Flash back to 1900 to the mid 1930’s. It was the Golden Age of ocean travel. Liners crossed the Atlantic, competing for the Blue Riband. The rich and famous traveled between the US and Europe. Lots of the middle class wanted to travel. What was it like sailing across the Atlantic in luxury? More important, was that a “bygone era?” Has sailing been stripped down to appeal to the mass market? You decide. Two Considerations Beforehand Let’s …
One day, the pandemic will be behind us. You will cruise to Bermuda on the way to someplace else. You will sail to Bermuda and the ship will be your hotel for several nights. Maybe you will fly to Bermuda. One way or another, you will get there. Visiting a port can feel like being a steel ball in a pinball machine. You are shot out, bounce off a few bumpers, get wacked by a paddle and …
Getting tired of lockdown? It’s been about three months since my wife and I dined in a restaurant. Almost four months since we returned from our January transatlantic crossing. I decided to surprise her with a “virtual day at sea.” Could This Work for You? Is this you? You are a couple. Age doesn’t matter. You live in a house with some outdoor space. You own two lounge chairs with cushions. A patio table with chairs. What …
Read morePandemic Relief – Simulate Your Favorite Cruise at Home
We’ve all heard many people emigrated to America from Europe crossed the Atlantic in steerage. Before you complain your cabin is too small or the food onboard isn’t as good as it was, you might consider what steerage class was like. Steerage was the least expensive option for crossing the Atlantic. Around 1900, the crossing took 7-10 days. If you were crossing between 1850 and 1900, in the early days, a ship might offer three classes: First, …
Ever have one of those “I wish I thought of that” moments? River cruising is very popular. How did it get that way? It’s been around for a long time. Traveling with friends in the French countryside in the early 1990’s we learned people could rent a boat, like you could rent a camper, then sail the canals on your own. Operating all those locks by yourself sounded like no fun. We learned you could book a …
We associate ocean travel and cruises with leisure and vacations. We think of grand ocean liners crossing the Atlantic and embarking on world cruises. We think about a world of refined luxury that eventually became available to the mass market. It all developed quite differently. To understand how we arrived at today’s cruise industry, we need to understand communication, business travel, government subsidies and competition. 1815 Communication Knowledge has value. It’s been said Nathaniel Rothschild made great …
One day, the pandemic will be behind us. The economy will reopen in stages. The cruise industry will need to get going again. How might it happen? I’m not an industry expert, but I could see some common sense approaches. What’s Going on in the Minds of American Tourists? After the pandemic, I think lots of people are going to be ready for a vacation. Since children in school started one big summer vacation back in March, …
Read moreAfter the Pandemic – What Might a Cruising Recovery Look Like?
“It’s for the newlywed and nearly dead.” Years ago, cruising had that reputation, especially among younger people. The Love Boat changed all that. Images of shuffleboard and napkin folding classes still persist when people wonder “What will I do on a cruise? I’ll get bored.” Many people have hobbies. Pursuits they are passionate about. It fills their waking hours. They become experts. They seek out like minded individuals. These interests don’t need to stay on the dockside …
When we cruise, we make friends. We keep in touch afterwards. We send quarterly e-mails. Christmas cards too. As a result, we have a worldwide network of friends. This gives a unique window into life during the pandemic beyond our shores. All of our friends are very saddened by the situation, doing everything in their power possible to help and assist others, I’m sure. Yet, they need to stay positive and here are the things they are …
No one is sailing anywhere right now. Because of the Coronavirus most people are self-isolating. Cruise lines have suspended operation. But you love cruising. You sail more than once a year. Instead of going into withdrawal, go to the movies instead. Here are a few films featuring cruise ships or ocean liners. You should be able to access many through your Smart TV. 8 Movies With Beautiful Ships OK, we bear in mind some films with ships …
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