Paul Gauguin Cruise: Hinerava Tahitian Pearls

Cruise guests sailing onboard the m/s Paul Gauguin can purchase Hinerava Tahitian Pearl designs from Kelly Hinerava Bailey.

Sailing on Paul Gauguin Cruises offers cruise guests  five-star service, comfort and luxury while sailing in Tahiti and French Polynesia. Although the scenery takes center-stage, visitors on Paul Gauguin have a lot to look forward to. One facet of the Paul Gauguin cruise experience is total immersion in the the local culture, which includes lessons abou the  Tahitian Pearl.

For those cruise guests that have a love for the beauty of the Tahitian Pearl, the luxury line is proud to present Hinerava (meaning Tahitian Beauty).

Designer Kelly Hinerava Bailey, who was raised in Tahiti started her company Hinerava in early 2011. Since then she has created many island-vintage-inspired creations using Tahitian pearls. She is gaining attention for her “island-chic”   Tahitian Black Pearl designs.

Cruise guests sailing on Paul Gauguin can purchase her jewelry onboard.

Tahitian pearls are some of the most exotic and desired pearls in the world. Hinerava strives to bring the delicacy and elegance of the Tahitian Black Pearl to each unique and original creation.  The island-vintage inspired jewelry is exquisitely sophisticated yet casual enough for everyday wear, an impression the artist terms as “island-chic”.

• What’s buzzing at Paul Gauguin Cruises
• Tahiti, French Polynesia & the South Pacific
• Ambassadors of the Environment youth program offered on Paul Gauguin Cruises
• Meet Me In Tahiti with Paul Gauguin Cruises | #CruiseChat Recap

Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess Drydock

Sapphire Princess is undergoing quite an extensive makeover from January 9 to February 4, 2012. in Victoria, BC.

Sapphire Princess in her winter home in Los Angeles. Photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak.

There are many improvements and enhancements underway on Sapphire Princess.  Cruise guests can look forward to signature Princess Cruises upgrades like Movies Under the Stars and a complete makeover of the Sapphire’s atrium, which is getting   transformed  into the Piazza (my favorite place in the ship), featuring the International Café, Vines Wine Bar and Alfredo’s Pizzeria.

Also part of the renovation are several relocated and upgraded venues, including the Art Gallery, Internet Café and Library, and the Photo-Video Gallery. New carpet and upholstery will be installed throughout the ship, and staterooms will feature new flat-screen televisions.

Cruise guests embarking on Sapphire Princess on February 4th will be the first to enjoy the transformed ship.

The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises. Photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak,

Highlights of  Sapphire Princess’ makeover include:

• Piazza Atrium – The ship’s atrium space will be redesigned to include this signature Princess feature — a European-inspired social hub of the ship combining always-changing quick bites and light meals, beverages, entertainment, shopping and guest services.
• Alfredo’s Pizzeria – Introduced last year aboard Grand Princess, Alfredo’s will expand to its second location on Sapphire Princess.
• Movies Under the Stars – Sapphire Princess will be the final ship to introduce Movies Under the Stars on board. The giant poolside movie screen.
• The Sanctuary – Sapphire Princess is the final ship to receive The Sanctuary, an adults-only retreat (and my favorite hangout).  Added prior to drydock, the Sanctuary space is ready for passengers.

Keep up with the buzz online to watch the transformation. Princess Cruises is featuring a daily photo highlight of the transformation on its social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Google+.

What is your favorite Princess Cruises Signature Feature?

Know the code – Cruise Ship Safety and Me.

What I have learned from Costa Concordia

A week has passed since the Costa Concordia tragedy. And just when I thought that the news had peaked, one more body has been found by divers searching the Costa Concordia shipwreck. The death toll is now 12.

Safety First

With every news report, email, query, tweet, post, status update or comment I encounter brings me right back to square-one asking myself, “what would I do?”

