Adventure of the Seas Photos; The New Forest and Exbury Gardens

The first item this week is a new photo essay on Adventure of the Seas. Adventure is one of Royal Caribbean's Voyager class ships. The Voyagers are large ships (approximately 135,000 gross tons) and there is plenty to see and do on board. For example, they were the first ships to have the Royal Promenade – the street or indoor mall running down the center of the ship's interior. They also have ice skating rinks, on which they put on ice shows that are essentially musical spectaculars. The main dining rooms are also spectacular rising through multiple decks to a grand chandelier.

Adventure is the third ship in this class. For some reason, she always seems to be in St. Maarten when I am there. As a result, I have accumulated quite a few photos of her in that port. This photo essay presents some of them and serves to augment our existing Adventure of the Seas section. The new essay is at http://beyondships.com/RCI-AOS-Photos.html

For most of her life, Adventure has been sailing the Caribbean. However, next summer she is scheduled to be based out of Southampton, England. In honor of that, this week we are also presenting a cruise destination photo essay on the New Forest, which is just west of Southampton in England.

Although the New Forest is called “New” it is actually a rather ancient place. There have been settlements there since before recorded history. Even after King William I declared it a royal hunting preserve in 1079, people continued to live there. As a result, the New Forest is steeped in history and tradition. Thatched roof houses, small villages, stone churches and ponies who roam at will, all are part of its charm.

It is a national park but it is not a wilderness. Rather, the authorities act to preserve this unique blend of countryside, forest, heath, pubs and villages.

Our section on visiting the New Forest begins at http://www.beyondships2.com/cruise-destination-england-new-forest.html

One of the most popular attractions of the New Forest is Exbury Gardens. It was the dream of one of the members of the English branch of the Rothschild banking family and there is still a connection between the Gardens and the family. It is a woodland garden with flowering plants, rare species, and lots and lots of rhododendron. There is also a rather fun narrow gauge steam railway.

On a recent cruise, I took a shore excursion to Exbury. I have written down my experiences and posted them along with some photos at http://www.beyondships2.com/cruise-destination-england-exbury-gardens.html

Photo Tour and Profile of Carnival Destiny

Last time, I noted that Beyondships now profiles all of the Carnival Cruise Lines ships that were derived from the design of Carnival Destiny. However, cruise ships like people, change over time and so one has to revisit them every so often in order to keep up to date. What better place to start than the ship that started it all - - Carnival Destiny.

Destiny was the first cruise ship larger than 100,000 gross tons. This size enabled Carnival to offer features not found in other cruise ships including Carnival’s own ships. In addition, the economies of scale allowed Carnival to offer good quality at an affordable price.

Destiny has not stood still. Over time new features have been added to her. Most recently this has included a 270 square foot LCD screen over the main pool area and the addition of a mini-golf course. Thus, while Destiny is no longer the world’s largest cruise ship, she remains a viable competitor doing four and five-day cruises out of Miami.

Beyondships profile of Carnival Destiny is at: http://beyondships.com/CarnivalDestiny-profile.html and the photo tour begins at http://beyondships.com/CarnivalDestiny-Tour-1.html

Emerald Princess Photo Tour and Commentary

Emerald Princess is one of three virtually identical ships. I am not speaking here about the fact that she is a member of the Grand-class, all of which stem from the design of the Grand Princess - - there are about a dozen such ships now in service. Rather, I am speaking of the fact that she has the same layout, amenities and décor as Crown Princess and Ruby Princess.

The three ships entered service over a period of three and a half years beginning in May 2006. They reflect all that Princess Cruises had learned about the highly successful Grand-class over the course of decade. Thus, it is not surprising that they are so similar - - why change a winning formula?

So, if the three ships are identical, it follows that they must be fungible, right? Not exactly. While on a superficial level the ships may seem the same, the atmosphere on each is subtlety different. Different sets of people have manned the different ships, leaving their marks which persist even after they have gone on to other things. Also, like people, the ships’ characters have been molded by their different life experiences.

