Topic: Sea Disasters

Top 5 ways to save on your summer vacation

If you're pining for a summer vacation but worried about costs, consider how Wayne and Pat Dunlap of Del Mar, Calif., managed to tour 51 countries over two years, marvel at the Egyptian pyramids, scale a New Zealand glacier, and visit Laotian Buddhist monks all for less than $100 a day. "We often stayed at guesthouses and hostels, ate at local family restaurants, took public transportation, and in some cases, traveled on cruise ships offering reduced rates," says Mr. Dunlap, author of the travel book "Plan Your Escape." This year amid price worries and higher summer airfares, especially to Europe such ingenuity could prove essential. Here are five cost-cutting strategies that can help:

Crippled Costa cruise ship to reach land Thursday (+video)

Those aboard the Costa Allegra, a sister ship of the cruise liner that capsized off Italy last month, faced more stifling days and nights before the vessel docks in the tropical paradise.

Costa cruise ship stranded in pirate waters near the Seychelles

Costa Allegra, a cruise ship with 1,000 people on board, had a fire in the engine room. The cruise ship, stranded in Somali pirate waters, is now being towed to the Seychelles.

Workers to pump oil from Costa Concordia on Saturday

Actual pumping of the oil isn't expected to begin until Saturday, but teams from the Dutch shipwreck salvage firm Smit were working on the bow of the Concordia on Tuesday and divers were to make underwater inspections to identify the precise locations of the fuel tanks.

Costa Concordia wreck: What we know a week later

Many details have emerged about what happened before and after the Costa Concordia ran aground on Jan. 13, but it's still unclear what the captain was doing much of that time.

After Costa Concordia disaster: 8 safety tips for cruise ship passengers

The recent cruise ship disaster in Italy has prompted travel industry experts to advise the public about safety steps they can take, not only aboard ships but also in hotels. When the Costa Concordia ran aground off the shore of Tuscany on Jan. 13, roughly 160 yards from the shore of Giglio Island, many of the more than 4,200 passengers and crew on board the ship were reportedly unprepared for the crisis and the evacuation that followed.

Nancy Dunnan, publisher of TravelSmart Newsletter, urges cruise ship passengers to take precautions to protect themselves and their belongings. She suggests the following:

Costa Concordia's tale of two captains: the 'hero' and the 'coward'

Italy is enthralled by two captains involved with the Costa Concordia. Coast Guard Capt. Gregorio De Falco is a hero to many. Capt. Francesco Schettino, not so much.

Concordia cruise ship captain left ship, ordered to go back (+ video)

Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino was ordered out of a life raft and told to get back on the sinking cruise ship, according to a transcript of a Coast Guard radio exchange

Two rescued alive aboard cruise ship off coast of Italy

A couple was found alive Saturday aboard the cruise ship Costa Concordia that ran aground off the coast of Italy. The captain of the cruise ship was arrested Saturday in Italy.

Blackbeard: Pirate's 300-year-old cannon resurfaces

Blackbeard's pirate ship gave up one of 40 cannons to undersea archeologists. Queen Anne's Revenge, captained by Blackbeard, sank off North Carolina in 1718.

Ancient first-aid kit discovered in shipwreck

Scientists have discovered that a wooden box found on a Mediterranean shipwreck contains an early version of a first-aid kit.

Russian boat tragedy brings lax regulation, corruption back into spotlight

At least 54 people died when the river boat Bulgaria sank Sunday due to a combination of poor Soviet-era equipment, a culture of corruption that undermined safety rules, and unfortunate timing.

Mexican Navy, US Coast Guard continue search for US tourists off Baja

Seven Americans are still missing after the fishing boat they were on capsized Sunday off the Mexican coast in the Sea of Cortez. One American was killed when the boat sank, but the rest of the crew and passengers were rescued.

Roman shipwreck: Giant fish tank in a 2,000-year-old ship?

Roman shipwreck: Scientists say that an ancient Roman shipwreck had the plumbing for a salt-water aquarium.

Will Jimmy Carter's latest North Korea visit change anything?

Former US President Jimmy Carter ended a quick visit to North Korea this week with a message that Kim Jong-il would be willing to hold a summit with South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak.

The Band that Played On: The Extraordinary Story of the 8 Musicians Who Went Down with the Titanic

Who were the eight brave men who calmly and courageously played on until the very end?

North Korea, South Korea standoff heats up as war games begin

South Korea and the US start new war games Monday, just days after the South dropped propaganda leaflets about Middle East revolutions over North Korea.

South Korea's Lee inches closer to high-level talks with North Korea

South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday he has 'high hopes for a change in attitude' from North Korea and implied that South Korea might consider significant aid for the North’s dilapidated economy.

Acid tanker capsizes on Rhine in Germany

Acid tanker: There was no immediate word on why the ship capsized, the shipping office in Bingen said. The other two crew members were rescued.

South Korea predicts North Korea will ramp up attacks in 2011

South Korea's Institute for National Security Strategy warned this weekend of increasing 'unexpected moves' as North Korea's military 'scrambles to display its loyalty' to heir apparent, Kim Jong-un.

South Korea moves to boost ties with China in wake of North Korea attacks

South Korea announced that it is boosting funds related to initiatives with China. The move comes after North Korea's attack on an island last month.

Christmas Island boat tragedy fuels debate over Australian policy on asylum seekers

Australia is struggling to balance humanitarian responsibilities to asylum seekers with national concerns about the economic impact of their migration.

Yeonpyeong attack spoils South Korea's appetite for sending food aid to North Korea

In South Korea, public support for cutting aid to North Korea has nearly doubled in the wake of the North's Nov. 23 attack on Yeonpyeong Island, a new study shows.