Profile of maritime artist Stephen Card

While there are several very good contemporary artists who do paintings of ships, Stephen Card is today’s premier marine painter. His paintings are not only technically accurate depictions of ships, they convey the spirit and character of these vessels.

Captain Card knows ships. His first career was as a deck officer on merchant ships and later as the Harbor Master in his native Bermuda. It was not until a cruise line executive happened by chance to see a painting that Card had done for his own amusement that Card became a full time artist.

Since then Captain Card has done more than 90 paintings for Holland America Line and has an extensive collection on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria as well as paintings on other cruise ships and in private collections. Because he researches each ship that he paints, Captain Card has a deep knowledge of the history of passenger ships. This has enabled him to write two books that are as much about maritime history as they are about art.

I spoke with Captain Card recently and the interview is posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-people-card.html

The Chef's Table on Caribbean Princess

I am always looking out for activities, features and programs on cruise ships that are out of the ordinary. The goal is to be able to look back and say that was something special that made that cruise memorable. One such program I found was The Chef’s Table on Caribbean Princess.

Under this program, small groups of guests are taken behind the scenes into the ship’s galley, not between meals when it is empty, but at dinner time when it is a hive of activity. Then, after champagne and special treats in the galley, the guests are seated in one of the main dining rooms for a multi-course gourmet meal. All of this is done under the personal supervision of Executive Chef Antonio Cereda and Maitre d’ Hotel Angelo Balbiani.

I am not a chef and have no particular interest in cooking. Nonetheless, it was fascinating to see Chef Cereda and his staff at work preparing dinner for literally thousands of people. Moreover, we were able to talk with Mr. Cereda and Mr. Balbiani about how it is done and how they maintain such a high level of quality in the food that they serve. It also should be noted that Messrs. Cereda and Balbiani have such a rapore that they are able to inject humor and conviality into the tour.

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Then, still in the galley, there was the champagne and one specially prepared appetizer after another, each one better than its delicious predecessor.

Adjourning to the dining room, the group was seated at a large table. More excellent courses, each paired with a wine selected by Mr. Balbiani. In addition, conversation flowed amongst the group, most of whom had been strangers beforehand.

It was indeed a memorable evening. My article about it, along with some photos and a copy of the menu are at http://www.beyondships.com/Princess-CB-ChefsTable-2.html.

I have also posted this week more from my interview with James Deering, Passenger Services Director on Caribbean Princess. This time, Mr. Deering talks about how managing the hotel operation on a cruise ship has changed over the years and gives some interesting insights into tipping on cruise ships. The article is posted at : http://www.beyondships.com/Princess-CB-Deering-2.html

The Unique Experience of M/S Fram

M/S Fram is a small expedition cruise ship operated by Hurtigruten, the former Norwegian Coastal Voyages. The ship’s itinerary takes her to Greenland in the summer and then to the Antarctic in the winter. In between, she does “world cruises” that take her from the top to the bottom of the globe and vice versa, visiting interesting places along the way. The company says that it offers “unique experiences” on “authentic voyages to pristine lands.”

This is not the typical cruise. Fram goes to places that are rarely seen. The focus is on nature and the scenery of these remote places. Taking Zodiac rigid inflatable boats ashore to see penguins or polar bears, walk on glaciers, drive a dog team, or talk with people from different cultures is the type of thing that passengers do.

It is an adventure holiday that typically appeals to those who have done a great deal of traveling and who have the money and time to get away for the time it takes to travel to these distant places. Even within this demographic, a person should be capable of enjoying cold weather and rough seas. While Fram was designed and built for these regions, cruising there can be more challenging than cruising the Caribbean.

Since the focus of the voyage is on nature and what is happening outside the ship, the organized activities onboard are mostly limited to the lectures given by the staff. However, there are hot tubs, saunas, a fitness center, a library, an internet café, bars and places both inside and out to relax and watch the scenery.

My profile of Fram with information, photos, a copy of a menu and a daily program, is at http://beyondships.com/HUR-Fram-Profile.html and the photographic tour and commentary begins at http://beyondships.com/HUR-Fram-Tour.html

Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship Profile

Norwegian Jewel is one of the most recent class of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ships and one of the largest. Since she was the first one of this class, she does not have quite all of the features that are on the most recent ship, Norwegian Gem, but she is pretty much state-of-the-art Freestyle cruising.

Freestyle cruising is all about giving the guests options to design their own vacation. There are two large dining rooms, seven specialty restaurants, a buffet and several places for a light snack. There are bars, nightclubs, a large casino and a theater for production shows. Similarly, there are pools, a spa, a fitness center and various other sports facilities for daytime entertainment. The accommodations range from lavish luxury to comfortable but utilitarian. The idea is that you decide what is best for you.

Of course, with freedom comes responsibility. For example, the guest must make his or her own dinner arrangements. If they fail to do so, they may end up dining in a venue that they did not really want while the production show that they did want to see in the theater is taking place.