Crown Princess was the first of three and sent a shock wave through the industry with her beautiful Italian-influenced décor. She was also an innovator with the adult-spa retreat called “The Sanctuary” and the sophisticated New York-style steakhouse “The Crown Grill.” Also, the fact that she spent her first two summer seasons based in New York helped to hone her more cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Ruby Princess is the latest of the three. When she emerged on the market in November 2008, it was with a great deal of energy and a “can-do” attitude. Her reviews and high scores on the guest comment cards demonstrated that this was not just bluster. Her innovations such as the “Ultimate Ship Tour” proved successful and have been passed on to her sisters. A schedule of seven-day cruises added to her more fast-paced atmosphere.

Emerald Princess is the middle child. She did not emerge with as much fanfare as her sisters. However, she has all the same features that they do. Moreover, she goes about performing her job extremely well - - just quietly. Perhaps because she does relatively longer cruises, the atmosphere is more relaxed. Perhaps it has something to do with beginning her career in the sunny Mediterranean. It certainly has something to do with the friendliness of her crew.

My profile of Emerald Princess is posted at: http://beyondships.com/Princess-EP-Profile.html The photo tour and commentary begins at: http://beyondships.com/Princess-EP-Tour-1.html

Cruising on Carnival Splendor

Carnival Splendor is an evolutionary ship. Nautically, she is a refinement on a design that has been developed in a series of ships from Carnival Destiny (1996) to the Costa Serena (2007). Over this period the ships have grown larger, with more decks and more features. At the moment, Splendor is the largest of this series but will be surpassed by the Carnival Dream in September of this year.

Splendor also reflects the evolution of Carnival Cruise Lines. With the development of the cruise industry, the cruising public has become more demanding. Consequently, in order to remain competitive, Carnival has striven to improve the food quality, the variety of activities and the level of service. In addition, the ships have had more and more features. Splendor, for example, has an expanded spa complex incorporating new amenities and with associated spa staterooms. The midsection of the ship has a retractable glass dome so that the main pool can be used and movies shown on the giant LED screen no matter what the weather. The children’s play area has been expanded and an outdoor water park added.

The feature that impressed me the most on my recent cruise on Splendor was the alternative specialty restaurant, the Pinnacle Steakhouse. Having one or more alternative specialty restaurants on new ships has become standard throughout the industry. However, the level of service and the quality of the food at the Pinnacle was outstanding. In addition, a very pleasant ambiance is created by the live music and large dance floor. It was comparable, if not better, than the equivalent venues on some of the premium lines.

My profile of Carnival Splendor is at http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalSplendor-Profile.html and the photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalSplendor-Tour-1.html.

The Inside Story On Celebrity Mercury

This week we continue our look at Celebrity Mercury by talking to two of the people who play a key role in shaping the vacation experience on the ship - - the hotel director and the cruise director. My goal in presenting this type of interview is to let the people who are actually running the ship explain what they are trying to do. One can learn a lot about ships by reading facts and figures but I don’t think one can get a feel for what a ship is like without hearing from the people who actually sail the ship.

Sheldon Thompson is the Hotel Director on the Mercury.. Since he is in charge of all the services and facilities that immediately impact the guests, he is a particularly good position to talk about the experience that they seek to provide on the Mercury. In addition, Mr. Thompson and has worked on nearly every Celebrity ship since before the line was acquired by Royal Caribbean. Thus, he was also able to explain why a between a Celebrity cruise is different from a Royal Caribbean cruise. My interview with Mr. Thompson appears at: http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Mercury-art-HD.html

Lisa Richard did not follow the usual path to becoming a cruise director. She did not come up through the ranks in the cruise line. In fact, she had only been on one cruise before Celebrity hired her. However, she had been a senior executive with a multi-national corporation and thus had the skills and managerial experience to handle the behind-the-scenes administrative and planning aspects of being a cruise director as well as for supervising an array of employees. In addition, she came with theatrical experience including four years in the cast of the hit musical “Mama Mia.” In addition to discussing her career, I asked Ms. Richard to give her views on why Celebrity Mercury is so popular, particularly with repeat passengers and other experienced cruisers. My interview with her appears at: http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Mercury-art-CD.html

While we are on the topic of Celebrity Mercury, I thought I would mention that I traveled from New York to Baltimore, Maryland where Mercury was beginning the cruise via Amtrak. In fact, I have now done several cruises from Baltimore and each time I have traveled by Amtrak. It only takes a little over two hours to get to Baltimore Penn Station from New York and the price is reasonable, particularly if one books in advance and takes the Northeast Regional train. From the train station, it is only a short taxi ride to the cruise ship terminal. If one is traveling light with one or two bags per person, I have found it to be a viable alternative to driving.

