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Conrad, Publisher/EditorMESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

"cks. In

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES TO RESUME PORT CALLS IN MEXICO


tThere is good news this week regarding the swine flu (H1N1) outbreak, and growing optimism that the new strain is not more lethal or more easily transmitted than the seasonal flus that circulate continuously around the globe.

"We are seeing encouraging signs that the virus so far is not looking more severe than a strain we would see during seasonal flu," concluded Center for Disease Control (CDC) Acting Director Dr. Richard Besser.

Still, Besser indicated that the situation was continuing to evolve and that recommended precautions would remain in place for the time being.

As of this writing, there are fewer than 700 confirmed cases in the United States, less than 200 in Canada, and less than 2,000 in the entire world.

The incidence of new cases is said to be leveling off in Mexico City, where the flu circulated for over a month before it was identified as a new strain. The city's mayor took drastic measures last week, closing all nonessential government and private businesses, schools and restaurants, cancelling concerts and sporting events and urging people to stay home. Mexico's Health Secretary has since declared that the epidemic there "is in its declining stage," and many of these businesses will be allowed to reopen.

Numerous people have written to ask me if it is safe to board an airplane after hearing Vice President Biden say last Thursday that he had advised his family not to fly or ride the subway. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs immediately said the Vice President had misspoken and apologized on his behalf, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) in declaring that it was indeed safe to fly.

That's good news for me since I will soon be leaving for the airport.

After announcing this new influenza as a "swine flu," the CDC and the WHO scrambled to switch to the terms "H1N1" and "Influenza A (H1N1)," respectively, to limit the economic damage to pig farmers. Both the CDC and WHO have stated that there is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

From a practical standpoint, I don't expect the cruise lines to return to ports in Mexico until the CDC lifts its advisory against nonessential travel to that country. I have no way of knowing when that will be but I am optimistic that the day is not far off, and I will announce the lifting of the advisory in this newsletter when it happens.

For the latest line-by-line update of itinerary changes due to the temporary cancellation of calls on Mexico ports, click here.

For a list of 45 great deals on ships that have significantly altered their itineraries due to the swine flu outbreak, contact your Travel Agent (courtesy Vacations to go).

Editor

xlibri@cyberus.ca


CRYSTAL CRUISES

Crystal Buletin An impressive dosier of distinguished specialists in various fields of health and wellness from the renowned Cleveland Clinic just received.This exceptional cruise is part of the luxury Line's Creative learning Institute enrichmernt progragram. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of complimentaryinteractive classes and workshops led by top physicians from one of the country's most prestigious medical centers.

Subjects on board will include -Food and water considerations while traling, Immunization Considerations When Tralening Abroad, Overcoming Jet Lag and traveling with Asthma.

Contact your travel Agent or get in touch with Crystal Cruises direct(www.crystalcruises.com under "Before you sail".)


NEW SUBSCRIBERS

I am extremely happy to see so many new subscribers joined this past year.Welcome! 2007 was truly great Year for LiquidHorizons. We have had a record number of subscribers to our Print Newsletter. It seems that cruising is getting more popular every year and with all the new ships coming along, This year promisses to be an exceptional year for cruise destinations and bargains. We have just returned from the Caribbean on"Grandeur of the Seas" and can thoroughly recommend this ship. WE give them top marks in all catagories and can't wait for our next voyage on the same ship in November this year.

Have you sent in your subscription yet? If not, make sure you go to the subscriptions page and sign up today.

Remember at LiquidHorizons cruising is a way of life!

Sincerely,

Conrad

Conrad Stoltz
Publisher/Editor
stoltz@liquidhorizons.com

Updated January 22,2010

 

Holland-America - Zaandam

 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Mr. Stoltz,

Shortly before 6:00pm on January 12th, an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck the tiny Caribbean nation of Haiti. The epicenter of the quake was about 10 miles south of Port-Au-Prince, the country's densely populated capital, and the destruction was catastrophic.

Countless homes, businesses, hospitals and schools were reduced to piles of rubble, as were the U.N. headquarters and the Presidential Palace. Tens of thousands are dead or injured and thousands more are unaccounted for. Aftershocks continue to rock the capital.

Within hours, the United States pledged $100 million in relief funds and took the lead in delivering food and water, rescue workers and supplies. A Canadian military plane carrying supplies was among the first to arrive. Brazil, China, Spain, France, Russia, Cuba, Britain, Israel, Iceland and at least 10 other countries are sending food and supplies and/or have rescue workers on the ground. Efforts have been hampered by damage to the airport, impassable roads, lack of power and downed telephone lines.

While destruction is severe in Port-Au-Prince, many areas of Haiti have reported little or no damage. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, suffered no damage and the many resorts in that country have been unaffected.

Only two cruise lines visit Haiti -- Royal Caribbean and sister company Celebrity. Both call on Labadee, a private destination operated by Royal Caribbean on the northern coast of Haiti.

