Nautical Neil's Life on the Ocean Wave

Cruise ships are in service all year round, seven days a week and 365 days a year.  The ships don't stop at all unless there is any maintenance required which stops the ship from sailing.  This would be something like an engine problem or something which would affect the clients…

What do you think when you hear the words Cruise ship? Numerous lounges, huge theatre, pools, deck chairs, a casino and dining rooms.....food,  hours of over indulgence, buffet, burgers, five course meals !! I don't think I have ever eaten as much as I have when I am not on…

London 2012, remember that 4 years ago where the U.K. stormed the Olympics? Well it is four years on now and it is Brazil s turn and Rio is the city that is hosting the Olympics. There is always an Olympic village where the athletes stay and bed down for…

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has just come out of quite a big re fit and she seems to be attracting some famous faces. Queen Mary 2 is the only ship that has trans-Atlantic sailings all year round so it is a lovely relaxing way to cross the pond and as…

After the success of their first series of 'The Cruise' Princess lines have announced that they are due to start filming their second series on board Regal Princess this Summer. Last seasons show was filmed on Princess's sister ship Royal Princess and attracted 3.5million viewers.  However did the show do…

Queen Mary 2 is currently in dry dock in Germany undergoing a refit.  As we know cruise ship crew are always maintaining their ships throughout the year but there comes a point in time where ships do need to have work done on them which takes them out of service…

A couple of days ago, Celebrity Infinity was on an Alaskan itinerary.  When I  worked on board I worked for two seasons in Alaska and know most of the ports of call. Ketchican is a popular cruise port. I remember there being many totem poles around the town as there…

Some of my colleagues were lucky enough to visit the newest addition to Royal Caribbean's fleet Harmony of the Seas over the last few days.  Now close your eyes.......and think of an American theme park, have you got a picture of a roller coaster with a carousel in the foreground?…

Seriously, I have talked about the virility  of the norovirus on cruise ships.  It spreads like wild fire but if you was your hands and encourage other guests to wash theirs too it might combat the sickness bug. Fred Olsen had a serious case on Balmoral recently, around a quarter…

Working on board Celebrity cruises years ago, as were leaving port there were announcements on the ships tannoy....'will Mr and Mrs Carter room 2154 please make their way to guest relations'.  This normally meant that these guests had managed to get on board without buzzing their key card or the…