Focus On...Northern Ireland

Racing along the back-roads of Northern Ireland.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

As a cruise passenger, arriving at a brand-new port of call for the day can pose some daunting questions: what to see?  What to do?  And how to make the most of your time ashore?

Cruise lines themselves offer a variety of excursions designed to suit every budget and activity, but sometimes even these can fall short.  This was the situation we found ourselves in last year while planning our Northern Europe cruise aboard Crown Princess: there were so many things we wanted to see during our last port of Belfast, Northern Ireland, that we simply didn't know where to go.

Enter the good people at Belfast Ireland Taxi Tours. We contacted them a few months before our sailing to arrange a tour, and owner Sean Mac Eachaidh helped us to put together an itinerary that would allow us to see some of Northern Ireland's most impressive sights in the limited amount of time that we had.  A car and driver would be waiting for us when we disembarked in Belfast, and we'd be on our way.  

 Harland & Wolff: the fitting-out basin built for the

RMS Olympic and her more famous sister,

RMS Titanic.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

We arrived in Belfast on a rainy August morning and made the one-hundred-eighty degree turn in the basin needed to dock port-side along the pier.  Even through the haze, it wasn't difficult to make out Samson and Goliath - the two bright yellow cranes that tower over the Harland & Wolff Shipyard - made famous, of course, for the construction of the RMS Titanic.  A Titanic buff since I was a kid, this was as close to a 'religious' experience as I could possibly get.

True to Sean's word, when we disembarked in Belfast - over 30 minutes late due to some immigration delays - our driver, Tom, was waiting for us.  A pleasant man with a hearty laugh and a firm handshake, Tom's first act was to take us off the main highway and onto some of the more scenic backroads on our way to Dunluce Castle, which was greatly appreciated (if you're not used to roundabouts, a few of them in quick succession can make you feel a little carsick!)  

Dunluce Castle.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Crumbling but certainly not gone, the ruins of Dunluce Castle are a sight to behold.  Perched on a cliff face and dating back to the 14th century, the remains of the castle prove to be highly walkable.  Admission can be obtained to enter the actual castle itself, but the best views are to be found outside, where the remains of the castle itself, in addition to the walls and outbuildings, are visible.  We spent a good forty minutes here before heading back in the car to our next destination.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Tom was just how much he knew: every road had a story, every house had a tale and he regaled us with his knowledge effortlessly.  Like Sean, the obvious passion he has for his beautiful country shone through, even when describing some of the more difficult aspects of Northern Ireland's past.  I wasn't sure if I should ask about The Troubles or not - but all of us were fascinated by the rich history of Ireland, and Tom was at ease discussing virtually every aspect of that history with us.

The beautiful - and varied - countryside of Northern Ireland.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

This is a good time to mention the country itself: words cannot describe the staggering array of lush greens we saw.  If you visit Northern Ireland, you will see green like you never thought possible - forever dulling your view of grass or hills you may have near your own city or country.  Add to that the enormously-friendly people, and you have a country that is difficult not to fall completely in love with.

We arrived at our next destination tremendously excited, for it was the one site we knew we had to see: the magnificent Giant's Causeway.

The incredible Giant's Causeway.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Made up of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed as the result of a volcanic eruption, the Giants Causeway is truly incredible.  Cars park at the top of a large hill; indeed, you can't even see the causeway until you're almost upon it.  Visitors reach the causeway by taking a crowded shuttle bus or walking about fifteen minutes down a winding road.  We chose to walk, and were not disappointed with the views or the pace!

At the causeway, visitors can climb out on the unique basalt columns.  Legend has it that the giant Finn McCool built the causeway in order to enable him to walk from Ireland to Scotland to defeat his nemesis, Benandonner. 

Looking down at the basalt columns.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Walking carefully along the columns, it's not hard to imagine this being the private pathway of a legendary giant: everything about it is super-sized and formed much the same way you'd expect a staircase to be.  It looks as if any moment, McCool himself might amble out of the North Atlantic and up the Irish countryside.

