A good deal of what occurred on the night ofJanuary 13, 2012 after Costa Cruises 2006-built,114,137 gross ton, 3,780-passenger CostaConcordia departed Civitavecchia on an un-realizedseven night Mediterranean cruise remains amystery. What is known is that the ship, while underthe command of Captain Francesco Schettino,diverted from her normal course to Savona to do asail-by “salute” to the Tuscan island of Giglio.

The Costa Concordia had performed a similarmaneuver off Giglio on August 11, 2011 withoutincident. But on that fateful Friday the Thirteenth,she ventured too close (or perhaps not closeenough). The intended moment of joy turned totragedy when the ship struck a reef shortly after 9:30PM. Badly holed and with her machinery spacesflooded, she lost power, took on an immediate list toport and went adrift in the open sea. Mercifully(whether due to wind and currents or skilledmaneuvering), an hour later, the ship had returned tothe shores of Giglio with a severe list to starboardthat progressed until she settled on an embankmentat a 70-degree angle. In the chaos, 4,220 passengersand crew managed to escape in lifeboats or swim toshore while 32 ultimately perished. Had the ship notreturned to shore, she would have foundered in deepwater with a much greater loss of life. During therescue operation, which was largely coordinated bythe ship’s crew and the Italian Coast Guard, thecaptain somehow “fell” into a boat and never madeit back aboard to continue the evacuation.

In the days, weeks and months that followed,while the Concordia lay capsized with a hugeboulder jutting from her keel, accusations flewbetween the disgraced captain, members of theship’s crew, passengers, Costa Line officials andpundits within the cruise community. As the legalsystem continues to parse the details and hopefullysheds some light on specific actions taken by the

officers on board, a contract for the CostaConcordia’s removal has been awarded to TitanSalvage. On July 31, 2012, the Florida-based firmbegan the long, complex and dangerous process ofsecuring the wreck, which has been in danger ofbreaking up or slipping off a narrow ledge intodeeper water and destroying a protected marinehabitat. If all goes well, the Costa Concordia shouldbe raised by mid-2013 and towed off to a shipyardin Italy where she will most likely be demolished.

When an assignment brought me toCivitavecchia last October, it provided a rare chanceto witness the Concordia wreck with my own eyes.With only a day (and an off-season Sun-day, at that)to get to Giglio and back, it was necessary to rent acar since train, bus and ferry schedules werecompletely at odds. Fortunately, my travelingcompanion Rob Di Stefano can operate a manualtransmission and loves doing so; otherwise thisexpedition would have been a “non-starter”.

We set off on the coastal highway for anortherly drive through the golden Tuscan coun-tryside to the town of Orbetello, then turned westfor a winding ride along the Monte Argentariopromontory to a seaside hamlet called Porto SantoStefano. One cannot get to Isola del Giglio withouttaking one of two ferries that make several dailyround trips from Porto Santo Stefano’s charming,stucco-lined harbor, which is overlooked by twoSpanish-built fortresses.

Before long, we were clambering on board the1972-built Maregiglio ferry Isola del Giglio andsettling in a bench on starboard Bridge Deck. Aftera morning of scorching sun, thick humidity andbiting flies, it was a great relief to be in the soothingbreeze created by the 1,273-ton vessel as she sped

A LAST LOOK: COSTA CONCORDIA AT GIGLIOby Peter Knego

Vol. 32, Issue 1 - January 15, 2013 “Our 32th Year of Continuous Publication” Single issue price $2.50

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY

(Continued on page 12)

EDITORIALOver the past 33 years The World Ocean &

Cruise Liner Society has had it share ofgrowing pains. Being a small organization,operating on an even smaller budget, left verylittle room to expand in areas where we wouldlike to go. Over this time we have had todepend mostly on expensive third parties tohandle our printing, mailing, mailing list(membership) management and websitedesign and management.

Unfortunately in doing so we have had ourshare of issues as we watched several ofour vendors over the past two years closetheir doors over the past two years. One ofmy major goals has been to get a newwebsite worthy of our members up andrunning and like some of our other issuesthis has become an ongoing problem. Everytime we would lay out plans, and hire acompany to proceed, the costs would grow

and grow far beyond the reach of our currentmembership fees.

Luckily, I am happy to announce that 2013will introduce improvement in all theseareas and a wonderful new website. At thetime of putting this issue together our newsite was in the final stages and locatedat http://www.famousfunnels.com fordevelopment. Hopefully by the time this issuereaches you it would have replaced ourcurrent site at wocls.org. If not, please stopby the temporary URL to have a peek.Once up and running I will inform you all howto register.

On another note I would like to thank ourmembers who are sailing with my friend andOcean & Cruise News writer Art Sbarsky atthe end of the month aboard Celebrity Cruises'new Celebrity Reflection. From early reportsthe ship is amazing. I am sure a good time willbe had by all, while at the same time helpinga worthwhile cause.

Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

Tom Cassidy

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Blue Hawaii, an Elvis Tribute - The King ofRock and Roll lives on with this special voyagethat celebrates his life, his music and hisinfluence on a generation. Get “All Shook Up,”put on your “Blue Suede Shoes” and head to the“Heartbreak Hotel” as we take you downmemory lane through Elvis Presley’s greatesthits. A complimentary tour of Graceland getsthings off to a rockin’ start.

Sailings: May 19, 2013 to May 26, 2013(Memphis - New Orleans - 7 nights) Embark inour homeport, Memphis, TN for your 7-nightjourney on the Lower Mississippi River. Enjoyhistoric ports of call along the way, includingVicksburg, MS and Baton Rouge, LA. Finishyour voyage in the city famous for its good foodand good times - New Orleans, LA.

American Queen Steamboat provides “Thegreatest vacation value in America” andIncludes a Free One-Night Hotel Stay the nightbefore you step aboard the Steamer AmericanQueen, enjoy the comfort and convenience of acomplimentary one-night stay in a fine hotel inyour embarkation city. Arriving the day beforeyour voyage begins, you are able to relax, havedinner and get a full night’s sleep.

