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Chaos erupts over last-minute cruise itinerary change

<p>Passengers onboard a Carnival Cruise have demanded refunds after their travel itinerary changed once they had already boarded the ship. </p> <p>Guests aboard Carnival’s Vista had booked the eight-night Southern Caribbean cruise out of Port Florida on August 10th intending to stop in Aruba, Curacao and Turks and Cacaos, with the eight-day cruise averaging $11,700 per person.</p> <p>However, as boarding was taking place, the cruise line sent passengers a notification saying their had been a change of plans due to an engine problem.</p> <p>Carnival crew members had discovered a “technical issue affecting the ship’s cruising speed” which forced the cruise line to alter the itinerary, the cruise line told the New York Post, with Vista instead traveling to the Bahamas, making stops at Nassau, Princess Cays, Freeport, and Half Moon Cay. </p> <p>While a cruise worker was trying to explain the situation to passengers, some started chanting "Give us our money!" while staff tried to diffuse the situation.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_OYKHVvIIh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_OYKHVvIIh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Only in Florida (@onlyinfloridaa)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Ladies and gentlemen, the way you’re going about this with the noise and chaos isn’t going to solve any issues,” one cruise employee explained to the passengers, according to video obtained by Inside Edition.</p> <p>The passengers were given several choices once the cruise line determined the need for an itinerary change, as the cruise line said in a statement. </p> <p>“We communicated directly with guests on board regarding their options for the sailing,” Carnival said.</p> <p>“Those that sailed were given an on-board credit as well as a future cruise credit toward another cruise to make up for the unexpected change, and those who preferred not to sail were offered a 100 per cent refund.” </p> <p>Even with the choice of not cruising to the Bahamas, passengers were still frustrated with Carnival for the last-minute announcement.</p> <p>“They knew about the problem prior to us getting onto the ship,” Ashley Ball told the outlet. “They just didn’t say that until we were already on the ship, and, you know, went through customs and the lines and securities and all that, and then decided to display that information.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"We want answers": Furious cruise passengers stage protest after itinerary change

<p>Passengers onboard a Norwegian Cruise Line voyage has expressed their outrage after their once in a lifetime trip to Antarctica changed course after the journey had already begun. </p> <p>Melbourne woman Helen Midler was one of hundreds of people onboard the cruise from Buenos Aires to mainland Antarctica, when staff informed all travellers that their itinerary had changed. </p> <p>Days into their journey, those onboard were told they would not be visiting Antarctica at all, but would be doing a "South America round trip" instead.</p> <p>Midler took to social media to share her frustrations, saying the communication between the cruise line and the passengers was very poor. </p> <p>She explained that she only found out about the change after checking the app a few days into the journey and noticed the name of the cruise had been changed.</p> <p>Passengers were later told the change of destination was for "operational reasons" after raising their concerns, however no further explanation was given.</p> <p>Those onboard were allegedly told the decision was made by the head office in the US to not visit Paradise Bay, on mainland Antarctica, before departure on January 31, and that all passengers were notified by email, and again at check-in.</p> <p>However, Midler claims this was not the case.</p> <p>"I can assure you that we never got any email and many of our friends here on board, and I'm talking hundreds of people we know, did not receive any email either," she said in a video posted online.</p> <p>"Until the cruise had commenced, most people on this ship were not aware of the change in the itinerary."</p> <p>Midler said "everyone was angry", with hundreds of passengers meeting at in the ship's foyer one morning in protest to demand further answers from the crew. </p> <p>"Customer service are refusing to acknowledge us, they sent a security officer out to calm us down," she said while standing in the noisy crowd. "We feel we're being cheated, being scammed".</p> <p>Midler said frustrated travellers, some of whom "spent their live savings" on the cruise that costs upwards of $4,000 per person, just "want answers, transparency and clarity" but claims they're being treated with "absolute disdain and disrespect" with little explanation given.</p> <p>"Everyone on this ship has paid a lot of money to cruise to Antarctica, not to do a round trip of South America at sea," she fumed. "We are being dismissed, ignored, refused answers. They're telling us we just have to accept it.</p> <p>"They think we're idiots. We're not idiots and we're not prepared to just accept this sitting down," she continued. "We may not get to Antarctica. The chances of this cruise now going to Antarctica are minimal. But we want answers."</p> <p>In the days after her initial post, Midler updated her online followers and said those onboard were trying to make the best of a bad situation, despite still not hearing any clear answers about the change of itinerary. </p> <p>"We saved and we booked this two years ago for the trip of a lifetime," she said. "We're feeling very disappointed and dejected about the outcomes here."</p> <p>"We'll never be able to afford to do this again. And we've lost that trip to the Antarctica mainland that we had all been hoping and waiting for, and that we'd paid for. But we're going to try and do our best to enjoy it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

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This new itinerary could change the cruising world

