A Royal Story Rich in Irony

Who writes this stuff? Really. Shakespeare or Monty Python? The Royal biographer, perhaps… A cruise ship is called the Royal Princess. At an elaborate "naming ceremony" the ship will be christened by a young woman who used to be a Royal Princess but is now a Royal Duchess. Okay, technically, she never was "Princess" Kate…but… Continue reading A Royal Story Rich in Irony

New Evacuation System on Breakaway

Let's start with a couple of acronyms that will help in this story, most of which will be told by pictures: MES — Marine Evacuation Systems SOLAS — Safety Of Life At Sea LSA — Life Saving Appliance There is a new MES on the market — called the RFD Marin Ark2 — and it… Continue reading New Evacuation System on Breakaway

Two Tastes of River Cruising

This isn't a commercial (like "Like Milk?")… Like jazz? Like lobster? If — like us — your answer is "yes" then American Cruise Lines has an inviting dilemma for you. Actually, one of the "invitings" is the Queen of the Mississippi, and don't take that the wrong way. She's a river cruise ship and in… Continue reading Two Tastes of River Cruising

Miami, Carnival Relationship Tight

As a cruise entity goes, Carnival's name regularly gets dragged through the mud, as it is once again because of the troublesome Triumph. But it seldom happens in Miami. There, hometown of the cruise line's offices and the basketball team that belongs to the Carnival owner, this good corporate citizen is a great corporate citizen.… Continue reading Miami, Carnival Relationship Tight

The Cruise Line Known for Tragedy

Bobby Orr turned 65 this year. Also born the same year (1948) were the World Health Organization, Terry Bradshaw, South Korea, Billy Crystal and LP records. Also…Costa Cruises. For almost 64 years, Costa was a cruise line known mostly to Italians, somewhat to other Europeans and hardly at all to North Americans. Then came —… Continue reading The Cruise Line Known for Tragedy