I cruise a lot. In fact when I am not on a ship, I am writing about cruising, pitching a new cruise related story, or dreaming of new cruise itineraries. Now since the Costa Concordia tragedy, I have had to put myself on mute while I wait for facts and confirmed news.  As much as I want to, there is little I can do to help the search and recovery efforts, and for some reason I have not been asked to fly to Italy to interview the Captain (but I am available.)  So I wait.

Drilled. But how much will I recall in a real emergency?

My little cruiser on a boat in Cabo

@CruiseJess: all dressed for mustering: compliant and ready to "fall-in."

I ask myself “how much do I really know about cruise ship general emergency procedures?” Sadly, the answer is not much beyond what I have learned at mustering, which does not really answer my deeper questions, which are:

1. Do I go collect my kids at kids club? I know the protocol is no. But do I really think that I can resist? What about the wrist band? My kids have tried taking those off only to be quickly returned to a staff member to get one on.
2. Do I go to the cabin to get my life jacket? How about my valuables in the safe? At what point do I not do that and head to the muster location? But which muster station?
3. If the ship is listing and the electricity is out, what should I do? Do I jump in and help everyone or do I fall-in and follow instructions? What is the chain of command?
4. Is there really an announcement that says “abandon ship?”
5. If I hear everyone shouting “abandon ship” what does that mean? Jump overboard, head to a lifeboat?
6. At what point does a tender become a lifeboat?

Where to get more information about cruise ship safety

• Coast Guard: Ensuring Cruise Ship Safety
• Cruise Ship Disaster Puts Focus On Safety Concerns
• International Maritime Organization
• Maritime laws including rules about mustering 

Thrill 5D Theater Aboard Carnival Breeze

Rendering of Carnival Breeze's 5D Theater. Photo from Carnival Cruise Line

Coming soon to a 5D Theater on your newest funship!

The 5D movie experience explained:

3d is visual, 4d is visual and interactive, 5D is total immersion.

Thrill 5D Theater on Carnival Breeze will screen films that are already formated in 3D or 4D and then create a seat within a theater that is rigged for movement and special effects (expect elements such as squirting water, blowing air and vibrating seats) to create a 5 dimensional experience. Currently Carnival Cruise Line has licensed 3D or 4D versions of HAPPY FEET, SPEED RACER, and  THE POLAR EXPRESS. 

Carnival Breeze will spend the summer sailing the Mediterranean and then head to Miami, where she will sail the Caribbean year-round. To learn more about the ship visit www.carnivalbreeze.com or join the conversation online and join in the pre-cruise launch fun, check out the Carnival Breeze Facebook Fan Page. Look forward to some innovative contests and invitations to get involved.

Online media responds to the Costa Concordia accident

Last night Friday (January 13th), Costa Concordia ran aground off the coast of Italy.

Getting into action

    MIAMI (January 14, 2012, 3:45pm EST) – This statement is from Carnival Corporation & plc in Miami, FL. Carnival Corporation & plc is the parent company of Costa Cruises.

            On January 13, 2012, Costa Cruises’ vessel, the Costa Concordia, departed from Civitavecchia, Italy with approximately 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members on a seven-day voyage.  At approximately 10:00pm CET, the vessel struck rock off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Italy and sustained significant damage causing the ship to list severely.  The order was given to abandon ship and deploy the lifeboats.

            Tragically, there are reports of some deaths and injuries.  This is a terrible tragedy and we are deeply saddened. Carnival Corporation & plc offers our sympathies and heartfelt condolences to all of the Costa Concordia guests, crew members and their families.  Carnival Corporation & plc and Costa Cruises are committing our full resources to provide assistance and ensure that all guests and crew are looked after.

            We want to express our deep gratitude to the Italian Coast Guard and local authorities and community members who have gone to extraordinary lengths to assist in the evacuation of the ship and provide support for our guests and crew.

            We are working to fully understand the cause of what occurred.  The safety of our guests and crew members remains the number one priority of Carnival Corporation & plc and all of our cruise lines.