<p>MSC Cruises has announced an itinerary for a 119-day trip that could change the cruising world visiting 49 destinations across 32 countries spanning six continents.</p> <p>On this nearly four month-long voyage, departing on January 5, 2019 from Genoa, Italy, you’ll crisscross the globe in consummate style on a state of the art ship that’s decked to the nines with 11 bars, four restaurants, a casino, a panoramic discotheque, a cigar lounge, and a 4D cinema, among other amenities and attractions.</p> <p>The trip starts in four iconic European cities, stopping in Marseille in France, followed by Barcelona and Málaga in Spain, then Funchal in Portugal. After that you’ll head to the Caribbean and take in destinations like St. Maarten, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and a few others before making its way to the Pacific via the Panama Canal.</p> <p>From here you’ll enjoy stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu, before heading Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Auckland in New Zealand, and Sydney, Australia.</p> <p>As you can imagine though, this cruise doesn’t come cheap with tickets starting at $16,999. And finding four months of your life might be a bit difficult. But it sounds amazing!</p> <p>What is your dream destination to cruise to?</p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">To arrange a quote, click here.</span></a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p> <p> </p>

Cruising

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5 rules for creating the perfect travel itinerary

<p>Next to your passport and money, the most important thing you’re going to pack on your trip is probably your itinerary. But how can you know you have this right? We’re going to take a look at the five rules for crafting the perfect travel itinerary. In the end of the day this can be the difference between a dream holiday and a trip you’d rather forget.</p> <p><strong>1. Make sure your plans are realistic</strong></p> <p>While a breakneck journey covering 12 European cities in two weeks might have been fun in your younger years, nowadays we have to be a little more realistic. By slowing your pace a little you will make your holiday substantially more comfortable and be able to enjoy the sites you are visiting on a deeper level than if you were trying to hit absolutely everything.</p> <p><strong>2. Plan sufficient time at iconic sites</strong></p> <p>Anyone who’s tried to cram every important attraction in Rome into a few days would agree how important it is to allocate enough time for all the iconic sites. Research your destination and find out how much time is commonly needed to explore popular sites. If you haven’t set enough aside, it’s time to prioritise between stuff you are and aren’t willing to miss.</p> <p><strong>3. The key is in the detail</strong></p> <p>When you’re planning an itinerary it’s important to get it right from door to door. When organising flights, tours and other forms of transport be mindful of the time it will take between getting to and from hotels. Also be cautious when booking connections. It might make your trip a lot cheaper, but if a flight is delayed your plans can be thrown into turmoil. </p> <p><strong>4. Leave time for exploration</strong></p> <p>Part of the joy of travelling is being able to embrace your sense of spontaneity when you’re exploring a new city. Make sure you allocated plenty of time when you’re travelling to follow a whim or see something you might not get the chance to see. You can always alter trip plans on the fly, and the best memories are sometimes the random ones.</p> <p><strong>5. Follow your interests</strong></p> <p>Just because a guidebook says you should visit a specific site, doesn’t mean it’s actually the right thing for your trip. When you’re travelling don’t be afraid to follow your interests, even if they don’t fit into what’s considered the “norm” for travellers. In the end of the day it’s your trip and the only person you’ve really got to think about is yourself.</p> <p>Do you agree with these itinerary tips? Are there any you would add? Share your thoughts in the comments.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/07/7-trips-you-should-never-book-online/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>7 trips you should never book online</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/06/5-international-cities-you-should-never-visit-alone/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 international cities you should never visit alone</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/06/3-most-important-things-to-do-before-you-travel/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>3 most important things to do before you travel</strong></em></span></a></p>

Travel Tips

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6 itineraries for great Australian trips

