A television star has passed on, but isunlikely to be remembered during the memorialspresented at the annual Emmy Awards show.This star had all of the photogenic qualitiesneeded in those heady days of the 1970’s,encased within 20,636 gross tons of steel andcovering seven passenger decks. What began lifeas an attractive, contemporary cruise ship in1971 went on to become perhaps the best knownship of its generation. For better or worse, thePacific Princess will always be remembered as“The Love Boat.” But, as with the best plots inHollywood, there is much more to the story.

Norwegian ship owners were among the mostprominent individuals to see the potential inpleasure cruising as the decade of the 1970’sbegan. Branching out from their expertise in oiltankers and cargo shipping, the venerable firms ofFearnley & Eger and Oivind Lorentzen formed apassenger shipping company called NorwegianCruiseships A/S of Oslo, Norway which would bemarketed to an American passenger base underthe name Flagship Cruises. Initially a pair ofships, with an option for a third, was orderedfrom the Rheinstahl Nordseewerke Shipyard atEmden, West Germany. Registered in Norway,these vessels would be at the forefront of the firstwave of new cruiseship design, while borrowingthe best stylistic elements from their immediatepredecessors. From the Oceanic of 1965, aretractable covering over the mid-ship swimmingpools was given the registered trademark name ofthe “Solardome.” The circular shape of theforward lounge emulated a similar version aboardthe beautiful liner Sagafjord. And trumpet-shapedwhite columns and table bases were not unlikethose on Cunard’s brand new Queen Elizabeth 2.The overall look was of a modern yet pleasantdesign with none of the garish qualities foundamong certain competitors.

The first ship was intended to run on weekly,New York to Bermuda cruises. Bermuda wasoriginally settled by survivors from the wreckedsailing ship Sea Venture in 1609 which had beenen route to Jamestown, Virginia. The new shipwould be named Sea Venture as well, in honor ofthat event and the close ties it would have withthe Government of Bermuda which had givenFlagship Cruises exclusive access to thepreferred berth, right at Front Street in the portof Hamilton. As Yard number 411, the SeaVenture was launched on May 9, 1970 and wasdelivered to her owner’s a year later. After oneprivate cruise in Europe, and a delivery voyageacross the Atlantic, the ship entered regularpassenger service with her maiden voyagecommencing on June 4, 1971. Her sister shipwas subsequently named the Island Venture andwould enter service seven months after the firstin January, 1972.

The joint ownership of the two Norwegianshipping companies saw a shift in direction in1972. Rather than working together, eachwould retain one of the ships. The Sea Venturebecame wholly owned by Oivind Lorentzenwhile the Island Venture was held by Fernley &Eger. In a harbinger of things to come, theIsland Venture was chartered to StanleyMcDonald the founder of Princess Cruises,who renamed the virtually new ship the IslandPrincess for his company based in LosAngeles. Sea Venture would continue on theroute for which she was intended through the1974 Bermuda season. The Sea Venture madeheadlines on April 3, 1974 when the ship cameto the rescue of passengers from the crippledQueen Elizabeth 2 which had broken down atsea without power.

A LAST LOOK – PACIFIC PRINCESSby Shawn J. Dake

Vol. 32, Issue 10 - September 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 13)

EDITORIALBack in the 1950’s and 60’s most ocean

liners had a class society, typically brokenup in First, Cabin and Tourist classes. Today,cruise ships boast that they are all oneclass and all passengers are equal, but arethey really?

With the modern cruise ships gettingbigger and bigger and carrying staggeringnumbers of passengers, crowds and waiting inline has become a commonplace phenomenon.There are long lines to embark, disembark andfor some onboard features. Deck chairs andpool space are often hard to find andpassenger often grow frustrated dealing withthe crowds. There is however a growing trendto offer people who are willing to pay moreper day an option for more space, lesscrowding and a more personalized service. DoI dare call this First Class?

Cunard has never really given up their classsystem, especially on transatlantic runs; theyhave just concealed it in the exclusivity of theirGrill Rooms with private bars and lounges. Theyhave further perfected this distinction on theirlatest ships with a complete private deck for Grillpassengers. There is nothing wrong with this andnow other lines have followed suit. On a recentvisit to the new Norwegian Breakaway I visitedwhat NCL calls “The Haven” which is two decksof suites that enjoy a private lounge, diningrestaurant, and their own pool and deck spaceplus a multitude of special amenities. MSCoffers a similar premium area in their exclusive“Yacht Club” accommodations.