Captain Attilio Guerini of Caribbean Princess

The stereotypical image of a cruise ship captain is of a man who spends the bulk of his time standing on the bridge of the ship navigating the ship from one port to the next. However, while the captain is ultimately responsible for the safety of the ship, he is not merely a ship driver. Instead, his role can be thought of as more like that of the CEO of a business with other executives reporting to him. As ships become bigger and bigger, this role becomes more and more akin to the management of larger and larger enterprises.

On most ships today, the captain is at the top of a pyramid composed of three departments. The hotel department, which provides services to the passengers including the accommodations, entertainment and dining, is headed by the hotel director (sometimes called the passenger services director or the hotel manager) and has the largest number of people in it. The engineering department is concerned with making the ship go and the technology involved. It is headed by the chief engineer. The staff captain is responsible for navigation and actually sailing the ship. In addition to heading the deck department, he is also the second in command. All three of these officers report directly to the captain.

Captains still rise up through the ranks of the deck department. As such, their expertise is in navigation and sailing and they take a particular interest in that area. Indeed, many captains like to have their hands on the controls of the ship when docking or leaving a berth. They do not have direct knowledge of how to cook a dinner for a thousand people or of fixing the ship’s fresh water system. However, in order to become a captain, a deck officer must keep his eyes open while coming up through the ranks so that he knows the problems and issues that arise in the hotel department and the engineering department.

When I was on Caribbean Princess recently Captain Attilio Guerini spoke to me about his approach to being a captain of a mega-cruise ship. Beginning with Sitmar Cruises, he has gone on to command ships for Princess and its affiliate Ocean Village Cruises. His style is relaxed, affable and low key. Our conversation is at http://www.beyondships.com/Princess-CB-Guerrini.html

Adventure of the Seas Profile

Adventure of the Seas is one of five Voyager-class cruise ships. These ships are not only some of the largest ships in service today but are recognized as being innovative. Their large space houses a wide variety of facilities and amenities including: the Royal Promenade, an indoor mall with shops, cafes, and bars that runs the center of the ship; the trademark rock climbing wall; an ice rink that is also used as an arena for concerts and activities; as well as more familiar attractions such as pools, a spa, a theater, lounges, an Intenet cafe, library, and a movie screening room.

When a series of ships is built based upon the same design, how can you differentiate one ship from the others? On the one hand, there is the question of do you want to have them be distinct? When people like the experience that they have on one ship in a cruise line’s fleet, they might be disappointed if they try another ship and it does not have the same facilities as their prior ship. In other words, if a ship is sailing under the Royal Caribbean brand, it should have the features that passengers associate with a Royal Caribbean ship. Accordingly, the Voyager ships have the same layout and with no major exceptions, the same facilities and amenities.

But Royal Caribbean has recognized that ships are not like buses or airplanes and that they inevitably develop their own character. This is particularly well known in naval circles where identical ships have their own personalities. Accordingly, there are subtle differences in the décor of the various Voyagers.

The art work on Adventure of the Seas is modern and upbeat. The paintings are abstract with bright colors. There are also quite a few life-like statues of people engaged in various activities around the ship. The passenger hallways are warm and attractive.

Another things that struck me about the ship was that she looked crisp and new. Since the ship entered service in 2001, I can only put this down to good maintenance.

When I was on board, Adventure was on a cruise out of San Juan Puerto Rico and there was also something of a Latin flavor. The crew members I encountered seemed to be able to speak both English and Spanish and the Cruise Compasses were printed in those languages as well as French and German.

