Category Archives: Captain’s Blog
Passports
CAUTION If anyone is planning to get a passport, have it extended or renewed in the next few days, it is best to do it immediately and do it via the post office’s expedited processing. One sure result of the possible government shut down will be the halting of passport processing. Blog this! Bookmark on [...]
A Brief History of Nautical Terminology (Part 2 of 3)
There are terms that one might hear on a cruise ship that have interesting origins. Their history might help you understand and remember the meaning. It might even impress your friends. DOWN THE HATCH: Here’s a drinking expression that seems to have its origins in sea freight, where cargoes are lowered into the hatch. First used by [...]
A Brief History of Nautical Terminology (part 1 of 3)
There are terms that one might hear on a cruise ship that have interesting origins. Their history might help you understand and remember the meaning. It might even impress your friends. STARBOARD AND PORT: These terms refer to the sides of the cruise ship when you are facing forward. The terminology dates back centuries. Up [...]
Black Sea and Greek Isle Cruise (part 7 of 7)
CRUISING ON CRYSTAL CRUISE LINES THE BLACK SEA AND GREEK ISLES SEPTEMBER 2-26, 2009 CONCLUDING REMARKS THE CRUISE ENDS Having been on Crystal before, I will quote myself in describing how it was. “I refused to get off the ship and they had to send for the police.” Everything was excellent and I do mean [...]
Black Sea and Greek Isle Cruise (part 6 of 7)
CRUISING ON CRYSTAL CRUISE LINES THE BLACK SEA AND GREEK ISLES SEPTEMBER 2-26, 2009 Blue Mosque This is one big dome building. It was built in the 17th century. It preceded the Astrodome by 350 years. This building could fit the Stature of Liberty (sans torch) inside and probably a major league baseball stadium or [...]
Black Sea and Greek Isle Cruise (part 5 of 7)
SEPTEMBER 2-26, 2009 Part four of a nine part series ATHENS AND THE GREEK ISLES Patmos I feel about Patmos the same way I feel about touring Alaska: “Another damn day of beautiful scenery.” One or more of the sixty biblical St. John’s camped out here to avoid the Romans or the Greeks or the [...]
Black Sea and Greek Isle Cruise (part 4 of 7)
CRUISING ON CRYSTAL CRUISE LINES THE BLACK SEA AND GREEK ISLES CRUISE SEPTEMBER 2-26, 2009 ATHENS AND THE GREEK ISLES Athens There are so many things labeled as “must see” places in Athens, it kind of weakens the definition. Here they are according to tourist experts like Rick, Arthur and Lowell (only old timers will [...]
Black Sea and Greek Isle Cruise (part 3 of 7)
CRUISING ON CRYSTAL CRUISE LINES BLACK SEA AND GREEK ISLES CRUISE SEPTEMBER 2-26, 2009 BLACK SEA Constanta (Romania) The Romanian Tourist Board is not going to like this. The city reminded me of Tijuana in the 1960’s. Everything is dilapidated. The streets are dotted with potholes large enough to make the Grand Canyon proud. The [...]
Black Sea and Greek Isle Cruise (part 2 of 7)
CRUISING ON CRYSTAL CRUISE LINES THE BLACK SEA AND GREEK ISLES SEPTEMBER 2-26, 2009 Part two of a ten part series On Board Crystal Serenity The first overall impression one has, when on the Crystal Serenity a few days, is how clean everything is and what detailed attention they pay to sanitation. Hand sterilizers begin every [...]
Black Sea and Greek Isle Cruise (part 1 of 7)
SEPTEMBER 2-26, 2009 – Part one of a ten part series How it begins. Introduction I departed from Dayton rather than Cincinnati. The airfares are often a lot cheaper if you are willing to drive a few extra miles, and we are. Even more interesting is the fact that the flight on Delta flew back to Cincinnati [...]