As these passengers pay noticeably more perday than the average passenger and tend to spendmore than the average passenger once onboard itis well worth the effort for the lines to court thistraveler. Eventually, there may be vision to createan intermediate service level focusing on thepassenger who can’t afford or don’t desire all ofthe perks of the premium level but would likemore space and fewer crowds. Dare I call thatCabin Class?

There is an old saying that history repeatsitself. In the cruise industry it appears we havetoo. We have gone full circle from definite classdistinctions of the liners of yesterday to shipstoday that offer similar perks, amenities andspace, yet without the class titles. Will weeventually re-create Steerage for the more costconcise passenger? Perhaps on Titanic II!

Tom Cassidy

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- PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY -The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society

P.O. Box 329 – Northport, NY 11768Phone (866) 631-0611

Contributing Writers

Peter Knego John Maxtone-Graham

Kay ShowkerPat RichardsonShawn J. Dake

Art SbarskyTheodore W. Scull

Ben LyonsAndy Hernandez

Subscription by membership$30 Per Year in U.S. - $36 Canada & Overseas© Copyright 1980 by World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society. All rights reserved.

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omission contained herein. Printed in the United States

Society: wocls.org • Publication: OceanCruiseNews.com

FounderGeorge C. Devol

EditorThomas E. Cassidy

Features EditorWilliam H. Miller

Art DirectorDan J. Rico

The American Queen Steamboat Company isproud to introduce its 2014 brochure availablefor download online at www.aqsc.com. The newbrochure, also being mailed to travel partners andpast guests, includes the compelling lineup of2014 sailings and highlights inclusive andpremium shore excursions for the newly addedAmerican Empress. Calling its homeportPortland, Oregon, the vessel will launch in Aprilof 2014 and provide a number of ways to explorethe Pacific Northwest along the veins of theColumbia and Snake Rivers. From wine-tastingto zip-lining, this variety of shore excursions willprovide an unforgettable experience for guests.

For additional information and reservations,contact the American Queen Steamboat Companyat 888-749-5280, visit us online atwww.AQSC.com or call a professional travel agent.

In 2015, Cunard celebrates 175th yearssailing The Most Famous Ocean Liners in theWorld and is pleased to announce the World andExotic Cruises 2015 Programme, visitingfascinating and exotic ports in various countriesaround the globe. Cunard offers one of theyoungest luxury fleets at sea with Queen Mary 2,Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. Together,these ships will visit 82 unique destinations in 46countries, from major cities to places lessfrequented.

Flagship Queen Mary 2’s 113-night itinerarywill visit 39 ports in 21 different countries.Queen Mary 2 will operate an enhanced East-West loop including New Zealand. A worldcruise on the Queen Mary 2 will include amaiden call in Sanya, China on 19-Feb-2015 tobring in the Chinese New Year.

Queen Elizabeth’s 112-night WesternCircumnavigation itinerary will visit 38 ports in26 countries. Highlights include: Suez Canal andPanama Canal transits and a scenic cruisingunder the Golden Gate Bridge.

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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 – September 2008…Majesty Cruise Line Regal Empress, will helpswith disaster relief efforts for several TexasGulf Coast communities damaged byHurricane Ike… MSC Cruises announces theorder of two additional ships from the AkerYards France… The final remnant ofWindjammer Barefoot Cruises’ goes on theauction block in Miami… The brand newCelebrity Solstice, the first of a new generationof new-build ships, sails out of the ship yard inPapenburg, Germany.

Ten Years Ago – September 2003…Cunard’s new Queen Mary 2 passes her seatrials with flying colors… Radisson SevenSeas Cruises announces that the 180-passenger Song of Flower will be retired inmid-October… Royal Caribbean takesdelivery of the 2,110-passenger Serenade ofthe Seas… Royal Caribbean Internationalorders a larger model of its popular Voyager-class ships for delivery in May 2006 calledUltra Voyager, the vessel will become theworld’s largest cruise vessel.

Fifteen Years Ago – September 1998…Carnival Cruise Lines announces that theyhave ordered two more 102.000-ton “DestinyClass” vessels for delivery in fall 2002 andsummer 2003… Radisson Seven Seas Cruisesannounces that its new 30,000-ton ship will benamed Seven Seas Navigator… Star Cruisesannounces that it first new ship, the 75,000-tonSuperstar Leo will be based in Singapore.

