Luxury cruising is the next big thing

Luxury cruising is booming. With nine new ships on order, the luxury lines are looking at 32 ships and 11,790 berths by 2012 — the largest capacity in the sector’s history. American Express Travel attributes the upswing to pent-up demand and to a wide range of new offerings aimed at upscale baby boomers, including new and exotic ports of call, butler service, gourmet meals, private shore excursions, golf and scuba outings, and customized cruise planning. Luxury cruise operators are betting that the enthusiasm for such offerings will be long-lived.

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Carnival becomes first cruise line to earn a security certification

MIAMI -- Carnival Cruise Lines became the first cruise line to earn a certification for its comprehensive on-board security programs from Lloyd’s Register, a leading ship classification society based in London.

The certification recognizes Carnival for its wide-ranging efforts in developing, implementing and auditing its security operations aboard its 22-ship fleet.

The certification, which included an independent audit conducted by Lloyd’s Register, also acknowledges that Carnival meets or exceeds all security standards mandated by various international maritime codes and organizations, including the International Ship Port Facility Code, the Maritime Transportation Security Act, and the Standards for Training Certification and Watchkeeping.

The certification was presented by Lloyd’s Register officials at Carnival’s annual security conference in Miami which brings together the company’s key shoreside personnel with chief security officers and staff captains, responsible for overseeing shipboard security, to participate in various security-related seminars and share best practice solutions throughout the fleet.

Carnival shipboard security team works in tandem with the company's shoreside security department which is made up of highly experienced former law enforcement professionals. Carnival’s shipboard security personnel are required to have previous experience in security, military or law enforcement and receive intensive, specialized training in a wide variety of areas.

Carnival is the world’s largest and most popular cruise line, operating 22 ships on three- to 18-day voyages throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, South America and other destinations. The line currently has three new ships set to debut between now and 2011.

For additional information and reservations, contact World Travel Warehouse at 1-866-994-9898 or visit www.carnival.com.