CRUISES: Carnival Will End Its Future Cruise Certificate Program

9/13/2012 -     Carnival Cruise Lines will end its future cruise certificate program that gives passengers onboard credit on their next cruise if they make $100 deposits while on a current cruise. They can still earn onboard credits if they confirm ships and sail dates ($50 to $200 per cabin, depending on the cruise length), except on five ships that don't have Future Carnival Vacations desks (the "Imagination," the "Inspiration," the "Sensation," the "Spirit," and the "Victory"). Carnival says it will continue to protect agent commissions on future cruises that their clients book onboard. In other news, Carnival is now offering its new "My Awesome Bar Program" all-you-can-drink packages on four ships (up from two): the "Breeze," the "Spirit," the "Splendor," and the "Victory."   CruiseCritic.com reports that Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean changed itineraries for two ships due to this week's outbreak of Middle East violence. The "Ryndam" will skip a stop in La Goulette (Tunisia) today, opting instead for Sardinia, Italy. Meanwhile, the "Mariner of the Seas" will call in Sicily Sunday and Malta Monday instead of stopping overnight in Alexandria, Egypt next Tuesday.