Carrie Streahle didn’t know what was in hers until her cruise arrived late in Houston, and she had to pay an extra $1,900 in airfares and accommodations to get home. She contacted Carnival, asking for reimbursement.

“Carnival’s first response was that we didn’t have travel insurance,” she says. She protested. The cruise line responded again, this time blaming Mother Nature. “They said they can’t control the weather,” she says.

No kidding. Carnival’s ticket contract specifically says it can change arrival or departure times without notice, for any reason whatsoever, including weather. “Carnival shall have no liability for any compensation or other damages in such circumstances,” it adds.

“Carnival is not at fault because they were delayed by an act of nature,” says Anita Dunham-Potter, who writes the blog ExpertCruiser. “When this happens, they have no control over the port, or the time it takes customs to clear the ship, which is ultimately what decides the time you can get off the ship.”

Cruise contracts are filled with clauses and supported by laws that the average passenger doesn’t know about. If they did, they might think twice before setting sail. The paperwork addresses everything from what the cruise line owes you when something goes wrong (not much) when it’s responsible for your well-being (hardly ever) to where and when you can sue them (in a faraway court, and almost never).

“No one reads the fine print,” says Al Anolik, a travel attorney in San Francisco. But if you do — and a warning to all you non-attorneys out there, this isn’t light reading — you’ll find the law limits the rights of passengers in many key areas, such as a cap on damages you can collect from a cruise line and time limits on any lawsuit.

“There are no consumer protections in the ticket,” adds maritime attorney James M. Walker, who writes a blog about cruise law. “It was drafted by the cruise lines lawyers to protect the cruise lines at the consumer’s expense. It is a one-sided document.”

So what do you need to know before you set sail?

Your laws aren’t our laws. That’s not hyperbole. It’s literally true, according to Robert M. Jarvis, a maritime law professor at Nova Southeastern University Law Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “The law governing cruises has nothing to do with where a passenger lives or buys a ticket,” he says. “Instead, federal maritime law, international law, the law of the country where the cruise ship is registered — typically the Bahamas, Liberia, or Panama — and the law selected by the cruise line are going to control, and all of these favor the cruise line.” That’s why it’s so hard to find a good lawyer to sue a cruise line. There aren’t many. Maritime law, or admiralty law, is “incredibly complex,” says Jarvis. “Only a few lawyers have the necessary training and experience to deal with such matters, and most of them are working for the cruise lines,” he adds.

Don’t hold us to the brochure. The ship may — or may not — keep the promised schedule. This is perhaps the most irritating contract provision. Here’s Royal Caribbean’s: “Carrier may for any reason at any time and without prior notice, cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any scheduled sailing, port of call, destination, lodging or any activity on or off the Vessel, or substitute another vessel or port of call, destination, lodging or activity.” What’s more, it owes you nothing if it does. “Everything is subject to change and availability,” says Kristen Bentz, a travel consultant in Mesa, Ariz. “Basically, prices, rooms, excursions, itineraries, and anything not guaranteed is up to the cruise line’s discretion.”

The quack who treated you isn’t our problem. Most medical care on cruise ships is perfectly adequate. But just in case it isn’t, cruise lines have a clause that say they aren’t responsible for the malpractice of the ship’s doctors. Have a look at paragraph 13 of Princess’ passage contract: “Doctors, nurses or other medical or service personnel work directly for Passenger and shall not be considered to be acting under the control or supervision of Carrier, since Carrier is not a medical provider. Similarly, and without limitation, all spa personnel, photographers, instructors, guest lecturers and entertainers and other service personnel shall be considered independent contractors who work directly for the Passenger.” In other words, when a doctor’s negligence leads to the death of a family member, the cruise line is off the hook. “The passenger is left with the problem of having to bring a claim against the doctor who inevitably is not a U.S. citizen, often has no insurance, and is not subject to personal jurisdiction here in the U.S.,” says Walker.

Kids and retirees are second-class citizens. The survivors of children or retired passengers who die on cruise ships have no right to compensation except for burial and funeral expenses, according to Walker, who recently wrote about this quirky provision on his blog. It turns out that when passengers die on the high seas, the “Death On The High Seas Act” applies. “It limits the recovery of the surviving family members to what is called pecuniary losses,” he says. “This means that only lost wages and burial or funeral expenses are permitted.” If you’re a child or a retiree, and not earning wages, the only compensation is for the costs of the burial.

Wanna sue us? Come to Miami. These are called “forum selection” clauses, and they require you to sue the cruise line in a particular court. “Forum selection clauses have been routinely enforced for many years,” says Thomas Dickerson, author of the book Travel Law. “However, recently, the courts have consistently enforced a federal forum selection clause, which requires injured passengers to sue in federal court in Miami instead of state court — the significance being that jury trials may not be available in federal court.” That makes suing a cruise line difficult, and often impossible.

Time is short. There’s a one-year limitation period to file a claim, and a six-month period to write a letter to the cruise line when the passenger has been injured, says Walker, the maritime attorney. “This is a relatively short period of time, compared to the statute of limitations of most states,” he says. “Florida, for example, has a four-year limitations period.” What if you miss your deadline? Walker says people who have, contact him all the time. “There is nothing we can do for them.”