For additional information and reservations,kindly contact the Great American SteamboatCompany at 888-749-5280, visit us online atwww.AmericanQueenSteamboatCompany.comor call your professional travel agent.

On December 13th her Royal Highness TheDuchess of Cornwall came face-to-face with herown image in Southampton, England, when sheunveiled a specially-commissioned portrait ofherself on board Queen Victoria, the Cunardliner named by The Duchess in December 2007.Her Royal Highness made a special return visitto take part in celebrations marking the ship’sfifth anniversary.

“We are delighted that Her Royal Highnessjoined us for such a special day in the life of the

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LOOKING BACKA look at what was making news in Ocean &

Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twentyyears ago.

Five Years Ago – January 2008… RoyalCaribbean makes an unprecedented move byasking the public to help them name their newGenesis class ship which upon her debut will bethe largest ship in the world… All three CunardQueens, the newest Queen Victoria, the largestQueen Mary 2 and the eldest Queen Elizabeth 2converged in New York harbor near the Statue ofLiberty on January 14… Royal CaribbeanInternational’s Voyager of the Seas becomes thelargest cruise ship ever to be based in the GulfCoast and to sail from the Port of Galveston.

Ten Years Ago – January 2003… OceaniaCruises has become the 25th member of theCruise Line International Association (CLIA)…Cunard Line announces that the Queen Mary 2will be positioned in the Greek port of Piraeus toserve as a floating hotel for the 2004 AthensOlympic Games… Norwegian Cruise Line hasannounced that it’s newest ship, the NorwegianDawn, will be based year-round in New Yorkstarting in May 2003.

Fifteen Years Ago – January 1998… Theformer American Hawaii Cruises’ Constitutionsinks while under tow on its way to scrappers inIndia… Carnival Cruise Lines announces that theCarnival Destiny averaged a record 113.3percent occupancy during the course of the pastyear… Norwegian Cruise Line announces that itis building a 76,000-ton, 2,000 passenger shipfrom the uncompleted hull of what was to havebeen the Costa Olympia.

Twenty Years Ago – January 1993… CarnivalCruise Lines makes available a series ofspecially tailored wedding services aboard theirships… Delta Queen Steamboat Company ordersits third steamboat, a 420-passenger vesselscheduled to enter service in late 1994…Renaissance Cruises announces that it will behome porting one of it ships in the SeychellesIslands for a series of 10 and 11-night cruises.

ship and her crew,” said Peter Shanks, presidentof Cunard Line. “Queen Victoria is very muchThe Duchess’ ship, and we are honoured thatshe continues to have such an active interest inthe ship and her crew.”

The visit to Queen Victoria by The Duchessof Cornwall also involved The Prince’s Trust.The Trust’s “Get into Customer Service”programme, delivered by Cunard, recently gavetwelve local unemployed young people, ages 16to 23 years, the skills and confidence to find ajob in the customer services industry throughwork placements across four Cunarddepartments. These young people were on boardQueen Victoria to meet Her Royal Highness,who presented to them their certificates forcompleting the “Get into” programme.

As a Gold Patron of The Prince’s Trust,Cunard has enjoyed a long and successfulrelationship with the youth charity since 2007and has so far raised nearly $1.3 million for itswork in the United Kingdom. Three in fouryoung people supported by The Trust progressinto work, education or training.“We are proudto support The Prince’s Trust – helping youngpeople in today’s challenging world issomething we are committed to,” said PeterShanks, president of Cunard Line.

For more information about Queen Victoriaand to book a voyage, contact your TravelAgent, call Cunard toll free at 1-800-728-6273,or visit www.cunard.com.

Seabourn has announced a SignatureSavings Event offering travelers substantialsavings and a host of value-added extras on aselection of 100 ultra-luxury voyages on itsaward-winning fleet of intimate, all-suite shipsthroughout 2013 and 2014. The SignatureSavings selection includes cruises of seven to21 days on all six Seabourn ships in theMediterranean, Northern Europe, AtlanticCrossings, Arabia & India, Southeast Asia,Canada & New England, the Caribbean, andAustralia & New Zealand. Cruise departure

dates range from April, 2013 into March, 2014.Signature Savings Fares are up to 50 percent

or more below published brochure fares. Inaddition, there are a number of CombinationCruises offering an additional savings up to 15percent for combining two or more cruises, andsome combinations even offer complimentaryVeranda Suite upgrades. Bookings made inPenthouse or premium category suites will earnan additional $1,000 per suite shipboard credit.It is recommended guests book by February28th for best selection.

Seabourn’s ships carry between 208 and450 guests, exclusively in ocean-view suites.Complimentary open bars throughout thevoyage and open-seating dining add to arelaxed, club- like ambiance that encourages aneasy sociability among the guests. Award-winning cuisine is graciously served in avariety of venues, and the onboardentertainment options are varied as well. Alongwith beautiful, understated elegance in designand thoughtful, quality furnishings andmaterials, the Seabourn ships provide one ofthe world’s finest vacation options andrepresent an exceptional value to travelers.

For more details about the award-winningSeabourn fleet, or to explore the worldwideselection of Seabourn cruising options, contacta professional travel agent, call Seabourn at 1-800- 929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

Holland America Line has dramaticallyincreased its video library onwww.hollandamerica.com with the recentaddition of 325 short videos showcasing theline’s shore excursions in Alaska and selectports around the world.

Featuring 275 videos on Alaska tours and 53port overviews with shore excursion details,guests can get a glimpse of select tours beforedeparting on a cruise and deciding which onesto book. Whether it’s a flightseeing tourinAnchorage, Alaska, or exploring the streets ofQuebec City — the premium line’s top-ratedport call — the videos show the beauty and

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diversity of each port while highlighting aparticular tour.

“Videos are the best way to show ourguests what’s in store when they book a tourand to let them know what they can expect,”said Richard Meadows , executive vicepresident, marketing, sales and guest programsfor Holland America Line. “We have morethan 4,000 shore excursions, so these videoshelp our guests select the right tour that fitstheir desires.”

