It took me 24 hours to write about the Costa Concordia’s disastrous cruise from Rome which resulted in five deaths and the latest estimate of 17 missing passengers because I’ve been covering the cruise industry for almost two decades.   I know that Carnival Corporation, which owns Costa Cruises, is a leader  in terms of building vessels that meet the highest safety specifications.  (Photo:  Solaro/AFP/Getty Images)

It was astonishing to see photos of a five year old 115,000 -ton cruise ship lying on its side roughly 600 feet from shore, hearing the harrowing tales of passengers swimming to shore, the utter pandemonium and panic of abandoning a dark listing ship.   Not only is it the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic but some of the details are scarily similar: a 160-foot gash in the ship’s hull that looks like someone tried to open it with a can opener coupled with people jumping in the water, the crew unable to launch many of the ship’s lifeboats and utter panic.

I attended this ship’s splashy Italian christening in 2006, toured half-built ships in dozens of visits to European shipyard,  spent a great deal of time over the years interviewing ship builders and cruise line execs about cruise ship safety.  I’ve written that the only threat to a modern cruise ship is fire.

So, how could this happen to cruise ship in the 21st century?

(Update: Costa Cruises publicly blames Captain Schettino saying he made  “unapproved, unauthorized maneuver” to divert from its programmed course.)

The answer is that we won’t know for sure until Costa Concordia’s little black box reveals moment-by-moment sequence of events that resulted in the 4,000-passenger vessel crashing on rocks of Isola del Giglio on the Italian Riviera.  At present the ship’s master, Captain Francesco Schettino, has been arrested, charged with multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship.   In an interview, the visibly distraught Captain said the “rocks not detected” on the navigational chart. Three people trapped inside the ship have been rescued as the search for 17 missing people continues.

Shipbuilding, even in this advanced age, remains an imperfect science and proves that even with the most advanced technology, things can and will go wrong. We also know that no amount of planning, drilling, detailed evacuation studies and preparation can predict how people will react during a disaster when facing their own mortality.

The Details

On January 13, Costa Concordia had set sail from Civitavecchia (port of Rome) on a seven day cruise at 4:00 p.m. with scheduled port calls in Savonna, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari and Palermo. Seas were calm and the Italian officers certainly knew this itinerary well since Concordia sails on this fixed itinerary each week.   On board the vessels were 3200 passengers and a crew of 1000.  International maritime laws stipulate that a mandatory lifeboat drill must take place within 24 hours of departing the port of embarkation and, as is quite common in this industry, Concordia’s was scheduled the following morning.

Shortly before 10:00 p.m. there was a sudden “boom and crash” followed by loss of electricity as water began spilling into the ship.  Costa Concordia immediately started to list and passengers in the main dining room report that dishes and glasses crashed to the floor.  An announcement from the bridge told passengers not to panic, that everything was under control.

But passengers and crew did panic   There are reports of people being shoved down stairways as people raced to their staterooms to don life jackets.  After 45 minutes the order to abandon ship created more chaos since passengers didn’t know where to go.  In an interview one passenger said he was unable to board a lifeboat and swam to shore while a video taken on board a lifeboat illustrates how terrified its passengers were.   Because the ship was listing many lifeboats couldn’t be launched.

While it may be true that the only real threat to a cruise ship is fire, there are clearly two other factors which can turn a cruise into a disaster:  technical problems and human error.  An example of the first is Carnival Splendor, which lost power in 2010 off the coast of Mexico.   While the ship sat in the ocean for days there was nothing remotely frightening or dangerous about the experience.   As for human error, we’ve seen that since the first human went to sea.

Again, nobody knows what caused this terrible accident.  But several maritime experts interviewed about Costa Concordia expressed the a concern — ships carrying thousands of people have become too large to evacuate everyone safely.We must also remember that despite all of the reported panic and chaos, many, if not most of the ship’s crew did act valiantly and more than 4,000 people’s lives were saved.

While there has been an abundance of speculation, armchair quarterbacking and tabloid sensationalism, three things remain certain:

1)     This was most certainly a preventable disaster

2)     It will be some time before we know all the facts and circumstances surrounding it

3)     The cruise industry is already busy examining and re-examining every facet of its safety planning, procedures and protocols

For further information……….

BBC has the most comprehensive information and video interviews.

I was very dismayed to read that ships in Costa Cruises (headquartered in Rome) fleet have had a larger than normal number of mishaps.   See the report in the Daily Mirror (UK)

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It has been many years since we’ve heard of a cruise ship failing CDC’s cruise ship sanitation inspection so it was a surprise to read in the UK’s Daily Mail Online that Cunard’s famous Queen Mary 2 (QM 2) scored 84 (a passing grade is 86).    While some items on the list were small glitches others were more serious.

Read it here

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OK, guys, I messed up big time.  This story happened last year, not today!!  Hey, I’m blond

Two passengers sailing aboard Louis Cruise Lines’ 1350-passenger Louis Magesty died when a 33-foot high rogue wave struck the ship today during a Mediterranean cruise.