The initial assessment revealed no damage in Labadee and all shoreside personnel have been accounted for and are uninjured. (Two of the port's attractions, the Zip Line and Alpine Coaster, will remain closed until a thorough inspection can be conducted to ensure their safety.)

No cruise ships were in port at the time the earthquake struck. Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas returned to Labadee on Friday, January 15th, carrying passengers and relief supplies including rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water and canned goods.

Dear Mr. Stoltz,

Shortly before 6:00pm on January 12th, an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck the tiny Caribbean nation of Haiti. The epicenter of the quake was about 10 miles south of Port-Au-Prince, the country's densely populated capital, and the destruction was catastrophic.

Countless homes, businesses, hospitals and schools were reduced to piles of rubble, as were the U.N. headquarters and the Presidential Palace. Tens of thousands are dead or injured and thousands more are unaccounted for. Aftershocks continue to rock the capital.

Within hours, the United States pledged $100 million in relief funds and took the lead in delivering food and water, rescue workers and supplies. A Canadian military plane carrying supplies was among the first to arrive. Brazil, China, Spain, France, Russia, Cuba, Britain, Israel, Iceland and at least 10 other countries are sending food and supplies and/or have rescue workers on the ground. Efforts have been hampered by damage to the airport, impassable roads, lack of power and downed telephone lines.

While destruction is severe in Port-Au-Prince, many areas of Haiti have reported little or no damage. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, suffered no damage and the many resorts in that country have been unaffected.

Only two cruise lines visit Haiti -- Royal Caribbean and sister company Celebrity. Both call on Labadee, a private destination operated by Royal Caribbean on the northern coast of Haiti.

The initial assessment revealed no damage in Labadee and all shoreside personnel have been accounted for and are uninjured. (Two of the port's attractions, the Zip Line and Alpine Coaster, will remain closed until a thorough inspection can be conducted to ensure their safety.)

No cruise ships were in port at the time the earthquake struck. Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas returned to Labadee on Friday, January 15th, carrying passengers and relief supplies including rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water and canned goods. The company has pledged to contribute

Dear Mr. Stoltz,

I'd like to start today with my personal tribute to Clement Clarke Moore, author of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. To view this poem as a Christmas card, please click here, or scroll down to read the poem without illustration.

Thanks Alan,

Great idea.

Conrad Stoltz- Editor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Twas the night before Christmas, and far out at sea
Our vessel was sailing, as smooth as could be

The stockings were hung from the balcony chairs
With hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there

The children were nestled all snug in their uppers
Having just settled down from a Christmas Eve supper

And ma and myself, we were covered in aloe
A bit too much sun, in a pool, warm and shallow

When up in the sky, there arose such a clatter
I leapt from my bed to see what was the matter

To the sliding glass door, I flew like a flash
Well, more like a saunter, and less like a dash

And what to my skeptical eyes should appear
But a great shiny sleigh, and eight flying reindeer

They circled our ship, from starboard to port
As the moon lit the driver, a jolly old sort

Who called to his team, in a happy retort
"Now Dasher, now Dancer," so on and so forth

We raced through our cabin and into the hall
To the very top deck, in time for us all

To be awed by the sight of Old Santa's sleigh
As he lightly touched down, by the midnight buffet

With a bundle of goodies thrown over his back
He rose in the air and dropped down the smokestack

Santa went straight to work, and later we learned
He found every child's cabin, from the bow to the stern

Insides and oceanviews, balconies and suites
Santa filled every stocking, with toys and with treats

Until all his deliveries had been handled with care
Then he noted he still had a minute to spare

So he surfed the wave rider, with nary a fall
While Dasher and Dancer scaled the rock-climbing wall

And Prancer, who had always been fond of the cold
Tried the ice-skating rink, a sight to behold

And then with a whistle, Santa summoned his team
And he bade us farewell, silent nights and sweet dreams

And I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of view
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good cruise.


Written by Alan Fox, of
Vacations to go, with appreciation and apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, author of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.


 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Here's what is consumed every 7 days at sea

:234,000 appetizers; 105,000 meals and 300,680 desserts
20,000 lbs. of beef, including 69,000 steaks
12,000 lbs. of chicken
4,000 lbs. of se
afood; 2,500 lbs. of salmon and 1,400 lbs. of lobster
65,000 lbs. of fresh vegetables and 35,000 lbs. of fresh fruits
5,800 lbs. of cheese
28,000 fresh eggs
18,000 slices of pizza
8,000 gallons of ice cream 1,500 lbs. of coffee and 1,500 gallons of milk
11,500 cans of soda; 19,200 bottles and cans of beer and 2,900 bottles of wine111500 lbs. of coffee and 1,500 gallons of milk
11,500 cans of soda; 19,200 bottles and cans of beer and 2,900 bottles of wine
Weighing in at 158,000 tons, the 5-star Freedom of the Seas currently offers alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Miami.
Weighing in at 158,000 tons, the 5-star Freedom of the Seas currently offers alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Miami. For more information on upcoming Freedom of the Seas cruises, contact Freedom Cruises or see your Travel Agent


 

   

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