September 5, 2003 -- Once again, we've rounded reports on recent events on the high seas -- today we look at a trial run for a new Costa ship, educational excursions in design and a recurrence of an illness driving a cruise back to port.
Costa Takes Fortuna for Test Drive
On August 25, Costa Cruises (800/33-COSTA, www.costacruise.com) took its newest ship, the 105,00-ton, 2,720-passenger CostaFortuna, out for her sea trials, a series of standard operational tests to prove they got what they paid for.
The largest Italian passenger ship ever, CostaFortuna is the first of two sister ships commissioned by the line in October 2000, representing an investment of more than one billion euros. The vessel is currently in the final phases of preparation following construction at the Fincantieri group's Sestri Ponente shipyards in Genoa. The sea trials represent the first time the ship has operated on the open ocean, and are designed to put the ship's engines and systems through their paces. Following these tests, the ship with berth at Fincantieri's Palermo yards for final fitting-out.
The Sestri Ponente yards already have a place in history, having built the famous Italian ocean liners Rex (1932) and Michelangelo (1965). Both of these vessels will be represented in scale-model on board, along with models of some 26 past vessels of the Costa fleet, these latter suspended within the ship's lobby atrium.
Reproduction advertising posters for the great Italian liners of the 1920s and '30s will also be displayed in various public areas.
With a capacity of 2,720 passengers, the new vessel will contain a total of 1,359 cabins -- 857 oceanview and 458 with large verandas. Among the ship's facilities are eleven bars, four restaurants, three swimming pools, a three-deck theater, and a casino, disco, ballroom, and gym.
Fortuna begins service from Genoa and Savona on November 25, sailing 10- and 12-night cruises to the Canary Islands; 8- and 10-night sailings to Spain and Morocco; 11-night sailings to Egypt and the Greek Isles; and 8-night sailings to Tunis and Malta. Prices start at $1,049 per person for 10-night sailings. Two-night pre- and post-cruise packages are also available in Genoa, Rome, or Nice/Monte Carlo for passengers who wish to extend their vacations. These start at $159 per person (double occupancy) and include four-star hotel accommodations and continental breakfast.
The second vessel in the series, CostaMagica, is scheduled to enter service at the end of 2004.
Crystal Offers Interior Design Classes at Sea
Makes sense: The cruise lines spend so much money on interior design, why shouldn't one of them partner with the famous Parsons School of Design to offer design classes on board? That's exactly what ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises is doing as part of Crystal's "Creative Learning Institute" enrichment program, which also offers classes hosted by Sotheby's, Berlitz, and the Society of Wine Educators. The program will be offered on selected itineraries, with Parsons faculty introducing travelers to the essential ideas and tools of interior design, fine art and floral design.
Interior design classes will introduce antiques and furniture; fine arts classes will explore drawing, sculpture and painting; and floral design classes will explore, well, floral design.
Contact Crystal (800/820-6663, www.crystalcruises.com) or your travel agent for sailing dates.
Stomach Bug Strikes Again, This Time on Regal Princess
As further proof that cruise ships are like kindergarten -- when one kid gets sick, they all do -- Regal Princess became the latest vessel to be struck by the norovirus, otherwise known as the common stomach flu.
The vessel left Copenhagen on August 18, and according to reports, passengers began showing symptoms soon after. The ship arrived in New York in the early hours of September 2, having skipped its final two ports of call. Representatives of the Centers for Disease Control greeted the ship on its arrival.
Norovirus (a.k.a. Norwalk-like virus) causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with symptoms lasting one to two days. There are no long-term health effects related to the illness, though persons unable to replace liquids quickly enough -- generally the very young, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems -- may become dehydrated and require special medical attention.
According to the CDC's website, "People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as 2 weeks after recovery." This has led to speculation that the cruise ship outbreaks reported this year may be the result of contagious passengers bringing the infection aboard, rather than of unsanitary practices on the ships themselves.
The CDC conducts regular unannounced inspections of cruise ships. In the latest inspection posted on the CDC's website (September 2002), Regal Princess scored 98 out of a possible 100. Scores for approximately 150 vessels are posted at www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/default.htm.