If you think that’s bad, get this: Experts agree that the contracts are getting worse. “In the last decade, cruise lines have had to tighten the reins,” says Bentz. “Contracts have gotten a little longer and a little less customer-friendly.” That means we may one day look back on 2010 as a time when cruise lines still cared about their passengers.

I have a sinking feeling that might be true.

The legends, mysteries, and romance associated with the words “Bora Bora” bring an almost mystical presence to the island. The island, located about 230 kilometres northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef.

Bora Bora is predestined for snorkeling and scuba diving in and around its lagoon.

Made famous by books, movies, and its stunning beauty, the island is now besieged by tourism and overcrowding. Regardless, if you must visit a South Pacific island (and you should), Bora Bora would be an excellent choice.

Here are 25 Stunning Pictures of Bora Bora…

( photo by Viajes Mundoparaise – Plantour Ponferrada )

( photo by Carioto )

( photo by Kevissimo )

( photo by leah ashley )

( photo by underwatertourist )

( photo by Carioto )

( photo by Pierre Lesage )

( photo by Pierre Lesage )

( photo by Pierre Lesage )

( photo by Super Starfish )

( photo by foto’s by gerg )

( photo by Viajes Mundoparaise – Plantour Ponferrada )

( photo by Carioto )

( photo by tiarescott )

( photo by Pierre Lesage )

( photo by easy.tahiti )

( photo by easy.tahiti )

( photo by easy.tahiti )

( photo by D. [SansPretention] )

( photo by Pierre Lesage )

( photo by Pierre Lesage )

( photo by Official Roxy Photos )

( photo by Official Roxy Photos )

( photo by sandra.melcer )

( photo by totalisator )

And now for some jokes:

And since sex sells, here’s a French patriot:

Are we all ready for a little exercise? It’s just a short hike, but maybe enough to get our blood circulating. Let’s go!

First, we take the tram up to the start of the trail:



Now we follow the path:


Use the railing if you find it helpful:


We might want to keep an eye on that guy in front of us:


Let’s pass these slowpokes!


Here’s a few steps to climb:


A little bit steeper here: be sure to use the handy toe holes!


Just a few more steps to go:


And here we are! Enjoy the pretty view for a minute, & then we’ll head back down. Race you to the bottom!

Berlin, Germany has been at the center of European history in many regards, most recently as the divided core of Germany before East and West reunification. This abandoned complex located in Beelitz (just outside of Berlin) dates back to the 19th century and was used by the Germans as a military hospital through the second World War. From the 1940s on it was continuously occupied and used as a military hospital by the Russians complete with a surgery, psychiatric ward and rifle range before being abandoned in the 1990s. During its years of operation, famous (or infamous) patients included Adolf Hitler and former East German leader Erich Honecker.

Mesen, Belgium is the smallest town in Belgium with fewer than 1,000 residents. However, it is the home of one of the most beautiful abandoned castles one could imagine, built, rebuilt, modified and expanded from the 1500s onward. This gorgeous structure evolved from a defensive fortress to a boarding school over
time before being abandoned in the middle of the 20th century. It has has decayed by natural means with very little outside interference or vandalism and conjures picturesque images of beautiful deserted buildings. Nonetheless, it is under threat of destruction. It seems that only in Europe, where such buildings are more abundant, could such a lovely structure be considered common enough to not necessarily warrant rehabilitation.

Copenhagen, Denmark has developed a rich tradition of industrial production in part due to its geography. Flanked on virtually all sides by water, it is no wonder this country has spawned many facilities like the refrigeration factory featured above. These pictures show the internal story of desertion, fire and other internal tales as well as the future plans for redevelopment on the site. Adjacent condos (shown in the last image) represent the likely direction of this abandoned property as waterfront real estate continues to replace old industrial uses.

Ryhope, England is home to an abandoned water pumping station that almost seems like a retrofuturistic structure straight out of a cyberpunk novel. This deserted structure is a monument to the Victorian era of industrialization, dating back to the middle of the 19th Century. It was an important step in the modernization of clean water distribution in an era where urban densification and disease went hand in hand. Though the station is no longer in active use all of the machinery still works, a true testament to the capabilities of Victorian English engineers.

Tempere, Finland is one of many places that saw considerable growth and prosperity during the industrial revolution. With a thriving Finnish timber industry came the matchstick factory featured above. Built between world wars, the factory was in continuous use until the mid-1970s at which point it switched industries with the times, become (among other things) an automobile plant for a period of time. Since being entirely abandoned the main building and surrounding structures have become hangouts for local teens as evidenced in the images above.

Warsaw, Poland has had a long and trying history of war and strife. It is perhaps no wonder that even in the heart of a relatively prosperous Polish city one can still find a vast abandoned factory complex. This series of deserted structures began as an electric lamp production facility in the 1920s before being converted to construct radios for submarines by the Germans during World War II. It reverted to its old function after the war but was poorly managed and eventually abandoned altogether, with remnant containers of chemicals and other assorted scientific equipment left behind as a testament to its earlier uses.

Paris, France is notorious of late-running Metro trains due to frequent worker strikes – but perhaps less well known for its numerous abandoned Metro stations. Urban explorers manage to find their ways into some of these abandoned subway tunnels while others have been converted to new uses including (appropriately enough) official homeless shelters. Some of the tunnels can even be visited privately late at night in groups led by sanctioned rail-expert tour guides.