Jewel is somewhat similar in décor to the slightly smaller Norwegian Dawn. Both make use of bold colors but not overwhelmingly so. For the most part, the style is upscale contemporary. I was somewhat disappointed that Jewel does not have the amazing art collection that is on Dawn, but then one can’t really expect NCL to have Monets and Reniors on every ship. There are some very good Asian paintings, however, if one keeps an eye out.

Outside, Jewel is painted white with a festive mural on her bow and sides. It is not like a traditional ocean liner but then NCL is all about breaking with tradition. Jewel is a big happy-looking ship.

It should be noted that this ship is no slouch technologically. She is capable of 25 knots, making her one of the fastest passenger ships in service. Also, with her two azipods and three bow thrusters, she is highly maneuverable.

This ship is based out of Britain during the summer months, doing cruises to Northern Europe. Although the style is distinctly American, she has developed a substantial European following. Freedom of choice has an appeal that transcends national boundaries.

My profile of Norwegian Jewel with information, copies of menus and daily programs, is at http://beyondships.com/NCLJewel.html and the photographic tour and commentary begins at http://beyondships.com/NCLJewel-Tour.html

QE2's Last Call in New York

The 16th of October was a difficult day. It was Queen Elizabeth 2’s final call in New York. Back in 1969, I went with my parents to take a look at the new Cunard ship and was captivated. Although I was not able to begin immediately, I am proud to say I have subsequently done some 75 voyages on QE2.

That is what made October 16th difficult. Having spent such a large part of my life on the ship, having known so many people onboard, there are memories around each corner of that ship. I don’t have any bad memories of being on QE2. But, there is a certain melancholy that comes from the memory of good times now gone.

I must confess that I bristle somewhat when QE2 is referred to as a classic ocean liner. Yes, she meets the technical definition of an ocean liner with her strong narrow hull and ability to do speeds that only warships can match. However, her designers expressly intended her to be different from the liners of the past. She was very much a ship of her time and needs no association with ships of the past to support her greatness. It was not just that she was so technologically advanced, the celebrities who came aboard, or the luxury of her appointments, people who came into contact with her recognized that there was something different about this ship, something splendid, something great.

Now, of course, there are ships that are more technologically advanced with more amenities and features for passenger comfort. In time, some of them may develop a character similar to that of QE2 borne out of being involved in history making events as well as from abiding by a creed that being the best is just part of the daily routine. Indeed, Cunard’s QM2 has that potential.

I have no strong interest in what the new owners plan to do with the ship once she becomes a floating hotel in Dubai except to hope that they will treat it with respect. QE2 as I knew her will cease to exist once she goes out of Cunard’s service later this month. The crew and the passengers are vital to the life of a ship. Furthermore, the throb of the engines is like a heartbeat and with the swell of the ocean waves as she travels one can feel her breathing. Ships that become hotels or museums are all well and good from a historical preservation perspective but they are just not the same. Where QE2 will live on is in the hearts and minds of the people that knew her.

Cunard kindly invited me to the ceremony marking QE2’s last call in New York. It was a very nice but poignant affair with Cunard’s President Carol Marlow, Captain Ian McNaught of QE2, and Commodore Bernard Warner of QM2 sharing some reflections on the occasion.
Afterwards, I walked around the public rooms and the open decks one last time. Then, I went down to Pier 84 to wait for the QE2 to sail. Pier 84 is now a public park a half mile or so from the Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal. The ships must pass it as they head out to sea and because it projects into the river, it provides a good close view.

Unfortunately, there were heavy rain showers that afternoon. They caused many of the other people who had gathered on the pier to disperse. However, I sat on a bench huddled under my Cunard umbrella.

Just after five, the rain showers ended. Not long after, QE2 backed out into the river. Ships leaving the Passenger Ship Terminal have to make a 90 degree turn in order to go down the river to the sea. They then present their port side to Manhattan as they leave.

This time, the current was stronger than usual due to the recent rain. Despite the best efforts of two tug boats, QE2 refused to make the turn. As a result, she drifted down river with her bow toward Manhattan. It was as if she were taking one long last look.

By the time the ship arrived at Pier 84, the tugs were starting to have some success making her turn. The bow began to swing round in front of us. A single blast from QE2’s horn saluted the remaining well-wishers and shortly thereafter she was heading down the river the way she had done hundreds of times in the past.

I have posted the public remarks made at the ceremonies http://www.beyondships.com/QE2-NYlastcall.html and a photo essay of QE2 leaving Manhattan on her last transatlantic voyage http://www.beyondships.com/QE2-NYlastcall-2.html. There are also copies of a Daily Programme and menus from the last transatlantic voyage. Plus, I have added copies of the ship’s current fact sheets to the site. http://www.beyondships.com/QE2.html