In 1886, President Grover Cleveland signed into law the Passenger Vessel Services Act, or PVSA, and nearly 150 years later it continues to impact which itineraries you can take on a cruise vacation. We'll look at why this law exists, and how it impacts the cruise industry.... read more
These days cruise ships come in all sizes and colors, but not long ago this wasn't the case. To this day, when most of us see ships with dark colored hulls we think of them as more traditional looking, no matter what the age of the vessel. Why is this? Well, it has to do with how these great ships are powered, and the letters sometimes preceding ship names. Make sense? We explain it in this short video... read more
Cunard Line has had many famous ocean liners, but each with distinct legacies. The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) is just one of them, but her storied history is especially meaningful to those of us who have been lucky enough to sail her as well as those with an understanding of her place in history. Last week in Dubai, UAE, the QE2 re-opened to guests, though these visitors will have a distinctly different experience as they wake up each day in the same place aboard a sparkling new hotel at Mina Rashid... read more
Today, cruising evokes images of leisurely tropical destinations or exploration of historical sites on another continent. Not long ago however, traveling by passenger ship was transportation, and speed mattered. The need to quickly cross the Atlantic, combined with a geo-political climate (including two world wars) that promoted national pride, lead to government and industry joining hands in the quest for a symbolic award: The Blue Riband... read more
It’s easy to long for the way things used to be, but equally easy to miss great advancements in front of you while looking behind you. More dining options, larger cabins, cashless cruising, and more. We may not think about these every day, but you’d quickly long for them if you stepped (or sailed) back in time.
I was somewhat “born into cruising”, my experience coming about in the way that someone whose parents have a cabin in the mountains will always head to the hills to relax and reflect – but my relaxation had a midnight buffet and a muster drill. I’m fortunate, and this fortune has offered me a long-term view of cruising that few are lucky enough to have.
I’m sitting now in the serine solarium aboard the Harmony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship. This ship is similar to some of the earliest ships I sailed, in that it floats, and the people in charge are known as “officers”. A lot has changed... read more
While cruising is about relaxing, fun, enrichment, and telling your office that you’ll be completely unreachable for a week, for the crew and the cruise line there is another important element: safety. The last line of defense is the lifeboat, but it’s far more than a wooden dinghy out of a Hitchcock film. Modern lifeboats have evolved for enhanced safety, reliability, and even visibility - let’s look at how. read more
These days cruise ships come in all sizes and colors, but not long ago this wasn't the case. To this day, when most of us see ships with dark colored hulls we think of them as more traditional looking, no matter what the age of the vessel. Why is this? Well, it has to do with how these great ships are powered, and the letters sometimes preceding ship names. Make sense? read more