Coastguard: Hello.

Captain: Good evening, chief.

Coastguard: Listen, this is De Falco from Livorno. Am I speaking with the captain?

Captain: Good evening, Chief De Falco.

Coastguard: Tell me your name, please.

Captain: I am Captain Schettino, chief.

Coastguard: Schettino?

Captain: Yes.

Coastguard: Listen, Schettino. There are people trapped on board. Now, you go with your lifeboat. Under the bow of the ship, on the right side, there is a ladder. You climb on that ladder and go on board the ship. Go on board the ship and get back to me and tell me how many people are there. Is that clear. I am recording this conversation, Captain Schettino.

(Captain tries to speak but Coastguard can’t hear him clearly.)

Coastguard: Speak up! (Captain tries to speak) Captain, put your hand over the microphone and speak in a louder voice!

Captain: At this moment the ship is listing.

Coastguard: There are people who are coming down the ladder on the bow. Go back in the opposite direction, get back on the ship, and tell me how many people there are and what they have on board. Tell me if there are children, women and what type of help they need. And you tell me the number of each of these categories. Is that clear?

Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Dammit, go back on board!

Captain: Please …

Coastguard: There is no ‘please’ about it. Get back on board. Assure me you are going back on board!

Captain: I’m in a lifeboat, I am under here. I am not going anywhere. I am here.

Coastguard: What are you doing, Captain?

Captain: I am here to coordinate the rescue…

Coastguard (interrupting): What are you coordinating there! Get on board! Coordinate the rescue from on board! Are you refusing?

Captain: No, I am not refusing.

Coastguard: Are you refusing to go aboard, captain? Tell me the reason why you are not going back on board.

Captain: (inaudible)… there is a another lifeboat…

Coastguard (interrupting, yelling): You get back on board! That is an order! There is nothing else for you to consider. You have sounded the ‘Abandon Ship’. Now I am giving the orders. Get back on board. Is that clear? Don’t you hear me?

Captain: I am going aboard.

Coastguard: Go! Call me immediately when you are on board. My rescue people are in front of the bow.

Captain: Where is your rescue craft?

Coastguard: My rescue craft is at the bow. Go! There are already bodies, Schettino. Go!

Captain: How many bodies are there?

Coastguard: I don’t know! … Christ, you should be the one telling me that!

Captain: Do you realise that it is dark and we can’t see anything?

Coastguard: So, what do you want to do, to go home, Schettino?! It’s dark and you want to go home? Go to the bow of the ship where the ladder is and tell me what needs to be done, how many people there are, and what they need! Now!

Captain: My second in command is here with me.

Coastguard: Then both of you go! Both of you! What is the name of your second in command?

Captain: His name is Dmitri (static)”

Coastguard: What is the rest of his name? (static) You and your second in command get on board now! Is that clear?

Captain: Look, chief, I want to go aboard but the other lifeboat here has stopped and is drifting. I have called …

Coastguard (interrupting): You have been telling me this for an hour! Now, go aboard! Get on board, and tell me immediately how many people there are!

Captain: OK, chief.

Coastguard: Go! Immediately!

Carnival Cruise Lines jobs come in various forms, which makes sense given the many different positions that cruise lines must staff. A ship with thousands of passengers needs to offer a wide array of goods and services, and offerings lots of goods and services requires lots of employees.

Carnival Cruise Lines jobs are split into two basic categories: land-based employment and on-board employment. The former category includes jobs that many wouldn’t necessarily call “cruise ship jobs” because they are performed in standard business settings, like offices (in particular, offices in Florida, where the majority of Carnival Cruise Lines’ land-based employees work). Such jobs for Carnival Cruise Lines, which can be part-time or full-time, include positions in marketing, sales, accounting, public relations, and so on. These are the jobs of any given business, so people looking for cruise ship jobs won’t necessarily seek these out, unless they are particularly taken by the business operations at Carnival Cruise Lines.

What a lot of people mean by “cruise ship jobs” are the positions that require you to sail around on an actual cruise ship, and of course, Carnival Cruise Lines has plenty of these positions available as well. In fact, there are over 100 distinct positions available on board the ships of Carnival. Obviously, we can’t cover them all, so we’ll list the broad categories instead.

Of the on-board employment opportunities, there are two main categories, the first of which is called “Hotel Operations.” Positions in this category are very people-oriented and include jobs in the ship’s restaurants, bars, clubs, and casinos. “Hotel Operations” also covers housekeeping, laundry, and guest services, as well as entertainment and photography, among several other areas – basically any position that you would find in an upscale, land-based hotel counterpart. Think ‘hotels in Vegas.’ So, bartenders, blackjack dealers, musicians, and housekeepers all work for the same division of Carnival Cruise Lines. Even so, the many different positions listed so far should give you a good idea of just how many different positions are available on cruise lines. A passenger’s vacation experience, which can last for well over a week, largely takes place on a single ship. As a result, this ship must have employees who can perform various tasks, and hence the great diversity of cruise ship jobs.

