For those of us who enjoy being on ocean liners, there’s nothing like an old story about a ship…or a new story about an old ship.
Today’s topic: Cunard’s Lusitania.
In the realm of ship tragedies, this is something of a forgotten example. For one thing, the Titanic sank first (1914) and anything that’s first is automatically more notorious, whatever the subject. For another thing, 1,198 souls perished on the Lusitania, about 
300 fewer than on the Titanic, and the Lusitania — while smaller, older and faster than the Titanic — was the first of the “floating palaces” yet never had the same celebrity cache. And the Lusitania didn’t hit an iceberg…it was hit by a torpedo. Many believe her demise at the guns of a German U-boat was part of the reason the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, three years after it began.
This all happened 100 years ago next May, and Cunard will memorialize the event with a cruise from Southampton (return) that will pass where the Lusitania lies, 11 miles off the coast of Ireland. It’s called Lusitania Remembered, and passengers on the Queen Victoria will be able to attend a special ceremony on shore in Cobh, Ireland and commemorative dinner that night (May 7) on the ship
One of the passengers will be Eric Sauder.
He is an historian who was commissioned by Cunard to create a temporary exhibition of Lusitania artifacts and memorabilia. A former tour guide on the old Queen Mary in Long Beach, he has written two books on the Lusitania and has dived to the sunken 
ship. If nothing else, he’ll be fascinating. The Queen Victoria embarks on her historic journey on May 3. Among ship aficionados and story tellers, only the superstitious wouldn’t want to be on her when she leaves Southampton.
Today at portsandbows.com: Great prices for the Caribbean
Carnival Victory
5 nights
October 27, 2014
Miami (return): Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, Nassau
Inside: $219
Cost per day: $43
www.carnival.com