A literal headline. Straightforward and simple.

USA Today reports that over the weekend, Disney's newest cruise ship, Fantasy, rescued four Cuban nationals on a small raft near Key West, Fla. The men needed medical attention, were signaling for help and were presumably stranded. The Fantasy scooped them up, gave them immediate medical attention and continued on its way to ports of call in Mexico--saving lives and not disrupting the overall itinerary!

"We are proud of our Disney Fantasy crew members, who skillfully demonstrated their training and commitment to maritime protocols around saving lives at sea," Disney Cruise Line said in a statement.

This was such a welcoming story, following news earlier this month that a man has filed suit alleging a Princess Cruise Line Ship ignored his stranded friends off the coast of Panama and left them to die.

The care for maritime law and respect for human life displayed by the Fantasy crew is worthy of a shout-out on this humble blog.

Visit Disney Cruise Line to learn more about how they can make your next group event magical...at sea!

Image (CC) expressmonorail

(Students from Central Michigan University's MPI group are currently working on a cruise line to get a behind the scenes look at the special events and hospitality industry on the high seas. They'll be writing blog entries about their experiences, and we'll be posting them here for your enjoyment. Previous entries: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.)

What a success the trip was! We have had an amazing four days learning and experiencing things we never thought possible. We took a three-hour tour yesterday learning about all the different departments on the ship and what actually goes on behind the scenes to please everyone on board. 

The cruise director Tory took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us and answer all of our questions. Everyone was truly interested in her life and how much planning goes on from the second she wakes up to the second she goes to bed. 

There were a couple of students in our group who are now looking into working for a cruise line after this experience. I cannot express enough how wonderful the hospitality is. Carnival literally treats the guests like royalty and caters to all of their needs. I have never been more impressed with hospitality in my life. We are sad to leave, but Christmas is right around the corner! Happy holidays...And remember to sail Carnival!

—Lauren Heilman, CMU MPI Social Media/PR chair

(Students from Central Michigan University's MPI group are currently working on a cruise line to get a behind the scenes look at the special events and hospitality industry on the high seas. They'll be writing blog entries about their experiences, and we'll be posting them here for your enjoyment. Previous entries: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.)

Today has been one to remember and nothing but beneficial for our futures. We were fortunate enough to get a "behind the fun" tour with a fantastic tour guide named Mel. We were introduced to all of the crew and taken to parts of the ship that are restricted to even the senior crew members. 

The day was finished with a private Q and A session with the cruise director Tory. She answered anything and everything we threw at her. She made the cruise lifestyle very intriguing. Overall, the experience has been beyond amazing, with amazing people. We will definitely be able to use this learning experience for our future in the event planning and hospitality world.

—Anna Siroonian,CMU MMPI Representative

(Students from Central Michigan University's MPI group are currently working on a cruise line to get a behind the scenes look at the special events and hospitality industry on the high seas. They'll be writing blog entries about their experiences, and we'll be posting them here for your enjoyment. Previous entries: Part 1 and Part 2.)

We are currently sitting at dinner on our third night of the cruise. It is interesting to see how each evening the servers cater to the needs of the guest depending on the location of the table and amount of people present each meal. 

Every employee I have encountered has been very passionate about his or her job and is incredibly satisfied to excel beyond the desires of every guest. What we all can gain from this in our field of study is learning how to provide effective customer service in our industry, whether it is in event management, hospitality or tourism.

—Garret Komatz

(Students from Central Michigan University's MPI group are currently working on a cruise line to get a behind the scenes look at the special events and hospitality industry on the high seas. They'll be writing blog entries about their experiences, and we'll be posting them here for your enjoyment. Click here for Part 1.)

So far the trip has been a phenomenal experience. We truly have been able to submerge our career interests into the cruise industry. 

One component of the hospitality field that rarely, yet consistently, sets a business apart from various competitors is the concept of exceptional customer service. Our group can honestly conclude that the Carnival Cruise line excels in this area. From individual customer care to catered guest needs, the staff on the Carnival Imagination goes above and beyond expectations. As a group, we have witnessed how an enormous staff comes together under one branding concept to not only meet the desires of each and every guest but exceed them. 

All 16 Central Michigan University MPI students are having the time of their lives and learning so much more in this hands-on cruise universe than would ever be possible in a classroom. We look forward to sharing our experiences when we arrive back in snowy Michigan!

—Courtney Stanley, CMU MPI President

(Students from Central Michigan University's MPI group are currently working on a cruise line to get a behind the scenes look at the special events and hospitality industry on the high seas. They'll be writing blog entries about their experiences, and we'll be posting them here for your enjoyment. The following is the first entry.) 

We just arrived in Ft Lauderdale. What a change of weather! After the blizzard and the flight delay we thought we might not make it. Although it's around 55 degrees, it is still much warmer and the sun is shining down. We plan to meet with the cruise director for a question and answer with our group. We want to learn about what it takes to put on such big events while on a cruise. 

The captain's dinner will be a highlight of the trip being the biggest night of the cruise. We cannot wait to expericence the hospitality of Carnival Cruiseline and apply it to our future careers. Our ship sails at 4 p.m. today, and we will soon be in Key West, Florida, tomorrow morning. We cannot wait to share this experience with you as the days go by.

—Lauren Heilman