Photo Tour of Saga Pearl II and Photos of Saga Ruby

In order to survive in today’s cruise market, small ships have to specialize. Because of their size, they do not have all of the features and options available on the large ships and so they have to focus their efforts in order to attract customers. Some are ultra-luxury, some go to exotic locations that the big ships do not, while others offer longer voyages.

Saga Pearl II specializes in holidays (vacations) for the over 50 set. Not only is there a formal age requirement but the entire concept reflects thinking about what more mature travelers want and need when traveling. This extends from sending a chauffeured car to collect guests and their baggage and bring them to the ship if they live within a certain distance of the embarkation port to having a high percentage of single cabins for guests who may no longer have a partner. The small size of the ship also gives rise to a more intimate atmosphere which facilitates the guests getting to know one another.

Since the ship focuses on seniors, it does not need children’s facilities, rock climbing walls or giant water slides. Consequently, there is more space for facilities like an extensive library.

Saga Pearl II is the latest addition to the Saga Cruises’ fleet. Built in 1981, the ship was completely renovated following its acquisition by Saga. The result is fresh looking interior done in a contemporary understated style.

Beyondships’ profile of Saga Pearl II is at http://www.beyondships.com/Saga-SagaPearl-Profile.html and the multii-page photo tour begins at

In addition, the master of Saga Pearl II, Captain David Warden-Owen, talks about his ship at http://www.beyondships.com/Saga-SagaPearl-Captain.html I first met Captain Warden-Owen when he was Staff Captain on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2. He went over to Saga after that line acquired the Sagafjord from Cunard, which Saga re-named the Saga Rose. Cunard was sorry to lose him as he was a very accomplished officer. His popularity and successful command of Saga Rose for some 12 years until the ship was retired last year underscore his ability.

While we are on the topic of Saga, I have put together a photo essay on Saga’s other ship, the Saga Ruby. Originally, the Vistafjord and later the Coronia for Cunard, this ship was the last classic ocean liner built in Britain. She has pleasing lines and is a pleasure to photograph. This essay shows her in New York and in Newport, Rhode Island last year. It can be found at http://www.beyondships.com/Saga-SagaRuby-Photos.html

Inside Celebrity Eclipse - - talking with the Captain, Hotel Director and Jacques Van Staden

This week we take an inside look at Celebrity Eclipse. Eclipse is Celebrity Cruises latest ship, entering service late last April. She is the third os Celebrity’s critically acclaimed Solstice class ships. These are large ships (122,000 gross tons) but carry only 2,800 passengers. (A mass market ship of the same size would probably carry a thousand more guests). This means that there is more room per passenger and more room for luxurious features and detailing.

It is a firmly held belief of Beyondships that regardless of the physical beauty of a ship and regardless of its features, the quality of a cruise experience depends to a great extent on the people who actually operate the vessel. Accordingly, the site presents interviews with ship’s officers, management and cruise line executives so that you can read what these people have to say about what they are doing with their ships.

To that end, this week the site features three new interviews with key players on Celebrity Eclipse.

First, there is a conversation with the master of Celebrity Eclipse Captain Panagiotis Skylogiannis. Captain Skylogiannis was responsible for bringing not only Eclipse into service but also the first ship in the class Celebrity Solstice into service. He takes great pride in both ships but Eclipse is his personal favorite. My conversation with him is at: http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-art-captain.html

Second, Hotel Director Simon Weir is in charge of practically all of the services that touch but the guests’ cruise experience from the accommodations to the entertainment to the dining. He has brought out all three of the Solstice class ships and is able to discuss how the product has evolved. In his view, Eclipse does not really compete with other cruise ships but is comparable to luxury hotels on shore and he seeks to ensure that Eclipse does not come out second best. My conversation with Mr. Weir is at: http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-art-HD.html

Third, Jacques Van Staden is the celebrity chef who in 2007 left that world in order to become Vice President of Food and Beverage Operations for Celebrity Cruises. In that position he not only oversees the restaurants on the existing Celebrity ships but develops new ideas for dining venues. Celebrity Eclipse debuted the latest of his ideas, a revolutionary restaurant called Qsine. This dining venue differs from all other cruise ship specialty restaurants in its menu, presentation and décor, combining the familiar with the unexpected. Chef Van Staden talks about Qsine at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-art-VanStaden.html

Oriana Profile and Photo Tour and Norwegian Epic in New York

Oriana is a ship that I have been hoping to take a look at for quite some time. Her entry into service in 1995 was recognized as such a significant event that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II agreed to name the ship. After all, this was the largest passenger ship that had been built for the British market since Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2. Furthermore, she was nearly as large as QE2 and was full of all sorts of new luxury innovations. Over the years, Oriana has retained an aura about her and most Brits will know precisely what you mean when you say her name.

Although built in Germany, Oriana is thoroughly British. Her interiors are contemporary but done in restrained good taste. There is no glitz or attempts to invoke awe. Rather, there is the understatement of conservative British style.

Oriana’s British-ness also appears in the food served onboard, the activities and the entertainment. She seeks to make the people she was designed to serve feel comfortable on their holidays.

The vast majority of passengers on Oriana are British. However, P&O Cruises, her owner, also welcomes international guests who are interested in a truly British experience.

In many ways, this is a classic cruise experience as in the days before Las Vegas went to sea. At the same time, she has a celebrity chef specialty restaurant, a West End style theater, a large cinema, a spa, three pools, five whirlpools, 11 bars and even a pizzeria.

Beyondship’s profile of Oriana is at http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Oriana-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Oriana-Tour-1.html

A much different cruise experience came to New York this last week in the form of Norwegian Epic. This is Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest ship and at 153,000 gross tons the fifth largest cruise ship now in service.

