New smoking policy

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.

CRUISE SHIP HEALTH ISSUES.WHO'S TO BLAME?

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 AND ESPECIALLY IN THE CONFINES OF A CRUISE SHIP?

CRUISE PASSENGERS REFUNDED

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