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Carnival announced this week that is was joining the latest cruise line trend of charging for something that used to be free by introducing "Behind the Fun" tours for passengers. According to Carnival, the tours are for those who want to get an insider's look at the inner-workings of a Carnival "Fun Ship". Currently available on the Carnival Valor and Carnival Conquest, the program will be rolled out to all 12 of the line's ships operating voyages of seven days or longer by the end of September. The informative three-and-a-half-hour tour offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at a wide range of shipboard venues that are normally off limits to guests. During the tour, key shipboard personnel, including the captain, chief engineer, chef de cuisine and other department heads, share their vast knowledge in their particular area of expertise. Behind the Fun begins with a stop backstage in the main show lounge where participants can see exactly what goes into creating Carnival's award-winning revues. The tour then moves on to normally restricted areas such as the laundry room, crew galley and dining room, crew gym, and crew training center. Next it's on to the expansive main galley where talented culinary artists prepare upwards of 12,000 meals and snacks a day for Carnival's guests. The tour also includes a visit to the ship's bridge and engine control room and informative Q&A sessions with the captain and chief engineer, respectively. In addition to a comprehensive overview of Carnival's shipboard operations, Behind the Fun participants receive a number of commemorative gifts, including a custom-made Behind the Fun baseball cap and lanyard, a Team Carnival Picture Perfect book with stunning photographs of Carnival ships and destinations taken by the line's employees, and complimentary photos with the captain on the bridge. Behind the Fun tours can be booked through the ships' shore excursion desk. The cost is $95 per person and capacity is limited to 16 guests per tour. Guests must be 13 or older to participate. A version of the Behind the Fun tour is planned for Carnival ships that operate itineraries of less than seven days in length.

An industry trendsetter in presenting permanent, seagoing collections of museum-quality contemporary art, Celebrity Cruises continues its tradition aboard the new Celebrity Equinox with "The Essence of Equinox," a collection of nearly 500 original works. "We are thrilled to continue Celebrity's tradition of offering our guests the opportunity to experience and appreciate art of a caliber rarely seen outside of museums, art galleries and rare private collections," said Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "This incredible series beautifully and impactfully complements the ship's inspiring style and design." Together with International Corporate Art - an art consultancy based in Miami, London and Oslo - Celebrity developed a curatorial concept for Celebrity Equinox embodied in "the essence of equinox," where balance, harmony and the principle of "yin-yang" (the existence of opposing elements to create equilibrium) were the driving force behind the selection. With an eye to both quality and beauty, Celebrity's platform for the concept is evident from the varied blend of media, artists and images juxtaposed throughout the ship. Comprised of new acquisitions from a combination of internationally established, mid-career and emerging artists, the art collection on Celebrity Equinox also features a selection of works from the lauded collection that graced Celebrity Galaxy prior to the ship's transition to the TUI Cruises fleet earlier this year. In its entirety, the collection on Celebrity Equinox represents a scope of work created by some of the world's most iconic artists, with many hailing from Europe and Latin America. Within the collection are abstract expressionist works by Joan Mitchell and John Chamberlain; pop art masterpieces by Roy Lichtenstein; humorous urban life observations by Red Groom; colorful geometric designs by Sol LeWitt; organic abstractions by Terry Winter; abstract, cartoon images by Carroll Dunham and Donald Baechler; landscape photography by Andreas Gursky; comical arrangements of figurines by Liliana Porter; digitally-manipulated photographic images by Grazia Tolderi; collaged portraits by John Stezaker and Jack Pierson; sculptures by Johan Creten and Marina Abramovic; and works by Parisian Louise Bourgeois, influential German painter Gerard Richter, and the provocative Young British Artist (YBA) Damien Hirst. Celebrity also commissioned two bold, site-specific installations on Celebrity Equinox. The installation by Argentinean duo Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt consists of an enormous, suspended vase - dotted with more than 500,000 Swarovski crystals - holding a live, 18-foot-tall tree in the upper portion of the ship's sweeping Grand Foyer. The stunning creation is paired with a sparkling display of the maxim "Here Comes the Sun" spanning four decks. In "Still Life for Leisure," the second commissioned installation, Los Angeles-based Jose Pardo, known for emphasizing social interaction as art, transforms Celebrity Equinox's Ensemble Lounge vestibule into a site for relaxation, with a minimal cushioned bench and other furnishings set amidst a blend of color and light. "The entire collection on Celebrity Equinox is yet another vivid example of our dedication to enhancing the onboard experience for our guests with unique and stimulating works of art," said Hanrahan.

