Princess Cays

Last month, I visited Princess Cays during a cruise on QUEEN MARY 2. Princess Cays is a private resort in the Bahamas developed by Princess Cruises. Today, it is a stop on the itineraries of ships from Princess and other related companies such as Cunard.

A number of the cruise lines have developed their own private resorts. It is easy to see why. On a typical Caribbean cruise, most of the passengers exit the ship when it arrives in a port and head out to a beach or to a resort. By developing their own resorts, the cruise lines play to the demand for this type of vacation experience and obtain some of the revenue that would otherwise be spent at some place not affiliated with the line. In addition, it adds another port to the ships’ itineraries. Since many passengers, particularly first time cruisers, want as many ports as possible crammed into the cruise, it also helps to attract customers.

These private resorts have several pluses for the passengers. First, there is no concern about obtaining transportation to the beach or resort or of not being able to find transport in time to make it back to the ship before it sails. Second, the cruise line provides security for the area. Third, the passenger knows who he or she is dealing with and the cruise lines have an incentive to provide a good quality product. Since cruise passengers are frequently repeat customers, the line does not want to spoil its reputation and the chance that the passenger will book cruises in the future by having a sub-standard resort.

Eleuthera, the island where Princess Cays is located, is a long, thin island. Princess Cays is situated on the shore in a remote, undeveloped section. The beach area is surrounded by foliage and there are palm trees shading the resort itself. It has a nice sandy beach that is lapped by clear water. At either end of the beach area is a rocky shore and there are rocks protruding from the sand in various areas.

There is just about everything that one could want for a day by the beach. In addition to deck chairs, cabanas, and bungalows, there are basketball and volleyball courts and facilities for renting sailboats, scuba and snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddle boats, aqua bikes, and floats. Several small shops sell island souvenirs.

For refreshment, there are also three bars with live music. Also, there are pavilions where the chefs from the ships prepare beach barbeque buffets.
My photos and commentary about Princess Cays are posted at: http://beyondships.com/Princess-PrincessCays.html

Celebrity Constellation

On my most recent Caribbean trip, there were three days where I was in various ports with Celebrity Constellation. This gave me the opportunity to do some additional photos of this beautiful ship coming into and out of port and to add some photos to my existing photo tour of the ship. The new photos are posted at http://beyondships.com/Celebrity-Constellation-Caribbean.html.

Constellation is the fourth and most recent ship in Celebrity Cruises Millennium class. Built in France, she entered service in 2002. Technologically, the ship is rather advanced with pod propulsion and gas turbine engines. (With the cost of fuel spiraling upwards, the Millennium class ships are being retrofitted with an additional diesel engine for use primarily while the ships are in port).

At 90,228 gross tons, Constellation is a large ship. However, with more and more mega-cruise ships of over 100,000 tons entering service, the Millenniums are at the large end of the mid-sized range of cruise ships. They are similar in size to Holland America's Vista-class ships and to Cunard's new Queen Victoria.

For some unexplainable reason, certain ships, even though they are identical to the other ships in their class, generate an affection and a following that their sisters do not seem to share. Constellation is such a ship. While the other Millennium class ships are popular and have their fans, Constellation seems to be a special ship.

Inside Constellation is quite striking. Her interior is elegant and sophisticated in a contemporary sort of way. The lobby atrium hearkens back to the art deco style of legendary ships such as the Normandie.

The lifestyle on board is also sophisticated. Celebrity attracts many travelers who have cruised before and who are looking for more sophistication than is found on the typical mass market cruise ship. At the same time, while there are formal nights, the atmosphere is more casual than on the other premium lines.

Small things that make a cruise special

I was watching a program about a cruise ship on the television recently. It had some very good shots of the ship and covered all of the facilities, the entertainment, the accommodations and the dining. Yet, I felt that it really did not get to what makes cruising special.

These days, all of the major cruise lines provide very good venues for a vacation. The ships are beautifully decorated, have nice accommodations and with some exceptions, have similar amenities. They differentiate themselves primarily by style. Some lines are more casual than formal while others emphasize the intellectual side of life over physical activity. Thus, the most important factor in selecting a cruise is to pick a cruise line that is in harmony with ones lifestyle.

Of course, there are horror stories about what can happen on a cruise but such instances are the rare exception rather than the rule. Most cruises are free of untoward incidents. However, what makes a given cruise a great experience rather than an okay time is the sum of the little things that happen during the cruise - - the people one meets, the things one sees, who you are with etc.

While much of this is outside of the cruise line's control, there are little things that a line can do to help make the days special. For example, a recent cruise to the Bahamas on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 included Easter Sunday. Quietly and with no fanfare, chocolate bunnies accompanied by chocolate eggs and jelly beans appeared in various locations around the ship on the Sunday morning. In the main dining room, a bunny ice sculpture was placed near the entrance during dinner. Of course, this was a treat for the numerous children onboard. However, it also was a nice touch that helped to make the voyage stand out for everyone.

Photos of the bunnies and other decorations are posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Easter.html

P&O's Canberra in the Falklands War

Last year, I showed Trevor Lane, the Staff Captain (second in command) of the Queen Mary 2, an article that I had written about Queen Elizabeth 2’s participation in the Falklands War of 1982. http://beyondships.com/QE2-Falklands-1.html The article was based upon research that I had done as well as conversations that I had had over the years with people associated with QE2.

