Comments

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  José Balido January 20, 2010 at 10:08pm

  Royal Caribbean's cruise ships are still docking at the company's walled-off and heavily guarded Labadee beach compound sixty miles from the epicenter of the earthquake that has all but wiped the small Caribbean nation of Haiti off the map. Some people, passengers included, are disgusted by the action, while others applaud the company's decision to donate proceeds from visits to Labadee, agreeing with the company's position that Labadee tourism is vital to Haiti's recovery.
  
  First World tourism in an increasingly impoverished Third World has always been a delicate issue, but rarely is it so starkly brought to light as this week in Haiti with Royal Caribbean's actions. Where do you stand? Would you go? And is Royal Caribbean doing the right thing?
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  David Paul Appell December 18, 2009 at 11:01pm

  Just came across this, in case any of our journalist members are interested:
  
  Advertorial writer for high-end cruise lines
  
  High-end, American, luxury travel magazine is looking for cruise experts for advertorial assignments in bi-annual publication. We need writers who are very familiar with the high-end cruise lines in the industry, and be able to write compelling advertorials to drive sales for each cruise line. Writer needs to be familiar with and aware of each line's branding and the characteristics that set each apart. Must also be well-traveled, as the advertorials often focus on different destinations around the globe.
  
  Please send writing samples, your resume, and your rate per word.
  
  Thanks,
  Heather
  New York
  looking4freelance@yahoo.com
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  LINDA HERRON December 18, 2009 at 5:52pm

  MAX - main concerns are service and food - that is what my clients complain about. It also concerns me when cruise lines are so desperate for business they are giving it away. To me that sounds like money concerns on their part. They will do anything to get clients.
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  Gailen David December 18, 2009 at 5:26pm

  I found the tipping article very interesting. I think it must be an American thing that we feel so compelled to tip even when it was already included. I think that passengers feel that the employees are still very underpaid even when the "included" gratuity is dispersed to them. I think it is the one stressful part of a cruise; my favorite way to vacation!
  
  
  As far as NCL goes...I did not have a bad experience on them but only an adequate one which is why I normally choose another line.
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  Max Pesling December 18, 2009 at 5:21pm

  What are your main concerns with regard to Norwegian, Linda? Haven't cruised with them lately.
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  LINDA HERRON December 18, 2009 at 5:17pm

  Is anyone else alarmed at the tactics of NCL to get more business??? are your clients happy on NCL ships?? giving away free cruises on Ellen - their new promotion is up to 6 category upgrades - huge shipboard credits - kids sail for $249 on the Epic??? This sets off alarm bells in my head. In the past two years every client I booked on NCL complained (I only sell them if requested - I do not recommend them). They make me nervous!!!
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  David Paul Appell December 18, 2009 at 2:09pm

  Interesting item from eTurbo News re tipping aboard cruise ships: http://www.eturbonews.com/13348/tipping-cruise-ships-etiquette-guide
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  Marcia Raffel Levin December 17, 2009 at 5:16pm

  Norwegian Cruise Line took part in The Ellen DeGeneres show’s 12 Days of Giveaways with a huge surprise for the entire audience: a seven-day Freestyle Cruising vacation for two. Airing today, December 17 on day 11 of the 12-day series on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the cruise giveaway to more than 300 in-studio audience members was also in celebration of Norwegian declaring 2010 as “The Year of the Freestyle Vacation.”
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  Marcia Raffel Levin December 17, 2009 at 4:55pm

  Newspapers and magazines are pretty much out of it when it comes to making assignments to writers they don't know. Budget cuts impact this writing business big time and travel feature writing has suffered quite a bit. Most print pubs are doing everything in-house. I regret I can't offer any recommendations, but wish you good luck in trying.
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  Vivien Devlin December 16, 2009 at 3:04pm

  Thank you Marcia for your quick response. I look forward to meeting you on the Silver Spirit in January.
  
  I do wish to write about this epic seafaring adventure right around South America, with a potential land program to Machu Picchu. I do need a commission in order to organise a trip to Machu Picchu. Can you recommend any newspapers and magazines which might like a feature? on this trip or any of my forthcoming cruising adventures around Brazil, Argentina, Falkland islands, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Guatemala - with many excursions to see wildlife, glacier and penguins. I shall be following in the footsteps of Darwin who described Cape Horn as the "uttermost place on earth".