Carnival Triumph limps home to cries of 'let me off'

Crippled Carnival Triumph finally arrived in port late last night four days after an engine room fire left the ship drifting without power in the Gulf of Mexico.

Carnival Cruise Lines warned that disembarkation of the 3,200 passengers could take up to five hours due to the lack of power as 12 more sailings by the ship were cancelled.

Passengers had reported sewage on the floors, poor sanitation and access to toilets, and lengthy queues for food.

Chants of "Let me off, let me off!" could be heard coming from the ship as they waited to disembark, the BBC reported.

The cruise line laid on warm food, drinks, blankets, mobile phones and chargers to passengers as they got off the ship in the port of Mobile in Alabama.

The company provided 100 coaches to transport passengers home.

Carnival has now cancelled a further 12 cruises by Carnival Triumph in addition to two previously announced. This means the ship will be out of action until April 13 at the earliest.

The company said: “On Friday, the plan is to move the ship from the cruise ship terminal to the Mobile shipyard for assessment of the repairs.”

Valentine’s Day and South Korea

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Unlike most harried men in many other countries around this time each year, Korean men don't have to worry about shopping for jewelry or flowers or writing nice cards to give to their significant other on February 14.

Instead, for South Koreans Valentine's Day is when women shower men with chocolates.

It's also just one romantic day in a whole series of calendar-dictated romantic days.

Next up is March 14. Known as White Day, on this occasion men gift women with candy. Fact: Chupa Chups is the most sold candy.

Next is Black Day on April 14, when downbeat singles who didn't receive any goodies head to local Chinese restaurants to commiserate over their loneliness while eating jjajyangmyeon, or "black noodles."

Surprisingly, one of the most popular gift-giving days of the year is November 11, or Pepero Day, so named in honor of a favorite Korean stick-shaped snack. (Link in Korean only)

Catering to women

 

Buying handmade chocolate at Jubilee Chocolatier in Seoul.

Throughout the country, stores selling confectionery prepare for months leading up to February for one of their best-selling days of the year. As February 14 nears, visitors to the country will notice lines and lines of women at such stores. Naturally, retailers need to cater to the female shopper's eye.

"Valentine's Day is one of our top five days of the year," Chul-hyun Yoo, the public relations representative for CU convenience stores, told CNN. With 7,900 stores throughout the country, CU is the number one convenience store chain in South Korea, recording almost ₩3 trillion (US$2.8 billion) in total sales last year.

"You can tell what concerns women and men is different by comparing the sales of Valentine's Day and White Day," said Yoo. "Women tend to go for value for money, while men buy big, flashy baskets."

One translation: women are comparatively stingy, while men like to show off. Some of the best-selling items on Valentine's Day are the Ferrero Rocher chocolates sold in packets of three or five. Fellas, don't eat all at once.

Becoming unhealthy?

At the more upscale Jubilee Chocolatier dessert cafe in Seoul, women line up on the days up to Valentine's Day to buy handmade chocolates that can be customized with their loved one's initials.

"Our Valentine's Day sales make up 20 percent of our entire sales," said Gae-ra Lee, public relations representative for the cafe.

Although the series of romantic days used to cater more towards couples, or those wanting to confess their secret loves using a romantic day as an excuse, in recent years, goodie-gifting on Valentine's Day and White Day has expanded to include family, co-workers and pretty much anyone you come into contact with on those days.

"I'm buying chocolates for my father. I feel like Valentine's Day should about confessing romantic love," said Jin-hee Oh, 28, an office worker shopping at Lotte Department store.

"Nowadays, you don't give chocolates on Valentine's Day because you really like that person," said Chun Kyung-woo, a culture reporter for a local newspaper.

"The custom has evolved so that now you have to give small crappy candy that no one actually wants to all your friends and everyone at the office down to your security guard as a show of goodwill," said Chun. "It's unhealthy."

So what did I do? Along with the other female members of the Seoul office, we each gave the Turner Korea boss some chocolate. Not that he needs it.