I have added a new profile section to my website on Adventure of the Seas. http://beyondships.com/AOS-Profile.htm The photo tour and commentary begins at: http://beyondships.com/AOS-tour.html

Captain Standal of Explorer of the Seas

During my recent voyage on Explorer of the Seas, I was invited up to the bridge as the ship was leaving Bermuda. Explorer is a big ship, 138,000 tons, and thus cannot dock in Hamilton or St. George’s in Bermuda. Consequently, we were at the King’s Warf pier at the former Royal Navy dockyard.

Seemingly, one could just pull away from the pier from Kings Warf and head directly out to sea towards New York. Once you are clear of the dockyard area, there is just water extending to the horizon. However, hidden just below the surface are numerous rock outcroppings that surround the island. Consequently, cruise ships have to follow a narrow channel and make a circuit around the island before heading off in their desired direction.

At one point not all that far from the pier, the channel narrows down so that it is not much larger than Explorer’s 155-foot width. Because of the narrowness of the channel, any sideways drift would lead to disaster. Therefore, the ship would have to put on a burst of speed in order to pop straight through the opening.

Just beyond the opening, the Costa Fortuna sat waiting for Explorer to pass. The new second pier at King’s Warf was still under construction and so the Costa ship had to wait until Explorer vacated her berth.

The rocks on either side of the opening just below the turquoise water were clearly visible from the bridge. Captain Erik Standal and the Bermuda pilot stood at the center console while the Staff Captain was over by the port side bridge wing so that he could observe how closely the side of the ship was to the rocks. Explorer accelerated, not to her full speed, but to a speed much faster than the normal lazy pace that cruise ships follow going in and out of port. With seemingly only a few feet to spare, Explorer shot through the opening. The water was pushed back from the rock outcroppings and then surged back, swirling in Explorer’s wake.

Once the ship was out into open waters, I sat down with the Captain for an interview. Explorer’s glass enclosed bridge runs the width of the ship and extends out over the water on either side. The computerized technology used to navigate Explorer does not take up much of this vast space so there is room for an informal conference area with comfortable chairs and a sofa. As a result, the Captain was able to keep an eye on what was going on on the bridge as we spoke.

Captain Erik, as he calls himself in his daily announcements to the guests, is a quiet but approachable person. His youthful appearance gives no clue as to his substantial sea experience. Similarly, his easy, informal manner gives no clue as to the perseverance needed to go from working on ventilation systems shoreside in Norway to commanding one of the world’s largest ships.

I spoke with Captain Erik about his career, commanding Explorer and his thoughts about cruising in general. The interview is posted at http://beyondships.com/Explorer-Standal.html

The food and beverage manager on any passenger ship has a great responsibility. After all, eating in the ship's restaurants and drinking in the bars are important parts of the cruise experience. Consequently, the food must be good and plentiful and quality service has to be maintained. In addition, the restaurants and bars have to reflect the style of cruising that the cruise line has marketed to the public.

All of this involves a massive behind-the-scenes operation. The food, beverages and other supplies have to be ordered, brought onboard, stored and used. The staff must be trained and motivated. There must be opportunities for advancement, good living conditions and entertainment for the crew in order to have good morale and thus good service.

Bernhard Fischer is the Food and Beverage Manager on Queen Mary 2. QM2 is one of the largest ships in the world and with a schedule that involves numerous sea days, there are logistical considerations that other ships do not encounter. Moreover, when I interviewed him recently, he pointed out that the history and tradition of Cunard Line required a different way of doing things that differentiates QM2 from every other passenger ship.

The interview is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Fischer.html I hope you enjoy it.

There is something about Caribbean Princess

I recently returned form a cruise on Caribbean Princess. The ship is the fourth one to be built on the design first inaugurated with the Grand Princess. There are now ten Grand-class ships - - nine with Princess and one with P&O cruises. All are massive ships ranging from 108,000 to 116,000 tons and carrying 3,000 plus passengers. Their steep white sides tower over you like a building when you are standing on the pier.

Although these ships spring from the same basic design, there are differences. Some have more decks than others, some have a pod suspended above the stern that houses a nightclub, and some have what looks like jet engines around the funnel. Along the same lines, Princess has developed new ideas for amenities and facilities over time and consequently, there are differences in that you will find inside the ships. While the line strives to retro-fit the earlier ships with the things that have proven a success on subsequent ships, that process in itself leads to differences.