Twenty Years Ago – September 1993…Royal Caribbean International announces plansto order a second “Project Vision” class shipthus giving the line two firm orders of the70,000-ton, 1,800 passenger ships… HollandAmerica Line announces that the new Maasdamwill sail on a 62 day Grand Australia/NewZealand cruise in the fall of 1994.

Queen Victoria’s 103-night PacificExploration itinerary will visit 33 ports in 21countries. Highlights include: two Panama Canaltransits and two Transatlantic Crossings.Additional options include a South Pacific cruisestarting in Los Angeles or San Francisco, visitingSydney, and then returning to Los Angeles.

New for 2015, add on a White Star PremierPackage. This add-on package is available toFull World guests. This packages offer roundtripair credit, pre-cruise hotel, transfers, White Starluggage service, additional onboard credits andinternet. Guests who book in Grillaccommodations and the White Star PremierPackage will be upgraded to business class aircredit and executive car transfers. (For moreinformation and to book a voyage aboard QueenMary 2, Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth,consult your Travel Agent, call Cunard toll-free1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com

Discover the unexpected with Blount SmallShip Adventures. Small ship cruising meansdiscovery the way it should be - free from crowdsand the freedom to get closer to the sites andexperiences that turn a regular cruise into a trueadventure. With over 47 years of experience, wetake you away from the usual, beyond traditionalcruising. We bring an area to life with onboardhistorians, destination experts and photographyworkshops. Our cruises provide by far the bestvalue in small ship cruising. Learn about ourretractable pilot house that allows us to take youthrough the entire length of the Erie Canal, theonly overnight cruise line to do so. Experienceour bow landings in the Caribbean and CentralAmerica where you walk from ship to sandwithout missing a beat! Blount sails within theUSA, Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.

Join us this winter in the Caribbean andCentral America with these unique itinerariesand save 10%!*• Belize, The Barrier Reef, Guatemala &

Honduran Bay Islands; 15 Days.• Best of Belize: The Barrier Reef &

Guatemala; 12 Days.

• Bahamian Out Islands; 12 Days featuringNancy Blount on her annual President s Cruise.For more information call 800-556-7450

or your Travel Agent or VisitBlountSmallShipAdventures.com

* Some restriction may apply.

Seabourn has introduced ExtendedExplorations, a novel way for travelers to enjoylonger cruises on the line s award-winning smallships, with the added luxury of a wide range ofchoices regarding where and when they sail.

For 2014 and 2015, the luxury line hascrafted new, linked itineraries allowing guests toexplore more extensive regions of the globe indepth, and at greater savings, during voyageslasting from 28 days to extended sailings of upto 116 days.

Extended Explorations are available indifferent lengths, in different regions, and indifferent seasons throughout the year. ExtendedExplorations voyages will offer an additionalsavings of 10 percent for combining cruises,plus frequent overnight stays in ports,regionally-themed menus and wines on board,local folkloric entertainment, regionally-focusedexperts for Seabourn Conversations onboardenrichment and optional, escorted mid-cruiseSeabourn Journeys to nearby cultural orhistorical highlights.

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

Dancing aficionados and fans of the hit ABCtelevision show Dancing with the Stars can joinprofessional dancers Kym Johnson and TristanMacManus, along with actress and former

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celebrity participant Sabrina Bryan, on theJanuary 5, 2014, Dancing with the Stars: At Seatheme cruise and the January 12th ChampionsCruise. Both seven-day Caribbean cruises areonboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam.

While onboard, the dancers will perform forguests, dazzling the audience with dancenumbers from the television series. Additionalevents on the theme cruises include dance lessonswith the shipboard professional dancers, a specialfashion show featuring the glamorous showcostumes, and a chance to meet the dance prosand celebrities, ask questions and take photoswith them.

The Jan. 12 Champions Cruise will feature 15winning guests (one from each ship) from theDancing with the Stars: At Sea competitions thatare currently being held on all ships in theHolland America Line fleet. Holland AmericaLine has also featured four Dancing with theStars: At Sea theme cruises already this year.

For more information about the Dancing withthe Stars: At Sea theme cruises, consult aprofessional travel seller, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL(1-877-724-5425) or visitwww.hollandamerica.com or the Plan a Cruisetab at www.Facebook.com/HALcruises.