The rest of the on-board jobs offered by Carnival Cruise Lines’ falls under the category “Marine and Technical.” This category is much smaller than “Hotel Operations,” but offers plenty of employment opportunities just the same. Deck Department, which is one part of the “Marine and Technical” category, employs people who are responsible for security and deck safety (like maintaining life boats), as well as the medical staff of the ship. The captain of the vessel is also part of the Deck Department. The Engine Department is the other part of the “Marine and Technical” category; this department is responsible for operating the ships engines and maintaining the engine room.

Clearly, there is no shortage, in number or variety, of Carnival Cruise Lines jobs. You can contact Carnival about jobs here:

Carnival Cruise Lines Jobs

With a vast fleet of 23 cruise ships (labeled “Fun Ships” by the company) that travel all over the world, Carnival Cruise Line offers scores of voyages every year. Given the vastness of its operation, it should come as no surprise that they offer all sorts of Carnival cruise deals. Carnival offers tons of cheap cruises – or, in any event, they offer a lot of discount cruises (“cheap” is relative term) – leaving future passengers with an abundance of cruise deals to pick from.

How do you go about finding a Carnival cruise deal? There are two main ways, one direct, the other more circuitous. The direct way involves booking your cruise through the Carnival Cruise Line website. If you point your browser toward Carnival’s homepage, you’ll see a tab at the top, near the right side of the screen, that says “Special Offers.” You will also see a box in the middle of the page on the left side that says “Special Offers.” Click on either of these and you’ll be brought to the same discount cruise page. On this page, you’ll see a list of “Quick Getaways” that offer some great cruise deals. The trips are short, ranging from two to five days longs, but they are also very cheap. A four-day trip to the Bahamas, for example, costs about $200, and even the most expensive of the “Quick Getaways” cost only slightly more than $300. (These are per-person rates, for the record, but still.)

There are also some “Early Saver Offers” offered through Carnival’s website. As long as you’re willing to book your cruise relatively far in advance (which is, by the way, one of our tips for how to find a cheap cruise), you can capitalize on some great offers, like a three-day trip to the Bahamas that leaves on September 15, 2011. The price? $179.

Great deals can also be found under the “Pack and Go” tab, which is located on Carnival’s specials page. These are last-minute cruise deals, offered so that Carnival can sail as full of a ship as possible. As long as you can more or less “pack and go,” last-minute cruise deals are great options for those who want to sail cheaply.

Finally, if you’ve been on a Carnival cruise before, you may be eligible for “Past Guest Offers.” The Carnival website asks you for a “Past Guest number,” and once you have supplied this information, you’ll have access to additional cruise deals.

Carnival cruise deals can also be found on websites that offer discounted cruises. There are many sites like this (e.g., CruiseCheap.com, CruiseDeals.com, etc.), and most of the major ones allow you to search for cruises offered by specific cruise lines. So, you can obtain a deal on a Carnival cruise without every visiting the Carnival website. However, if you are interested in checking out some of Carnival’s discounted cruises, the Carnival specials page is never a bad place to start:

Carnival Cruise Deals

With 23 ships in their fleet, Carnival Cruse Line is “the world’s most popular cruise line,” and for this reason Carnival actually has a registered trademark for the phrase “the world’s most popular cruise line.” In the present article, we examine the cruise ships that belong to the Carnival Cruise Line, explaining their measurements and the classes into which each ship fits.

Virtually all major cruise lines classify their ships into classes, and Carnival Cruise Line is no exception. The largest class in the Carnival fleet is the Fantasy class, which is comprised of eight ships: Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Elation, and Carnival Paradise. All of the ships in the Fantasy class were built in the 1990’s, with the oldest ship, Carnival Fantasy, being built in 1990, and the newest ship, Carnival Paradise, being built in 1998. All of the cruise ships in this class weigh 70,367 tons, making them the smallest ships in the fleet.

As you may have noticed, the name of every ship in the Fantasy class begins with “Carnival,” and in fact this is true of every ship in Carnival’s fleet.

With five ships, the Conquest class is the second largest class of the Carnival fleet. Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Freedom were built in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. All five of the ships have a gross tonnage of 110,000.