According to the Daily Mail, “The vessel was struck Wednesday by three ‘abnormally high’ waves more than 33ft high that broke windows in the forward section. In addition to the two deaths, 14 other people were slightly hurt, the company said.”

Louis Majesty was sailing from Genoa and Marseilles on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise visiting  Tangiers, Casablanca, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Cadiz, Cartagena, Barcelona.

Coincidentally, we ran a story this week about tsunamis and that they weren’t a danger to cruise ships …. but that rogue waves are.    CLICK HERE

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Within memory we haven’t witnessed political unrest, crime and natural disasters impacting the cruise industry to the degree it is now.    From rioting and political instability in the middle-East/Africa to crime in Mexico and Japan’s horrific earthquake, tsunami and potential nuclear disaster,  itineraries on three continents have been changed and port calls canceled which is affecting the bottom line of several cruise lines.

Carnival Corporation (which owns Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line) last week revised its for 2011.   Last week the company said it anticipates diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.50 to $2.60, compared to its December guidance range of $2.90 to $3.10 and fiscal 2010 of $2.47.

While rising oil prices are credited with a portion of the drop in earnings,”the company estimates the impact of itinerary changes in the Middle East and North Africa will result in an approximate $0.05 reduction in earnings per share for the remainder of the year,” according to the Miami Herald.

Long term effect? Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas home ports in Dubai from November through April and, because unrest is spreading from country to country, we predict future bookings will be negatively affected.   While RCI’s passengers are largely European,  Americans are much more geography-challenged and skittish  about visiting regions with problems.    Several luxury cruise lines, including Silversea Cruises and Seabourn, have multiple departures from Dubai in 2011/2012 but it’s too early to take the pulse of the better traveled passengers who frequent these ritzy vessels.

Japan.   While the devastating earthquake, tsunami and crisis at a nuclear power  plant happened in Northern Japan and cruise ships typically call in ports hundreds of miles away, cruise lines are canceling port stops entirely right now.  Oceania Cruises’ Nautica, which was scheduled to stop in Hiroshima and Kobe, will instead spend more time in China.    Cunard and Azamara canceled a port call this weekend.    Princess Cruises has two ships scheduled to call in Japan and has yet to make an announcement.    When the 2011/12 Asia cruise season begins in December, it’s likely ships slated to visit Japan will stay on scheduled itineraries.

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Last week Royal Caribbean announced that it would continue to do what it does best:  build new cruise ships.   Called “Project Sunshine”, the  new class of 158,000-ton two vessels will carry 4,100 passengers.  (Note, you add least a thousand people because, when cruise lines announce capacity, it’s based on double capacity while many staterooms have three or four people sharing).   The first ship will debut in the Fall of 2014 and, if RCI decides to build a second vessel  in this series, it will enter service in Spring, 2015. The estimated all-in cost per berth is about 170,000 Euros.

Disney Fantasy’s Maiden Voyage

In the meantime,  if you were enthralled to read about Disney Dream, which entered service this January, mark your calendar:   Dream’s sister ship, Disney Fantasy, will debut in 2012.   The 4,000-passenger vessel will sail week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. with its maiden voyage scheduled for March 31, 2012.

Windstar Adds Capacity in Greek Isles

Windstar Cruises will be offering more capacity in the Greek Isles in 2011.  For the first time in six years, the 312-guest Wind Surf will be sailing the Greek Isles as well as the 148-guest Wind Star and Wind Spirit. Fares start at $2999 per person, double occupancy for one week sailings.

Sailing between Athens and Istanbul, the ships will visit Mykonos, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Bodrum, Turkey and Kuşadasi, Turkey

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Due to the escalating violence in Egypt and for the safety of our guests, MSC Cruises has decided to alter the upcoming calls of MSC Magnifica and MSC Splendida at Alexandria on Sunday, January 30 and Monday, January 31.

Instead, MSC Magnifica will call at Limassol, Cyprus and Haifa, Israel on Sunday, January 30 and Monday, January 31, while MSC Splendida will call at Izmir, Turkey on Monday,  January 31.

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Last weekend the media ran stories about gristly murders that occurred in Acapulco, a port of call on many Panama Canal and Mexico cruise itineraries.   “15 Headless Bodies…” was the sensationalized part of the story, but, officials reported that a total of 28 people were murdered there on one day.

Will this cause the cruise lines to cancel port calls in Acapulco?   It’s happened in the past, most notably when St. Croix had an outbreak of crime.  Once a very popular port call on eastern Caribbean itineraries, cruise lines avoided the island for years until they were confident passengers were safe.    However, I personally wouldn’t be concerned if I’m disembarking a ship with thousands of other people.

The U.S. State Department’s warning about Mexico, updated last September, says “Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major drug trafficking routes.”  However, it also advises “that popular beach resort of Acapulco has been affected by narcotics-related violence.  In April 2010, three innocent bystanders were killed in a shootout between Mexican police and DTO members in broad daylight in one of the city’s main tourist areas.”

