Cruise Ship Accidents: 5 Ways to Protect Your Rights

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With the recent Carnival Cruise ship accident that injured 61 passengers when the cruise ship violently listed some interesting topics have been brought up that many people are unaware of. For example, did you know that you have a year or less to file your claim? Or, did you know that the fine print on your ticket dictates the location where a suit can be brought? To help you out we have compiled a list of 5 things you need to know to protect your rights when involved in a cruise ship accident.

1.) Know The Location Where You Need to Sue:
Maus says: “Cruise lines designate within their passenger tickets the only location where they can be sued. (Take a look at the tiny print on the back of your ticket). Most of the major cruise lines are based in Miami, Florida and designate Miami, Florida as the location where they must be sued.” This means that if you live in Maine and vacation on a cruise, you may have to litigate in Miami at considerable cost and time to you.
Knowing where you need to take your case is imperative so that your claim won’t be dismissed. Be sure to know the location where you can bring you case. It is not necessarily where the ship left either, so check you ticket before suing.

2.) Know How Long You Have to Bring A Lawsuit:
Maus says: “Cruise lines often insert special provisions into their passenger tickets that shorten the time in which a passenger may file a law suit against the cruise line to one year. (The normal statute of limitations for admiralty and maritime matters is three years; for a typical car accident claim it is four years!)”.
Once again, reading the ticket is key. This will give you the timeframe for which you can bring a suit against the cruise line.

3.) Cruise Ship Accidents Can Happen On Dry Land:
Most people don’t think much about it, but cruise ship accidents can happen at any time during their vacation: when they are boarding or disembarking the ship, when they are walking up or down stairs on the ship or down a hallway, when they are getting on and off a launch or tour bus in an exotic port, or during a ship-sponsored tour or trip into a foreign city.

4.) Document Your Accident:
When the victim of a cruise ship accident be sure to thoroughly document the incident. This includes the following:

Insist a report detailing the incident is prepared by the Cruise Ship personnel
Obtain the names and contact information for any other cruise ship passengers that may be witnesses or have knowledge about the incident.
Obtain the names and identification information for any cruise ship personnel that may be a witness or have knowledge about the incident.
Take photographs of the area where the accident occurred, and any defective conditions that may have contributed to the accident.
Seek medical attention and complain about any part of your body that was injured, no matter how severe or minor.
Request the ship personnel preserve any materials or evidence that is related to the accident or injury. It is best to do this in writing and keep a copy for yourself. Your request should include the preservation of any on board video tape surveillance.

This evidence and information will help you immensely with a case.

5.) Talk to an Accident Injury Lawyer:
Speak to an experienced cruise ship accident injury lawyer. Cruise ship accident and injuries can often involve state, federal or international laws that may be very different from the laws in your area. It is best to speak with a cruise ship accident injury lawyer as soon as possible following the incident to protect your rights.

This article is not meant to turn you away from that long-dreamt-of cruise vacation. Rather, it is meant to make cruise line passengers aware that cruise ship accidents require navigating through confusing and archaic laws. If you are injured while on a cruise, talk to an experienced cruise ship accident lawyer as soon as you get back to dry land so you can protect your rights.

MTV’s Headbangers ball presents Megadeth tour 1992 with Suicidal Tendencies (Bayfront Amphitheatre, Miami, October 31st 1992 – First day of USA Countdown to Extinction Tour) This is the Megadeth part only. also I’ve left a little of Jimmy DeGrasso and Rob Trujillo that both were in Suicidal Tendencies at the time. This is part 1 of 3, check out the rest

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Skiing Holidays – The Best Ways to Plan for One

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There are several types of holidays that you can plan for during the year but none as enjoyable and memorable as a skiing holiday. During this time you can learn or hone your skiing skills or just spend some quality time with your family or your loved ones. Going on a skiing holiday requires for you to plan ahead on a few essential things such as airfare tickets, accommodations, transportation like car hire services or rail services, and of course a destination. Finding the right or perfect destination is one of the most important things that you need to think about when planning for an unforgettable vacation.

There are several superb ski slopes all over Europe that are considered to be some of the most exquisite and beautiful places to go to, and other places that can give you and your family a memorable skiing experience. When choosing a destination, take into account the amount of time you will be spending there and the number and age group of the people that you are travelling with. These factors greatly contribute to your choice of destination.