EU leaders agree 3% budget cut deal in Brussels

EU leaders have reached an agreement on the budget for 2014-20 after lengthy talks in Brussels.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy announced the deal and said in a statement it was "worth working for".

The new budget ceiling amounts to 960bn euros (£812bn; $1.3tn). It is the first time the EU's multi-annual budget has been reduced.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who had been pressing for cuts, hailed it as a "good deal for Britain".

"I think the British public can be proud that we have cut the seven-year credit card limit for the EU for the first time ever," Mr Cameron said.

French President Francois Hollande, who had argued against big spending cuts, said it was a "good compromise".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also welcomed the deal, which represents a 3.3% reduction from the previous seven-year budget.

European Businesses are putting ‘critical only’ travel plans in place.

London  -- New figures show that tough trading conditions across Europe are forcing many firms to making even tougher financial decisions -- particularly when it comes to their travel budgets.

Paul Tilstone, the managing director of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in Europe, says it's not surprising that companies are slashing spending on business trips.

"What we're seeing are companies putting in place critical-only travel plans and that has a knock on effect," he added.

"It's not about growth now for a lot of companies -- it's about survival. Unless something is considered critical to the running of the business, then it won't be authorized."

With travel expenditure often one of the biggest expenses within a business it becomes fundamental to reduce budgets. So where are the cuts being made?

Hotels that were once perceived as cheap are now viewed as adequate and comfortable. The days of expensive flights are also long gone.

Businesses want more bang for their buck.

"The standard now, is people travel in economy rather than business class," said Tilstone. "When trips are authorized, companies want more out of them. They want more bang for their buck."

Latest figures from the GBTA show varying levels of growth and decline across five critical markets in Western Europe in 2012: Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain.

Together they make up nearly 70% of business travel across the continent -- but Germany is the only nation where an increase has been reported. Spending there will have grown by 1.6% by the end of the year.

Elsewhere, the picture isn't as rosy. In the UK spending has flat-lined, while in France it will have dropped by 2.2%. The situation in the south of Europe is worse still, with spending on business travel in Spain and Italy dramatically decreasing.

Overall it means a reduction in spending of 2.2% across Western Europe -- and paints an even bleaker picture than the projections issued by the GBTA during the spring.

"The spring 2012 outlook was formulated in May and since that time conditions in Italy, Spain, Greece, and France, among others, have worsened," said Tilstone.

"The debt crisis may have been moved to the media's and stock market's back burner at the moment, but the crisis is still problematic and has caused economic conditions to worsen."

For some companies, it's obvious that cutbacks are a necessary evil. But what kind of effect do they have on productivity?

"I take dozens of trips a year, and around 30 to 35 of those are international," added Tilstone. "If I had to travel in economy all the time it would take its toll on my well being. It's about finding a balance. You don't want your employees becoming less productive individuals."

Stewart Harvey says he's not surprised by downgrading of the figures by the GBTA. As the commercial director of British corporate services provider HRG he specializes in ensuring companies make the most of their travel arrangements. He says a growing number of firms are exercising caution around their travel budgets.

"Businesses are not out to stop traveling," he said. "But there's a lack of confidence and they're putting controls on what they are spending.

How on earth would we know that? We don't have a crystal ball with that assurance.

"They want to record the purpose of the trip. Why are their employees going and who are they going to see? Is it external or internal? Are they going after a customer or extracting more business?

"People are being conservative and cautious because they are thinking about their whole business and they don't know what's ahead."

 China to beat out US as world's top business travel destination

Although the GBTA's projections for 2012 are bleak, particularly for southern European countries, its outlook for next year makes for slightly more pleasant reading.

The association predicts a 1.4% bounce back in 2013, which it links to job growth and any likely increase in GDP.

Is this a barometer for the region's wider economy?

"There is coloration," said Tilstone. "There are suggestions that there's a one quarter time lag between growth in business travel and growth in economies.

"But with lingering debt challenges and continued austerity measures, the European economy is likely to continue to be challenged for years to come. The GBTA's fall report therefore remains cautious."

But Harvey isn't convinced the projections for growth next year will come to fruition.