 The road down to (or up from) the Causeway.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

For us, the Giants Causeway also provided a confirmation we'd made the right choice in hiring private transportation: satisfied with the hour we'd spent ambling about the causeway, we walked up the hill again to enjoy a well-deserved ice cream when one of the cruise ship tour buses pulled up next to us.  Their guide told them they would have thirty minutes at the causeway.  The line for the bus down was easily a 30-minute wait, and the walk alone, round-trip, was thirty minutes.  Essentially, the best look these passengers would get of the causeway was from the visitor's center: a good kilometer or so away.

Whoops!  The enormous line for the 

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Our next stop was the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge.  Seeing the queue for the bridge would take over an hour and a half, Tom quickly kicked into gear, changing our itinerary on the fly: instead of crossing the bridge, he would take us up to a promontory overlooking the island the bridge leads to, complete with a view of Scotland just across the channel.  We agreed - we were there to see, not stand in huge lines with everyone else!

View from Afar: the Carrick-A-Rede Bridge

in the distance.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

Pleased at having seen the bridge but not lost three hours in doing so, we carried on, passing through just about every little town you could think of.  Upon our return to Canada a few days later, we were shocked to see just how much ground we'd covered: we'd literally driven around most of the coastal roads of Northern Ireland!

The Cushendun Hotel.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

One of my favorite photo-stops along the way was in the sleepy little town of Cushendun.  With a population of under two hundred people, this was the quintessential Ireland as I'd always imagined it.  It's hard to not feel as though you've stepped back in time when visiting Cushendun, and I could have spent a week there.  I'd even like to retire there, someday, surrounded by the beautiful Glens of Antrim.  Had we not done an independent tour, I would have never visited this pleasant little village.

 

Tall ships in Ballycastle.

Both photos © Aaron Saunders

A short distance down the road, in the town of Ballycastle, we were fortunate to see some of the tall ships that were in the area.  Not intending to stop in Ballycastle at all, Tom made a quick turnaround when he saw they were indeed in port, and we couldn't have been happier with his eagle-eyed observations.  Out of the over three thousand passengers aboard our ship, we were confident we were the only four to have witnessed this in Ballycastle.

Loughareema: The Vanishing Lake.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Loughareema - otherwise known as The Vanishing Lake - is an interesting oddity.  Sometimes full, sometimes completely drained, the lake gains this unique 'ability' due to the chalk around the water, which slowly leeches away at it, though the exact cause of the dramatic fluctuations in water height - as much as 218 meters deep - are still relatively unknown.  On our visit, the lake was almost bone dry.

The Vanishing Lake...in its 'Vanished' form.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

It was here that we were fortunate to meet face-to-face with Sean, who'd kindly and promptly answered our emails so many months before.  On tour himself with another couple, he took the time to introduce himself.  With a razor-sharp wit and the same kind, hearty laugh as Tom, it was hard to not feel as if you'd known Sean forever.  Perhaps therein lies the brilliance of his company: you're not just a tourist, you're a friend being toured around by other friends.  

Evening in Belfast.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

After seven hours of toodling around the amazing countryside, we made our way back to the ship.  Rather than just dropping us at the curb, Tom got out of his vehicle as well and walked us personally right up to the cruise terminal.  Hands were shaken, hugs were given, and as we got aboard our ship, set to carry us back to Southampton and eventually Canada, Tom gave a shout and a hearty wave which we returned.  

Departing Belfast at 11:00pm.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

A few hours later, as we departed under a darkened Belfast sky, we left Northern Ireland feeling as if we'd found a second home - and a second set of friends in Sean and Tom.  

And isn't that what travel - the most rewarding kind of travel - is all about?

For more information on Belfast Ireland Taxi Tours, be sure to stop by their website and discover the Northern Ireland that remains elusive to so many travelers.

Editor's Note: whenever you are planning an independent shore excursion, always ensure you are aware of the ship's departure time, and make arrangements to be back at least one hour before sailing.  Unlike ship-sponsored tours, your vessel will not wait for you if you return late - a mistake that can prove costly.  Take a copy of the daily program with you - not only will it have the departure time, but contact information for the ship's agent is listed there as well, should you encounter any unexpected issues.  Properly planned, an independent tour offers you unlimited possibilities ashore, and an endlessly rewarding experience.

Photo of the Week - August 9

The Irish countryside as seen during sail-in

near Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Photo © 2009 Aaron Saunders

Our Photo of the Week for August 9th showcases the beautiful Irish countryside as seen from Crown Princess on our approach to Belfast, Northern Ireland last August.