If you are only going to be spending a weekend or a few days at a resort then it would be best to find a ski resort that can allow you to experience as much snow and skiing as possible during your holiday. If your holiday is going to be for more than a weekend or a week, then you would want to be at a location that provides excellent amenities and entertainment. Skiing may be at the top of your list, but skiing holidays at places that have various shops, restaurants, and other entertainment spots are just as important. That way, when you are not on the slopes, you can fill your time with other enjoyable activities. If you are spending your winter holidays with your children, then choosing a resort that offers skiing lessons and other fun activities is essential. It is also important that you choose a destination safe enough so that your children can run around and have fun.

Once you made your decision on a destination, you now have to think about how you are going to get there. Most of the time, the cost of travel are much more expensive compared to the actual skiing. Because of this, you should scout for deals or packages on flights and accommodation. Here comes the importance of knowing where to look. Remember, if you can save money on airfare tickets, you will have more money to spend during your skiing holiday. Choosing the right accommodation is important as well. If you are looking to spending a lot of time on skiing, then you should choose a resort that is located near the slopes. An ideal skiing holiday package is one that is inclusive of lodgings and ski slope fees and yet reasonably priced.

Italy Holiday Accommodations: 1000 Ways to Live Your Italian Dream

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Traveling to Italy is high on the list of places to go for virtually every traveler in the world. It is one of those few places in the world that does not seem to become time wearied or overdone. It also has an amazing ability to suit the tastes of an immense range of tourists. In Tuscany, for instance, the young art student enraptured in the Uffizi in a case of Stendahl’s Syndrome, the gourmand swirling a rich, aged glass of a SuperTuscan and the recent college graduate traveling through Europe all put Tuscany on their “must see” list. Italy is also one of the few travel destinations that is pleasing to almost all age groups, from the smallest children to the seasoned travel veteran. Everyone can find the perfect holiday accommodation, according to his needs and wishes: bed and breakfasts in Venice, hotels in the centre of Milan, bed and breakfasts in Florence, holiday homes in Naples…

The diversity of options for lodging in Italy, is staggering. Centuries of popularity as a tourist destination have resulted in an array of choices that give everyone an ideal option. Are you taking a slow casual vacation, indulging in tasting vintage after vintage of Chianti? Or does your Italian dream vacation focus on Mediterranean shores slowly lapped by warm waves and languid days of your toes in the sand? The dream is different for many, and whether you choose to bring your whole family to a Florence holiday home so they can experience the birthplace of the Renaissance or you want a quiet romantic time in a tranquil hotel in Siena; it is sure to be one of the best vacations of your life.

The hospitality of the Italians is world famous. This is not only true in regards to food and restaurants, but also in the lodgings. The conversion of an old family home to a bed and breakfast has been happening for ages. Both hostels and five star hotels are equally popular throughout the country because of its immense appeal to so many different people. In Tuscany you can take a bicycle tour of the stunning hills surrounding the Arno, then returning to your Florence holiday home before an evening of bistecca and soft candlelight, indulging in a DOCG Chianti would appeal to both the athlete and the gourmand.

Whenever you join the millions that have lived their version of the Italian dream you are sure to bring home memories that will last a lifetime. The idea of returning to that same little romantic bed and breakfast in Tuscany or again wading through the small, warm waves of the Mediterranean will draw you back. Perhaps the next time you return your version of the dream will have changed. Maybe the next time you will take an agritourism vacation with a group of couples that are addicted to the ancient vines and 1000 year old farmhouses. Or perhaps a trip with your entire extended family in one 3 stars hotel in Milan or a cheap accommodation in Venice, will be your next version of the dream.

6 Ways to Void Your Travel Insurance Policy

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Buying insurance for your holiday can often be an after-thought, but the potential problems and expense that can be caused by getting it wrong could result in your holiday being one to forget rather than remember.

Here’s six mistakes to avoid which might invalidate your policy.

Get Drunk

It’s something of a myth that all travel policies are invalidated if you consume alcohol. Many will tolerate some “social drinking” even if this is not formally confirmed in the policy wording. So many insurers are unlikely to penalise you if you have a drink and are injured in an accident unrelated to your alcohol consumption.

However, if your alcohol consumption can be argued to have in any way contributed to the situation that resulted in a claim, the insurer may refuse to pay out, or may only offer to pay a portion of the claim.

