Cruise Awards from the UK

There are so many cruise lines, passengers, critics and assorted opinions in North America that it's easy to forget about what the rest of the world thinks about cruise lines. Today, we bring you a sampling. It comes from the United Kingdom, where readers of Cruise International Magazine cast 20,000 ballots to pick the best… Continue reading Cruise Awards from the UK

Growth of Galveston Magical

  We happened to have coffee with a nice young woman from Princess Cruises on Thursday and, in the course of conversation, the subject of the cruise line's return to Galveston came up because next winter the Crown Princess will make the Texas port its winter home. A couple of days later, it occurred  to… Continue reading Growth of Galveston Magical

Costa Concordia: Something Good

The cruise industry will always remember the Costa Concordia. If it's not a modern-day version of the Titanic, its impact on the industry is of titanic proportions. That part happened on Thursday, eight months and seven days after the Concordia keeled over in Mediterranean waters off the Italian coast, killing 32 passengers. Thursday's fallout was… Continue reading Costa Concordia: Something Good

Holland America Cancer Connection

There probably isn't a family anywhere that hasn't been touched by cancer, and there probably isn't anybody who hasn't been touched by a cancer fund-raiser. It happens because it's important and, clearly, it will never end. This month, it happened — again — on a cruise ship. While Holland America's Oosterdam was moored in Seattle,… Continue reading Holland America Cancer Connection

Godmother Breakaway from Tradition

Long known for its ability to change the culture of cruising, Norwegian Cruise Line is now leading the change in the culture of cruise ship godmothers, who until now have been largely celebrities, dignitaries and famous women willing to serve as figureheads…or all of the above. Their responsibilities begin with smashing bottles of bubbly against… Continue reading Godmother Breakaway from Tradition