Oceania Cruises has announced that Regatta,Insignia and Nautica, its trio of award-winning R-Class ships, will undergo a significanttransformation starting early next year in the largestrefurbishment program in the company’s history.

The ships will receive a $50 million upgradein a six-week timeframe that includes therefurbishment of suites, staterooms and selectpublic rooms, some in the colors and dÈcor-stylefound on the line’s newest ships - Marina andRiviera. The ships’ top accommodations, theOwner’s and Vista suites, will receive newbathrooms including the addition of oversizedshowers and new vanities. Original artwork, in-line with the celebrated collection on Marinaand Riviera, will be commissioned for all suitesand staterooms.

The dry docks are scheduled from April 24to June 6, 2014 with Insignia and Nautica

being refurbished in Marseilles, France andRegatta in Vancouver, BC. The renovatedInsignia will debut on May 8, 2014 inBarcelona for her 7-day Jewels of Europecruise. This will be Insignia’s first cruise afterher two-year charter. Nautica will debut onMay 16, 2014 in Civitavecchia for her 10-dayCliffs & Coves cruise and Regatta on June 7,2014 in Vancouver for her 10-day Majesty ofAlaska cruise.

For more information, browsewww.OceaniaCruises.com, call 800.531.5658 orsee a professional travel agent.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced that ithas entered into a definitive contract with Italy’sFincantieri shipyard to build the most luxuriouscruise ship in the era of modern cruising withdelivery scheduled in summer 2016.

Accommodating just 738 guests, the newship will be named Seven Seas Explorer andwill be the luxury line’s third all-suite, all-balcony ship. At 54,000 gross-registered tons,Seven Seas Explorer will be the largest vesselin the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet. Thecontract price for the vessel is approximatelyUS$450 million, making Seven Seas Explorerthe most expensive luxury liner ever built.

Seven Seas Explorer will feature spaciousand sophisticated designer suites, ultra-elegantpublic areas, a wide-range of gourmet diningoptions, a world-class spa and many otheramenities all created with the personality,warmth and soul of classic and timeless design.The specifications for the ship call for a hull 732feet long, with a beam of 102 feet and a draft of23 feet. The ship will be powered by diesel-electric engines with a service speed of 20 knots.Seven Seas Explorer will be a “green ship”employing the most advanced environmentalsystems and state-of-the-art technology.

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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Although I have been on countless cruises and awide variety of ships, most of my sea days recentlyhave been on the increasing larger and moderncruise ships. While these are always a treat, and Ihave thoroughly enjoyed the “cruise ship wars”where each line tries to outdo the other withamazing innovations on each new build, I havealways been a eclectic cruiser at heart loving tocollect cruise experiences on a wide variety of ships.When it comes to small ships, I have enjoyed myshare. I loved my river cruise aboard the AmericanQueen, and remember fondly my Atlantic crossingaboard the Italian Lines’ Leonardo da Vinci back in1962. With a weight of approximately 32,000-tonsshe is the smallest classic liner I have ever sailed on.In the more conventional and modern cruise days Ibelieve Seabourn Pride at approximately 10,000-tons is the smallest ship I have sailed.

With my interest for the unusual in cruising,when the opportunity to cruise on one of Blount

Small Ship Adventures’, less than 100-ton ships,came across my desk I was obviously excited.After all my recent voyages on the mega-ships,could I survive a cruise on a ship withoutswimming pools, shopping arcades and casinos?I was not sure what to expect on such a smallship but I was eager to find out.

THE LINE – First called American CanadianLine, Blount Small Ship Adventures is a family-owned company that was founded by the lateshipbuilder Luther Blount in 1966 with the M/VMount Hope. It then became American CanadianCaribbean Line when they began offering winteritineraries in the Bahamas, Caribbean, andBelize. In 2010, ACCL changed its name toBlount Small Ship Adventures.

Luther Blount started his career as a shipdesigner and builder, founding Blount MarineCorp. in 1949. He is responsible for the designs

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SHIP OF THE MONTH – GRANDE CARIBEby Tom Cassidy

Grande Caribe Photo Courtesy of Author

and construction of more than 300 shipsproducing everything from lighters and tugboatsto fishing trawlers. Many of us have probablysailed on a Blount built boat, as many of thefamous Circle Line sightseeing boats of NewYork City were his creations. The Miss Liberty,his 15th boat built back in 1952, rose to famecarrying sightseers to the Statue of Liberty.

