New Kind of Magic at Disney

While Mickey Mouse is the epitome of agelessness — he looks pretty much as he did in 1928 except for more color  — even Disney can't prevent the aging process. At least, not with ships. The first Disney cruise ship ever built, the Magic, is going in for a little facelift. Now 14 years old,… Continue reading New Kind of Magic at Disney

Grand Princess Starting a Trend?

  To put cruise ships in an athletic context, they're like floating free agents. Every city wants one of its own. The economic impact of having a star of the sea around year after year makes the bean counters salivate. It's one thing to have cruise ships stop by with a few thousand tourists from… Continue reading Grand Princess Starting a Trend?

A Bit of the Big Ships Out West

  Somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands, the cruise ship called Rhapsody of the Seas is getting ready to introduce the Oasis-Allure look to cruisers on the West Coast of North America. Since their arrivals from their European birthplaces in 2009 and 2010, respectively, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have been confined… Continue reading A Bit of the Big Ships Out West

Once a Millennium, Celebrity Millennium

We met less than two years ago. If it wasn't love at first sight, it was at least affection. She was a beauty, and she introduced us to all kinds of nice people. A helpful Puerto Rican named Leo…a friendly Colombian named Sandy…an old friend from Little League days…the Panama Canal…and Saravan the Sommelier, the… Continue reading Once a Millennium, Celebrity Millennium

Key Upgrades for Sapphire Princess

It’s finally happened. All 16 Princess ships have piazza and pizza, and it’s a good thing the cruise line has competent proof readers. The Sapphire Princess is now out of dry-dock and on a Hawaiian vacation. It has a new Piazza Atrium, and it also has Alfredo’s Pizzeria. Anybody who has ever been on a… Continue reading Key Upgrades for Sapphire Princess