"How on earth would we know that? We don't have a crystal ball with that assurance," he said.

"In our experience, most companies aren't looking that far ahead. Planning for the long term is now viewed as three to four months in advance."

Europe Ten Hottest Destinations for 2013

Whether you're looking for culture or just a reason to party, you'll want to make sure these European destinations are on your radar in 2013.

Thanks to a slew of new galleries, hotels and museums paired with festivals, fairs and more, there's plenty to keep you busy across the Continent in the coming year.

CNN's 2013 travel wish list

Corsica, France

It's France, but not as we know it.

A petite island a couple of hundred kilometers from the French mainland, Corsica flies under the radar for the most part -- and that's part of its appeal.

Hillside Mediterranean towns are blissfully crowd-free compared to the streets of tourist hot spots like Cannes and Nice, and you'll have most beaches entirely to yourself.

Still, the real draw in 2013 will be thousands of men clad in Lycra.

For the first time in history, Corsica will host a leg of the Tour de France (June 29-July 21).

More than that, it will hold the opening of the event, celebrating the race's 100th year with pomp and ceremony -- and some serious cycling.

The 3,360-kilometer race weaves across the country until it reaches Paris, where the pedaling culminates against the backdrop of a floodlit Arc de Triomphe.

Lonely Planet's top U.S. travel destinations for 2013

Liverpool, England

If you've heard Liverpool mentioned only in reference to its football club, you're missing out.

Besides London, it's arguably the most exciting destination in England at the moment, offering plenty of reasons to party well into the New Year.

Having just celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first record -- the Fab Four formed here in 1960 -- Liverpudlians are looking forward to another installment of International Beatle Week in August, commemorating the music and lives of one of the most influential pop groups of all time.

The festivities continue at the freshly minted Museum of Liverpool, where a new theater (opening in early 2013) will host music and drama events alongside insightful exhibitions and film screenings, many of them free.

Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, England; +44 (0) 151 478 4545; www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

8 travel resolutions for 2013

Reykjavik, Iceland

The fact that it's one of the most affordable destinations in Europe aside, Iceland's capital is cool on many levels.

Kissing latitude 67 degrees north, the isolated island of volcanoes and glaciers is home to equal urban drama: the Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre opened here not long ago and is now the official home of the Icelandic Opera and Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

Local favorite Björk has also been known to belt out a tune or two in the shimmering glass-clad building, embedded with colored LED strips.

While the glowing hall is pretty, it's hard to beat the lights in the night sky. Until April, Reykjavik and much of northern Europe are forecast to be treated to some of the best showings of the Aurora Borealis in history.

The Winter Lights Festival (February 7-10) will bring music, performances and food to help you get in the mood.

Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre, Ingólfsgarður Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; +354 (0) 528 5050; en.harpa.is

Wishes for smooth journeys in the new year

Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey's biggest city delights visitors with some of Europe's hippest hotels and boutiques, not to mention a booming contemporary arts scene.

In 2013, Istanbul will host a handful of forward-thinking fetes, including the inaugural edition of Art Istanbul International at the Haskoy Yarn Factory (September 14-17), showcasing exciting new works from Turkey, the Middle East and beyond.

September also heralds the larger Istanbul Biennial (September 14-November 10), curated by renowned critic Fulya Erdemci.

Creative hoteliers are flocking to the city in response, which means that visitors can look forward to 2013 outposts from the likes of Shangri-La, Raffles and Hilton, among others.

Haskoy Yarn Factory, Kırmızı Minare Sokak 7-11, Sütlüce, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey; no tel; no website.

A sweet tour of Istanbul

Innsbruck, Austria

The Austrian capital may steal the spotlight from the rest of the country -- let's face it, Vienna is one beautiful city -- but Innsbruck deserves a place in the sun.

Encircled by the Alps, the city offers the ultimate access to some of Europe's best ski fields: hop on a funicular in town, zip past jaw-dropping railway stations designed by Zaha Hadid and you'll find yourself flying down untrammeled snow in no time.

Visit early in the year and you'll share the slopes with the world's snowboarding elite for the 20th edition of the Billabong Air & Style (February 1-2).

