SAIGON — A sign of the times in Vietnam’s southernmost city is Le Meridien Saigon. A member of the Starwood chain and arguably this city’s most modern hotel, it officially opened this weekend, still something of a secret to taxi drivers who haven’t ferried enough guests there in the weeks leading up to the ceremonial… Continue reading A French Landmark Back In Saigon
Tag: Explorer of the Seas
The Death Of A Sea Salesman
The Orator of the Seas is silent. John Maxtone-Graham, who entertained cruisers with ship stories on whatever line would hire him, died of old age last week. He was 85. We met him once, on the Celebrity Eclipse. It was both our good fortuneand our misfortune … to have met him at all, and to… Continue reading The Death Of A Sea Salesman
Friday File: Memorable Crew Members
The theory is that everyone has a story, or at least a smile, and we've found plenty of both on cruises. These are some of the memorable crew members we have encountered… This kitchen worker on the Coral Princess had a whopper of a story — along with a fish big enough to be dinner… Continue reading Friday File: Memorable Crew Members
Eclectic Entertainment on the Escape
Like we always told our kids through their teenage years, nothing good happens “after midnight.” Today, we are making a public retraction. On the Norwegian Escape, which will be the cruise line’s 14th ship when it arrives in November, two Broadway musicals will be added to the entertainment for which Norwegian is so well-known and… Continue reading Eclectic Entertainment on the Escape
Photo Essay: Captains of the Seas
We’ve only met, over the years of cruising, one ship’s captain we didn’t like — and that's likely because he never gave us the chance to like him (“I don’t do interviews”). This is a colony of mostly men who are all personable, often funny, always accommodating and forever fascinating. These are our top ten,… Continue reading Photo Essay: Captains of the Seas