The third-largest class, composed of four ships, is the Spirit class. Carnival Miracle was built in 2004, Carnival Legend in 2002, and the remaining two ships – Carnival Spirit and Carnival Pride – were both built in 2001. Just like the other two classes, the ships of the Spirit class have the same gross tonnage, 88,500.

There are two classes that are comprised of only two ships: the Triumph class and the Dream class. The former contains 101,509 ton ships – Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory – and the latter has 128,000 ton ships, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic. The Dream class is notable for two reasons. First, it has the newest ships in the fleet (Carnival Dream was built in 2009, Carnival Magic in 2011), and second, these ships are the largest of the entire Carnival fleet, with each weighing 128,000 tons. A third ship, Carnival Breeze, will join the Dream class in 2012. It will also weigh 128,000 tons.

The final two classes of the Carnival fleet are made up of only one ship each. In the Destiny class is the Carnival Destiny, which weighs 101,353 tons. When it was built in 1996, it was the largest cruise ship in the world. It was also the first cruise ship to have a gross tonnage that exceeded 100,000. The Splendor class is home to Carnival Splendor, a ship built in 2008 that weighs 113,300 tons.

Before concluding, it’s worth mentioning that every ship in the Carnival fleet, regardless of which of the seven classes it fits into, is called a “Fun Ship,” presumably because cruise passengers are known to enjoy themselves while travelling on a Carnival cruise ship.

For more information about the Carnival fleet, check out this page on the Carnival Cruise Line website:

The Cruise Ships of the Carnival Cruise Line

Back to the basics: Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-owned cruise line that has 22 vessels – or “Fun Ships,” as they’re known – that are presently operating. These 22 Fun Ships take passengers on voyages that last three to 16 days. Carnival takes passengers to many different parts of the world, routinely scheduling voyages to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexican Riviera, the Bahamas, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, New England, and Europe.

Carnival Cruise Lines is a actually a member of larger alliance known as the World’s Leading Cruise Lines, which includes the Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line and Costa Cruises. Carnival Cruise Lines, however, has the largest fleet.

Carnival Cruises are known for the amount of entertainment they offer their passengers, as well as their flashy onboard décor. We suppose that’s why Carnival Cruise Line uses Fun Ships.

Originally, Carnival Cruise Line was know for their smaller ships (they were also known to offer cheap cruises), but their current fleet boasts some large vessels. For example, the Carnival Dream is an enormous 128,000 gross ton ship that is currently offering Caribbean voyages. Moreover, a sister ship known as the Carnival Magic is planned to debut in the next few months, so Carnival clearly has some hefty ships.

Given the vastness of the Carnival Cruise Line, it’s relatively easy to find the appropriate cruise for you. The price of a Carnival Cruise ranges widely, and there are often special cruise deals for the frugally minded. Also, the destinations to which Carnival Cruises sail are extremely varied; one need only compare the Alaskan cruises to the Caribbean cruises to see this. Finally, Carnival offers many different types of cruises, ranging from family-oriented trips to romantic getaways.

If you’re interested in learning more information and want to explore different cruises, visit the Carnival Cruise Line website.

The Arabian Nights at Sea cruise is a 3-night/4-day Baja cruise that travels to Ensenada, Mexico from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Fun Ship, M.S. Paradise. The Arabian Nights At Sea cruise typically departs on any given Friday and returns on Monday.

The Carnival Fun Ship M.S. Paradise has 1,026 staterooms, 10 decks, and a passenger capacity of 2,052. For your entertainment, the ship features several lively lounges and bars, a library, several dining venues, an elaborate dance club called Rex Dance Club, a unique cafe, and a buzzing casino.

Arabian Nights At Sea features roughly 10-15 individual belly dance workshops, and performances by nearly a dozen dancers and musicians. The cost for this belly dance cruise varies depending on accommodations. An Inside Cabin (Category 4) costs $405.00 per person; Ocean View (Category 6) $455.00, per person and 3rd or 4th passenger (any category) costs $275.00 per person with limited availability.

The price includes all meals, entertainment, two workshops of your choice, a Gala Show, a private cocktail party and more. Port charges and taxes are $123.94 per person and additional workshop tickets are available at three for $60 prepaid or $25 each (also prepaid). Payment plans are available. To book a room on an Arabian Nights At Sea belly dance cruise, call 925.458.3300 or visit the Arabian Nights At Sea website.

For information about other cruises that offer belly dance, contact your local cruise travel specialist or visit Carnival on the web at www.carnival.com.