White stuff aside, Innsbruck offers equal allure during its warmer months, when visitors jump on bikes and cycle between historic hillside towns.

Crete, Greece

It may be one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, but Crete offers plenty of intimate experiences, plus plenty of reasons to party -- the island is celebrating a century of union with Greece in December 2013.

Away from the blissful beach resorts, still extremely good value thanks to the country's recent economic woes, chilling of another kind is in full swing.

Crete is developing a reputation as one of the region's finest wine producers, with a growing catalog of extremely drinkable native grape varieties: Vilana and Vidiano, Dafni and Kotsifali, Mandilari and Thrapsathiri.

The best bit? Many of the vineyards are wedged between languid towns where predictably good tavernas dish up uncomplicated, but classic, Cretan fare for a handful of euros.

Helsinki, Finland

The World Design Capital in 2012, Helsinki continues to push creative boundaries.

In Narinkka Square, the freshly minted Kamppi Chapel of Silence resembles a wooden egg, dressed in fir and with a halo-shaped skylight beneath which you can sneak a moment of quiet contemplation.

Another eye-opening building will soon feature pine, larch and spruce rooms: the upcoming Kulttuurisauna will be the first public sauna to open in the city in some 50 years.

And on the outskirts of Helsinki in Espoo, the WeeGee Exhibition Centre is now home to The Futuro, an elliptical plastic house showcasing the space-age architecture and design of the late 1960s.

An equal spectacle will unfold at sea in 2013 when Helsinki hosts the Tall Ship Races for four days (July 17-20), welcoming more than 100 imposing vessels on their voyage from Denmark to Poland.

WeeGee Exhibition Centre, Ahertajantie 5, Espoo, Finland; +358 (0) 9 8163 1818; www.weegee.fi

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Near, far, wherever you are, you've no doubt heard a lot about Belfast -- and the legendary cruise liner it launched.

The ill-fated Titanic, which went down just over a century ago on April 15, 1912, was built and floated in Belfast and you can still visit the old Harland and Wolff Shipyard where the luxurious vessel was brought to life.

Today, the area has been reinvented as the Titanic Quarter -- Europe's largest urban regeneration scheme -- and is now home to the spectacular Titanic Belfast complex.

Newly opened, the space showcases an impressive collection of memorabilia, taking you from the conception to the destruction of the ship, and also hosts activities for the Titanic Belfast Festival (April 2013).

If that doesn't float your boat, book in for one of Titanic Walking Tours' excursions, where you'll learn yet more about the Titanic and how it changed the city forever.

Titanic Belfast, Queen's Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland; +44 (0) 28 9076 6386; www.titanicbelfast.com

Amsterdam, Netherlands

It's a bit obvious as a Euro hot spot, but there is a reason -- well, there are many -- why Amsterdam is a must-visit in 2013.

For a start, the Rijksmuseum will open once again on April 13, welcoming visitors after 10 years of renovations.

Highlights of the made-over space will include a dazzling new pavilion dedicated to Asian art, as well as lighter, brighter and impeccably restored halls, cupolas and galleries.

Other milestones over the course of the year include the reopening of the Van Gogh Museum (April 25), just in time to mark Vincent's 160th birthday and the gallery's 40th, and the 400th anniversary of the city's canal ring, which was added to the World Heritage List in 2010.

Celebrations will be in order.

Rijksmuseum, Jan Luijkenstraat 1, Amsterdam, Netherlands; +31 (0) 20 674 7000; www.rijksmuseum.nl

Van Gogh Museum, Amstel 51, Amsterdam, Netherlands; +31 (0) 20 570 52 00; www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Berlin, Germany

Come October 2013, Berlin will be much easier to fly into, thanks to the highly anticipated (and well overdue) opening of the Brandenburg Airport, replacing three other airports at a cost of more than €4.2 billion (US$5.4 billion).

Needless to say, it will be one of the most modern terminal buildings in the world.

And when you do finally touch down you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that Berlin is home to some of the most affordable five-star hotels in the world at the moment.