Not sure how to make the most of your time in Belfast?  Be sure to check back tomorrow for an in-depth look at one tour company who's aim is to showcase their beautiful country to passengers who only have a day to 'do it all.'  

We were impressed - and you will be too.

From the Deck Chair returns tomorrow.

Update: Celebrity Summit

In yesterday's blog, we'd mentioned that we had written to Celebrity Cruises in hopes of determining what factors may have been at play on our recent cruise aboard Celebrity Summit.  It had struck us that the entire experience wasn't up to the line's frequently-reported high standards.

While we haven't heard back from the line itself, we did discover that the ship - for reasons unknown - is clearly undergoing a period of transition: in late June, Celebrity Summit came within two points of completely failing its Center for Disease and Control Vessel Sanitation Inspection.

Celebrity Summit received a score of 87 on its June 20, 2010 inspection.  Anything below an 86 is an automatic failure, and vessels which receive a failing grade must make repairs immediately or risk being impounded in port.

While most of the items on the report are fairly innocuous on an individual scale - a bag of berries wasn't sealed properly - on a ship catering to thousands of passengers and crew, proper maintenance and storage is key. 

Some of the more colorful infractions included a dairy creamer that was being kept at 80 degrees Fahrenheit (instead of the recommended 41), a cockroach found on a bulkhead near a watertight door, and a lack of a proper garbage in the children's area washroom.  Perhaps more serious was the revelation that in the event of a norovirus outbreak, between the hours of midnight and 6am, no maintenance or cleaning was being performed on the ship: the last shift cleaned between 6pm and midnight, but left the ship essentially untouched overnight. 

Indeed, this is the lowest score Celebrity Summit has ever received since its launch in 2001, and a far cry from its near-perfect score of 98 in December 2009. The rest of the fleet has done markedly better:

Celebrity Century - May 10, 2010 - 96

Celebrity Constellation - April 11, 2010 - 98

Celebrity Equinox - March 19, 2010 - 100

Celebrity Infinity - March 28, 2010 - 99

Celebrity Mercury - May 23, 2010 - 96

Celebrity Millennium - February 2, 2010 - 95

Celebrity Solstice - July 11, 2010 - 100

 *data taken from the Center for Disease and Control's Vessel Sanitation Reports

Vessels that have scored 100 recently include the aforementioned Celebrity Solstice, Oasis of the Seas (no easy feat on a ship with almost six thousand passengers!), Oosterdam, Norwegian Pearl, Zuiderdam, Radiance of the Seas, Diamond Princess, and Carnival Freedom.

Hopefully the problems on Celebrity Summit can be worked out and the ship taken back up to the normal level of care and maintenance that is found on the rest of the fleet.

 

Readers can view the full report here.

Review: Celebrity Summit to Canada & New England

 Celebrity Summit at anchor in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders 

 

Have you ever gone to see a movie that your friends, the press, and even strangers have raved about, only to leave the theater wondering if they saw the same movie you just did?

A similar situation happened to me when I sailed aboard Celebrity Summit from July 18th to July 25th, 2010.

I'd always wanted to try Celebrity.  The press raves about them.  Friends of mine rave about them.  Total strangers we met in New York told us we were sailing with, as they put it, "the best of the best."  And in my research for this blog, I was more than aware of the multitude of awards Celebrity has won and continues to win: their most recent vessel, Celebrity Eclipse, has been attracting praise and accolades from all corners.

So I thought this was a pretty safe bet, and the perfect cruise to take along my fiancee and my parents.  Certainly the itinerary was impressive: sailing from the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey, Celebrity Summit would sail up the coast and call at Portland, Maine; Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  One day at sea on either end of the ports would ensure enough time to relax on this seven-day getaway.

 The famous Brooklyn Bridge as viewed from Manhattan's

South Street Seaport on July 16, 2010.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

No cruise departing from New York is complete without a stay in New York City.  Home to more attractions, historical venues, theatres and museums than you can shake a stick at, you could literally stay in Manhattan for a month and still not be able to do it all.  As it was, we planned a two-day pre-cruise stay in Manhattan, and discovered the fantastic Hotel Eventi.  I blogged about this excellent hotel, which has been open only two months, in a blog post last week, and it certainly didn't disappoint us as our home-base for two days.   