There is also the fact that even physically identical ships have different personalities. This is a function of a host of factors including the captain and the crew. The original personalities often leave their mark on the way things are done on a ship. Subsequent, personalities may make changes but the atmosphere on board will never be identical to that on board the ship’s physically identical sister.

Caribbean Princess has a quiet unassuming personality. The ship’s interior is physically attractive and well-maintained. Indeed, there are areas such as the atrium that are quite pretty but it is never overpowering. There is no neon, nothing intended to shock the senses.

Things tend to move smoothly on Caribbean Princess. The service in the cabins and the restaurants was good throughout my voyage. Moreover, there was always something going on or something to do. Indeed, I was impressed by the fact that thee were activities on the ship even when she was in port - - a recognition of the fact that for some passengers the ship is the destination.

This year, Caribbean Princess is taking over the itineraries done in the past by her sister Crown Princess - - sailing from San Juan in the winter and from New York in the warmer months. Accordingly, I expected to find veterans of Crown Princess on this cruise. While there were some, most of the past passengers seemed to be followers of Caribbean Princess. There was something about this ship in particular that they liked, something intangible. Indeed, it is difficult not to like Caribbean Princess.

My photo tour of Caribbean Princess as well as copies of menus, daily programs and other materials are at: http://beyondships.com/Princess-CB-Profile.html

Carnival Miracle

For Carnival Miracle the tile “fun ship” is more than just an advertising slogan. When you walk on board, you find yourself in a whimsical theme park created by Carnival designer Joe Farcus. The Bacchus Dining Room is deep purple with large purple globes hanging from the ceiling like bunches of grapes. “I feel as if I’m in a bottle of red wine,” I heard someone say. Along the same lines, a giant statue of Frankenstein dominates the dance floor in the multi-deck night club, Dr. Frankenstein’s Laboratory. The theater presents an imaginary Paris Opera House torn from the pages of the Phantom of the Opera. The theme of the ship’s decor is famous fictional characters and the passenger is cast into their dream world.

At the same time, there is a more serious side to Carnival Miracle. The ship is one of Carnival’s Spirit class and is built on the popular Vista hull. She is longer and lower than Carnival’s larger variations on the Destiny-class design and has an azipod propulsion system rather than a traditional propeller shaft arrangement. Consequently, she is more suited for longer voyages across more varied seas.

This allows the ship to be used for longer cruises from New York. Also, because the cruises are longer, they require passengers who have more vacation time. Therefore, her captain Claudio Cupisti notes, Miracle attracts a more “cosmopolitan” passenger. I recently had the chance to revisit Carnival Miracle and have put together a new photo essay of exterior shots of the ship. In addition, I have enhanced my existing profile of Miracle with additional photos, a new copy of the daily program Carnival Capers, and a menu from the ship’s specialty restaurant Nick and Nora’s supper club. The new essay appears at: http://beyondships.com/CarnivalMiracle-NewYork.html

Cruise Note - - What does the pilot do?

When a cruise ship is coming into port, those up strolling the deck notice that the ship will slow down and a small boat will approach the side. As the boat approaches, the ship’s crew opens one of the side doors in the hull and a ladder is lower down. Then, as the small boat bounces along in the ship’s wake, someone grabs the ladder and quickly climbs the ladder into the ship. With the pilot safe on board, the ship picks up speed and heads toward the harbor.

Pilots are local officials or persons licensed by the port to assist the ships entering and leaving a port. They are familiar with the local waters and provide guidance on navigation in those waters. Their knowledge goes beyond what is set forth on the navigational charts. They know such things as whether a sandbar has shifted recently, the strength of the current due to recent rainfall, and any movement in the shipping channels. Therefore, a good pilot’s advice is extremely useful to the ship’s captain.

