A WEEK is a long time in politics, newly inaugurated President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, will testify to that!

So, why has no one told the big cruise monsters that?

On Monday Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Dawn lost its propulsion system forcing the ship into the port of Norfolk, USA. Later that same day Celebrity’s Mercury dumped wastewater off the coast of Washington State to the tune of a whopping $100,000 dollars fine, around £80k in new English money – not good for the shareholders Celebrity – not to mention the poor fish!

Meanwhile Celebrity’s Millennium caught the propulsion virus, when she caught the same thrust “bug” passed on my Norwegian earlier in the week – Millennium was forced into “bed” for a few days – she dry docks for repairs later this week – let’s hope she’s better soon...

The world’s biggest beast of the sea Carnival equally cleaned up its act this week. Liberty got up out of her “bug” bed on Tuesday sailing the high seas once more. She had a bad run of the “stomach” and then Carnival’s Spirit decided to pick a “fight” with a tropical storm off the coast of Mexico causing havoc to her plans for the rest of the week!

Booked passengers had to wave at the ports of Acapulco and Zihuatanejo from Spirits’ decks as she sailed passed them…

But on a brighter note… Norwegian, Celebrity and even Carnival dug deep into their pockets in these troubled times - Holland America stuck “two fingers” in the air at their customers over a pricing error – whilst Carnival’s Liberty folk got 50% refund plus a gigantic 50% discount on a future cruise – Holidayinsiders.com’s mole has been told – they’re skipping Mexico this time, we think very wise!

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