As NCL proudly has proclaimed, its “Freestyle Cruising” was designed to break the traditional mold. On Epic, innovation is a watchword, combing entertainment and dining venues, curving interior walls and cabin configurations unlike any other cruise ship.

I was able to photograph Epic as she came up the Hudson River and docked on the West Side of Manhattan. My photo essay of this event is at: http://www.beyondships.com/NCLEpic-photoessay.html

Photos of Cruise Port Southampton and Independence of the Seas

This week we are going beyond the ships themselves and looking at the cruise port of Southampton, England. Now, few people set out with the goal of spending their vacation/holiday in Southampton. However, it is Britain’s primary cruise port and so cruisers often spend time there before or after a cruise.

While Southampton is not a tourist destination, it is tourist friendly. There are a variety of hotels and places to eat. In addition since Southampton is the large shopping center for southern England, it has lots of stores ranging from traditional high street stores to vast modern shopping malls.

Due to the fact that Southampton was - - and still is - - an import seaport, it was heavily bombed during World War II. Consequently, much of the city dates from the post-war period. However, I was surprised to find how many historic properties still exist. Indeed, Southampton reportedly has the most amount of medieval city walls in England.

Southampton is also not far from a number of places of interest including Stonehenge, the Isle of Wight, the naval museums at Portsmouth, Salisbury cathedral, and Winchester. A little further away but still within day trip range is the metropolis of London and all it has to offer.

My photo tour of Southampton begins at http://beyondships.com/Ports-Southampton-1.html

One of the ships that sails out of Southampton is Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas. Now the world’s second largest cruise ship, Independence has modern lines but with a hint of the style of traditional ships, especially in the bow area. This lends itself to photographs and I have now added a page of photos of her taken in Florida and in Southampton to the Independence of the Seas section of Beyondships. It appears at http://beyondships.com/RCI-IOS-Photos1.html

Talking wiith John Duffy, Hotel Manager on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

John Duffy has been an eye witness to the transformation of the passenger ship business. He began his career on the original Queen Elizabeth, one of the great ocean liners of all time and a ship that was a household name in her day. He sailed on the first voyage of the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) and served as her hotel manager from 1981 until her last voyage in 2009. Now, he is the hotel manager on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner (as opposed to cruise ship) ever built.

Along the way, Duffy has met royalty, heads of state and numerous celebrities. He has received awards for his work and heads up a department that includes some 900 people. Yet, he remains approachable and friendly, not only talking to but listening to passengers.

Having had such a unique career, I asked him to describe what it was like on the various ships that he has sailed on and how they differ from the passenger ships of today.

In addition, having spent so much of his career doing transatlantic crossings, I asked him why people should choose to spend their vacation/holiday on Queen Mary 2, the only ship that still does transatlantic crossings on a regular basis. I also asked him to address some of the concerns that people sometimes express about a crossing.
My conversation with Mr. Duffy can be found at: http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-art-Duffy.html

Talking with the Managing Director of P&O Cruises

When I was in England, I had the opportunity to speak with Carol Marlow, the Managing Director of P&O Cruises. Carol came to this post after heading Cunard Line for several years and she kindly agreed to answer some questions about the difference between the two iconic British passenger lines and about some of the challenges facing P&O.

P&O is in the enviable position of being the public’s favorite cruise line in a rapidly growing market. However, the other major cruise lines have realized the potential of the British market and several have entered it in a big way. How does the home team respond?

In order to meet the growing demand for cruise holidays, P&O has grown the capacity of its fleet by adding new ships. However, as a result, the fleet is now composed of ships that differ widely in size, age and style. How does one ensure the qualities that made P&O popular are maintained through this larger and more disparate fleet?

Ms. Marlow’s answers to these questions as well as her thoughts on the new Azura and the upcoming replacement of the Artemis by the Adonia are posted at http://www.beyondships.com/PO-art-Marlow.html

Profile and Photo Tour of Celebrity Eclipse

As I mentioned last time, the primary motivation for my European sojourn was to attend the naming ceremony for the new Celebrity Eclipse. After the ceremony, I stayed on for the inaugural cruise and two other voyages. This allowed me the opportunity to take numerous photos and to get the material for what is one of the most extensive profiles of a cruise ship on Beyondships.com.

Eclipse is the third ship in Celebrity’s Solstice class. The first two ships in the class have been quite successful, winning an array of awards. These are large ships, 122,000 gross tons, so they have the space to house a large number of dining and entertainment venues. Their hallmarks are creativity and attention to detail. More3over, they are distributed throughout the ship in a way that promotes good passenger flow and spaciousness.

Eclipse follows in her predecessors’ footsteps. However, Celebrity has not merely cloned this ship. The choice of colors and artwork is one difference. Perhaps more significantly, Eclipse has a new restaurant, Qsine, which is different its menu and style from any other restaurant on land or sea. In addition, the standard Internet café has been replaced by an iLounge that is equipped with Apple computers. Guests can also learn about and purchase Apple products onboard.

Another thing that sets Eclipse apart is the fact that she is being marketed primarily to the British and Irish markets. Indeed, the ship is based in Southampton, England summer cruising season . While the overall cruising style is the Celebrity style used throughout the Celebrity fleet, there have been a number of tweaks to make it more attractive to British and Irish tastes.

While I very much enjoyed Solstice and Equinox, I was impressed by Eclipse. The ship just has a nice feel to her and the team that brought the ship into service have successfully avoided the usual new ship pitfalls.

The Beyondships profile of Celebrity Eclipse appears at. http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-Profile.html The photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Eclipse-Tour-1.html