Trevor mentioned that he had been in the Falklands as well - - as the navigator of P and O’s legendary Canberra. I asked Trevor to tell me about his experiences and the story was so interesting that I put it together into an article that has just been published by the Navy League of the United States, New York Council. A copy of it is also posted on my website. http://beyondships.com/PO-Canberra-Falklands.html

Canberra, like QE2, had been built as an ocean liner. However, when the ocean liner era came to an end in the early 1970s, she was converted into a cruise ship. In that capacity, she developed a large and adoring following in the U.K. As a result, when the Falklands War erupted in 1982, she and QE2 were the leading ships in the British merchant marine.

The reason these two ships became involved in the war was that Britain had to move an army some 8,000 miles from home in order to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentina, a British possession in the South Atlantic, which Argentina had seized by force. Since there were no nearby friendly airports, the troops, their equipment and their supplies had to be transported by sea. There were no military ships capable of performing this task because no one had foreseen that such a situation would ever arise. The assumption was that the next war would be fought against the Soviets in Europe and thus the Royal Navy would not have to face a situation not unlike that in the Pacific Theater in World War II.

Thus, Canberra and QE2 were crucial to the British strategy. If either ship had been destroyed or unable to participate, the outcome of the war would have been entirely different.
One of the most interesting aspects of this is that most of the men and women who sailed these ships were not military people but rather members of the civilian crew. Like Trevor, they volunteered to go with their ships out of a sense of duty, not only to their country, but to their shipmates. Trevor’s story both describes Canberra’s involvement and presents a fascinating perspective on the events.

Carnival Destiny March 2008

Carnival Destiny marked a milestone in the cruise industry when she entered service in 1996. She was the first cruise ship to break the 100,000 gross ton barrier. There was some question about whether a ship that big with that many passengers (2,642 double capacity, 3,400 full capacity) would work. It did and, indeed, Destiny has been very popular. As such, she paved the way for all of the megacruise ships that have followed.

I recently went aboard Destiny and have posted the photographs and other information that I collected at http://beyondships.com/CarnivalDestiny-profile.html. While Destiny was extensively refurbished in 2005, it was interesting to compare her to the other Carnival ships that I have profiled in the past. She is similar to Victory, Triumph and Glory in design and amenities but yet different in character. Much of this is undoubtedly due to designer Joe Farcus who strives to give each new Carnival ship a unique interior theme. Also, ships take on different characters due to their officers, crews, their normal itinerary, and the people who sail as passengers. All leave their mark.

Cunard Queens

I have just returned from yet another voyage on Queen Mary 2. I say "yet another" because this was my eleventh trip on this ship, which is in addition to more than 70 voyages on fleetmate Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). While it may be too early to draw any firm conclusions, it appears that there is something about the Cunard way of doing things that I find attractive.

Whether a person will enjoy a particular ship or cruise line is a matter of personal taste. Indeed, I tend to find that people who say they disliked a particular cruise or ship usually mean that they did not like the style of that line or ship. While there can be bad waiters or incompetent staff on any ship, the main source of friction comes when someone who is looking for a casual vacation goes on a very formal ship or when someone looking for quiet intellectual enrichment goes on a party ship. Thus, when I say that I like Cunard, I can only tell you what I like about it, not that you will like it.

A Cunard voyage is aimmed more at the intellectual and cultural side of life than say toward physical activity. There are plenty of sports facilities, gyms and a large spa but these are not the primary focus. Neither is sitting poolside. Rather, there are enrichment lectures, concerts, and good conversation with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. In addition, things are done in an elegant way, ranging from the afternoon teas to the various formal receptions. These are rather formal ships.

Cunard likes to emphasize its history and tradition. The line began in 1840 providing the first regularly scheduled voyages between the Old World and the New World. Its fame was achieved on the transtalntic service with ships that were not only famous in their own day but which have gone on into legend such as the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Lusitania.

However, the Cunard ships are not living on past glories. For 40 years, QE2 has been the most famous ship of her time; a symbol of contemporary luxury and technological achievement - - very much a ship of her own time. More recently, QM2's impressive size, technology and seawothiness on the arduous North Atlantic run have earned her millions of fans, most of whom will never get to sail on her. Moreover, the ships are full of modern amenities that would never have been dreamed of in the "Golden Age of Ocean Travel."

While Cunard today pays homage to the line's history, its ships are in the habit of making history. When I asked Captain Robert O'Brien, USCG, Captain of the Port of New York, for a comment about the meeting of the three Cunard Queen-class ships in New York on January 13, 2006. he said: "The visit and departure of the QE2, QM2 and the Queen Victoria was an impressive and significant event for the international maritime community and New York City." My article on the event is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Cunard-ThreeQueens.html.

In order to better organize my artciles, photos, and other matarials about Cunard, I have created a Cunard page on my website. http://www.beyondships.com/Cunard.html I plan to make similar pages for the other major lines in the future.

Celebrity Galaxy

I recently went aboard Celebrity Galaxy. Although a large ship, 77,000 gross tons, with so many ships now in service at over 100,000 tons, the Galaxy has a relatively intimate feel. This feeling is furthered by a friendly crew and a relaxed atmosphere.

Galaxy is a sophisticated ship. The decor is late 20th century modern with an extensive collection of good quality contemporary artwork. Some of these are rather whimsical like the lifesize statue of a cartoon-style ship's officer in the main lobby. Others are more serious. There are also interesting contrasts such as the multi-deck high copy of an 18th century French painting of a woman on a swing facing the geometric black and white reception desk.

The type of passenger that Galaxy appeals to is similarly sophisticated. They tend to be experienced travelers who have been many places and who have cruised before. They seek a taste of luxury and some formality but also a relaxed atmosphere.

My photo tour and commentary on Celebrity Galaxy begins at http://beyondships.com/Celebrity-Galaxy-Tour-1.html.