The ever-busy Times Square.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders 

Sure enough, we weren't able to do it all.  We did, however, cover a remarkable amount of mid-town Manhattan and manage to see critical sights like the New York City Public Library, Grand Central Station, Central Park, and Times Square, to name a few.  I even visited the sprawling F.A.O Schwarz store on Fifth Avenue, and have to admit to being taken with it - though the $1,000-stuffed dinosaur was a bit out of my price range, as was the extremely-high end Fairmont Plaza Hotel across the street.

Arrival and check-in at the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey was quick and painless.  The terminal has a unique layout in that the terminal building is positioned away from the ship, requiring guests to transfer via shuttle bus to the ship itself.  This process was very well organized, and we were stepping aboard thirty minutes after our initial arrival.

 The good: the well-laid-out Category 2A

Veranda stateroom 7080.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Deck plans and welcome aboard champagne in hand, we set out to find our cabins, located on Deck 7.  Staterooms 7080 and 7082 are Category 2A Veranda staterooms, and feature a queen-sized bed (can be separated into two singles), a small sitting area, interactive TV, and a very well-laid out bathroom with a shower.  The stateroom boasted an enormous amount of storage space, and would be ideally suited for longer voyages - in fact, it was the first room we've been in on any line where we didn't have to request more hangars.

The not-so-good: the level of neglect on stateroom

balconies was, frankly, appalling.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders 

Our balconies, however, were an unwelcome surprise in an otherwise flawless stateroom: looking aged well beyond the ship's nine years, our balconies were rusting and dirty.  Railings appeared as if they hadn't been varnished in years, and dirt, hair and dead flies littered the floor near the water catch drain. 

This is one of those contentious areas, if recent CruiseCritic posts are any indication.  Debates about the rust situation aboard the Celebrity Summit have been playing out for a while now.  The rest of the ship is spotless - upper decks are well maintained, painted, and varnished.  Which is why the level of neglect present on our (and other) balconies remains so confusing: if you're able to take care of the rest of the ship, why not take care of the part of the ship your customers are paying a premium for?

If it sounds like I'm making a bit of an example of this, I am.  Why?  Because I sailed on a ship, built in 1966, that was better maintained - and that was on a little Greek line called Royal Olympic Cruises that was nearing financial ruin when I sailed with them.   Celebrity is billed as the upscale arm of Royal Caribbean, a line we've enjoyed many cruises on.  But look again at the photo above and ask yourself: what's upscale about that? 

 Settle down for a coffee, tea, or maybe a cognac in the

excellent Cova Cafe.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

OK, so the balcony's a bit of a bust.  No problem.  There's plenty of other things to do.  And indeed there was: in short order, we'd purchased week-long passes to the Persian Garden.  Located in the ship's spa, the Persian Garden is comprised of several unique steam rooms, capped off with heated loungers and aromatherapy showers.  In a word: relaxing, not to mention very worth the price of admission: roughly $160 per couple for the week.

Unique to Celebrity Summit is a rather large - and complimentary - hydrotherapy pool.  Filled with semi-heated water and with metal grates made for laying on, the pool worked its magic on us in no time. Usually available at an additional charge on other lines, the hydrotherapy pool aboard Summit was wonderful, and made the perfect companion to the Persian Garden experience we'd purchased.  Towels are nearby and plentiful, and only once during the voyage did we have trouble finding a spot in the pool.  

Another experience we found to enjoy just as much was coffee in the Cova Cafe on Deck 5.  We'd become huge fans of the incredible coffee area aboard Crown Princess, and found the Cova Cafe to be a pretty good substitute - namely due to the excellent service of Zora, who effortlessly whisked our coffees to us and took the time to chat.  A wide variety of coffees, teas, and after-dinner drinks are available at the cafe, paired with light snacks and desserts during the day, and tapas during the evening.

Sunset dining at our table in the Cosmopolitan

Dining Room, Deck 4.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

 

Speaking evenings, one of the biggest highlights - and sources of mystery - on the whole cruise was dinner.  We were fortunate to be seated at a table for four, by a large window, on the starboard, Deck 4, side of the Cosmopolitan Dining Room.  