Some of the top winter cruise destinations include:

• Caribbean
• Mexican Riviera
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Hawaiian Islands
• Barbados
• Nile

The deepest discounts are offered on Caribbean winter cruises and Hawaiian Islands cruises. But all of the destinations listed above are offered at affordable prices during the winter months. If you want to enjoy the biggest discounts, stick to major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Holland America Line, to name a few. These cruise lines offer more departures, and larger ships, so there’s plenty of wiggle room for discounts.

To save even more in winter cruises, you can also book through a discount booking search engine. Although mot cruise lines offer hot deals if you book online directly through the cruise line, discount booking search engines might offer even cheaper tickets. So try:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Sample Winter Cruise Deals

Royal Caribbean International has a number of cruises that depart from Florida ports starting at $80. These include 4- and 5-night Caribbean cruises. Cruisers will visit destinations such as George Town, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.

Carnival Cruises has a number of special winter cruise deals to Baja Mexico. Cruises depart from Los Angeles on 3- and 4-day cruises. Ports of call include Ensenada, Mexico Catalina Island, CA. Cruises start at $239 for 3-day cruises and $249 for 4-day cruises.

Starting at around $92 a day, Holland America Line has a 14-day circle Hawaii cruise that departs from San Diego, CA. Ports of call include Hilo, Hawaii, US; Honolulu, Hawaii, US; Nawiliwili Kauai, Hawaii, US; Lahaina, Hawaii, US, and Ensenada, Mexico.

More Ways to Save on Winter Cruises

Besides booking with major cruise lines and booking through discount booking search engines, there are other ways to save on already low-priced winter cruises. You can book in advance to save or you can book last minute to save up to 75 percent off the regular cruise price. If you book with a group or family, you can save or if you are a senior you can save up to 20 percent or more.

A senior is defined as a person who is 55 or older. If you are a senior, in order take advantage of senior rates, all you have to do is book through a cruise travel specialist or book directly with the cruise line. Proof of age is required. Groups and families can also get the best deals if they book through a cruise travel specialist as well or contact a live cruise travel agent. A live person will always have the latest specials and promotions on available for you.

After deciding where you would like to cruise (the Caribbean is popular), the next thing to consider is the cruise line. Everyone has their own preferences, so some people may prefer a casual environment and others may prefer a luxury cruise, where formal nights are always on the menu. Whatever your taste and budget, there is a cruise line to suit your needs. Some of the most popular cruise lines in the industry today include: Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line.

Silversea Cruises and Crystal Cruises feature luxury cruise ships cruise lines that are popular among affluent, seasoned travelers, while Regent Seven Seas attracts the same crowd, but the cruise ships are bigger and the environment is more relaxed. Regent Seven Seas is also considered one of the most romantic cruise lines in the world so their cruise ships are perfect for honeymoons. Couples can enjoy French and Polynesian dining, spa treatments, waterspouts, and romantic shore excursions such as river cruises, dinner cruises, horseback riding through the mountains, wading in the water underneath a waterfall, and more.

Royal Caribbean International is considered the perfect cruise line for first-time cruisers as it attracts a good mix of passengers from different backgrounds and with different interests. This means you’ll find a wide variety of activities, dining and entertainment options, and a very casual environment. Disney Cruise Line is perfect for families, couples, and singles looking for a festive atmosphere and excellent prices, while Carnival Cruise Line is tops for single, 20-30-somethings looking for a party atmosphere. Carnival Cruise Line also attracts young couples (married or otherwise) that may be interested in a festive atmosphere as well.

Once you feel that you know a bit more about the different cruise lines and cruise ships, you should get to know your destinations. Depending on the cruise line, you can expect to travel to popular destinations such as the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii or romantic and exotic destinations such as Tahiti, Fiji, Australia, Bermuda, and Europe. Exotic destinations that are also popular for romance and adventure include Africa, Asia, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Costa Rica.

If you want to save money on cruises, booking early and booking at the very last minute has advantages. Additionally, certain times of the year offer discounts and savings as well. For example, May through September is high season for Alaska, the fall and summer seasons are prime times for European sailings, and while the Caribbean is a year-round destination, winter is the most popular time for Caribbean travel. Peak travel times are always more expensive than off-peak travel, so keep this in mind.

When you are ready to book your cruise, you can contact your local cruise travel agent or you can contact the cruise line that you like most. A great place to search for certified cruise travel agents is with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The site has a search function that will help you locate certified cruise travel agents or counselors in your area.

If you already have a cruise line in mind, visit the cruise lines website to book a cruise or simply write down the cruise lines 800 or 866 number (listed on the website) and give tem a call. Click here for a directory of all cruise lines.

The top cruises from New Orleans include Carnival (year around), Norwegian (Nov-March) and Royal (Nov-May). Carnival Inspiration has New Orleans is the home port for Carnival’s Sensation, Sensation arrives every Friday morning, while Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas depart from New Orleans every Saturday.