Newcomers to look out for include the 232-room Waldorf Astoria Berlin (opening February), as well as boutique properties Bikini Berlin and Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte. The Waldorf will be part of a large retail complex with upscale boutiques, a cinema and office space and will feature a spacious rooftop terrace and bar.

The Leonardo will resemble a glass-and-metal pyramid and has been designed by notable German architect Eike Becker

Logistics Numbers Start 2013 Healthy cont.

From transportation indexes to warehousing construction, business figures made a strong transition from 2012 to 2013.

Imports and Exports:

• In November, the U.S. imported about $231.3 billion of cargo. November U.S. imports have increased 3.8% in terms of value from October, and rose 2.5% year-over-year. (Source: US Census);

• In November, the U.S. exported more than $182.6 billion of cargo. November U.S. exports have increased 1.0% in terms of value over the previous month and grew 3.3% year-over-year. (Source: US Census);

• U.S. import prices fell 0.1% in December. Import prices fell 1.5% over the past year. The price index for U.S. exports also fell 0.1% in December. Export prices increased 1.1% year-over-year. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics);

Employment:

• The unemployment rate in America remained unchanged at 7.8% in December 2012 as there were 155,000 net new jobs, down from the revised 161,000 new jobs created in November. (Source: US DOL);

• The trucking industry added 4,200 jobs in December. The trucking workforce increased 0.3% over the previous month and rose 3.37% over the previous year. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Rail:

• Railroad bulk carload freight in December 2012 rose 2.3% from November 2012. Freight traffic in December fell 4.2% from December 2011. Carloads excluding coal and grain increased 6.0% over the previous year. (Source: AAR.org) (Report includes rail car-loadings by 19 different major commodity categories as well as intermodal units);

• Intermodal rail traffic in December 2012 was 1.7% higher than in December 2011 and 1.0% higher than November 2012 totals. Intermodal loadings have experienced year-over-year gains for 37 straight months. (Source: AAR.org) (Report includes rail car-loadings by 19 different major commodity categories as well as intermodal units).

Trucking:

• The ATA’s seasonally adjusted cargo index rose 3.7% in November after falling 3.7% in October. The for-hire truck tonnage index rose 1% year-over-year. (Source: American Trucking Association | Trucking.org);
• The spot market for truckload freight in December fell 18% compared to the previous month, and was 1.8% higher year-over-year. Truck capacity fell 10% for the month, and was up 9% year-over-year. (Source: TransCore Freight Index | www.transcorefreightsolutions.com)
Air:
• Global air freight traffic in November increased 1.6% from one year ago and rose 2.4% from the previous month. North American air freight in November rose 2% year-over-year. (Source: IATA.org) (Global air freight covers international and domestic scheduled air traffic. North American traffic includes only domestic freight traffic.);
• In October, the average international air cargo rate was $3.99 per kilogram, rising 11.9% from the previous month. Average air freight rates were down 13.4% year-over-year. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) (The Drewry Air Freight Price Index is based on the average of rates ($US per kg) for cargoes of 100+kg to 1,000+kg cargoes from Shanghai to London, Moscow, Prague, New York, and Los Angeles.)
Ocean:
• Import shipment volume, in TEUs, at U.S. ports increased 1.2% in 2012 year-over-year. Over 17.6 million TEUs were imported last year. Maersk Line was the top carrier for 2012 and increased its TEU imports by 7.9% in 2012. (Source: Zepol Corporation | zepol.com)

Warehousing:

• The U.S. average industrial vacancy rate was 9.21% during Q3 2012, down from 9.37% in the previous quarter. Overall vacancy was 12.7% in Atlanta and 12.16% in Savannah during the third quarter. (Source: Colliers International)
• Total value of inventory on hand is estimated at $1.62 Trillion in November 2012, up 0.3% from October and up 5.5% from November 2011. (Source: US Census)
Purchasing Managers Index:
• The National PMI rose 1.2 points to 50.7 in December 2012. New orders remained the same at 50.3 and production fell 1.1 points to 52.6. (Source: Institute for Supply Management) (The PMI combines data on new orders, inventory, production, supplier deliveries, and employment. A reading above 50 indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.)