When in port, guests on a Holland AmericaLine cruise can choose from several diverseshore excursions including OverlandAdventures, off-the-beaten-track explorations,Signature Collection private-car touring andexclusive Medallion Collection excursions.

For more information about HollandAmerica Line’s cruises and CruiseTours,consult a professional travel seller, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visitwww.hollandamerica.com

Oceania Cruises has announced thelaunching of two high-value Wave Seasonpromotions, including Business Class airupgrades from $799 per person, one-way, onselect 2013 Europe sailings. Additionally,guests can take advantage of the two-for-oneUnlimited Shore Excursion packages nowavailable on select 2013 Alaska sailings; avalue of up to $999 per stateroom. All offersare good on new cruise reservations bookednow through March 31, 2013. The BusinessClass air upgrade is available for those guestswho select a Veranda stateroom or above. TheUnlimited Shore Excursion package in Alaskaprovides guests the opportunity to truly exploreall of the ports of call on their voyage at asubstantial savings.

“Our goal is always to provide exceptionalvalue,” said Kunal Kamlani, the line’spresident. “The Business Class upgrade and ourtwo-for-one Unlimited Shore Excursionpackage offers are a way for us to deliver evengreater value for our guests who want toexplore Europe and Alaska this year. BusinessClass seats as well as shore excursion capacity

are limited, so we encourage guests to maketheir reservations early.”

Take advantage of the Business Class airupgrades from $799 per person, one-way, on thefollowing 2013 European sailings: Marina:June 11, July 15, October 29 Riviera: May 5,25, July 3, 13, August 6, 16, 28, September 7,29 Nautica; August 27, September 6, 28,November 4. Enjoy two-for-one UnlimitedShore Excursion packages, a value of up to$999, on the following 2013 Alaskan sailings:Regatta: May 9, 18:

June 4, 28, July 5, 22, 29, August 5. To makereservations or for more information, visitwww.OceaniaCruises.com, call Oceania Cruisesat 800-531-5658 or contact your travel agent.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced twoWave Season promotions on select 2013sailings, including free Internet access forguests for the entirety of their voyage.Additionally, travel agents will receive a $100gift card for every booking made. The twoWave Season promotions are good on newcruise reservations booked now through March31, 2013.

“Regent Seven Seas Cruises has alwaysoffered the most all-inclusive luxury cruisingexperience available,” said Randall Soy, CTC,the line’s executive vice president. “FreeInternet access further enhances theconvenience and value of the all-inclusiveexperience for our guests, and the gift cardrewards our valued travel agent partners. Weencourage guests to make their reservationsearly, as capacity is limited.”

The Wave Season promotions are valid onthe following 2013 sailings: Seven SeasNavigator: March 22, May 22, June 12: SevenSeas Mariner April 24, June 1, 28, July 8,August 29, September 18:

Seven Seas Voyager: July 1, 11, 28 August14, October 6. To make reservations or for moreinformation, visit www.RSSC.com call RegentSeven Seas Cruises at 877-505-5370 or contactyour travel agent.

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THE LINE – Scenic Cruises is, as the namewould imply, the cruise division of the verypopular and highly thought of, Scenic Tours.This Australian based company features landtours of the very best of Europe, including:Eastern Europe; Britain & Ireland; France, Italy& Dalmatia; Turkey & Greece; Spain, Portugal& Morocco; and, Scandinavia. They offer toursof varying lengths and many of their shortertours can be combined easily into longer toursfor those with more time. They are very upscaletours with many very nice things included in theoverall price of a tour: different sightseeingoptions in each port; different dining options; adedicated European-based team of English-speaking guides; group sizes of about 32; specialcultural enrichment options; luxury motorcoaches; all gratuities and porterage; airportrepresentatives; whisper headsets for better tourexperiences; airport transfers; and more. Thecompany’s goal is to make it a very posh,

enjoyable way of seeing great places, both well-known and off the beaten path.

The cruise division, Scenic Cruises, nowconsists of eight riverboats: seven will betraversing the great waterways all over Europe in2013 (many of the river cruises can also be tied into a land vacation, making the experience bothlonger and more complete); and one, Scenic Tsar,the company’s newest ship, which will be doingcruises between St. Petersburg and Moscow, thetwo major tourist destinations in Russia.

THE SHIP – Looking at or cruising on ScenicTsar, it would be difficult to believe that, not longago, the company took an existing ship, strippedit down to its original steel hull, floors and ceilingand then rebuilt it to what it is today. They had todo this in order to get permission by the RussianMaritime Authority to create the ship; at least80% had to be new. But such are the terms a

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SHIP OF THE MONTH: SCENIC TSARby Art Sbarsky

Scenic Tsar Photo Courtesy of Scenic Cruises

company must follow if it wants to enter theRussian river-cruise market. After the successfulconstruction program and naming it Scenic Tsar,Scenic Tours did indeed enter the market this pastsummer and will have its second season in 2013.

Glen Moroney, Scenic Tours/CruisesManaging Director, said that in order to operatea ship that met, “both our world-class standardsand the complex Russian regulations, we choseto embark on a total gut and re-build of anexisting ship. Scenic Tsar is a new style of shipand will take the experience of river cruising inRussia to a whole new level...(the) objective is todeliver the same high level of quality and serviceover all of our products with professionallytrained and experienced staff providing astandard of excellence.”

Having the opportunity to take a specialcruise at the end of the regular summer seasonprovided the opportunity to experience ScenicTsar in full operation with the only changeshaving to do with the itinerary. But elevennights including three nights docked inMoscow, five nights cruising along variousRussian waterways such as the Moscow Canaland the famed Volga River, followed by threenights in St. Petersburg, fully showed what nextyear’s 14-night Imperial Jewels of Russia RiverCruise is going to be like.

A ship that carries only 112 guests isn’t largeobviously but the boat never felt crowded. Alongthe river of course there’s scenery on both sidesmaking being outdoors the place to be. The uppersun deck did not get much use due to the weatherbut would be gorgeous during summer monthsthat will have lots and lots of daylight. On boardthe ship in-between sightseeing adventures,meals were all served open-seating; there areenough seats for everyone all at one time for anygiven meal, with breakfast and lunch usuallybuffets. Service was overall exceptionally goodand no one complained of not having enough toeat. The consensus though was that the food wasa bit bland.