Blount was a pioneer in small-ship cruisingwith shallow-draft vessels. A visionary in shipdesign, his patented innovations and inventionscontinue to define his genius. Blount featuressuch as a retractable pilothouse and a shallow-draft bow-landing ramp continue to distinguishBlount’s 1997-built Grande Caribe and 1998-built Grande Mariner vessels by enabling themto access remote destinations larger ships cannotAfter Luther Blount’s passing, his threedaughters took over the company with daughtersMarcia and Julie becoming President and Vice-President of the Blount Boats shipyard whileNancy took the helm of Blount Small ShipAdventures. Blount Small Ship Adventurers istruly is a family run cruise line.

The Blount fleet today is comprised of theGrande Caribe and Grande Mariner sailing awide range of year-round itineraries includingthe entire East Coast from Maine to Florida,Chesapeake Bay, New York State’s canals, St.Lawrence River, Great Lakes, Mississippi Riverand tributaries, the Bahamas, Caribbean andCentral America.

THE SHIP – The low sleek-looking blue andwhite Grande Caribe, was built at BlountIndustries, Inc. in Warren, Rhode Island in 1997.With a passenger capacity of only 96 the GrandeCaribe measures 184 feet in length, has a beamof 40 feet and a very shallow draft of 6.5 feet.The ship had a refurbishment in 2009.

Like all Blount vessels the Grande Caribeproudly flies the American flag and thereforecarries an American crew. Most cabins arelocated on the two main passenger decks andall are outside, except for six additionalminimum-rate cabins on the Lower Deck,which are inside without portholes. Outsidecabins feature windows or portholes and a few

have doors which open onto the side deckrather than to an interior corridor. The ship isfully air-conditioned.

Sun Deck offers the pleasant forward facingobservation lounge where you have 180-degreeviews of the sea and scenery. This lounge is avery pleasant room with comfortable armchairsand padded banquettes facing low round tables.There is a large LED screen for showing filmsand PowerPoint presentations. Aft of the loungeon Sun Deck is the small staircase foyer with abulletin board on which the social director liststhe daily activities plus interesting informationon whichever port we will be visiting that day.Further aft are the more deluxe cabins plus anextremely nice rear deck area with tables andchairs for relaxing. This deck has a narrow wraparound promenade of sorts, 15 laps per mile,although walking or jogging is really betterdone ashore.

Below is Main Deck, which contains thecheerful and sunny Dining Room which seats allpassengers at one open sitting at mostly roundtables for six or eight and Galley mid-ships withcabins both forward and aft. Below Main Deckon Lower Deck are the six previously mentionedminimum-rate cabins without portholes.

Above Sun Deck is an open passenger deck,which is partially covered with ample outdoorseating with tables and lounge chairs. This is avery popular area to relax and chat with newfriends and watch the passing scenery. The pilothouse is also located on this deck. Though notneeded on our trip the pilot house is retractablefor sailing under low bridges and locks.

The ship has no elevator but does haveelectric stair lift links to all passenger decks.Other features include Lither Blount’s innovativebow ramp for beach landings and a swimmingplatform in the stern, both of which are moreoften used in the Caribbean.

The ships corridors are decorated with niceartwork and feature many black and whitephotographs taken by Luther Blount himself ofprevious cruises and destinations. A very nicepersonal touch with makes you feel like your

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visiting a friend’s home, rather than taking acommercial cruise!

On our first night out sailing from Newport,Rhode Island to Portsmouth, New Hampshire aswe crossed Cape Cod Bay and hit some openwater the ride was a little rough as a result of theshallow draft and flat bottom of the ship but thiswas the only time in 12 days. The other days weresmooth as silk.

THE CRUISE – The cruise was defined in theBlount brochure as “Classical Maine and theNortheast; Rhode Island to New Brunswick”. Theports on this itinerary included Newport, RhodeIsland; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Bar Harbor,Eastport, Rockland and Portland, Maine; St.Andrews, New Brunswick and Salem, Plymouthand New Bedford, Massachusetts. This gave us anew port everyday with no full sea days. Theselection of ports was unique and those lesstraveled by the traditional cruise ship.

