Sue Bryant's Blog
Posted by Sue Bryant
Who goes on a transatlantic cruise? The answer is, absolutely anybody. The day's programme is packed with activity from step aerobics to acting classes but to me, the most fascinating pastime is without doubt people-watching.
Queen Mary 2 is a complete city at sea, a society in microcosm. Most passengers are American or British but in less than 24 hours I've heard Spanish, Italian, German and French spoken as well and that excludes the crew, whose nationalities range from South African to Indian to Filipino. It's true that the majority of people here are of a certain age but there are young couples as well, and families with small children (the ship has an excellent and little-publicised children's club). There are multi-generational groups with grannies and babies, and parties of friends, as well as several very glamorous looking gay couples, one pair with a spectacular giant poodle sporting a Harley Davidson denim doggie outfit. The poodle is currently ensconced in the kennels on Deck 12.
And just when you think you've seen it all... at lifeboat drill, one couple turned up in swimwear and towelling robes (there is a force 7 wind blowing outside) and another lady in a floor-length mink. There are women whose hair and faces don't move, even on the gusty open decks, couples in matching his 'n' hers velour tracksuits and an entire family with multiple facial piercings, teenagers included. Then there are the gym babes who practically live in the massive Canyon Ranch Spa, sporting toned muscles and skinny Canyon Ranch T shirts with diamante logos.
Sartorially speaking, daytimes may not be a parade of style and beauty, especially on a stormy day like this with heavy seas, when it's all you can do to stay upright moving around the ship, let alone worry about wearing heels. But on the three formal nights of a transatlantic cruise, the tracky pants are exchanged for tuxedos, glittering evening dresses, serious bling and big hair.
It's the glamour of nights like these that unite everybody on board with a sense of occasion - the very reason many people choose this most elegant and traditional way to travel.
Posted by Sue Bryant
Jewel River Cruise Line, a new, luxury, river cruise brand, will debut in 2008 with its first ship, Jewel Imperial Blue. The vessel will depart Paris on April 5 and sail along the Seine. The new company, founded by former Silversea Cruises CEO Albert Peter, also incorporates Emerald River Journeys, a premium line; and, the contemporary Princess River Journeys.
There are several exciting features about the new, all-suites vessel, which accommodates just 90 passengers. According to Peter, some of its distinguishing characteristics will include "a superior dining experience, intriguing and engaging shore experiences providing an exceptional level of exclusivity and access, a dedicated wellness spa, unrivalled hospitality and service and co-branding with internationally renowned luxury partners offering unique opportunities for guests." In other words, a river-going version of Silversea, which will no doubt delight the high-spending river cruise passenger.
Peter is aiming high with the new company and aims to become a 'dominant force' in river cruising. The first vessel, currently in service for another operator, is being converted into a luxurious floating hotel at a cost of $3.5 million. Typical clients are expected to be affluent, active, aged 45-60 (so considerably younger than most river cruise passengers) and in search of cultural 'experiences' rather than ordinary shore excursions.
Bookings for the new venture open on January 1, 2008.
Posted by Sue Bryant
The sinking of the Explorer expedition vessel in Antarctica has raised some scathing comments about the excesses of tourism in the region.
Although the Antarctic peninsula is enormous, expedition vessels tend to focus on a few 'hotspots' where they can land passengers by Zodiac inflatable. Environmentalists are concerned that the constant landing of sightseers between November and March is chipping away at this pristine region's integrity. Although most cruise operators behave responsibly and don't leave anything behind, some pollution is inevitable. By bringing in larger and larger vessels, the greater number of tourists is inevitably going to affect the wildlife and with the best will in the world, cruise operators cannot control the ignorant behaviour of visitors who pursue penguins and seals in the hope of getting the best shot for their photo album.
What's worse is that some enormous ships are now sailing in the region. These vessels cannot land passengers as the numbers are too great to make it feasible. But would you even want to be on one? Huge ships do not have ice-strengthened hulls like true expedition vessels. If one were to scrape an iceberg and start leaking fuel, the environmental impact would be unthinkable. Mounting a rescue operation for 3,000 passengers and up to 2,000 crew would be practically impossible. Ships sailing in Antarctica are supposed to be self-sufficient but there are no rules as such, merely guidelines.
It is not our automatic right to visit places like this. An expedition cruise to Antarctica is a special event and should be treated as such. It is expensive for a reason. While cruising may be making the world a smaller place, there are some areas that we must accept are only ever going to be appropriate for small ships and small numbers of visitors, however elitist that may seem.
Posted by Sue Bryant
Do you want to know how to lay a table in rough weather, or how to get a glass sparkling clean? Then the Ship Steward’s Handbook by E. C. Plumb and J. J. Traynor could be for you.
This charming little book, recently reissued by Conway, a division of Anova Books, was first published in the 1950s as an aid to ship stewards in the British Merchant Navy. With an emphasis on pride in one’s work, and a thoroughness and dedication to the highest level of service, it sets out precise instructions on a steward’s duties from table etiquette to cabin service and is packed with all sorts of fascinating facts, tips and hints.
Evoking the heyday of the passenger liner and the emerging cruise industry, there are authentic examples of breakfast and dinner menus from first class and tourist class, definitions of French culinary terms, sauces to accompany meat dishes, basic cocktails and lots of homilies. In Personal Appearance and Behaviour, for example, wannabe stewards are advised: Remember, tattoos do not make you a sailor!
Some of the household tips are useful still today. Glasses should be washed in warm water, rinsed and dried with a linen cloth, as linen does not leave fluff on the glass. If water jugs have a ‘waterline’, clean it off with potato peelings.
What’s interesting about this book is that the foreword is written by the Right Hon John Prescott MP, Britain’s former transport secretary under Tony Blair. Yes, Mr Prescott started life as... a ship’s steward.
Posted by Sue Bryant
I thought my lucky day had come yesterday when a van arrived with a huge bunch of red roses and a card sticking out of the top saying 'Marry me'. Sadly (or happily, as the roses are beautiful), it was a promotion from Princess Cruises advertising the company's new wedding brochure.
Tie the Knot with Princess Cruises is actually a handy little guide, with prices for the various wedding packages on board and a countdown from 12 months to the actual day, as well as a chart of the many ports the cruise line visits, detailing the wedding options, prices, legalities and locations. I was especially taken with the idea of a glacier in Alaska or a winery in Santorini.
What really caught my eye, though, was the idea of a sole charter of a Princess ship. For around £10 million ($20 million), you can have the whole vessel, just you, your beloved and 3,000 of your closest friends, attended by 1,200 staff. As this many wouldn't fit into the intimate wedding chapel that's a feature of Princess ships, the ceremony, which is conducted by the Captain, can be broadcast on the giant Movies Under the Stars screen by the ship's pool on six of the vessels in the fleet.
It's a nice idea, particularly if you want to avoid paparazzi, although personally I wouldn't fancy having 3,000 people who knew me tagging along on my honeymoon.