Trucking:

• The ATA’s seasonally adjusted cargo index rose 3.7% in November after falling 3.7% in October. The for-hire truck tonnage index rose 1% year-over-year. (Source: American Trucking Association | Trucking.org);

• The spot market for truckload freight in December fell 18% compared to the previous month, and was 1.8% higher year-over-year. Truck capacity fell 10% for the month, and was up 9% year-over-year. (Source: TransCore Freight Index | www.transcorefreightsolutions.com)

Air:

• Global air freight traffic in November increased 1.6% from one year ago and rose 2.4% from the previous month. North American air freight in November rose 2% year-over-year. (Source: IATA.org) (Global air freight covers international and domestic scheduled air traffic. North American traffic includes only domestic freight traffic.);

• In October, the average international air cargo rate was $3.99 per kilogram, rising 11.9% from the previous month. Average air freight rates were down 13.4% year-over-year. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) (The Drewry Air Freight Price Index is based on the average of rates ($US per kg) for cargoes of 100+kg to 1,000+kg cargoes from Shanghai to London, Moscow, Prague, New York, and Los Angeles.)

Ocean:

• Import shipment volume, in TEUs, at U.S. ports increased 1.2% in 2012 year-over-year. Over 17.6 million TEUs were imported last year. Maersk Line was the top carrier for 2012 and increased its TEU imports by 7.9% in 2012. (Source: Zepol Corporation | zepol.com)

Warehousing:

• The U.S. average industrial vacancy rate was 9.21% during Q3 2012, down from 9.37% in the previous quarter. Overall vacancy was 12.7% in Atlanta and 12.16% in Savannah during the third quarter. (Source: Colliers International)

• Total value of inventory on hand is estimated at $1.62 Trillion in November 2012, up 0.3% from October and up 5.5% from November 2011. (Source: US Census)
Purchasing Managers Index:

• The National PMI rose 1.2 points to 50.7 in December 2012. New orders remained the same at 50.3 and production fell 1.1 points to 52.6. (Source: Institute for Supply Management) (The PMI combines data on new orders, inventory, production, supplier deliveries, and employment. A reading above 50 indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.)

Staying Safe on Holiday

From sunburn and sexually transmitted infections to personal safety, always be prepared.

• Road accidents abroad - road accidents are a major cause of holiday injuries
• Travel and sexual health - don't bring home an unwanted memento from your holiday
• Sun safety - avoiding the worst effects of the hot weather
• Staying safe in the snow - avoiding illness when you're on the slopes
• Drugs and alcohol abroad - attitudes vary around the world, as do the penalties
• Water safety on holiday - be aware of the dangers lurking in the calmest of waters
• Needle hygiene on holiday - shared needles are one of the main sources of HIV infection
• Fire safety on holiday - be aware of your fire safety away, as you would at home
• Personal safety while travelling - don't become a victim while you're away

ILLNES & INJURY ON HOLIDAY

A bad bout of diarrhoea or mosquito bites can wreck your holiday. Discover how to avoid problems and what to do if the worst happens.

• Bites - some animals and insects can carry infectious diseases
• Diarrhoea - avoid letting an upset tummy spoil your holiday
• Skiing injuries - hit the slopes prepared
• Illness post-holiday - sometimes symptoms of an illness are delayed until you're back home

PLANNING A HEALTHY HOLIDAY

Make yourself a check-list, whether it's the necessary vaccinations, a repeat prescription or insect bite treatment, so you're well prepared.

• Jet lag tips - plan ahead to avoid the worst of the symptoms
• In-flight health - keep an eye on yourself on the plane an you'll arrive at your destination in good health
• Vaccinations for travel - make sure you've had the right jabs and tablets in time
• Travellers with special needs - advice for pregnant women and people with disabilities
• Essential items for travel - a few basic items can make a big difference

TRAVEL HEALTH

Don't let ill-health spoil your holiday or travels. With a bit of preparation before you go, and avoiding the common illnesses while you're away, you'll have a safe, healthy holiday.