Cruisers taking Panama Canal itineraries between Florida and Mexico typically embark and disembark in Acapulco while longer Panama Canal voyages stop for the day.   If a rash of passengers cancel cruises calling in Acapulco,  you may see this port dropped from cruise line itineraries.

Has the crime wave in Mexico caused you to change your vacation plans?

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*** Amid cheering crowds, music and fireworks, Disney Cruise Line proudly showed off its third vessel in a decade, the 128,000-ton Disney Dream.  Emerging from a covered dry dock in Papenburg, Germany (above), the 4,000-passenger ship begins sailing on 3-, 4-day and 5-day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral (Orlando) starting January 26, 2011.   New features on this ship include “video” portholes in inside cabins and “AquaDuck”, the first water coaster at sea.  See Gene Sloan’s first person account of the festivities at Cruise Log.

*** The New York Times gives the latest internet sites that help you get the best airfare, a big help since new websites seem to pop up all the time.   Click here for the options.   And, the newspaper’s respected Frugal Traveler passes along his low airfare tips in this useful article.

*** Consumer advocate Chris Elliott analyzes a cruiser’s complaint about a disappointing cruise on an NCL ship.   See “Can this trip be saved?” and see if you agree with Elliott.

*** When are kids old enough for seagoing vacations?   David Molyneux reports on his own experiences aboard a cruise ship with small kids in tow and reviews age restrictions by cruise lines.  See his article in the Miami Herald

*** Theme cruises are more sophisticated than in years past.  For example, you can cruise with Taylor Swift, join other progressives and hob nob with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and join other runners in mini-marathons to name just a few.  See the tempting list at Theme Cruise Finder.

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*** Each year for over a decade we’ve eagerly awaited hotted new cruise ships with that “wow factor”.  They are invariably the biggest ships ever built boasting an increasing number of restaurants and on-board attention-grabbing gimmicks like roller-blading on deck, ice skating, zip lining and first-class entertainment.   There have been so many new ships that winter Caribbean cruises are going for a song because of overcapacity.  But when the economic crisis hit cruise lines closed their check books and the orders in European ship yards will slow to a trickle, especially after 2011.    See the Miami Herald’s “Era of Grand Innovation in Ship Design Waning”

*** One of the best ideas in ship design is “movies under the stars”,  watching films on a mammoth screen on deck at night. Renowned Film Critic Leonard Maltin will be sailing aboard Coral Princess’ December 15 holiday sailing, and will be presenting his favorite films of 2010 throughout the cruise especially for Princess Cruises passengers.

During this 15-day Panama Canal cruise, movie buffs will be able to view the four films Maltin has dubbed “Leonard’s Unsung Favorites of 2010,” which he will personally introduce to the audience.  Maltin will also lead a discussion of some of the films, will challenge passengers to a film trivia contest and will offer a talk focusing on Hollywood of yesteryear.

*** Getting the best price on airfare can be the most arduous part of booking a cruise vacation when you must fly to meet the ship.  But, according to The New York Times,  new websites can make it a lot easier.   See “Playing the Holiday Fare Game”

*** USA Today’s CruiseLog has a photo walk-through of Norwegian Epic taken by editor Gene Sloan.

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I don’t think there’s any special interest you won’t find scheduled aboard a ship as a theme cruise.   We’ve had cougars, scrapbooks and geeks, just to name a few.  Now, those who hate the government don’t have to stay at home passively watching Fox News but can join other conservatives on a Tea Party cruise to discuss issues.

The web site World Net Daily is hosting the “Tea Party at Sea” conference scheduled September 19, 2010 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas during an eight day Caribbean cruise from Miami.**

World Net Daily’s founder Joseph Farah has created a special on-board program devoted to covering a broad range of conservative topics.  According to the website, in his latest book, “None of the Above,” Farah “shows how Americans can reassert their God-given rights and in the process return this great nation to its once and future glory while limiting the government’s intrusion into our lives, businesses and schoolrooms.” During days at sea, teaching sessions are scheduled with Joseph Farah, Alan Keyes, Jerome Corsi, David Kupelian, and Aaron Klein

According to the Washington Post, the cruise follows the  “Taking America Back” conference, “a three-day extravaganza at Miami’s Doral Resort and Spa  featuring Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.); a couple of formers, Jeremiah Denton (R-Ala.) and Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.); and a couple hopefuls (Floridians Allen West, a GOP candidate for the House, and Alexander Snitker, the Libertarian Party candidate running for Senate). And, for all of you who have been wondering, “Where’s Ann Coulter lately?”, the conservative commentator will be on board, too.”

Ports of call include St. Maarten, San Juan and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach area in Haiti and there are three days at sea.   Per person, double occupancy fares start at $399 per person, double occupancy.  For reservations and to obtain further information, visit the Tea Party at Sea website.

** We must point out that the “Take America Back” cruise is scheduled aboard a foreign flag ship sailing to foreign ports.  RCI’s Liberty of the Seas flies the flag of the Bahamas.

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