For those interested there was a small gym,salon and massage room. The 56 staterooms andsuites are divided into eight booking categories

but they really break down to four types: thelarger Royal Panorama Suites; Royal Suites;Deluxe and Balcony Suites; and StandardStaterooms. The word suite is a bit of a misnomerin most cases (one room, no matter the size, is nota suite) but the rooms are quite nicely put togetherand have all the amenities one really needs. Onlythe Standard Staterooms do not have their ownprivate balconies. Further changes, such as morecloset hanging space, were to be made during thewinter when the ship is laid up.

THE CRUISE – The trip actually starts whenguests are met at the airport in either Moscow orSt. Petersburg and escorted directly to the ship.This is done via private limousine or busdepending on how many are arriving at one time.It’s a perfect example of how the company makesthe Russian experience not only seamless buteasy for incoming people. Russia can be a bitoverwhelming in terms of officialdom regardingvisas and such and the roads and traffic aredemanding. The escorts and hands-on guidancereally help.

Once on board the ship, which only carries amaximum of 112 guests (there are no thirdberths), everything is set up for a very enjoyablecruise. River cruises by definition are differentthan ocean going voyages since there are portsevery day and lots of scenery to watch inbetween, not huge expanses of ocean water. In thecase of Scenic Tsar, the first and last days arespent exploring either Moscow or St. Petersburg.All of the highlights of each city are covered,with guests being escorted in comfy buses with aScenic Ambassador (i.e., tour guide) on board aswell as a local guide in most cases. The ScenicAmbassadors, who sail with the ship naturally,are Russian, experienced, knowledgeable, andfriendly, etc. The local guides that I encounteredwere excellent with very good English.

Moscow and St. Petersburg are amazingplaces to visit. This particular cruise started inMoscow which, for an American growing upduring the Cold War and going through thevarious changes in Russia’s government andculture over the succeeding decades, it’s anemotional experience as much as an intellectualone. The very idea of standing in Red Square

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(learning that the Red does not stand forCommunism) or going inside the Kremlin (whichdoes indeed very appropriately mean fortress) isjust amazing. At the periphery of Red Square isthe world-famous St. Basil’s cathedral, which isevery bit as amazing as it is touted. On anotherside, opposite the iconic Lenin’s Tomb, is thewell-known GUM department store which, nowthat Russia has become more westernized, ismuch like a very nice Macy’s Department Store,food courts and retail stores included. Whileinside the Kremlin, we visited the main museum,the Armoury, with its amazing collectionsfeaturing Russia history. The most popular spotwas the display of about a dozen Faberge Eggs,each with its own story to tell. Also to be visitedwithin the Kremlin walls are the world’s largestbell and world’s largest cannon. They’re bothextremely impressive even if neither of themworks (and never have). A view spot from acrossthe canal gives an overview of just how vast thecity is and how many onion-domed churchesthere are. Going underground and riding thefamed Moscow Metro was fun since so many ofthe stations are so gorgeously decorated. Inreality, it’s like riding the NYC subway system;naturally, the ads and all wall signs are in Russianhowever. Part of the guided tour took us to one ofthe main pedestrian shopping streets for somefree time; as it was a drizzly day, some of uswound up in a Starbucks ($7 for a medium-sizedhot chocolate). On one of our Moscow eveningswe were treated to a private concert with a co-edchoral group who sang traditional Russian folksongs mixed with church music. We had free timeone afternoon and some guests went back to theship while others felt comfortable enough towander. Being part of the latter mentality, six ofus walked around, had a fun Italian lunch (wecouldn’t find the local spot we were looking for),found the Bolshoi Theater, the incredibleimpressionist museum and just simply absorbedthe feeling of being in Moscow. A trip to theMemorial Museum of Cosmonautics (a museumof Smithsonian quality) gave us a view of thespace war from the other side. And, during theregular summer cruise, guests are treated to aperformance by the very famous Moscow Circus.

In St. Petersburg, we went to a private balletperformance in the former palace of Russian

Prince Vladimir (actually the last Imperial palacebuilt in St. Petersburg. The small-ish stage did notdetract from thoroughly enjoying the high qualityof the experience and there was even an eighteen-piece live orchestra as the accompaniment. But,here, as it was in Moscow, it was certainly thedaytime sightseeing options that were theoverwhelming treats (and we had one less daythan the regular cruises have): St. Isaacs is knownfor its gilded dome, mosaics and icons; PeterhofPalace was the summer home of Russian Royalty;at Catherine’s Palace, guests get to explore thebuilding as well as the gardens and fountains; thePeter and Paul Fortress, burial ground of most ofthe Russian Emperors and empresses; and, ofcourse, the Hermitage, considered to be one ofthe great art museums in the world (its size isoverwhelming so if a guest has a specific target interms of what to see, such as the FrenchImpressionist section, they can simply divertfrom the guided tour). Again, free time wasprovided and guests could stay in the city or headback to the ship. Gaining more comfort, it didseem like most everyone stayed in town.

In both cities, logistics were handledbeautifully with buses always on time and wherethey were supposed to be. And this is no smallfeat in a city such as Moscow which offers somuch to see in a variety of places but traffic isstop-and-go seemingly all the time. In point offact, both cities can be a little large, crowded andoverwhelming but they really are not off-puttingfor all but the most timid travelers. Even ridingthe Moscow metro on one’s one is a fun way ofgetting around.

In between the two Great Russian cities,stops are made at a bunch of small ports alongthe way: Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritsy, Kizhi Islandand Mandrogi. On my cruise we were forced toskip Goritsy and Kizhi Island due to mid-October fog along the river. But the ship dealtwith this nicely and even showed someflexibility, figuring out a way to substitute asmall, not-usually-called-upon port where thelocals were quite surprised to see 80+ non-Russians wandering around all of a sudden.