Contrary to popular belief, the captain does not cede command to the pilot. Rather, the pilot is an advisor. If the captain is familiar with a certain pilot, the captain may go as far as to allow the pilot to give orders to the helmsman steering the ship. However, if it is obvious that the pilot just got his job through political patronage, the captain may well ignore him. The captain retains overall responsibility and thus the argument that an accident was the pilot’s fault does not get the captain very far.

There is one exception to this rule. In the Panama Canal, the captain does cede responsibility to the pilot. This is a recognition that navigating that system of locks requires a specialized expertise.

There are several types of pilots. For example, in New York, there are pilots who specialize in bringing the ships into and out of the finger piers along the Hudson River. They are called “docking pilots”. There are also pilots who are familiar with the shipping lanes and bringing the ship out to sea after the docking pilot has brought the ship into the river. They are known as “river pilots”. This is why passengers leaving Manhattan’s Passenger Ship Terminal will see the ship slow down once it is headed down river and someone climb into a tug boat that has come along side. Then, once the ship is out of the harbor, a small boat comes along side and yet another person departs.

At most cruise terminals, when you arrive you have the choice of handing your bags over to a porter employed by the terminal or of carrying the bags onto the ship yourself. This note looks at some of the considerations in deciding whether to part with your bags and if so how many.

The reasons in favor of carrying the bags your self are primarily peace of mind and utility. If you take the bags with you, you will know that they have not been lost. In addition, you will have the use of the contents immediately when you arrive on board.

There are several countervailing considerations. First, there is the feasibility of carrying the bags yourself. If you have brought more than you can physically carry by yourself, you will have to check at least some of the bags with the porter.

Second, there is the inconvenience of carrying (or these days more often wheeling) your bags through the security apparatus, the lines for check in and then onto the ship. The final part of the journey onto the ship can involve going up escalators or, like at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, carrying the bags on and off the shuttle bus that takes passengers from the terminal to the ship.

In addition, you will have to watch your bags in the waiting lounge if the ship is not ready for boarding when you arrive. Similarly, several cruise lines allow passengers to board before the cabins are ready for occupancy. In such a situation, you will have to take the bags with you around the ship while you wait for your room to be ready.

Another consideration is that you will have to restrict what you bring with you on the cruise if you are going to carry your bags yourself because your baggage capacity is limited to what you can carry. Of course, with today’s airline baggage restrictions, this is more of a consideration for people who are not flying to get to the cruise.

Balancing these considerations, most people going on cruises more than four nights long, opt to check at least some of their luggage. By looking at what happens to a bag once it is given over to the porter, we can get some idea as to what should be checked and what should be carried.

When a bag is checked, the porter will place it on a trolley along with several other passengers’ baggage. It is customary to give the porter a tip at that point. Some view this as just being fair. The more cynical view it as insurance that you will see the bag again. The amount of the tip varies with the locale with the customary tip being more in the cities with a higher cost of living.

The bags are than taken to a security processing area where they are scanned and/ or sniffed by canine inspectors. For the larger, more modern cruise ships, the bags are then placed in steel cages and loaded onto the ship by forklift through large doors in the hull. On older ships, they are loaded by conveyor belt.

Once on board, the bags become the responsibility of the ship’s baggage team. Typically, they are sorted by deck and then taken to the appropriate deck by elevator and placed in a staging area (frequently the lobby surrounding that elevator). Members of the baggage team then distribute the bags to the cabins.

Considering this process, it is clear that one should not place fragile items in a soft sided bag and then check the bag. You bag may well be placed under a pile of other bags at several points and the bags are not handled with the utmost gentleness.

While the vast majority of bags do make it to their rightful owners, there is a possibility that the bag will be lost or will take a dip in the harbor as it is loaded onto the ship. Therefore, do not check anything that is very valuable or irreplaceable.

Along the same lines, do not check anything that you will need or want in the next few hours. Once a bag is checked, you may not see it until after the ship has sailed. Indeed, if the luggage tag has come off or if it has been delivered to the wrong cabin, it may not show up until that night or the next day. Thus, for example, if you are planning to use the ship’s swimming pool that afternoon, carry your swim things with you. It almost goes without saying that one should not check the bag that contains your ticket or passport. Otherwise, the bags may be the only ones going on the cruise.

