Mighty Cruise Ships

Have you been following the TV series Mighty Cruise Ships on Quest? For the last 6 weeks they have featured 6 different types of ships from luxury to large and small to mighty. It was great to see a variety of ships shown and not just your large big floating hotels.

I have had the pleasure to experience two of the six ships shown, the Celebrity Solstice which they showed sailing in extreme hot weather conditions around Australia and Marco Polo sailing the Baltic in the winter.

What I enjoyed most about this recent series is that it focused more about the back scenes of what goes on below deck and on the bridge. I had no clue some of the major obstacles that faces a captain in charge of all those peoples lives and just one move wrong could seriously endanger all. It was interesting to see how they navigate difficult ports and seas and how they use experienced local pilots to come on board and take over or direct the captain into the harbours.  Some getting it right and some getting it wrong, one thing I did notice was that the captains of the cruise vessels did not like handing their ships over to the pilots.

Also, how the ship was built and why, especially with the engines, propellers and the hull and how shallow of waters they can sail. The fact that some have been built for specific reasons, built to withstand the harsh waters of Patagonia and the worlds end, how some can easily break ice or to turn in extremely tight bends sailing through Asia and across the shallows of world famous corals.

I have been lucky to do a galley tour on a large ship, and it is interesting to see what goes on in the galleys of the kitchens and how they prepare and store the mass of food and drink required for each sailing, some taking stock in ports along routes and having to think on their feet when guests complain about the food. How they prepare for the mass of orders and train their staff to know everything that is on the menu for each breakfast, lunch and dinner service.

Also, the maintenance  side of things, like when a pipe bursts in rough seas or they need to clean an engine as they did in last nights show or check the propellers of  the ship for damage. On one of the smaller luxury ships the Paul Gauguin, which sails around the beautiful islands of the Pacific, you actually witnessed the CAPTAIN dive under the ship and check the propellers for growing barnacles as they sail so close to various reefs and they check regularly to eliminate future problems.

I have to congratulate the Discovery Canada productions in allowing this series to be made, as although I can sell cruises and know virtually all there is to know about being a passenger, I was glad to see an insight into the behind the scenes aspect and how all may look calm on the surface but how really they are paddling like mad below!

I look forward to hopefully another series and wonder how many of the ships they feature I can say I have been on.

Have you been on any of the ships that they featured? I would love to hear your comments on how you liked or disliked the ships.

Dawn

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