The three ports we did get to stop at,Mandrogi, Yaroslavl and Uglich all offered

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something different and gave us a chance to seewhat local life was really like in small Russiantowns. In Uglich we were greeted by localsoffering us the traditional Russian welcome ofbread (really tasty) to be dipped in rock salt(really salty). We did get to see lots ofchurches, all with a different story to tell. InYaroslavl, for example, which was founded in1010, making it older than Moscow, we visiteda church that is designated as a UNESCOWorld Heritage site. It had amazingarchitecture outside and friezes, paintings andchandeliers inside. We also got to see anamazing display of the famous Russian lacquerboxes, all locally painted. In Mandrogi, whichwas constructed by artisans after World War II,we got to wander around the homes withindividually amazing architecture, do someshopping, and, most importantly, we weretreated to a great local lunch featuredoutstanding borscht and pork, live Russian folkmusic and lots and lots of vodka.

PUBLIC ROOMS AND ACTIVITIES – It’snot as big ship so of course there aren’t a wholelot of public areas. But two become the primaryspots on the ship. Inside, there’s the Tsar Loungewhere virtually all of the daily program activitiessuch as lectures, cooking demonstrations andlive music take place. It has a variety of verycomfortable seats and sofas and there’s a baropen from mid-morning all through the day andevening. Outside, up top of the four public-deckship is Sun Deck which has very comfortableseating and is naturally the place where mostguests will hang out when the ship is sailing andthe weather is nice. Aft on Neva Deck is asmaller place they call an Open Air Lounge. It’smore wind-protected than the upper Sun Deckbut it’s also the smoking area. Over the winterthe company will be adding a covering to helpshelter this area; there will also be the ability toserve beverages back here.

The only other public areas (outside of thedining room) are the reception area (open all dayand very efficiently staffed); small beauty salonand fitness center; and a massage room.Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout theship and there are two computers set up for freeguest use.

Daily programs varied depending on howmuch time was going to be off the ship andwere occasionally changed due to the changein itinerary. But ship staff did a great job inbeing flexible.

We were treated to a wide variety of non-traditional things to enjoy. I never would havesuspected that I would have a chance to hand-paint my own nesting Matreshka wooden doll.After creating something that would never win abest-in-show award, I had a greater appreciationfor the skills local painters have in creating thesebeauties. We also had the chance to make outown blinis, both easier and harder than it looks. Idid not cook my own but enjoyed what newfriends created with varying degrees of skill. I’llleave it to the pros from now on. There were twoRussian language classes. Going into the tripwith the ability to say Da and Nyet, borscht andvodka, I had a lot to learn. But it a difficultlanguage to say the least and my range has onlybeen marginally improved.

There were several talks bringing the historyof Russian to life. Ship staff and the ScenicAmbassadors also had a question and answersession and they were all quite forthcomingabout what life in Russia is like, not hesitating toexpress their own opinions and not worryingabout being spied upon by their owngovernment. Well, not too much anyway.Perestroika is working!

Every night after dinner there was liveRussian and/or English music in the main (andonly) lounge that was very enjoyable. There wasalso a guest talent show and liar’s club and otherevents that were much more enjoyable than usualcruise ship fare.

SUITES AND STATEROOMS – The ship’s 56rooms are broken down into eight pricingcategories. But, in reality, there really are fourtypes of rooms: Royal Panoramic Suites; DeluxeBalcony Suites and Royal Suites; Balcony Suites;and Standard Staterooms. Of great significance isthat only the Standard Staterooms do not havetheir own balconies. Thus, fully 93% of all roomshave a private place from which to watch thescenery roll by.

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The largest rooms, the two 334 square footRoyal Panorama Suites, also have a fantasticlocation on Volga Deck, looking out over thefront of the boat. Next come the four RoyalSuites at 300 square feet and the 12 DeluxeBalcony Suites, all at 215 square feet. The 34Balcony Suites also measure out at 215 squarefeet and the only difference between them andthe four 161 square feet Standard Staterooms isthe lack of a balcony. Interestingly the balconieson the Balcony Suites have a coveredrectangular shape versus the uncoverednarrower balconies that the Deluxe BalconySuites have. Agents should be ready to discussthese differences in size/shape with clients tohelp make an educated choice (it’s not bad togive up the little bit of room in favor of thebetter, protected, balcony).

Something all rooms have in common is avery clean, sleek look that seems to place anemphasis on efficient design rather than heavy,

large furniture. The company is making somechanges over the winter when the ship is laid upbefore the 2013 river season in Russia (such asmore drawer and hanging space).

There’s plenty of electricity in the roomsbut most of it is European 220 design. Guestsneed to bring their own electrical adaptors toavoid problems.

Various amenities include satellite TV(including CNN), mini-bar and in-room easy-to-operate safe. One very nice thing is the constantsupply of complimentary bottled water, both inthe rooms and when going ashore.

FOOD AND DINING – Meals are served in theopen-seating Crystal Dining Room adjacent tothe Tsar Lounge. Breakfast is buffet-style withsome items custom-made; lunch is acombination of primarily buffet items but with avariety of galley-made specialties as well; anddinner is all served courses. Occasionally, whenthe port tours come back late in the evening, anextensive buffet dinner is served. There areenough seats in the main dining room for allguests with a handful of tables for two; most arefours and sixes. Early and late riser breakfastsare also served via buffet in the Tsar Lounge anda limited lunch buffet is set up there as well.

Meals, while not elaborate in content orpresentations, are quite good if a bit bland. Onone night along the river, the salads wereChicken Fillet and Mushrooms or Smoked Eel,Fresh Tomatoes, Garlic and Red Onions; thesoups were Broccoli Cream with Blue Cheese orTomato Consommé; Main course were Steak a laMinute with Fondant Potatoes, ZucchiniCompote and Thyme Sauce or Trout served withPolenta, Carrot-Spaghetti and Saffron Sauce or aVegetable Pilaf; and there were several dessertsincluding fruit or cheese plates. Always availableitems were Salmon Steaks, Chicken Breast orBeef/Veal Steaks. Vegetarians were catered to atall meals. (Note: there’s no room service.)

