Checking On Terrorism And Cruising

Time for a sobering reality check. A couple of weeks ago, a PhD named Thomas Williams authored an article for the Reuters News Agency about terrorism and cruise ships. Drawing on reports from the Italian Ministry of Defence, he pointed out that the newest terrorist threat is to Mediterranean cruise ships, now that ISIS has… Continue reading Checking On Terrorism And Cruising

Vroom! Grand Prix On The Diadema

  ON THE COSTA DIADEMA — Several years ago, we spent almost three weeks driving around Italy. From Tuscany to Turin and back. From Tuscany to Naples to Venice and back to Rome. About 3,000 kilometers in 19 days. By the time it ended, Bob had turned into Roberto. If you’ve ever driven a car in… Continue reading Vroom! Grand Prix On The Diadema

Costa’s ’Tiara’ Jewel Of The Fleet

ON THE COSTA DIADEMA — The first thing you should know about Costa Cruises, if you don’t already, is that this is not some obscure cruise line that nobody ever heard of before one of its ships — the Concordia — became a graveyard for 32 of its passengers. Costa is big. So big that… Continue reading Costa’s ’Tiara’ Jewel Of The Fleet

How To Enjoy Getting To Europe

NAPLES, Italy — Anybody who has flown to Europe or back knows there’s no such thing as the perfect day (or two), even if you fly business class. Our trip to this southern Italian city was as good as it gets. If you leave from the West Coast, as we did, figure on being in… Continue reading How To Enjoy Getting To Europe

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