooling also, if it blows then.

The ship can be seen in a wonderful condition and the age of at least 11 years nowhere. In our view, the design for a cruise ship in the Costa fleet is still rather be described as cautious and discreet. Of course, the taste of German cruise passengers the coloring is not necessarily true but convinced the ship in all respects.

The lunch buffet at the restaurant meets the expectations for a oriented for international guests breakfast and can basically nothing to be desired. In addition to hot and cold dishes, there is a large salad bar and different desserts are allowed for the grand finale are not missing too. Diabetes is of course separate desserts.

The ship is the way in many areas and barrier-free and therefore suitable for wheelchair users!

For more details, cabin information and recommendations on the routes you like to receive in person, call 04893-4288535 or send mail to kontakt@kreuzfahrten-mehr.de

Complete picture gallery << aboard the Costa Mediterranea >>

Queen Mary 2 ship “Wiki facts”

Posted on 29 September, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

RMS Queen Mary 2 makes $60,000 per hour profit.
QM2 power plant generates 118 million Watts of power – enough electricity to light up a city of 200,000.
For a Transatlantic crossing, the QM2 fuel consumption is 1850 tons of diesel oil, plus another 1000 tons of fuel for the ship’s gas turbine. Only to to fill the ship’s huge fuel tanks takes 6 hours.
It takes 10 hours to disembark all 2,600 passengers and all their luggage, in the same time getting ready for the embarkation of the 2,600 new ones. In these 10 hours: 1,300 beds will be made, 2,000 bathrooms will be cleaned, 2,.520,000 ft2 (234,116 m2) of carpets will be vacuumed, many hundreds of windows will be washed, and there is the laundry:
On a during turnaround day (in the ports of Southampton and Brooklyn, New York) the QM2 hotel staff wash about 3,200 towels, 1,700 hand towels, 3,000 face cloths, 8,000 linen napkins. This is also the time when QM2 staff processes 4,500 pieces of luggage, and the ~400 tons of supplies, of which 150 tons of food (wine, caviar, vegetables, fruits, meat, milk). Every free bar tender, waiter, cook and house keeper is involved in this process.
An these are the “RMS Queen Mary 2 food facts“. On a 7-day cruise are consumed: 65,000 eggs, 4,000 bottles of wine, 2 t potatoes, and of course, the 26,000 tea bags! Plus (per day) 3,3 kg caviar, 73 kg lobster, ~350 champagne bottles, 460 eggs, 1,200 L milk.
There are 1,070 deck chairs on the ship.
The artwork on the QM2 is worth more than £3,5 million.
The teak ship-around Promenade Deck length is 2,034 ft (620 m).
RMS Queen Mary 2 is a floating self-sufficient city. There is enough food on board to feed an army, plus the world’s biggest most extensive wine cellar afloat – with ~40,000 bottles (343 different labels), ranging in prices per bottle from US$25 to US$4,000. On the ship per year are consumed ~230,000 bottles of wine, and around 1,5 million drinks.
There are 150 chefs and 9 separate galleys on the QM2 ship, producing ~16,000 meals a day. Dishing out 16,000 meals day after day is a monumental feed of organisation. A computer program keeps track of what’s ordered, and what they’re running out of. The ship’s provision department is plugged into the same system. That way the F&B manager knows exactly down to the last crumb what the ship exactly has in stock.
Like on every big cruise ship, QM2 uses a lot of water – for drinking, for the 2,000 bathrooms, for the galleys, plus a hell of a lot water for washing. On a daily basis, ~80,000 pieces of china are used, so they have 85 people in charge only to wash dishes and they work 24 hours (day and night shift).
The QM2′s two whistles (attached to the funnel, length of 2,1 m, or 7 ft) are audible for 10 ml (16 km). The starboard one is an exact replica of the RMS Queen Mary (1) ship’s whistle.
QM2 has three anchors, each of 23t. They are 770 m (2,526 ft) long with the breaking force of 9,300 kiloNewtons.
The QM2 ship illuminated name signs near funnel are the history’s biggest ever – length 22 m, height 2,4 m (72×8 ft).
The QM2 ship’s Captain is called “Commodore“. It’s a military (navy) rank superior to Captain and below Rear Admiral. Commodores are usually commanding more than one ship at a time (flotilla), while Captains command a single ship.
When docked at the New York, Brooklyn or the Southampton cruise port terminal, huge number of computers are being linked to the QM2 database through fiber optics. Every cruise passenger gets a photo ID (it doubles as a room key and charge card as well). Passengers use it everywhere on the ship – from the gift shop to the casino (Cunard doesn’t accept cash on board).
One hour before departure the QM2 passengers experience the muster drill – to make sure they all know what to do/where to go in case of emergency.
The crew practices the fire drill once a week. Crew takes the fire drill so seriously, they manufacture smoke to make it more realistic, with the electric/ventilation systems being shut down in the “affected area”.
If QM2 is late for departure in NYC, she loses light for maneuvering, plus the ocean tides rise making the sailing under the Verrazano bridge a challenge – a very tight squeeze. Note: the New York’s Verrazano suspension bridge connects Staten Island and Brooklyn in NYC at the Narrows strait (between the sea protected upper bay and the larger lower bay).
The total number of all Cunard ships since the company’s establishment is more than 250.
And remember – the RMS Queen Mary 2 ship’s owner is Carnival, Cunard is the vessel’s operator. The reason I’m pointing this out again? Because good folks (ahem) can lose a bottle of expensive liquor or whatever over this one.

The huge difference with other liners is that when you book the Queen Mary 2 ship, you don’t book a cruise ship holiday – you buy an oceanic adventure. On each of her sailings, no matter the destination or the itinerary length, passengers always expect the ultimate White Star service and the traditional British cruising experience, a story of a lifetime – exactly what the Cunard QM2 ship was built for! She is not a queen to be missed!

Ebola scare on the high seas: Mexico and Belize close ports to cruise ship carrying health worker who handled samples from ‘patient zero’ who died of virus

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