SERVICE AND CREW – The crew of 65, 44of which are in the hospitality departments, areall Russian and really add to flavor of theexperience. Even though English is not their

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Circa 1965 French Line

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Passenger Capacity: 112 Builder: Shipyard of Brothers NobelNumber of Crew: 65 Registry: RussiaTonnage: 3,019 Entered Service: June 2012Length: 276 feet Propulsion: DieselBeam: 44 feet Passenger Decks: 4Draft: 13 feet

Ocean & Cruise News Classification: Specialty Cruise

Passenger Cabins:Suites w/Balcony .............................................52 Staterooms w/o Balcony...................................4

Passenger Services: Complimentary ship-wide Wi-Fi and two computers for complimentary guestuse; 24-hour reception desk; fitness center, wellness area (massage) and beauty salon; TsarLounge/Bar; one elevator (doesn’t go to sun deck); aft open air smoking lounge and expansive SunDeck; recently refurbished guest rooms and public spaces; satellite TV, in-room safe and mini-bar;complimentary bottled water replenished daily; complimentary airport transfers; beer, wine and softdrinks included with dinner/lunch; shore excursions and special shoreside-events included in fare;personal audio headsets on all shore excursions.

Restaurants: Crystal Dining Room, Tsar Lounge (for light breakfast/lunch buffets)

Grading System: A basic score of 2 indicates the ship being graded is performing to the generalstandards of the classification. A score of 3 indicates it is performing above what is normally expectedfor the classification. A score of 1 indicates it is performing below what is normally expected for theclassification. A + or – is used to indicate minor differences, but not enough to warrant a higher orlower whole number.

Level of Activity...............................................3 Quality of Ports ................................................3Air/Sea Program ...............................................N/A Passenger Conveniences...................................2+Alternate Dining ...............................................N/A Quality of Food ................................................2+Menu Selection .................................................2 Food Preparation ..............................................2+Food Presentation .............................................2 Stateroom Comfort ...........................................2+Overall ..............................................................2+

Suggested Tipping: ALL tips are included onboard and for shore excursions.

Strong Points: Itinerary, service, things included like shore excursions, special shoreside events andairport transfers.

Weak Points: Food somewhat bland, only covered outside area is for smokers, no room service.

CRUISE FACTS — SCENIC TSAR

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first language, most of them speak it very welland one’s ear gets used to the Russian accentfairly quickly. The Captain, who spoke virtuallyno English, always had a translator with him forthe welcoming and farewell parties as well asthe bridge tour.

The three Scenic Ambassadors and theCruise Director all spoke English quite well andthis is key since they are the primary interfacebetween the ship and guests, both on board andshoreside. The dining room staff was all morethan capable and service was usually quiteefficient and almost always perfect. They alsoreally wanted to make it a good experience andshowed some nice flexibility when it came tospecial orders or variations on the menu.

With 112 guests maximum and the total crewof 65, the guest/crew ratio of 1.7 compares veryfavorable to the ranks of the better mainstreamlines, being the same as Crystal Cruise andOceania Cruises.

CONCLUSION – My experience on the river isnot vast but I was very impressed with thepersonalized service and all inclusive nature ofthe cruise and I think it was a very well thoughtout itinerary. For someone going to Russia forthe first time, the two weeks of the experiencegives one a great chance to explore the two maincities, St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well aslots of smaller places, each with its ownfeatures, but in a comfortable, almost protectivecocoon on board for those who are not the mostadventurous people.

Scenic Cruise/Tours is headquartered inNewcastle, Australia, but they have a largeNorth American office in Vancouver, Canada.Their website has all the information one needsat www.scenictours.com. They can also be e-mailed at: usacanada@scenictours.com.

Note: not all American Travel agents aregoing to be familiar with Scenic Cruise yet asthey are really just beginning to make inroads.Prospective travelers should not be worriedabout this; it’s a very successful groundcompany and that success translates well to thegrowing cruise division.

into a ten-or-so-mile-wide patch of blue TyrrhenianSea between Santo Stefano and her namesakeisland. Early in the voyage, a sad-looking womanwith raven hair asked to be photographed withSanto Stefano in the background. Rob later told methat he saw her asking other passengers to do thesame as the little ship chugged along.

Initially, Isola Del Giglio was but a gracefulsilhouette in the strong backlight of the af-ternoonsun but eventually, off the ferry’s starboard wing, awhite segment along the shore morphed into adramatic and sobering sight.

As we grew nearer and the name on CostaConcordia’s bow and flanks could be read, we couldhear the sounds of welders’ torches and clankingsteel. The extended stabilizer and that giant boulderthat was wedged in her keel had since been removedand all of the windows and portholes on the ship’sport side had been sealed in metal plating.

Audible gasps resonated along the deck asfellow passengers pointed their cameras and shooktheir heads while we entered otherwise beautiful,serene Giglio harbor. When we began todisembark, my eyes met the wide stare of theraven-haired woman, who turned back to the shipand uttered, “Bless the beautiful lady and thosewho perished”, before disappearing into the crowd.

Once herded ashore, we had little time toreach the hill overlooking the wreck. It was sotempting to stop for a coffee and admire thetranquil beauty of Giglio but the last ferry back toPorto Santo Stefano would be leaving in a merehour. We hurtled up streets that seemed too steepfor cars to navigate, to a main road that circled thepromontory above the Concordia.

A small gathering of local women werepicnicking on the knoll and an elderly gentlemanwho lived on the outcrop welcomed us onto hisproperty. In the midst of clucking chickens, barkingdogs and those persistent, blood-thirsty flies, we dugout our cameras and clicked away.

Below, the once-proud Costa Concordia wasnow an unwitting monument to hubris and tragedy.

(A Last Look… continued from page 1)

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In our haste, there was no time to reflect upon whatunfolded in that rocky bay: the piles of deck chairslashed to the ship’s side; the half-cut yellow funnel;the missing mast and the titanic machinery operatedby an army of workers to ultimately right (bothmetaphorically and literally) the wreck.

