Friday File: Picture These Cruise Ships

For anybody who likes cruising, and we assume you do, ships make great photo ops. Why else do we see passengers standing on the shore taking photos of the ships they’re traveling on, over and over. In fact, we do it ourselves. What follows this week are some of our favorite ship shots, mostly because… Continue reading Friday File: Picture These Cruise Ships

The ‘R Ships’ All Alive And Popular

When we ventured into the waters of the cruise world, the infamous “R Ships” were already history. Consequently, we have neither much knowledge nor appreciation for what they were, but every once in a while we hear about one of the R Ships, and what great ships they were when Renaissance Cruises was in business.… Continue reading The ‘R Ships’ All Alive And Popular

Britannia To Rule The Waves

  It’s safe to assume that when Queen Elizabeth christened the P&O Oriana in 1995, when she was a mere child of 69, that nobody imagined two decades later she’d be christening another P&O ship, the Britannia. It happens tomorrow. This is the biggest ship ever built for Brits. It weighs 141,000 tons, carries 3,647… Continue reading Britannia To Rule The Waves

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

Norwegian Gratuities On the Rise

  If you’re booked to take a Norwegian cruise on a ship that leaves after Saturday, prepare for a little inflation. Starting Sunday on all sailings, Norwegian’s daily gratuity charges are going up to $12.95 per person ($14.95 if you’re cruising in a suite) and applies even if your cruise is already booked. The increase… Continue reading Norwegian Gratuities On the Rise