However, your dining table reservation card doesn't tell you what side of the ship your table is located on - leaving passengers to queue up in the hallways on the first night, only to have to push, squeeze, and force their way to the other side of the ship via the aft staircase as crew members order passengers around.  Not relaxing at all, and by the time we got to our table, I wasn't exactly having fun.  The addition of three words on those cards could make all the difference: Starboard Side Entrance or Port Side Entrance.

The two-level Cosmopolitan Dining Room,

as viewed from Deck 4 aft.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Here's where the strange part comes in: I noticed that every evening, around five p.m, a large section of the chairs in the Waterfall Cafe on Deck 11 are placed in a service elevator and carted away.  I later was informed these chairs were actually being put into the Cosmopolitan dining room for dinner each evening due to a chair shortage.  How you find yourself short on that many chairs is a mystery to me.  

Gone with the chairs is the option to dine casually in the lido.  Officially, you still can - just not the way you used to.  Apparently, similar to what Holland America does each evening on its ships, Celebrity has - or should have - a casual dining option where tables in the Waterfall Cafe are adorned with white table cloths and waiters fetch your entrees for you, allowing guests wishing to dine when they want, or dressed as they want.  

This option no longer exists, at least on Celebrity Summit.  You can still get food in the Waterfall Cafe during dinner; just don't expect anything special.  Or many places to sit, as half the seating disappears into the dining room.

Sailing the foggy Atlantic Ocean.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders 

The food in the main dining room was generally very good, with the majority of the seafood dishes consistently being the best.  Service was also generally very good, but with a few moments that descended into what could have been an un-aired episode of Fawlty Towers. In one case, our salmon entree was apparently dropped on the floor on the way out, and in another, steak after steak kept making its appearance at our table: turns out the first one was wrong, so they brought the second one out - but without our prompting. 

Also interesting, on this same night mid-cruise, we returned to our cabin to find a large piece of chocolate cake laid out on our table that said "Happy Anniversary!"  As my fiancee and I aren't married yet, this was a bit of a surprise.  We asked our excellent cabin steward, Derrick, about it the next morning.  He said the dining room called him and told him they had a cake for us.  So he put it in our room.  Good enough for us - we ate it, despite being a little confused as to why we'd gotten it.  And it was delicious.

The passengers also seemed quite harsh on the crew during this voyage.  We witnessed several incidents where passengers were yelling at or severely berating staff members in a manner that I have to admit I've never seen before in the eighteen voyages I've been on.  It was uncomfortable to say the least, and could have played a role in the general aloofness that I felt was present with the majority of the crew; a sort of 'keep-your-head-down-and-no-one-gets-hurt' mentality.

At that point, I just hoped I didn't witness anyone yelling at the staff over  a missing "Happy Anniversary!" cake. 

Celebrity's new iLounge concept, featuring

Apple MacBook's.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders 

But more good things: the cold hand towels and water or juice that are offered before re-boarding the ship in port were absolutely fantastic, and something other lines should take note of.  We took advantage of this every day, as it was quite warm on our voyage.  In fact, the only day it rained - during our call at Saint John, New Brunswick - the crew was on top of everything.  Instead of cold towels, hot chocolate awaited passengers re-joining the ship, and towels on deck chairs were swapped out for tartan blankets.  An excellent touch.

Another great touch is the ice bucket and cold pitcher of water in each stateroom.  We made use of it frequently, and I will definitely miss that on other lines.

It was also nice to see Celebrity do the traditional "midnight" Chocolate Buffet once during the cruise.  A tradition that used to be commonplace, its inclusion is slowly falling by the wayside as lines look to cut costs.  Located up in the lounge on Deck 11 (the former "Bar at the Edge of the Earth"), the spread of delicious treats, ice sculptures, and drinks was the most impressive I've seen in a long, long time.

Also of note was the new iLounge concept, done in partnership with Apple.  In addition to the usual email and standard internet use most passengers rely on, a variety of Apple hardware was available for purchase and passengers could indulge in their creative sides by participating in classes focusing on how to use iPhoto and iMovie, as well as a variety of other applications.  In doing this, Celebrity has positioned itself uniquely in the cruise market, with most lines offering only Windows-based courses.