Beyond the Concordia, we could see anotherlarge crane and workers’accommodation on a bargeoutside of the harbor, as well as the approachingToremar Lines ferry Giuseppe Rum, which wewould have to catch in a mere thirty minutes.

We scrambled back down the mountain, pastthose pastel residences and around the lovely littlemarina where a cafe called Doria ironically bore thename of another proud Italian ship that capsized.

The sound of workers and machinery grewlouder once again as the departing Giuseppe Rumbacked past the now-brightly-lit, fallen behemoth.As the sun set behind Giglio, my cam-eras tooktheir last shots of the Costa Concordia. Perhapsone day, all of her secrets will come to light.

QE2 TO BREAKERS?After previous rumors, The Daily Mail is

now reporting the Queen Elizabeth 2, berthed inDubai and awaiting a hotel conversion since2008, has been sold to Far East interests for some$30 million, and could be scrapped.

A last-minute bid to bring the ship back toEngland to be used as a hotel did not work, withreports out of the UK further suggesting aChinese crew is already aboard makingpreparations to drydock the ship before she iseither sailed or towed to China. While reportssuggest scrapping, $30 million is perhaps a steepprice tag for the breakers.

The ship has been moored in a commercialport in Dubai since it was sold for 64 millionpounds in 2008. Dubai had originally planned toconvert the QE2 into a 1,000 room luxury hotelat the tip of the famous man-made PalmJumeirah island.

Costa Concordia Photo Courtesy of Author

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While not as busy as past years, our new yearwill introduce some exciting new ships to the highseas and the inland waterways of Europe. Alongwith these ships will come innovative new featuresas the lines continue to explore ways to impresspassengers and one up their competition.

Here is a rundown of the new ships scheduled toenter service this year.

MSC CRUISES – Weighing in at approximately140,000-tons, the MSC Preziosa ranks among thelargest ships in the Italian cruise line’s fleet. She willboast 1,751 cabins on 18 decks, 14 of them forpassengers. Guests will be able to enjoy four mainrestaurants, two specialty restaurants, 21 bars, acasino, four swimming pools, including an infinitypool, 12 whirlpools and the superb MSC Aurea Spa.Of Preziosa’s well-appointed cabins, 99 aredesignated “VIP.” Circled about the ship’s bow,these suites and cabins offer 24-hour butler serviceand access to the exclusive Top Sail Lounge, wheregourmet bites and evening aperitifs are served underthe starry Skydome.

Interestingly, Hannibal Gaddafi, then Presidentof Libya originally ordered the Preziosa, under thename Phoenicia. During construction, the Libyancivil war broke out and STX France canceled thecontract. It was then announced on March 2012,that MSC had reached an agreement to buy theship and have it built to their specifications. MSCPreziosa enters service in the spring and will bebased in Europe.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES – The 146,600-ton, 4,028-passenger Norwegian Breakaway entersservice in May as the first of NCL’s two “ProjectBreakaway” ships. The ship will be officiallychristened by New York City’s famous Rockettes onMay 8 after which she will be based in NYC on 7-day Bermuda cruises into the fall. She will then offerdeeper Caribbean cruises from NYC when thetemperatures turn colder.

Notable features aboard the Breakaway willinclude “The Waterfront”, an industry-first, open-airboardwalk combined with three expansive, flowing

decks of dining, bars, entertainment, gaming andmore. “The Waterfront” features eight outdoordining and lounging options. The first Aqua Park atsea with five full-size water slides, including twinFree Fall slides and the Norwegian Breakaway willalso feature adult-only outdoor enclaves.

The overall design theme for ProjectBreakaway staterooms is “modern boutique hotelmeets the sea” and accommodations include:Studios, Inside Staterooms, OceanviewStaterooms, Balcony Staterooms, Spa Stateroomsand various suites. Studios have been designedand price for the solo traveler. Located at the topof the ship, “The Haven by Norwegian” is anexclusive enclave with our most luxurious, well-appointed and spacious accommodations.

A sister ship the Norwegian Getaway will debutin January 2014 and will be based in Miami.

PRINCESS CRUISES – At 141,000-tons and apassenger capacity of 3,600 the new RoyalPrincess will be the largest ship in the Princessfleet. The new-build, which is 20 percent largerthan Princess’ next biggest ships, represents moreof an evolution for the line.

Her amenities will include a pair of publicareas cantilevered over the side of the ship on thetop deck—a walkway on the starboard side and abar on the port side. She will have fewer pools thanprevious Princess Cruise’s ships and will featureexpanded public areas including the pool-sidetheatre called Movies Under the Stars and the adultonly retreat “The Sanctuary”. The central atrium,the signature Piazza will be 50% larger and haveentertainment, dining and retail facilities. It willfeature two marble spiral staircases lit with glassdomes. And deck seven will feature Princess Live!,a 280-seat entertainment area with studio and caféspace for musical performances, televisionbroadcasts and other events.

The new Royal Princess will enter service inJune in the Mediterranean before coming trans-Atlantic in October to Fort Lauderdale where shewill then begin 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises.

NEW SHIPS FOR 2013by Tom Cassidy

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HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES – The eagerlyanticipated 40,000 ton Europa 2 will hold 258suites on eleven decks. With a maximumcapacity of just 516, Guests will have the choiceof seven restaurants including two lounges, fourbars and a sushi bar. A varied choice of onboardentertainment, a spa and a fitness centre are alsofeatured. The ship will be a new addition toHapag-Lloyds luxury segment and is anticipatedto match, or exceed, the high standards of theircurrent ship Europa. The Europa 2 will travel theseas worldwide.

RIVER CRUISES – The rivers of Europe willalso see some additions this year. Ama Waterwaysis launching the 164-passenger Amaprima. TheAmaprima will feature Ama’s new twin-balconyconcept, an indoor/outdoor seating area in thecabins; a heated swimming pool; multiple diningvenues; and complimentary Internet andInfotainment system with a 42-inch flat screen TVin the staterooms. Additionally, the company isleasing a new ship, the 108-passenger Amavida,from Portuguese shipbuilder Douro Azul forDouro River Valley cruises in Portugal. Thirty-sixof the staterooms will be 216 square feet in sizeand have full balconies.

