Smoking on suite and stateroom balconies onboard Crystal Cruises award winning luxury cruise ships Symphony and Serenity is to be prohibited as from 25th may 2008 on the former and 7th may 2008 on the latter.

Crystals’ cruise ships already have most areas as no smoking with the few exceptions being some tables in the bars, private accommodations and, for cigar and pipe smokers, the Connoisseur Club and most open deck spaces.

RECENT NEWS REGARDING THE STOMACH BUG NOROVIRUS HAS CAUSED CONCERNS FOR MANY PEOPLE WONDERING,NOT WHETHER THEY WILL CATCH IT,BUT MORE WHEN.
HOWEVER THIS NEWS SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE. I HAVE BEEN ON A NUMBER OF CRUISE HOLIDAYS AND,MORE OFTEN THAN NOT,THERE IS AT LEAST ONE CABIN WITH A 'NO GO' STICKER ON THE DOOR DUE TO THE OCCUPANTS HAVING A 'TUMMY BUG' AND ARE BASICALLY IN QUARANTINE.

THE FACT THAT MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE A WEEK ARE GOING DOWN WITH THE VIRUS IS, TO SAY THE LEAST, ALARMING BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT 90% (MY ESTIMATE) OF PEOPLE THAT USE TOILETS NEVER WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER THEY HAVE FINISHED IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A SURPRISE. I SEE IT EVERYTIME I VISIT A PUB LOO AND IT MAKES ME CRINGE. I END UP GETTING A PAPER TOWEL TO PUT ROUND THE DOOR HANDLE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WITH NO REGARD FOR OTHERS HEALTH AND THEIR OWN HYGIENE.THEY THEN GO AND DRINK OUT OF A GLASS. IS THERE ANY WONDER THAT THESE ILLNESSES OCCURR?

FOLLOWING THE NEWS EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE COLLISION BETWEEN CRUISE EXPEDITION SHIP MS FRAM AND AN ICEBERG, A COMPENSATION AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED FOR THOSE PASSENGERS AFFECTED BY THE ACCIDENT.

THOSE GUESTS WHOSE CRUISE WAS CUT SHORT ARE TO RECEIVE A 50% REFUND OF THE FARE PAID PLUS THEY WILL RECEIVE A VOUCHER OFFERING A CONDITIONAL 30% DISCOUNT OFF ANY FUTURE HURTIGRUTEN SAILING. THE CONDITIONS ARE THAT THEY MUST BOOK BY APRIL 1 2008 AND IS FOR 2008-2009 BROCHURED EXPEDITION CRUISES.

AS THE CRUISE SCHEDULED TO DEPART JANUARY 2 2008 HAS ALSO BEEN CANCELLED,THE 240 AFFECTED PASSENGERS WILL RECEIVE A FULL REFUND OF ALL MONIES PAID PLUS A VOUCHER WORTH 50% OFF A FUTURE SAILING WITH THE SAME CONDITIONS AS THOSE ON THE CANCELLED CRUISE.

Chris Evans,the new Australian Immigration Minister,has confirmed that the recently introduced Australian citizenship test is to be reviewed after recent figures show that 20% of almost 11,000 people to have taken the test so far failed to achieve the required pass mark of 60%.
Mr Evans said that a review is almost certainly required as the test should not be about 'tripping people up' but more to create awareness of citizens responsibilities and the Australian culture.

Important changes to the test, which was drafted and influenced when John Howard was prime minister and supported by the then opposition (now current)leader Kevin Rudd, are certainly possible amidst further plans of the introduction of a statement of values to be signed by those emigrating to Australia accepting to abide by the way of life in Australia.

Australian citizenship can be applied for after 4 years of those holding an Australian Visa.

IN THE PAST, A CRUISE WAS LOOKED AT AS A HOLIDAY THAT ONLY THE MIDDLE CLASS AND UPWARDS COULD GO ON AS,EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY FOR IT,YOU JUST WOULDN'T FIT IN WITH YOUR FELLOW PASSENGERS.OF COURSE,THIS PERCEPTION HAS GENERALLY LONG SINCE GONE AS THERE ARE CRUISES TO SUIT EVERY TYPE OF PERSON, BUT THERE ARE STILL THOSE THAT PERCEIVE A CRUISE TO BE 'OUT OF THEIR REACH'FINANCIALLY.IF YOU LOOK AT THE PASSENGER FIGURES FOR CRUISING OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS SOMETHING NOT EXPERIENCED SINCE THE GOOD OLD PACKAGE HOLIDAY TO MAJORCA.THE REASONS? WELL THERE ARE MANY,BUT THE MAIN REASON THAT PEOPLE TAKE A CRUISE HOLIDAY IS SIMPLE. VALUE FOR MONEY! INCLUDED IS YOUR ACCOMMODATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE FOOD THAN YOU CAN EVER MANAGE. PLUS YOU GET TAKEN TO EACH PORT OF CALL WHILST YOU'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME!THE BEST WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET THE BEST DEAL,FOR SERVICE AS WELL AS PRICE,IS TO BOOK THROUGH AN AGENT WHO IS COVERED BY ABTA (ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS).A GREAT ALTERNATIVE IS AN AGENT COVERED BY THE TRAVEL TRUST ASSOCIATION (TTA). ANY MONIES PAID TO A MEMBER OF THE TTA ARE PAID INTO A TRUST ACCOUNT. EACH PASSENGER IS ISSUED WITH AN INSURANCE THAT COVERS THEM UP TO THE VALUE OF £11000 SHOULD THE HOLIDAY COMPANY FAIL. ONE SUCH MEMBER OF THE TTA IS CRUISE MAESTRO LTD OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (NO.U0629). THEY ARE IN THEIR SIXTH YEAR OF MEMBERSHIP AND ARE REKNOWNED FOR GIVING EXPERT ADVICE AND SERVICE.AS HOLDERS OF AN ATOL T7049 (AIR TRAVEL ORGANISERS LICENCE) CRUISE MAESTRO OFFER THE OPTION OF THEIR OWN PACKAGES WHICH CAN BE A CRUISE WITH FLIGHT, TRANSFERS, CAR PARKING, AIRPORT LOUNGES AND HOTEL STAYS. ATOL IS MANAGED BY THE CAA (CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY) AND IS A SCHEME TO PROTECT PASSENGERS SHOULD THE TRAVEL AGENT FAIL. IN THIS EVENT THE CAA WILL EITHER REFUND PASSENGERS OUT OF THE BOND PAID BY THE MEMBER AND ARRANGE FOR PEOPLE TO FINISH THEIR HOLIDAYS AND FLY BACK HOME. TOO MANY PEOPLE BOOK THROUGH COMPANIES WITHOUT THIS COVER AND EITHER LOSE THEOR MONEY OR HAVE TO MAKE THEIR OWN WAY HOME AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.BOOKING ONE OF CRUISE MAESTRO'S OWN PACKAGES USUALLY WORKS OUT CHEAPER THAN THE CRUISE COMPANY'S PACKAGE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WORK TO SMALLER MARGINS. IN ADDITION THERE IS A GREATER CHOICE OF FLIGHTS, HOTELS AND HOLIDAY DURATION.MAKE 2008 A YEAR TO REMEMBER. BOOK A CRUISE!