If you intend on driving or motorcycling on holiday, it’s usually safest to avoid any form of alcohol on the same day as any hint that you were driving under the influence is likely be mean a quick end to any claim.

Use Illegal Drugs

Unlike alcohol, this is almost certain to invalidate your policy immediately. In some cases it may even mean a double invalidation if your policy bars both drug taking and illegal behavior. You may also need to check your policy to see if it excludes taking drugs that are illegal in the UK but legal in the country you are visiting. And remember that in some countries, particular drugs may be decriminalized rather than legal: that means you won’t be arrested, but you could invalidate your policy.

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Keep quiet about a medical condition

As a general rule, travel insurance doesn’t cover situations related to undisclosed pre-existing conditions. Such medical conditions are usually only covered if you disclose them which is likely to result in higher premiums or the need to take out special medical travel insurance.

How this is applied depends upon the policy and insurance company involved. If you are aware of a medical condition it should be declared. If you’ve suffered symptoms as the condition developed, but the condition hadn’t been diagnosed, it usually comes down to a subjective assessment of whether you should reasonably have believed you could be suffering from the condition.

Take Part in Extreme Sports

This is another area where it really does vary from policy to policy. In the small print you’ll often find a list of prohibited activities, which is well worth checking. Common exclusions include watersports, climbing and anything that involves your feet leaving the ground! One exception that often catches people out is using a motorbike or even a moped.

Extend Your Trip Without Notice

Single-trip policies are only valid for the designated dates, and not a day longer. The good news is that an insurer will usually agree to cover an extension to your holiday so long as you give them sufficient notice. However, if you make a claim for an incident that happened after your policy expired, you’ll be out of lucking if you are expecting some sort of grace period.

Take A Day Trip Across The Border

Should you take out a true worldwide cover policy, it’s likely that you will be insured in any country other than those on the current FCO advisory list. However, if your policy contains geographical restrictions, take care not to stray as you are unlikely to be covered if you do. For example, if you go to Southern Spain with a European only policy, you take that ferry to Morrocco at your own risk. If you do have a specific European policy, check carefully to see how it defines the restriction: for example, a “European Union only” policy won’t cover some countries on the continent.

Being aware of the exclusions and limitations of your travel policy can help you avoid further stress should you need to claim or give you the chance to secure wider cover. So be sure to know what cover you do need and read the small print before you buy, and you reduce the chances of falling victim to small print exclusions.

Australia Holidays – Top Five Ways to Travel

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Australian holidays are all about long journeys and adventurous travel. You could just lounge on the beach or have a city break in Sydney during your holiday to Australia, but you would be missing out. Australia is one of the best countries to explore on a longer journey, with vast tracts of unspoilt wilderness and an amazing variation in the scenery that you’ll encounter.

Not only are there plenty of sights to see on a journey through Australia, there are numerous ways to travel. Whether you prefer a train, a car, a horse, scuba flippers or just your own two feet, you are sure to find an Australian holiday journey that suits you. Here are five amazing ways to explore the country…

Drive…along the West Coast

A driving holiday on Australia’s West Coast allows you to explore a wonderful and comparatively untouristed part of the country. Unlike the more populous East Coast, you can drive for miles and miles without seeing a soul, but there’s plenty to keep you occupied; on the classic route from Perth to Exmouth, highlights include feeding wild dolphins in the sea at Monkey Mia, scuba diving at Ningaloo Reef (smaller but just as exciting as the Great Barrier Reef) and exploring the stunning scenery of Kalbarri National Park.

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Ride…in Victoria

Victoria is a popular Australian holiday destination, especially for nature lovers; the dramatic and diverse landscape includes alpine mountains, arid plains and wet, temperate Gippsland. This was horse riding country back when the settlers first arrived, and this remains the best way to explore this beautiful part of Australia. There are plenty of horse riding holidays available, ranging from centre based and beginners holidays to arduous cross country trips for the more experienced rider.

Catch the train…from Adelaide to Darwin

The famous Ghan train (a shortening of Afghan Express, named after the Afghan camel trains that trekked the route before the railway was built) crosses the entire length of Australia, north to south, in just 48 hours (though of course, you can make stops along the way!) Started in 1878 and not fully finished until 1929, a ride on the Ghan is an unforgettable journey for your holiday to Australia, taking in some of the best scenery the country has to offer alongside highlights like Adelaide, Darwin and Alice Springs. For train lovers on an Australian holiday, this is the journey to take.

