Most people who know that I work on a cruise ship go out of their way to tell me about any mishaps at sea. I was inundated with emails and calls about Carnival Splendor.

I read the articles and watched the YouTube videos and though I appreciate the extreme inconvenience of not having electricity or flushing toilets and the uncertainty of not knowing when or where you will be disembarked, from an outsider’s perspective, given the size of the ship the whole thing seemed to have been handled well. Everyone assembled in their muster stations for a briefing. It all looked very orderly and calm. Once guests were allowed back in their cabins reports were that announcements were made hourly. The captain and the cruise director kept everyone informed. And then there is the cruise industry fail-safe, free booze.

CNN ran a piece on the ship, you can see it at http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/11/10/cruise.ship/?hpt=T2.
The segment included an interview with Micha Berman, a former Carnival Assistant Cruise Director who has written a book, Permanent Passenger, all about the so-called “under-belly” of the business. I found it odd for CNN to use him as their industry expert, someone not employed long enough to be promoted to cruise director, nevertheless he did voice what many people are thinking and that is as these ships get bigger and bigger … what if? That is the bottom line for most cruisers, what if?

So what did happen and can it happen again? According to Carnival spokespeople there was a fire in the engine room; I think one report said a block cracked leaking oil that ignited. It was contained but did effect the ship’s power. Ship’s do have auxiliary generators; reports were that not all the ship was without power so maybe areas were serviced by generators, I do not know. Has it happened before? Yes. I have been on ships that have had fires. Will it happen again. Yes. As in any environment fires occur and can be the worst enemy of a ship; that is why the mandatory safety briefing is so important. Should you be concerned? No. Are cruise ships safe? Yes. Ships go through rigorous inspection by local authorities around the world and crew are exercised weekly in emergency procedures. Given the number of passengers that are carried every year by cruise ships, the number of accidents or incidents is phenomenally low. I say congratulations to the staff and crew of the Splendor who worked hard under very difficult conditions!

One of my favorite people, Dougie Pinkerton, Ex Con (as in Executive Concierge) has officially announced his new employment with Silver Sea. Dougie left the Seven Seas Navigator at the end of the Alaska season and joined the Silver Shadow. For those of you cruising with Silver Sea, please be sure to say hello to Dougie. Among some of the other familiar faces you may see is my friend Philip Rosenthal. Formerly of London Contemporary Art, Philip is now on-board Silver Sea as the Port and Shopping Lecturer.

Located three hours south of the capital city of Lima, the coastal towns of Paracas, Pisco and nearby Ica are the gateways to some of the most fascinating sights in Peru. Cruise ships call on this fascinating area via the small military facility in San Martin, just fifteen minutes away from the new Hotel Paracas.

The Hotel Paracas dates back to the 1940’s when wealthy Limeños (people from Lima) used to travel down to vacation along the southern beaches, During the terrible earthquake that hit the town of Pisco in 2008, the original hotel was badly damaged. Joining forces with the Libertador Hotel Group and US-based Starwood Hotels, The new luxury property was designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica and shows Sourh Beach inspiration. There is also a new deluxe spa available for guests and visitors — like those coming from the ship!

Paracas is poised to take off as a cute seaside resort. Last year when we were in San Martin (PIsco), I wandered the new paved beach front with its stalls of vendors and more than ample choice of seafood restaurants. Nearby there were many new condominiums and beach houses. The hotel was still under construction but you could see the area is looking good.

The new hotel hopes to become a destination unto itself. In addition to being a great spot to relax after a trip to Machu Picchu or the Peruvian Amazon, the area has much to offer. From Pisco and Paracas you can visit the Paracas National Ecological Reserve and the Ballestas Islands; known for its diversity of wildlife there are hundreds of birds that range from flamingos to Humbolt penguins! From nearby Ica, you can explore the pre-Inca culture of the Nazca and Paracas cultures before flying over one of the greatest enigmas of the ancient world - the world-famous Nazca Lines.

Okay, picture this - a country the size of the state of Colorado but with California’s climate; a historic capital city with exciting architectural diversity, broad tree-lined boulevards and white sand beaches; award winning wineries; national parks with Sahara sized sand dunes or mineral rich thermal springs; and a resort town that is one of the most popular escapes for European jet-setters. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Now place that little country between Brazil and Argentina just a stone’s throw across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires and you have Uruguay. With a population of only about 3.2 million, half of which live in the capital city of Monetvideo, there is so much to see and do within Uruguay it is no wonder travel writers are calling it the next “it” destination in South America.

The capital city of Montevideo lies at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. The city was founded in 1726. The beautiful colonial buildings that formed the original city have been the focus of an urban revitalization program that has been restoring these historic structures to their 18th and 19th century glory. Located right outside the port gates, the Ciudad Vieja or Old City, is aggressively preparing itself to become the cultural, social and touristic hub of Montevideo. Just a few steps from the port you will find the Mercado del Puerto or Port Market - a landmark to locals and visitors, the market is filled with small restaurants specializing in meats grilled over open coals. The smell alone will entice you to pull up a chair. If you do, don’t forget to ask for a “medio-medio”, the local libation of chilled sparkling cider and wine.

Montevideo receives about twelve cruise ships a week during the summer season. Most visitors know very little about this city and consider it an insignificant stop between the more glamorous cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. That’s unfortunate because were they to know, they would appreciate that Montevideo has been voted one of the best cities in the world to live for its high standard of living based upon one of the lowest annual costs. It has also been included as one of the most environmentally “green” countries in the world; food is locally produced for domestic consumption with no chemicals or fertilizers. Water is potable throughout the country. Because visitors know so little about Montevideo they are usually lured-off on tours outside the city to places like the UNESCO Patrimonial City of Colonia or the jet-set paradise of Punta del Este. However, I would encourage you, the next time you are in town, to give the city a second look. The amount of international investment in the city is indication of the confidence the global community has in the its growth. According to Director of the Civil Registry an average of 73 United States citizens apply for residency a day!

Most recently I went down to do a little apartment shopping. Found a few possibilities! Use the following link to see some of the photos I took of the exciting renovations in the Ciudad Vieja.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cruiserfriendly/