I was on board Holland America’s flagship Amsterdam recently. Entering service in October 2000, Amsterdam shares the top position in the HAL fleet with her sister ship Rotterdam.

At approximately 61,000 gross tons, Amsterdam is a mid-sized ship. It feels substantial and capable of transiting the oceans of the world, which Amsterdam does on its yearly world cruise. At the same time, the ship is small enough not only to navigate the confined waters around Alaska, which it does in the summer, but also to retain a feeling of intimacy.

The interior of Amsterdam is one of subtlety and refinement. There is no neon and the colors are muted. At the same time, it is elegant but not overwhelming. This is not a floating palace but rather an upscale hotel. Artwork is beautifully displayed as part of contemporary styled public rooms, softly lit and comfortable.

This isn’t to say that the ship speaks in a monotone. The Queens Lounge, the venue for the ship’s production shows and for guest entertainers, has an almost whimsical art deco styling. The Pinnacle Grill, the alternative restaurant, resembles a Parisian restaurant of the late 19th Century, while the main dining room is an impressive two-deck high space that occupies the stern of the ship.

The passengers on board Amsterdam are in harmony with the ship’s sophisticated atmosphere. They tend to be well-educated, well-traveled and upper middle class. There is nothing flashy about them.

In many respects, Amsterdam echoes her Dutch heritage. Of course, most of the officers are Dutch and a majority of the crew are from the former Dutch colonies in the East Indies. Adjectives like clean, efficient, industrious and high quality come to mind in describing the ship’s style but also words like practical and understated.

I have assembled the information I have gathered about Amsterdam into a profile of the ship complete with an extensive photo tour and commentary. It is posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Amsterdam.html

Considering Explorer of the Seas

I was recently on Explorer of the Seas’ first Bermuda cruise of the 2008 season. Explorer is one of Royal Caribbean International’s mega-cruise ships and operates year-round out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey on the other side of New York Harbor from Manhattan. She sails to the Caribbean, Bermuda and Canada. I have jotted down a few impressions for those who may be considering a voyage on Explorer.

RCI's goal is to create a vacation experience that is a fun, exciting adventure and Explorer lends itself to that goal. The large size of the ship is well utilized to provide an extensive array of amenities and facilities.

The experience on board is geared toward physical activity. Thus, the facilities, activities and shows lean toward the lighter side than towards cultural enrichment. Particularly, impressive was the ice show, which was done with virtuoso skating, beautiful lighting and costumes.

The service was friendly and responsive. All of the staff say hello and you find yourself doing the same to all you meet. In addition, I was impressed by the crew's eagerness to please. For example, for breakfast and lunch, the main dining room is open seating. Thus, the waiters serving breakfast and lunch are unlikely to ever cross the path of a particular passenger again much less receive a tip at the end of the voyage from him or her. Yet, they brought the food quickly and sought to accommodate special requests.

The atmosphere on Explorer is casual. However, on the formal night, the ship rose to the occasion and brought it off in good style.

I have put together a commentary and my photos of Explorer and produced a photo tour which is posted at

http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer-tour.html

QE2 in the Sunset

Queen Elizabeth 2, or QE2 as she is better known, is the most famous ship of our times. Built nearly 40 years ago, she was the last great ship of the ocean liner period. However, her basic design was so advanced and flexible that the ship has been able to evolve constantly since that time. As a result, she remains an icon of style and luxury today.

QE2 entered service in 1969, the same year as Woodstock and the first man walked on the moon. As her owner, Cunard Line admitted, ships were considered “boring.” To dispense with that image, QE2 was given a space age design both in her exterior lines and in her interior design. It was consciously intended to be much different than the old Cunard giants QUEEN MARY and QUEEN ELIZABETH, which had just gone out of service. The goal was to “create a setting for the world's best party," according to her designer.

Over the years - - much like many who grew up in the 1960s - - QE2 became more like her predecessors. Leather wall coverings, plastic scooped chairs, and bright colors were replaced by wood paneling, traditional furniture, and a more subdued color scheme. She reflected the tastes and styles of the times. Indeed, that is part of the reason QE2 has remained viable for so long was this ability to adapt to the times.