From a two-level casual eatery featuring a new Italian pasta station, Indian tandoori and burrito bar, to an elegant steakhouse, and Ocean Plaza — a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live music venue — the new Carnival Dream will offer a tantalizing array of culinary choices. All of the Carnival Dream's dining options, except for the reservations-recommended steakhouse, specialty coffees and select patisserie items, are available free of charge. The 130,000-ton Carnival Dream – the line's largest ship – is set to debut Sept. 21 and the vessel's size has provided the line additional opportunities to offer guests a host of palate-pleasing dining choices from around the world. "'Fun Ship' cruising is already the best value at sea and we've conducted extensive research that shows that in today's economy consumers are seeking a vacation that offers a multitude of delicious dining choices without a lot of added costs," said Roberta Jacoby, Carnival's senior vice president of hotel operations. "The dining options aboard the Carnival Dream represent the culmination of our wide-ranging consumer research efforts, while showcasing the incredible talents of our master chefs." Carnival is known for offering the widest variety of casual dining options at sea, and Carnival Dream continues that tradition with the two-level casual eatery called The Gathering, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives. From Italian and Tex-Mex to tandoori and Asian specialties – and just about everything in between – The Gathering offers a diversity of culinary choices to suit any mood or taste. New on Carnival Dream is a pasta bar where guests have their choice of pasta, sauce and ingredients to create a custom-made dish and enjoy traditional Italian favorites such as Portobello ravioli and pasta carbonara. The Gathering will also house Carnival's popular 24-hour pizzeria with seven kinds of pies and calzone, Caesar salad and garlic bread. Carnival Dream's burrito bar is also sure to be a popular spot where guests can create an overstuffed wrap featuring their choice of chicken, beef, shrimp, salsa and other accompaniments. Also available within The Gathering will be a Mongolian wok offering custom-made stir-fries with guests' choice of meat and vegetables and finished with one of Carnival's signature sauces; Taste of the Nations, featuring a different international cuisine each day; a New York–style deli; a tandoori oven offering Indian-style chicken, fish and meatballs, along with traditional bread, chutneys and relishes; and a grille serving hot dogs, hamburgers and grilled chicken sandwiches. The Gathering will also offer an extensive 35-item salad bar, 24-hour frozen yogurt, low-calorie dressings and sugar-free desserts for guests seeking healthier alternatives. An expanded 24-hour room service menu that includes new choices such as Medium Rare Roast Beef and Brie on French Baguette and Grilled Fresh Mozzarella and Portobello Mushroom on Focaccia, will also be offered. Room service orders are delivered to guests' staterooms any time of the day or night at no charge. Located along Promenade Deck will be Wasabi, a sushi bar serving complimentary sushi, as well as sake. Exclusive to Carnival Dream is the new Ocean Plaza, a spectacular indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue designed as the ideal spot for guests to relax and people watch. In addition to a dance floor and a stage featuring live entertainment, Ocean Plaza will offer full Wi-Fi access, along with 12 stand-alone kiosks where guests can access an exciting new concept in shipboard technology – the FunHub, Carnival Dream's comprehensive portal and exclusive on-board social network. The centerpiece of Ocean Plaza will be Plaza Café, a patisserie serving lattes, cappuccinos, espresso and other specialty coffees, along with sweets such as baked-on-board cakes, pies, cookies – even freshly made milkshakes. Full bar service, specializing in martinis, mojitos and other popular cocktails, will be offered, as well. For those seeking a more intimate dining experience, The Chef's Art, Carnival Dream's steakhouse-style restaurant, will offer delectable cuisine in memorable surroundings. Located on Spa Deck 12, this 139-seat venue offers a sumptuous menu of prime dry-aged U.S.D.A. beef – selections include a nine-ounce filet, 14-ounce strip loin, 18-ounce grilled prime rib chop and 24-ounce porterhouse – along with lobster tail, lamb chops, Chilean sea bass, Maine Lobster ravioli and more. Creamed spinach, Wasabi mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and traditional sauces complete the steakhouse experience. The delicious choices, combined with attentive service and an extensive wine list, make a meal at The Chef's Art truly unforgettable. Reservations are recommended and there is a charge of $30 per person. Guests dining in Carnival Dream's two-level Scarlet and Crimson main dining rooms will have their choice of six different appetizers and soups, two salads and six entrees each night. Also, Carnival Classics selections, including char-broiled steak made with the line's signature rub, grilled chicken and pasta dishes, along with a decadent dessert menu offering six different selections, including the cruise industry's most popular dessert — the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake — will be offered nightly. For those seeking more health-conscious cuisine, dining room menus feature Spa Carnival Fare selections, delicious, guilt-free items that are lower in calories, cholesterol, sodium and fat content. Vegetarian choices and children's menus are available, as well. Carnival Dream is slated to debut Sept. 21, 2009, with the first of three 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises operating round-trip from Rome, followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York Oct. 27 – Nov. 12, 2009. From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for a special nine-day Caribbean cruise Dec. 3. Carnival Dream will then launch year-round seven-day service from Port Canaveral, Dec. 12, offering weeklong voyages to the eastern and western Caribbean.