Don't get me wrong - we had a good cruise, and there were certainly some excellent positives about the voyage and the ship itself.  But after returning home, the more I thought about it, the more the whole thing got under my skin.  And the more it got under my skin, the more I began to feel something different from the usual, pleasant, post-cruise afterglow.

I felt ripped off - in terms of time, money and the cruise itself.

Indeed, this was the first voyage in a long time that I didn't pick up brochures onboard to start researching the next one.  It was also the first voyage where I didn't purchase a valuable Future Cruise Credit - a common, almost automatic purchase for me these days.

I've heard from several of the very helpful people on CruiseCritic's Celebrity Forum that the new ships - Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Eclipse - are well worth the price of admission, and set the bar high for other lines.  The crux of the problem, though, is this: if you're going to build new, breathtaking vessels, it shouldn't come at the expense of the maintenance and overall cruise experience on your older vessels. 

I wrote to Celebrity last week, hoping to get some clarification on some of the issues we faced.  Were there mitigating circumstances?  Is Celebrity Summit being used as a test vessel for certain ideas, namely the removal of a true casual dining alternative?

To date, I have not heard back from them regarding these questions.

A representative from the line did call me on Monday though in response to the comment card I had filled out onboard.  He was genuinely concerned about some of the things we experienced onboard, and said he would pass our comments along to the higher-ups aboard the ship and at corporate headquarters.  He agreed that the issues we faced shouldn't be present on any Celebrity ship.

In the end, I just cannot recommend Celebrity Summit based on my experience.  Our voyage was a long way off from the kind of service we received aboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas in January, and a colossal world apart from my experiences aboard similar itineraries with Princess and Holland America Line.  The lack of maintenance and some of the more Fawlty Towers-esque moments, in the end, got the better of us.


Will I try Celebrity again?  I'd like to think so.  I just hope the success of their newest vessels isn't coming at the expense of the ships that got them here.

A full photo-tour of the Celebrity Summit, including interior and exterior public spaces, can be found here.

The Other Half of the Ship

A crew-only area aboard Celebrity Summit.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Ever wonder what it's like to work - and live - aboard a cruise ship?  Cruisemates blogger Paul Motter takes us on a tour of the crew quarters aboard Norwegian Epic and compares them with his own experiences working aboard the ships of Holland America Line and the now-defunct Royal Viking Line.

In my own experiences touring ships 'behind the scenes', I am continually impressed and awed by how clean, organized, and well laid-out everything is once you venture below the lowest passenger deck.  Most ships usually have a large alleyway one deck below the passenger accommodation that runs the length of the ship.  Usually, this is nicknamed after a large US or European highway, and from that, all the major functions of the ship branch off.  

In the refrigeration spaces - where food is stored in separate rooms according to type - rooms are so clean you could eat off the floor.  Really.  The layout of everything is ingenious, and lends itself well to easy organization and storage.  Of course, it has to be that way: the amount of provisions needed weekly on a 3,000-passenger vessel are mind-boggling.  

For me, my biggest surprise was the discovery of a machine as large as a 1970's photo-copier whose sole task was folding napkins.  Somehow, I still imagined that was done by hand - not so.  Clean linens are fed through one side, and folded dinner napkins spit out the other side of the machine, somewhat affectionately dubbed "The Mangler."  Innovative as it may be, you don't want to get your hands anywhere near it.

In fact, in most crew spaces - while they are more starkly decorated than their passenger counterparts - seem very comfortable.  In fact, the only real sign you're on a ship is suggested by markings on the floors and walls at various lengths.  Covered in bright, striped paint lasting a foot or so and topped by an emergency warning light, these are the watertight doors designed to prevent flooding or eventual sinking in the event of an emergency.  And when that light goes off and that door starts to close, you get out of the way - unlike an elevator, kicking the door with your foot will not stop its relentless move forward.  Indeed, the motors that drive the door will continue to push it forward until it has made a complete seal with the bulkhead opposite.

Curious about working aboard a cruise ship?  Visit your favorite cruise line and search for their Employment page - and get ready to begin your career at sea.

