14 January 2010

Cruising: cougars not yet caged

What a party it must have been.

As a result, Carnival says no to Cougar cruises but now Royal Caribbean announces it has picked up the popular themed events.

The controversial cruises are aimed at older woman who pursue younger men -- or "cougars," in contemporary lingo.

The world's second largest cruise line says it will pick up where industry leader Carnival left off

in hosting a "cougar cruise" organized by California-based Singles Travel Company.
The Second International Cougar Cruise is set for May on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas.

Carnival hosted what was billed as the world's first cougar cruise last month on the 2,056-passenger Carnival Elation -- a three-night romp that drew international headlines -- but said last week it has decided to ban the concept for the future, despite a huge demand for the voyages.

The new cougar cruise on the 3,114-passenger Mariner will be a longer, seven-night voyage from Los Angeles to Mexico with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.
Like Carnival, Royal Caribbean only is hosting the event, not marketing or organizing it.

The trip is the brainchild of the Singles Travel Company, which has blocked group space on the ship. The company is selling cabins starting at $399 per person, based on double occupancy, not including taxes and fees.

A spokeswoman would not say why Carnival had banned future cougar cruises. Details of the first cruise are scanty, reported USA Today.

The International Cougar Cruise's organizers have said the first voyage was a smash sell-out with a lengthy waiting list of people wanting to get on board.

By David Wilkening