<p>Australia is so vast it’s almost impossible to hit everything in one trip. We’ve put together six itineraries for classic Aussie trips to cater for any tastes. While some of these might be a little ambitious they each cover essential landmarks everyone exploring Australia should visit.</p> <p><strong>1. Natural wonders of Australia</strong></p> <p>Australia is blessed with spectacular, varied landscapes and you’ll experience a wide variety of these on this trip. Start in North Queensland to observe the Undara Lava Tubes, then explore the wonder of The Kimberly before heading to Alice Springs to see the natural icon that is Uluru. It’s just a taste of what Australia has to offer, but these are some of the most iconic sights to behold.</p> <p><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12490/food-tour.jpg" alt="Food Tour" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>2. South-East foodie tour</strong></p> <p>Kick things off with a top end restaurant in Sydney, before sampling local produce in Orange. If you’re travelling in May pop into Victoria’s <strong><a href="http://www.victoriashighcountry.com.au/food-wine-beer/high-country-harvest"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">High Country Harvest</span></a></strong>, before drinking some of the country’s best coffee in Melbourne. From there, it’s time to choose. Either head south to Tassie or west to Adelaide’s Barossa Valley and experience the food that makes these regions so iconic.  </p> <p><img width="500" height="293" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12491/wa.jpg" alt="WA" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>3. WA Indian Ocean Coast trip</strong></p> <p>Starting in Broome, this itinerary sees you head down to Dampier for some bush camping before witnessing wildlife in Ningaloo Reef Marine Park and Monkey Mia. Enjoy spectacular hiking at Kalbarri and Nambung National Park as you wind your way south along the coast before concluding your trip in sunny Perth where you can enjoy the great outdoors and amazing nightlife.</p> <p><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12492/ghan.jpg" alt="Ghan" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>4. Top to toe</strong></p> <p>This itinerary is a little ambitious and you’ll need at least two weeks. Start in beautiful Darwin, and make sure you take some time to see some of Australia’s most beautiful natural wildlife in Kakadu National Park. If you would like travel through the red centre via the legendary <strong><a href="http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/trains/the_ghan/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ghan Railway</span></a></strong>, before exploring the beautiful botanic gardens and bluestone mansion of Adelaide to end your trip.</p> <p><strong>5. The Great Ocean Road</strong></p> <p>Startling in metropolitan Melbourne then follow this classic drive to seaside Lorne, before popping into the Great Otway National Park and paying tribute to the Twelve Apostles, a sight every Australian must witness at least once. Finish your trip by exploring the enticing beaches of the early whaling settlement that is Port Fairy.</p> <p><strong>6. Eastern beaches</strong></p> <p>This trip is also a little ambitious, but if you can spare the time it’s definitely worth it. Start enjoying the pure white sand of Whitehaven beach before heading to Fraser Island then Noosa. On your way down the coast pop into Byron Bay and enjoy the good vibes. Have one more stop in Crescent Head before finally arriving in Sydney to visit the national icon that is called Bondi Beach.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/shibuya-pedestrian-crossing-japan/"><strong>The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/walking-the-heysen-tail/">How I walked the 1,200km Heysen Trail</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/16-countries-to-visit-in-2016/">16 best countries for travel in 2016</a></strong></em></span></p>

International Travel

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6 itineraries for great Aussie trips

<p>Australia is so vast it’s almost impossible to hit everything in one trip. We’ve put together six itineraries for classic Aussie trips to cater for any tastes. While some of these might be a little ambitious they each cover essential landmarks everyone exploring Australia should visit.</p> <p><strong>1. Natural wonders of Australia</strong></p> <p>Australia is blessed with spectacular, varied landscapes and you’ll experience a wide variety of these on this trip. Start in North Queensland to observe the Undara Lava Tubes, then explore the wonder of The Kimberly before heading to Alice Springs to see the natural icon that is Uluru. It’s just a taste of what Australia has to offer, but these are some of the most iconic sights to behold.</p> <p><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12490/food-tour.jpg" alt="Food Tour" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>2. South-East foodie tour</strong></p> <p>Kick things off with a top end restaurant in Sydney, before sampling local produce in Orange. If you’re travelling in May pop into Victoria’s <strong><a href="http://www.victoriashighcountry.com.au/food-wine-beer/high-country-harvest"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">High Country Harvest</span></a></strong>, before drinking some of the country’s best coffee in Melbourne. From there, it’s time to choose. Either head south to Tassie or west to Adelaide’s Barossa Valley and experience the food that makes these regions so iconic.  </p> <p><img width="500" height="293" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12491/wa.jpg" alt="WA" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>3. WA Indian Ocean Coast trip</strong></p> <p>Starting in Broome, this itinerary sees you head down to Dampier for some bush camping before witnessing wildlife in Ningaloo Reef Marine Park and Monkey Mia. Enjoy spectacular hiking at Kalbarri and Nambung National Park as you wind your way south along the coast before concluding your trip in sunny Perth where you can enjoy the great outdoors and amazing nightlife.</p> <p><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12492/ghan.jpg" alt="Ghan" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>4. Top to toe</strong></p> <p>This itinerary is a little ambitious and you’ll need at least two weeks. Start in beautiful Darwin, and make sure you take some time to see some of Australia’s most beautiful natural wildlife in Kakadu National Park. If you would like travel through the red centre via the legendary <strong><a href="http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/trains/the_ghan/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ghan Railway</span></a></strong>, before exploring the beautiful botanic gardens and bluestone mansion of Adelaide to end your trip.</p> <p><strong>5. The Great Ocean Road</strong></p> <p>Startling in metropolitan Melbourne then follow this classic drive to seaside Lorne, before popping into the Great Otway National Park and paying tribute to the Twelve Apostles, a sight every Australian must witness at least once. Finish your trip by exploring the enticing beaches of the early whaling settlement that is Port Fairy.</p> <p><strong>6. Eastern beaches</strong></p> <p>This trip is also a little ambitious, but if you can spare the time it’s definitely worth it. Start enjoying the pure white sand of Whitehaven beach before heading to Fraser Island then Noosa. On your way down the coast pop into Byron Bay and enjoy the good vibes. Have one more stop in Crescent Head before finally arriving in Sydney to visit the national icon that is called Bondi Beach.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><strong><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2015/11/dog-friendly-australian-holidays/">7 dog-friendly Australian holidays</a></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2015/11/weird-australian-events/">8 wacky Australian events not to miss</a></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2015/10/little-known-australian-national-parks/">5 underappreciated Australian national parks</a></strong></em></p>

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