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The rare whale hit by a Princess cruise ship over the weekend had no food in its stomach, indicating it may have been sick before dying, the Vancouver Sun reports. The news outlet says a seven-hour necropsy performed Monday on the giant mammal -- a 70-foot-long fin whale -- also shows it had a thin layer of blubber. In an incident that made headlines around the world, the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess pulled into Vancouver's bustling harbor Saturday with the whale pinned to its bow. The ship had just returned from a week-long Alaska cruise along the scenic Inside Passage -- a coastal route known for its rich wildlife. The Sun notes the preliminary results of the necropsy don't reveal if the whale was alive when hit, and it could take several weeks of testing before scientists know for sure how and why the animal died. The thin layer of blubber found on the whale, a female, could be a sign of ill health or the result of nutrients lost when it was producing calves, the news outlet adds. While whale strikes by cruise ships are relatively rare, they have played a notable role in the debate over cruise tourism to Alaska. Carnival Chairman and CEO Micky Arison noted last month during a press conference that a whale strike in 2006 was a deciding factor in Alaska's landmark vote to add a $50-per-person tax on cruisers. As Arison noted, the Celebrity Summit pulled into Seward, Alaska with a dead humpback whale pinned to its bow just days before the statewide vote. The incident helped sway public opinion against the cruise industry.

Industry watcher Travel Weekly is reporting that armed bandits on Sunday raided a small luxury ship that operates $5,000-per-person cruises on the Amazon River. The news outlet says Aqua Expeditions' Aqua, a well-known luxury vessel that has won rave reviews since debuting on the river early last year, was boarded Sunday by six armed bandits who robbed passengers of money and valuables. Travel Weekly says there were 24 passengers, including six Americans, on board at the time of the incident, and nobody was hurt. The news outlet says the 130-foot-long ship was returning to a port Monday where passengers were to leave the vessel. It says the company is promising passengers a full refund. The Aqua sails three-, four- and seven-night expeditions on the Amazon River year-round that start at $700 per person per day. It was on a seven-night trip at the time of the attack.

A leading English language news outlet in the Middle East is reporting the owner of the legendary QE2 has settled on South Africa as the new home for the ship - at least temporarily. Abu Dhabi-based The National reports Middle East developer Nakheel has confirmed its intent to temporarily move the world famous Cunard ocean liner from Dubai to Cape Town, South Africa. "After months of feasibility studies, it is clear that Cape Town, with her ready made berthing facilities, provides the best opportunity for us to open QE2 to visitors as quickly as possible," the company says today in a statement given to The National. Just this past weekend Nakheel was saying it was looking at a number of options for the recently retired QE2 including moving it to other locations in the Middle East as well as South Afriac. Nakheel bought the 40-year old, 1,777-passenger vessel for around $100 million with the intention of turning it into a luxury hotel and museum in Duai, but the plans have been put on hold in recent months as the economic downturn has taken a toll on the once high-flying city. The ship, which retired in November, currently is languishing at Dubai's downtown Port Rashid. Nakheel tells the The National the QE2's move to Cape Town would be for 18 months.

CenShip, have a safe and enjoyable cruise.

walvestor, have a safe and enjoyable cruise.

She does. Thanks for starting this topic.

I sailed with her on my Med cruise last year, and she was a lot of fun.

Cheryl and Jackie, thank you. Cheryl, I wear all my jackets .