This ability to adapt was also present in the ship’s technology. She was built with a very strong and sleek hull because her primary mission would be to take passengers across the North Atlantic where any type of weather may be encountered. In 1987, her steam engines were replaced with a diesel-electric system. Not only was this better from a reliability and efficiency stand point but it gave the ship additional speed. In fact, she is the fastest passenger ship now in service, even faster than the new QUEEN MARY 2 and the new mega-cruise ships.In November, QE2 will retire from active service and become a floating hotel in Dubai.

Accordingly, I recently went aboard QE2 and photographed her to document her final state of evolution. I have combined these photos with photos taken in the past and I have written a commentary to go with them. In addition, I have posted copies of menus and daily programs reaching back 20 years so as to give you a feel for this great ship.

http://www.beyondships.com/QE2Tour.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.

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.

The Crystal Difference

Broadly speaking, the cruise industry can be divided into four categories. First, there are no frills budget cruise lines. These companies tend to have ships that were once used in the more up-scale lines and which have now entered a second life transporting vacationers on no frills holiday. The largest category is the mass market cruise lines. These are the most popular lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line. For those who want more service and a taste of luxury there are the premium market cruise lines such as Celebrity, Holland America and Cunard. Then at the extreme upper end are the luxury cruise lines.

For the most part, the luxury lines offer cruises on small yacht-like ships. The conventional wisdom being that you cannot offer excellent service or have top quality amenities if there are too hundreds of passengers competing for the attention of the staff and trying to use the ship’s facilities. However, one line, Crystal Cruises has for several years been rated a six star plus experience on large ships. Admittedly, the CRYSTAL SYMPHONY and CRYSTAL SERENITY are not mega-cruise ships but at just over 50,000 tons, they do qualify as large ships.

I recently had the chance to go aboard CRYSTAL SYMPHONY and talk with her captain, hotel director and cruise director about how Crystal manages to consistently obtain high ratings in the luxury category. They conceded that it was not a “hardware” advantage. There are some beautiful ships coming out in the mass market and premium categories. In addition, the mass market and the premium lines have steadily improved their facilities and the quality of the experience they offer. Things that were found only in luxury ships a decade ago are now standard on the mass market ships.

Instead, they said that it is the people that Crystal employs that really makes the Crystal difference. The line seeks to take care of its crew and the crew is disposed to provide the best quality service. Of course, they gave some other reasons as well.

I have posted my interviews at http://www.beyondships.com/CrystalSymphony-Interview.html I hope you enjoy the article.

Queen Mary 2 Virtual Bridge Tour

Queen Mary 2 is an amazing sight. Her length of more than a thousand feet and height of 200 feet above the water makes the first time viewer wonder just how anything that big could possibly move. However, the giant Cunard Line ship is one of the fastest passenger ships ever built, capable of doing more than 30 knots. (Most cruise ships max out at 25 knots). In addition, QM2 is very maneuverable, rarely needing the assistance of tug boats to dock or leave the pier.

Because she is such a unqiue physical object, people often wonder how she is operated. Like all ships, QM2 is driven from the bridge. This is a glass-enclosed space running across the front of the superstructure high up on Deck 12. Even with all of the computerized equipment and display screens, the room is remarkably spacious.

There is no large wooden wheel manned by a narled out sailor on QM2. Rather, the small wheel is generally unmanned at sea and the computer is doing the driving along a course input by the ship's navigator. When going into and out of port, the wheel is manned but most of the manuevering is done at a contriol console arrayed with dials and levers.

Recently, I had the opportunity to watch Captain Christopher Rynd take the ship out to sea. He litterally took a hands-on approach to the task. Standing at the control console, he looked like a master musician at the keyboard of a pipe organ. As his hands moved from one dial to the next, the giant ship smoothly left her berth, took to the channel and sailed out to sea.

Over the four years that the ship has been in service I have accumulated some inf0rmation about the bridge and taken several photos up there. To give people an idea of how it operates, I have written a piece about the bridge and linked it to my photographs. It is posted at: http://beyondships.com/QM2-Bridge.html I hope you find it interesting.