Well done the cruise lines

The travel industry has rallied to help people devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Cruise lines with crew members from the country are supporting staff with families affected by the disaster and have pledged to donate money.

The support came as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office changed its guidance and advised against all but essential travel to the eastern Visayas region of the Philippines where the typhoon caused extensive damage.

At least 10,000 people, the vast majority in the city of Tacloban, are thought to have been killed by the typhoon, which struck last week.

US specialist Mike Stones, of Major Travel, encouraged donations via the Travel Gossip page on Facebook. He said his wife had flown to the Philippines to visit relatives and landed 12 hours ahead of the typhoon, adding: “The final damage will be nearly equivalent to the Boxing Day tsunami, so if you can afford some aid please give it.”

Royal Caribbean has pledged to raise $1 million to help those affected.

Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive, said: “More than 12,800 of our employees call the Philippines home.

“We want to do everything we can to help them, their families, and their neighbours heal from this tragedy.”

Royal Caribbean has been helping crew members communicate with relatives in the Philippines and is also matching contributions from employees.

As parent company Carnival Corporation pledges $1 million to aid relief in the Philippines, UK brands P&O Cruises and Cunard are also donating $100,000 to the Red Cross appeal.

David Dingle, Carnival UK chief executive, said: “With over 4,000 Filipino crew members working across the fleet of ten ships, P&O Cruises and Cunard have been working hard to support our ships’ companies in contacting their loved ones.

“We are providing help and as much practical and emotional support as they need. This is not a short term crisis and we have pledged to continue to help those affected over coming days, weeks and months, as long as it takes.

“All Filipino crew or those living I the Philippines have been given free phone and internet cards so they can contact their family and friends. We are also putting chaplains on all our ships specifically for crew counseling.

“For those crew members who have asked to return to the Philippines we have arranged for them to be met and given the support they need whilst there.”

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said it is arranging for a number of staff from the most devastated areas to return home, and is sending a donation to its crewing agent in the region, Bahia Shipping, to distribute to families in need of help.

Holland America Line and Seabourn made a $25,000 donation to disaster relief efforts in the affected area.

Adventure travel specialist Intrepid Travel is encouraging donations to the Intrepid Foundation. The Intrepid Group will match donations up to £11,700.

The UN says more than 11 million people are believed to have been affected by the storm, which went on to cause disruption in Vietnam and China.

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articl...evastated.html

Generous holidaymakers on British cruise ships have raised thousands of pounds for Filipino crew members who fear for their families, writes Walter Harris.

Collections were organised by the captains of Saga's three ships during Remembrance Sunday services last weekend, and the money has been distributed among the 1,000 Filipino crew.

During one service on Saga's ship Sapphire, Captain Alistair McLundie and chaplain Ken Newell included the Lord's Prayer in Tagalog – a language spoken in the Philippines – and members of the Filipino choir held hands.

One passenger said : 'Most of the crew came from the Philippines. Several were concerned at the lack of news about their families and one feared her brother was among the dead.

'I found the Sapphire service remarkably moving.'

Captains on Cunard and P&O ships also held collections and the companies have made a joint donation of £62,000 to the Red Cross, while their American parent company, Carnival Corporation, has given $1 million (£620,000) to the relief effort.

All three companies have sent representatives to the Philippines to find the families of crew members.

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