Photo of the Week - August 5

Celebrity Summit docked at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal

in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Our Photo of the Week for August 5th showcases Celebrity Summit docked at the port of Saint John, New Brunswick on July 22, 2010.  We're pleased to announce our photograph is also featured on the ShipAlphabet page for Celebrity Summit - a unique feature that is part of the outstanding and highly regarded ShipParade website.

Saint John is experiencing something of a boom this year, thanks to increased demand for Canada & New England cruises, which in turn led to a longer-than-usual season for the friendly seaside town.  Past visitors to the city will find themselves greeted with a brand-new cruise terminal, dubbed the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal.  

Previously, guests disembarked via metal gangways that led to a concrete apron pier-side.  Now, guests are greeted by a very modern, yet classically designed, terminal - complete with tide-sensing gangways that can be positioned to suit any ship.  Bargain hunters will be happy to note the large white tent, previously the only thing on the pier and savior of the last-minute souvenir shopper, is still there - positioned in roughly the same spot, just outside the terminal.

Inside Saint John City Market.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

What to do in Saint John?  You might want to take a stroll through the Saint John City Market - the oldest continually operating farmer's market in Canada.  Completed in 1876 and constructed largely of wooden trusses resembling an inverted ship's hull, it is said to have been built by then-unemployed ship's carpenters.

The remarkable, free-standing spiral staircase

located in the Saint John County Courthouse.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders 

Another unique architectural gem in Saint John is located in the historic Saint John County Courthouse, and is just a two-minute walk from the City Market, on Sydney Street.  Built between 1825 and 1830, the courthouse is notable for its free-standing spiral staircase - the only known example in all of Canada.  

Regardless of what you choose to do, it's hard not to enjoy yourself in this quiet, cozy, friendly town.

News Roundup: August 4

Before I begin the News Roundup for today, I know you're all asking: Where's the photo-tour and review of the Celebrity Summit? 

It's coming - never fear!

There were some mitigating issues on our recent Celebrity cruise that were very contrary to the awards and accolades normally received by the line.  Any follower of the cruise industry knows how celebrated the line and its ships are, particularly their newest set of vessels in the Equinox Class.  The review is written, but I'm waiting to hear back from Celebrity on a few points - I think it's important to give them an opportunity to respond before anything is published.

The photo tour should be up in the next few days; the full review will appear on Saturday.

On with the news:

Bart de Boer's excellent ShipParade site has a complete photo-tour of Holland America's newest addition to the fleet: the MS Nieuw Amsterdam.  Sister ship to the highly-successful Eurodam, the Niewu Amsterdam continues to refine and enhance not only the design of Holland America's popular ships, but the onboard product as well.  The 2010-built ship is also the fourth vessel in the company's history to bear the name, and if early reviews are any indication, the ship is well on its way to becoming as popular as her predecessor, the 1983-built former Nieuw Amsterdam which left the fleet in 2003 and now sails as Thomson Spirit.

Of interest to air travelers, Mexicana has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, and insolvency proceedings in Mexico.  The largest and oldest airline in Mexico, Mexicana operates a variety of routes to North, Central and South America and is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance.  While Mexicana has stated it will operate a full schedule while it restructures its finances and operations, passengers slated to travel from North America to Mexico or South American destinations on the carrier should watch the situation closely, particularly if they are on a codeshare flight - a flight sold under one airline but operated by Mexicana.  As part of the Oneworld Alliance, American Airlines has flights that may be code-shared with Mexicana.  Some news articles are still reporting (erroneously) that Mexicana is part of the Star Alliance - it was, but left to join Oneworld in November of 2009.

An odd situation in Bermuda: Bernews reports that, after a confusing incident yesterday in which police in  St. George's, Bermuda received reports of a weapon at the cruise ship terminal where passengers aboard Holland America Line's Veendam were disembarking by tender, no weapon was found.  The incident, which Bermudan authorities took very seriously, inconvenienced dozens of passengers trying to get to and from the 1,258-passenger ship.  It is not clear who reported the incident, and authorities are looking for the help of the public in the matter.

Finally, it seems the heat got to be too much last week at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.  YourName.com reports that dozens of longshore workers called in sick during a turnaround day for Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess. Adding to the hot weather were the scorching emotions of embarking and disembarking passengers, who faced delays of up to four hours due to the lack of workers.