Walk… through Tasmania

Known as “the Natural State”, over a third of Tasmania is covered by national parks, giving you an idea of just how much amazing countryside there is to explore here as part of a holiday to Australia. It is a land best seen on foot; highlights for the eager trekker include Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay, the Western Arthur Mountain Range and Freycinet National Park.

Dive…to the Great Barrier Reef

A journey to the Great Barrier Reef may be one best measured in metres rather than miles, but it is a journey as epic as any of the other Australia holidays on this list. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is a scuba divers paradise.

If you go diving while on holiday in Australia, you will enter another world, a hive of biodiversity, beautiful coral reefs, and a huge variety of wildlife, including dolphins, turtles and over 1,500 species of fish. It certainly won’t be the longest trip that you’ll take while on holiday in Australia, but it will certainly be one of the most spectacular.

Ways of Travelling Cheaply

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Sun and sand lovers will find Jamaica quite an interesting place to be as it is well served by beaches and natural attractions. This is also the famed land of dreadlocks and reggae and it is a fact that most reggae lovers find it to be the ideal place to spend their vacations. Accessing all the fun through finding cheap flights is what can prove to be tedious for some people but there are definite ways of getting there cheaply.

Know the seasons: when looking forward to having your vacation in Jamaica; it helps to know that the peak season which is the busiest tends to fall between the months of December and April. To get to this destination cheaply, you will need to make your reservations in advance including accommodation. Failure to doing this, you are better off travelling during the off peak season when the rates have all come down.

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Go through the booking sites: the other way of accomplishing your mission of getting to Jamaica without having to spend much on your flights is by taking the time to go through the different airline booking sites. There are sites which will help you in locating and comparing the available flights to the area making it easy to choose the best.

You can also use the internet on a frequent basis as a way of keeping up with the fluctuating airfares hence offering you the chance of taking advantage of such fluctuations provided you are flexible enough with your travel time.

Consider using different route: another option of finding cheap flights to Jamaica is choosing a flight flying a different route from the normal one. Express flights to Jamaica can prove to be much more costly as compared to those flying over different destinations before getting to Jamaica. Such long flights normally come with discounts because of the time factor. This is always a great option for those who do not have any kind of time restrictions to get to Jamaica.

Make direct contact with the airlines: it also helps land on cheap flight to Jamaica when you make a point of directly contacting your desired airlines of choice flying to the region. This should be done after perusing through the websites so that when you make the calls you can ask for a better deal from what the airline is already offering. There is always a chance that you will find an offer or option that is worth when you ask for something better from the airline.

Cartagena, Colombia – 4 Ways To Visit Before Leaving Home

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If you’re not sure what to expect when planning a trip to Colombia, you’ve already got a wide selection of handy references in popular culture to give you an impression of the place before leaving. One place that pops up time after time is Cartegena, the colonial port town that sits on the Carribean coast. If you’d like to get excited about a Colombia vacation, try any of the following four options.

Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ Novel
Colombia’s most famous literary export, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, spent most of his early years in Cartegena. Even though the city is not explicitly mentioned (dubbed a “Caribbean port town”) it doesn’t take a genius to see that Marquez is writing about Cartegena in Love In The Time Of Cholera, one of his most famous books that became a film adaptation in 2007. Weaving a complex narrative that twists and turns amongst the city’s “steamy and sleepy streets”, Marquez will have you ready to book your ticket, even if the novel is set between the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

The Mission – The Award Winning Robert De Niro Movie
Set in the 1750′s, The Mission chronicles the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in the jungles of South America. Showered with awards, The Mission won the Palme d’Or and the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Filming took place in Cartegena and Brazil, so for an introduction to the city via an award winning film you should check this one out.