Carnival offers 4- and 5-day cruises from the Port of New Orleans to destinations such as Cozumel, Mexico, and the Western Caribbean. Royal Caribbean’s cruises will take you from New Orleans to destinations such as Costa Maya, Puerto Rico, and Aruba.

Carnival, Norwegian, or Royal Caribbean cruise to and from New Orleans, passengers allow passengers to enjoy two vacation experiences in one trip! For Carnival reservations log onto www.carnival.com. For Norwegian log onto www.ncl.com. And for Royal Caribbean Reservations, log onto www.royalcaribbean.com.

If you can’t spare have 4-5 days or your goal is to spend your days (or nights) cruising the Mississippi, New Orleans has a local cruise for every taste, style, and budget. Visitors can choose from a variety of cruises such as the popular Dinner Jazz Cruise, the Harbor Cruise or the Aquarium Zoo Cruise, which is great for families.

During the Dinner Jazz Cruise, passengers can enjoy the sparkling New Orleans skyline aboard New Orleans only authentic steamboat named “Natchez.” The Harbor Cruise features a two-hour cruise by day from the heart of the French Quarter, also aboard the Steamboat Natchez.

Families can enjoy a fun-filled day of cruising between the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo aboard the Riverboat John James Audubon. The cruise features seven miles of sightseeing and highlights, along with stops at the Zoo and Aquarium. For information about New Orleans cruises or to make reservations, contact the New Orleans Steamboat Company at 504-586-8777.

The port of New Orleans also offers New Orleans cruises aboard the Delta Queen Steamboat which runs year around through the Mississippi and Ohio River systems as well as the Riverbarge Excursion also year around cruising through the Mississippi and Ohio River systems.

New Orleans Cruise Terminal Info.

New Orleans Julia Street Cruise Terminal Complex is located within the same building as the RiverWalk Shopping Mall, featuring everything from a delicious food court to the Gap, Limited, and Victoria’s Secret. Passengers can shop until it’s time to board their ship or steamboat.

For $1.25 per ride passengers may also take a ten-minute trip to the Aquarium of the Americas, IMAX Theater, Harrah’s Casino or the French Quarter for a few hours of entertainment before or after a cruise. New Orleans Cruise terminals are all on the RiverFront streetcar (trolley) line, with two stops adjacent to the cruise terminals.

Mini-cruises may stand alone or they might be part of a larger itinerary. When part of a larger itinerary, mini-cruises may include exotic river cruises, small yacht cruises, or small expedition cruises that travel where larger ships cannot. Mini cruises offer the same variety of entertainment, dining options and leisure facilities that are found on longer sailings, but they are designed to allow passengers to get the most out of their time onboard.

Some mini-cruises may take place during the week, but many take place on weekends. These types of cruises are packaged as “weekend getaways.” Popular destinations for weekend cruises include The Bahamas, The Western Caribbean, The Pacific Northwest, and Baja Mexico. Pacific Northwest mini-cruises typically last for three nights and they leave from Seattle. Bahamas cruises leave from Miami for three nights, and Western Caribbean cruises leave from Miami for four nights. Baja Mexico cruises leave from Los Angeles for three nights.

These are not the only mini-cruises available. Most cruise lines offer short cruises, but some of the most popular mini-cruises are offered through:

-Royal Caribbean
-Disney Cruise Line
-Carnival Cruise Line
-Celebrity Cruises

Prices for mini-cruises are “mini” too. Thanks to the shorter duration of the cruises, the are perfect for cruisers that are short on time and money. Depending on the type of accommodations, a mini-cruise may cost as little as $150 per person for an interior suite, up to $500 for a deluxe suite. You can also save money on mini-cruises by booking through a discount booking search engine such as Kayak or CheapTickets.com. The links to the most popular discount booking search engines are provided below.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

So why take a mini-cruise? Mini-cruises are a perfect way to test the waters (no pun intended). If it’s your first cruise, a mini-cruise will let you know if you will get seasick, if you are ok with crowds, if you will like the cruise experience overall, the food, entertainment, etc. Next, as stated earlier, mini-cruises are less expensive than longer cruises. Mini-cruises also allow you to visit a variety of locations in a short amount of time without having to deal with flying or staying overnight in multiple locations. And finally, if you are short on time and you only have a few days to unwind, a mini-cruise offers just enough time to accomplish your goals.

To book a mini-cruise, visit any of the websites listed in this article or use the Ships and Cruises Directory to locate dozens of different cruise lines around the world.