One week ago today Carnival Corp's (CCL) Costa Concordia grabbed headlines around the world when the ship's hull was torn making it the largest cruise disaster on sea since the Titanic 100 years ago.
As many of you know I have been writing daily reports, including commentaries and historical facts, about the history of Carnival Cruise Lines (otherwise known as Carnival Corp).
Writers everywhere have been linking their websites to mine for my latest researched piece. Apparently, it is big news that Carnival Corp owns the Costa Concordia. I naively always assumed the world knew this important bit of cruise line history. But it didn't.
According to Michael Grace whose website is called Cruise Line History, he was immediately contacted by the press when he linked to my story 'The Murky Waters of Carnival' -- where I trace the background of the owners of the ill fated Concordia.
Here's an email I received form Michael this morning:
Dear Kirby Sommers... Great piece on the background of Carnival. I used the piece on my website and credited you with a link to your blog. I get a lot of hits... over a hundred thousand yesterday. Carnival Corp is a menace. If okay with you would love to use the other pieces... the poor kid from Argentina... it is time Arison and his group be exposed for the menace that they are. They've taken great companies like Cunard and turned them into the equivalent of Walmart afloat. Again many thanks and hope okay to use your blog... I normally don't do current news... but this is worth it. Arison will be spending a good deal of bucks to turn this pr disaster around. I believe he thought, foolishly, he could hide in Miami... I was in Europe when this happened... heading back to LA via Miami. I had two phone calls from reporters Sunday... who'd checked out my website. I made it clear that Carnival owned Costa. They were clueless about any connection. Thanks, Michael Grace
Other journalists like Danny Schector, News Dissector, have been linking to my reports from day one.
And today I received a ton of email inquiries from even yet more reporters wanting my permission to link.
My answer to all of you is YES! On the condition that you request permission BEFORE you post. Please add link to the original post on my blog. I strongly request you do not simply copy my work and post it on your website.
To those who question how it is I know so much about Carnival Corp., the answer is simple. I had a long term relationship with Ira Riklis, son of Meshulam Riklis, who co-founded Carnival with Ted Arison. So I know how these guys think and how they run their companies.
Again, please link directly to my blog, and refrain from just copying my pieces.
I am happy to work collaboratively with all writers wishing to expose what really transpired on the Concordia which has resulted in the death of a known 11 -- which may tragically increase to as high as 31 fatalities.
2012 Copyright Kirby Sommers
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Order your copy of 'Carnival Cruise: The Definitive History of the Company and the men behind the doomed Costa Concordia,' by Kirby Sommers
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