The Commonwealth and Cunard

In another era, cruise commentators would say Cunard was sending its entire fleet of ships to Australia because it was part of the British Commonwealth and it was Cunard's "duty" to visit Commonwealth countries every now and then. Well, Cunard IS sending its entire fleet to Australia this "summer" and it has nothing to do… Continue reading The Commonwealth and Cunard

One for The Ridiculist

We don't know how many of you watch Anderson Cooper on CNN, but we often do so we're familiar with the punctuation mark for each of his shows. It's called The Ridiculist. Given that it's self-explanatory, we have a submission… An Italian husband and wife booked a cruise from Rome to Barcelona, on a cruise… Continue reading One for The Ridiculist

Noordam Passes on Israel

  When it comes to cruising in the Middle East, clearly some things will never change. On Monday, Holland America directed the Noordam past a scheduled stop in Haifa, Israel. On Tuesday, the same thing in Jerusalem. Cruising to Middle Eastern countries is as predictable as talks between the Palestinians and Israelis…as what Syria might… Continue reading Noordam Passes on Israel

Venice Fatality Fuels Controversy

The controversy in Venice began when environmentalists claimed large cruise ships were causing erosion of the city's precious soil — and it is precious. This sounded like a story with some merit. The criticism escalated when the same committee claimed large cruise ships were traveling dangerously close to small vessels in the lagoon while going… Continue reading Venice Fatality Fuels Controversy

David Frost's Legacy for Interviewers

Think about this: In moments when he may have contemplated his demise, do you think Sir David Frost could ever have imagined that one in a continuous line of the British prime ministers he'd interviewed would send a "tweet of condolence" upon hearing of Frost's death? It is a measure of the great journalist's storied… Continue reading David Frost's Legacy for Interviewers