Van Stadens…Celebrities of Celebrity

Four years ago, Celebrity hired Jacques Van Staden as its Vice-President of Food & Beverage Operations. He was just 36, a rising star in the culinary world (nominated as such by the prestigious James Beard Foundation), and eager to make his mark on what the general population considers fine dining. On the Celebrity Eclipse, a… Continue reading Van Stadens…Celebrities of Celebrity

Celebrity Word: A Meaning all its Own

You won’t find the word “solsticizing” in the dictionary, but you will find it in the cruise world. It’s right there under “Celebrity” and it has become a verb for those of us who write about cruise ships. By this time next year, Celebrity will have “Solsticized” (it is a mouthful, isn’t it?) three more… Continue reading Celebrity Word: A Meaning all its Own

The Bizarre World of Cruising's Johns

Truth is almost always stranger than fiction. John Heald, who can be so outrageously funny that some may accuse him of thriving on fiction, has had a big-time dose of reality-cum-fiction this month. Now this information comes from another John (Honeywell), aka Captain Greybeard. Since there have to be some privileges in being a greybeard,… Continue reading The Bizarre World of Cruising's Johns

Cruise Clear Thinking in Cloudy Time

And this is why cruise lines, as with other businesses, hire companies to handle public relations… Just over a year ago, six months of planning was about to reach a climax with the launch of the new Celebrity Eclipse in Southampton, an hour south of London. Coincidentally, the ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland… Continue reading Cruise Clear Thinking in Cloudy Time

Catch This Cruise Lecturer When You Can

One of the most fascinating people we have met on a cruise ship is a Jersey-born Brit who has the ability to captivate an audience with a one-man show that looks good enough to be on Broadway. By the way, a “Jersey-born Brit” is someone who has a British accent despite his origins in New… Continue reading Catch This Cruise Lecturer When You Can