New media coverage and how to get information about Costa Concordia incident

Using Twitter – www.Twitter.com

• Hashtags:  #Costa #Concordia #Giglio
• Search terms: Costa Concordia

Logistics

Friends and family members may use the following country-specific contact numbers to reach Costa Cruises:

Costa Cruise Lines website announcement.

Who to call 

• Italy                 848505050
• U.S.                 800-462-6782
• Austria            00438109006565
• Germany         +4940570121314
• France             +33155475554
• Spain               +34934875685
• Portugal           +34914185951
• UK                  08453510552

Official website (Europe for UK): http://www.costacruises.co.uk/

Route:

Costa Concordia was sailing across the Mediterranean Sea, starting from Civitavecchia with scheduled calls to Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari and Palermo. Click here for a route map on Google. 

Area of incident. Photo from Google Maps.

View Costa Concordia in a larger map

Buzzing

From CruiseBuzz Twitter stream

The BBC is looking for people that were on the cruise

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). 

From my Twitter Stream – diary of a cruise incident

CruiseBuzz Cruise Buzz

Buzzing: Resource page for #Costa #Concordiacruisebuzz.net/2012/01/how-to… #cruisechat

 

MeetCruises Meetingpoint Cruises

@CruiseBuzz @miamiherald since last nicht at 22:00 everybody use #giglio and #concordia for the use and also costa use it

Pe_tall English Rose

Luxury Cruise Liner carrying 4,200 people capsizesdailymail.co.uk/news/article-2…

The_BBCNews BBC News

Flash News: News: BBCWorld: “Using all possible means” to get passengers and crew of capsized Costa Concordia home…dlvr.it/159ltX

MeetCruises Meetingpoint Cruises

@CruiseBuzz @miamiherald the official hashtag ist #giglio and #concordia

BBCWorld BBC News (World)

“Using all possible means” to get passengers and crew of capsized Costa Concordia home – President of Costa Cruises bbc.in/zYBxG3

Dominicod Dominic O’Donnell

Moments ago from #Giglio Port webcam, #Costa Concordia lying awkwardly on her starboard side. Surreal images.pic.twitter.com/qZfWI43i WOW

cruiseprguy Brian Major

My deepest sympathy to the passengers and crew of Costa Concordia, and all affected by this terrible tragedy.

patrickmcclorey Patrick McClorey

Moments ago from #Giglio Port webcam, #Costa Concordia lying awkwardly on her starboard side. Surreal images.pic.twitter.com/iYnEVdYP

CruiseSource Cruise Source

@Simontravels @soozenw this pic looks like the Costa Concordia is close to sinking… completely on it’s side: twitpic.com/8706z4

newsklick Newsklick.com

Tote und Verletzte bei Schiffsunglück vor Italiens Küste: Das Kreuzfahrtschiff “Costa Concordia” ist vor der ita… bit.ly/zwUgIX

fglab FGL

@JustElisabetta eli in Italia un disastro una nave sta affondando come il Titanic #costa #giglio

messl Martin Essl

Great work by @bbc_haveyoursay to engage with passengers of the Costa Concordia: twitter.com/bbc_haveyoursa… cc@diegosartori

cruiseshipcrew James

@simontravels this should make the picture easier to see her capsized. Costa Concordia. twitpic.com/87097w

mikeycruiseblog Mikey Faust

The Costa Concordia has capsized. wp.me/p1xdJG-tX

diegosartori Diego Sartori

Abandon ship, live photo from Costa Concordia in Giglio [by a colleague on Facebook] pic.twitter.com/fb5TFzoD

SimonTravels Simon

RT @cruiseshipcrew: Costa Concordia passengerstwitpic.com/86zfcr

CaptGreybeard John Honeywell

Cruise ship Costa Concordia rams island pier. Dramatic picturetwitpic.com/86yhgr

17 hours ago