Not to be left behind, Europe’s popular VikingRiver Cruises recently announced it has placed anorder for 10 additional Viking LongshipsTM,bringing the total number of new ships that theywill launching in 2013 to 10 and the numberlaunching in 2014 to eight. This aggressive launchplan will easily surpass the industry record Vikingset in 2012 with the introduction of six new shipsin a single season. By the end of 2014 thecompany will have introduced a total of 24 newships in a three-year period, a fleet expansionunprecedented in the cruise industry.

French based La Companie du Ponant’s has anew mega yacht entering service in 2013. Likeher sisters the Le Boreal and L’Austral, the LeSoléal will feature a sophisticated design, thistime to re-create the atmosphere of chic seasideresorts, with clean lines and soothing colors ofdriftwood, and shades of grey and white. Theship will feature 132 staterooms and suites aswell as restaurants, lounges, a library, theatre andspa. Because this is an intimate ship, Le Soléal

will access many spots around the globe thatlarger ships cannot. She will cruise theMediterranean and Northern Europe, U.S. andCanada, Caribbean and Amazon River,Antarctica and South America.

While 2013 may have fewer new ships thanprevious years; the new builds of 2013 continue toraise the bar for cruising. With more space, morechoices, more activities and more amenities theseships are certain to continue to attract new cruisersto an already growing industry. We hope ourmembers get to travel on these new ships and whenyou do please send in your report cards so that wecan pass your comments on to your fellow readers.

TITANIC IIShipping company Blue Star Line has

announced a new date for the global launch nextyear of Titanic II on the retired aircraft carrierUSS Intrepid in New York and has alsorescheduled five other Titanic II events aroundthe world. In April, 2012, Professor Clive Palmer,a leading Australian businessman and owner ofBlue Star Line, declared to the world his intentionto build Titanic II, a full-scale recreation of theworld’s most famous cruise liner.

The six Titanic II events were originallyscheduled to take place in December 2012.However, following the devastation caused inNew York and along the east coast of the UnitedStates by Hurricane Sandy the decision was madeto postpone all events until 2013. ProfessorPalmer said the New York global launch and galadinner will now be held on USS Intrepid onTuesday, February 26, 2013, where he willofficially unveil the plans for Titanic II.

Titanic II is scheduled to set sail fromSouthampton to New York on her maidenpassenger voyage in 2016.

In April, 2012, Blue Star Line signed aMemorandum of Understanding with Chinesecompany CSC Jinling to build Titanic II, whileplans for the ship have been commenced byFinnish-based marine design and engineeringcompany Deltamarin.

Princess Cruises’ Island Princess rescued fiveJamaicans who had been adrift in a small boat forthree weeks. The rescue took place on Mondayafter the small boat was spotted by the crew of the92,000 ton cruise ship. The men were handed overto Jamaican authorities when the Island Princesarrived in Ocho Rios, Jamaica the following day.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announcedtoday that it has executed a contract with STXFrance to construct a third Oasis-class vessel fordelivery in mid-2016. In addition is an optionfor a second ship with a potential delivery inmid-2018. This order is consistent with the planannounced by the company in October to build asister-ship to the very successful Oasis of theSeas and Allure of the Seas.

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic iscelebrating the 125th anniversary of the NationalGeographic Society in 2013 with a pair of specialexpeditions that combine spectacular destinationsand an array of world-renowned special guests.This time Lindblad sets its legendary sights on thenorthern and southern hemispheres with Epic SouthAmerica and The Canadian Maritimes set aboardthe 148-guest National Geographic Explorer.

A December segment on the Costa Concordia,aired on the news television show 60 Minutes onCBS in the United States specifically said the shipwould be scrapped in Sicily if it was re-floated.

State and local public officials joinedexecutives from Carnival Corporation and thesix Carnival brands that sail from PortEverglades to celebrate the Grand Re-Opening offour fully renovated, expanded and modernizedcruise terminals that opened in time for thisyear’s busy cruise season at the South Floridacruise port. Cruise Terminals 2, 19, 21 and 26 arepart of a $54 million renovation project thattransformed existing facilities into modern,world-class, guest-friendly cruise terminals,capable of processing both debarking andembarking cruise passengers simultaneously.

Royal Caribbean announced this week that isoffering two all-inclusive beverage package

options on board its fleet. The packages arecurrently available on seven-night or longersailings on the cruise line’s thirteen ships. The twodrink package options are: The Classic package($45 per person, per day) and The Premiumpackage ($55 per person, per day). The packagesare available on all sailings of 7 nights or more andmust be purchased onboard, on the first day ofyour cruise. If one person in a stateroom purchasesa package, then all guests in that stateroom, 21years of age or older must also purchase thepackage. The packages include service charges.

SeaDream Yacht Club has announced theappointment of Pamela Conover as its ChiefExecutive Officer effective January 2,2013.Conover, an internationally acclaimed luxurycruise line executive was President and CEO ofSeabourn Cruise Line during the introduction ofthe Odyssey class ships and President of CunardLine during the introduction of the Queen Mary 2.

With the arrival of the MSC Lirica to SanSouci, in Santo Domingo last month MSCstarted its operations in the Dominican Republiccapital. Starting in the current 2012 – 2013season, the MSC Lirica now departs fromSansouci to La Romana, St. Marteen,Martinique, Guadeloupe, Antigua and Barbudaand the British Virgin Islands.

Celebrity Cruises will roll out Zumba fitnessclasses on all of its ships this month. The line hadpreviously offered the classes only on its trans-Atlantic crossings. Uber-popular Zumba classescombine Latin and international music with aworkout routine.

Cunard Line, who must approve any sale ofQE2 has just posted on their Facebook pag “Wehave noted the messages of understandableconcern with regards to the recent article in theDaily Mail with reference to QE2. We remain inclose contact with Dubai and can reassure you thatto the very best of our knowledge this story is purespeculation – one of a number of stories andrumours as we have seen over recent months. Ourbest advice would be to ignore the story” Bestregards, Cunard Line.

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MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS