Change of Attire for Meeting a Queen

I think Cunard is getting ready for me. A product of the sixties — well, just in some ways — I've never really been a dress-up kind of guy. I've never owned a tuxedo. At our wedding, I wore a royal blue jacket and striped pants…or trousers, as they would say in Cunard speak. I… Continue reading Change of Attire for Meeting a Queen

A Royal Princess 'you don't know' yet

One of our favorite cruise lines, Princess, has 20 things "you don't know" about the Royal Princess.  Select media people (such as our colleague Phil Reimer of Ports and Bows) will get a sneak preview of the new ship next week in Italy. The world will see it in June. In the interests of brevity,… Continue reading A Royal Princess 'you don't know' yet

Carnival in Hot Cruise Waters Again

The latest problems for Carnival make one thing abundantly clear — the cruise line must do something. Fast. The breakdown of the four-year-old Dream in the Eastern Caribbean this week is the latest in a series of mishaps, and it's turning Carnival into a bad joke. By extension, to cynics it's making a bad joke… Continue reading Carnival in Hot Cruise Waters Again

Celebrity Meets Specialty Demand

  When the Celebrity Reflection was introduced to North America in December, we heard a comment on the ship from the new boss, Michael Bayley, after he'd experienced the specialty restaurant known as Qsine. His comment had to do with the fee ($40) for dining at Qsine? "Is that all we charge?" he asked. It… Continue reading Celebrity Meets Specialty Demand

Quickie Book Real Story of Triumph?

Some might call this a sign of the apocalypse…or maybe just a sign of the times in which we live. The Carnival Triumph has an engine-room fire and loses power. The ship lists in open water and five long days later is towed to Alabama. Within days of going ashore, one of the 3,470 passengers… Continue reading Quickie Book Real Story of Triumph?