Lion Eyes Part Of New Ship’s Custom

Everybody who’s interested in cruises knows that the playing ocean, as opposed to the playing field, is shifting in the direction of Asia. More cruises, more ships, even more cruise lines are re-locating. With the shift come new customs. The traditions that come with new ships include a bottle of champagne, a hull and a… Continue reading Lion Eyes Part Of New Ship’s Custom

The Death Of A Sea Salesman

The Orator of the Seas is silent. John Maxtone-Graham, who entertained cruisers with ship stories on whatever line would hire him, died of old age last week. He was 85. We met him once, on the Celebrity Eclipse. It was both our good fortuneand our misfortune … to have met him at all, and to… Continue reading The Death Of A Sea Salesman

Carnival’s Secret Out About fathom

Sitting with a group of cruise media intelligentsia (whenever there’s a group, we like to think it’s “intelligentsia”…or at least “collective intelligence”) last month on an Alaska cruise, we listened attentively to thoughts of fathom. Remembering that the word “fathom” was once used to measure depth of sea water, we quickly jumped into the 21st… Continue reading Carnival’s Secret Out About fathom

Oceania’s Still Cookin’ With Kathryn

It has been more than three years since we had the pleasure of meeting Kathryn Kelly. Pleasure, because she is a fascinating woman who doesn’t think she is. Pleasure, because she knows more about cooking than both of us combined…a piece of cake compared to one of us (male), a formidable chore compared to the… Continue reading Oceania’s Still Cookin’ With Kathryn

Friday File: The Food Of Alaska

When you cruise to Alaska to enjoy the local cuisine, you can expect to have seafood…and seafood…and seafood. It’s what Alaskans have long consumed for survival, with a little caribou or reindeer added for variety, and it’s what passengers on the Star Princess had the most opportunities to enjoy. Did we mention that you should… Continue reading Friday File: The Food Of Alaska