Nov
27
Cruise bookings on the Orient Lines ship Marco Polo II, formerly the Maxim Gorkiy, have been canceled and refunded. Last weeks announcement cancelled what was to be the inaugural season of the new Orient Lines cruise ship operation. The cruise line has laidoff ten full-time workers along with most of it’s sales force.
Maxim Gorkiy berthed at Aloha Tower in Honolulu Harbor. Photo By Murray
From their website: “Orient Lines has announced that due to the current world economic climate, it shall delay the launch of its cruises currently scheduled to commence in April 2009.”
UPDATE – Reports are that the ship may be scrapped or saved, details can be found here. See more ship photos here.
Nov
26
The Photo Escape
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New York’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Nov
24
Take note that a new rule from the Department of Transportation means you might get more money back if an airline has lost your luggage. Effective Dec. 22 the DOT will raise the airlines luggage liability from $3,000 to $3,300. Note that this is a maximum coverage based on what is in your bag.
And don’t forget the new $3,300 maximum figure relates only to domestic travel. Int’l travel is covered under different rules, currently that maximum amount is around $1,500us.
They have also raised the maximum penalty for most violations of the aviation economic regulations and statutes, such as failure to make required refunds, from $25,000 to $27,500.
You can find more information about the new rate at the DOT website.
Nov
21
Opening of Dubai’s ATLANTIS Hotel
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Global financial crisis??? WHAT CRISIS!! Atlantis The Palms in Duabi opens with a $20 million dollar opening party! Read more, or watch the video below of the fireworks.
Nov
20
With all the coverage in the news recently about the big oil tanker of the coast of Somalia that is being held for ransom I figured I’d tell you a little about one of the modern methods cruise ships are using to protect their passengers.
Many cruise ships are using a sonic cannon like device called a LRAD, Long Range Acoustic Device, to repel boarders. In fact I figured I warned the captain of a tour boat about getting to close to the Queen Mary 2 before he was BLASTED with sound by a LRAD device. I didn’t have my video camera or audio recorder with me so you can’t hear it, but I got some photos….
While on a two week autumn cruise on the Queen Mary II we stopped at the Canadian city of Saint John, New Brunswick. We took a jet boat tour of the rapids that the Bay Of Fundy are famous for and on the way back to the dock our captain decided to check out the expansive Queen Mary II. As we approached I warned the captain that we were about to be blasted by a sonic cannon from the ship. He asked what is that? A second later we were targeted and felt a pulsing burst of sound energy, followed by a recorded voice telling us that we had violated the security zone and to leave the area immediately. Followed again by a gut wrenching blast of sonic energy.
It was interesting sensation. Not only was it loud in ears, but you could feel the pulses of sound in your body. Not unlike the feeling you can get being at a loud rock concert where you can feel the sound with your body.
Here is the sign warming us to STAY AWAY.
Here you can see the security office putting on his headphones getting ready to blast us.
We bet blasted, wish I had sound… Sorry…
View of the LRAD unit from the ship. Security Guard is wearing a bullet proof vest. He actually had the vest on backwards, protecting his back.
Photo of the back of the LRAD unit showing sound pattern and controls. This unit is made by American Technology Corporation.
At the next port a different officer was working the unit. I should note that the LRAD has now been permanently attached to the railing and isn’t tied down with rope as we see in these photos.
This unit was manned by a member of the crew whenever the ship was docked or moving at a reduced rate of speed. Cruise ship companies will not discuss their security procedures, but I understand these units are installed on many ships. Especially those that are working in dangerous waters.
Nov
19
The Photo Escape
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Autumn forest in the state of Virginia.
Nov
16
Saturday’s Quotable Traveler
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“Traveling always entails infidelity. You do your best to mask the feeling of sly triumph that comes with turning your back on home and all it stands for.”
- Jonathan Raban / Passage To Juneau
Nov
14
Future of Disney’s California Adventure
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Spent the day at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. Disneyland is great, the fireworks were canceled due to highwinds, but nothing can beat a day at D’land.
But I wanted to head over to Disney’s California Adventure, a “sister” park to Disneyland. It is a separate park that requires a separate ticket, or a “park-hopper” pass that allows you to enter both Disneyland and California Adventure.
California Adventure has never been a big hit… read more… People give lots of reasons, but I have my own opinion. I’ll tell you, if I was going to build a tourist operation I WOULD NOT build it next to the most recognizable tourist attraction in the world!!! But they did. Now they are trying to fix it.
I had read the press releases and seen the stories in the travel media, but I was interested to see for myself the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar presentation. A display of models and information about the renovations going on within California Adventure. It also includes a well done video on a the project.
The new improved park will have some great additions. But I’m not sure it will stimulate Disneyland guests to pay an extra fee to attend the park.
I think the new design has several problems…. First, and I’m going by the video I saw at the Blue Sky Cellar and the design concepts, it appears that the parks new theme was created by a bunch of 40 something white guys. Nothing really “hip” or “phat” about Los Angeles of the 1920’s….
Second they are building a major section of the park around the movie CARS. Unless they are able to create a CARS TWO movie that is a big hit, this section of the park will be out of date before it is opened. I think themed rides like they have in Disneyland are a good brand extension, but a complete section of the park based on one movie? I suspect it will become a bit like Tune Town, ready for a re-hab.
Nov
10
Headed to a part of the world that has questionable water sources? Going hiking into the back country? Maybe a portable water filter would be a handy item to take along with you…
Seychelle Water Filtration makes a line of products that are designed to filter the water you drink. Making any water taste, fresh, and clean regardless of the source. I could be from a water source, a lake or river, or even out of the tap.
They make water bottles of various types along with an interesting, easily carried, Pure Water Straw. All containing a Ionic-absorption Micro-filtration system that removes up to 99.99% of contaminants found in fresh water including Guardia, Cryptosporidium, E-Coli Bacteria. Proven effective against bacteria and virus.
I”ve ordered several of their items. I’ll let you know what I think after they arrive.
NOTE: These filters are not designed to deal with salt water.
Nov
8
Saturday’s Quotable Traveler
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“Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage, I could not make up my mind to stay at home altogether.”
- The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor / The Arabian Nights