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Smuggler’s Blues – Miami Vice’s Popular Episode
It’s only so long before the drug references creep into any mention of Colombia, but what better way to introduce them than through one of Miami Vice’s most popular episodes. The classic Eighties cop show goes on the road as Crockett and Tubbs are recruited by the DEA to track down a local law-enforcer who is murdering drug dealers and their families in cold blood. The episode takes its name from a song by musician Glenn Fray, who appears in the episode as a laid-back aircraft pilot, Jimmy Cole. If you can look up from your well-bitten nails, you’ll see that most of the filming takes place in Cartagena, Colombia…

The Red Herring – Romancing The Stone
A popular offering from the mid-Eighties, you’ve probably seen Robert Zemikis’ Romancing The Stone at one point or another. Kathleen Turner’s big screen break and Michael Douglas’ re-introduction to the movie-going public, the film enjoyed box office success. For those without a viewing, the film follows romantic novelist Jean Wilder who is drawn down to Colombia when her sister is held to ransom in…yup, you’ve guessed it…Cartegena, Colombia. However, before you dig out the VCR player and that old dusty tape, you should know that the majority of filming took place in Vercruz, Mexico. You’re about as likely to see a Colombian vista as you are an appearance by Indiana Jones. Stacking up the reasons not to see this movie, Douglas pronounces the name of the town Cartegeña (“Cartehenya”), as opposed to the correct “Cartehena”, a source of much annoyance amongst locals.

You may not be visiting 18th century Colombia or flying down with the boys from Miami Vice, but you can certainly afford to associate yourself with a little excitement and romance that will definitely be a part of your Colombia vacation if you decide to visit Cartagena.

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Ways to bring Down the Cost of Travel Insurance

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Most of us have to travel and it can not be compromised because sometimes our professional life requires it and sometimes our personal life croons for it. But think of any mishaps like theft of your luggage, cancellation of the connecting flights or (God forbid) getting sick while traveling. And the costs associated with these can really hurt your financial purveys but if your travel is insured then these situations can give you a lithe strain but at least your fiscal health would be reinstated.

Remember that in most of the times these circumstances do not occur and this is why unless it is risky situation or place that you are traveling it is wise to opt for the cheapest travel insurance quotes. The level of coverage increases the premium cost and many insurance company may lure you into astronomically high coverage but that is not necessitated or is that? Here is list of level of optimal coverage

Medical expenses should not exceed £ 2 millions, similarly the personal liability should be checked at around £ 1 million; flight cancellation should be reimbursed till £ 2500- £ 3500, the level of coverage of baggage and other relevant accessories should not exceed £ 2000 and minimum cash coverage at around £ 300 -£ 400 (of course plastic money has replaces our age long headache of carrying large cash during journeys). These happen to be genuine covers that can really keep the prices down.

However, you should ensure that the insurance firm has a 24 hours legal services support (as most of these provide) and it is suggested to not to comply this service with the cheapest travel insurance quotes. There are lots of insurance agencies who claim to provide cheap services but you need to perform an elaborate comparison so as to avail a genuine yet cheap insurer. You can take the assistance of search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN to guide you to the relevant websites or you can take the help of various comparison sites also who have a comprehensive listing of genuine insurers with their rates and coverage services.

Ways of Getting Cheap Flight Tickets

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It can be a challenge to locate cheap flight especially when they are to do with a world destination which is very popular. The flights actually tend to be harder to get during certain times of the year depending on the peak and the off peak seasons in the destination one is headed to. There are however different ways through which one can use to get a cheap flight regardless of the time of the year.

Early booking: this is among the simplest and most rewarding ways of getting cheap tickets to the destination. It is a fact that airlines offer attractive rates when a flight is made available. For instance, it is common to find discounted tickets for the first few people to book the flight and therefore booking for your flight early enough can land you on the discounted tickets.

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Consider the season: whereas most people love travelling during the peak seasons to ensure that they get to enjoy all activities and places open during the vacation, one can also choose to travel on the lesser populated months and seasons as a way of cutting on the airfare. This will however depend on the expectations a traveler has. In case you still want to get to the destination during the peak season, then making early arrangements and reservations is the way to go.

Deals and packages: there are all kinds of deals that are made available by the airlines but most last only for a while. You will therefore need to be alert and even take the time to ask on any deal that is presently being offered or any package that can help in getting you discounts on your ticket and other services such as accommodation. It is always helpful to take advantage of such offers.

Signing up for alerts: as compared to regularly contacting and searching for cheap ticket deals, it is much easier to sign up for alerts. This way, you will be contacted through email every time there is a good offer or when a flight matching your requirements is available. This in itself also means that you need to be flexible with your travel time and dates since you can never tell when the cheap tickets might be found.

Consolidators: consolidators offer tickets at discounted rates after purchasing them from various airlines. You can therefore never go wrong with this option as there will always be something open for your and suiting what you consider cheap during travel.