I flew up to Providence, Rhode Island the daybefore embarkation and enjoyed the evening andfollowing morning experiencing that attractivecity. This is part of a pre-cruise package thatBlount offers, which include a deluxe hotel room,transfers from the airport and to the ship, breakfastand all baggage handling. The ship sailed at noonthe following day and we left our hotel for theshort trip to Warren, Rhode Island at about 11am.

Boarding and check-in is very quick and easyon such a small ship. As I approached thegangway a deck hand took my bags and took themdirectly to my cabin. Check-in is handled in thelounge where I gave a crewmember my ticket andmy choices for dinner for that evening and pickedup a nametag. A stewardess then personallyescorted me on the short walk to my cabin andshowed me all the features of my cozy, well laidout cabin. Unlike the frantic pace on other ships, Ialready was relaxed and had a smile on my face!

We sailed promptly at noon and were dockedin Newport Rhode Island by 2pm. As you mayhave noticed I said, “docked” in Newport. I, likemany of you, have been to Newport, Rhode Islandmany times by ship, usually on Fall Foliagecruises. As a passenger on the bigger cruise ships

you are anchored and tendered into town. Here iswhere smaller is better and where the Blountdifference begins to shine. We docked and steppedoff the boat right into Newport. No long tendertrip or long tender lines. This was also a plus inBar Harbor where again on the larger ships youanchor and tender into town. Yet on the GrandeCaribe we docked right at the foot of Main Streetand walked into town at our convenience. No needfor tender tickets. In all our ports we were able tojust walk off the ship.

Typically you arrive in port in the morningswith a departure not scheduled till after midnightor later the next morning. This gives passengersthe option to walk into town after dinner to enjoythe local entertainment and shops.

When it comes to itineraries Blount’s expertiseand experience is one of a kind. The compact sizeof the Grande Caribe allowed us to visit ports thebig cruise ships simply cannot visit. When haveyou see Portsmouth NH or Plymouth MA on acruise itinerary? All the ports on this cruise werebursting with history, scenery and seafood. Whileall the ports were outstanding in their own way afew highlights included:

St. Andrews, NB – Here we enjoyed anovernight stay. The ship had a local musical groupaboard that evening that played local Irish folkmusic after dinner on the open top deck as thesunset that was very popular. The followingmorning one of the ships outstanding shoreexcursions took us to Campobello Island whichwas the summer home of Franklin DelanoRoosevelt. The weather could not have been betteras we explored the island and the Roosevelt home.Both were beautiful and rich in history. To make theday even more memorable, on the way to and fromthe island we saw whales, dolphins, eagles andseals. Today was a truly amazing day when youconsider the average day on a mega-liner, yet it wasjust a normal day aboard Blount Small ShipAdventures. This was the most expensive excursionthat was offered at $95 but well worth the price.

Eastport, ME – While docked in thispicturesque harbor we had an all AmericanBarbecue on the top deck. Tables were set up andthe kitchen staff cooked up hot dogs and giant

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juicy hamburgers on a real charcoal barbecuewhich adjoined a buffet with all the fixings saladsand the like. That evening after dinner a few of thelocal art galleries held a wine and cheese receptionwith the local artists in attendance just for GrandeCaribe passengers. To cap the day a fireworksdisplay was provided with us as guests of honor.

Portland, ME – This evening while docked inport, with the city as a backdrop, we had a classicLobster Bake on the top deck. The crew created afire pit on the top deck with hot coals covered byseveral inches of fresh seaweed. Potatoes, corn onthe cob, clams and mussels were placed on top ofthe seaweed to cook. The Captain and deck staffover saw this event, which offered a great meet andgreet and photo opportunity. The lobsters werethen bought down to the dining room for the feast.

Adaylight passage through the Cape Cod Canal.

Those are just a few of the many wonderfulmemories I have of this outstanding trip. I mustsay that Mother Nature was very kind to us. BothCaptain Abbruzzi and the onboard lecturercommented how fortunate we were in that we hadno rain and sunny skies graced the entire trip,which as you know is very uncommon for NewEngland weather.

Shore excursions aboard Blount are extra andmay be bought as an advance-purchase package orindividually once onboard. I found them to bemoderately priced. On this cruise they ranged from$14 to $95 with an average of about $60. All thetours I took were well planned and informative.

Since there are very few onboard expensesbills are settled the day before disembarkation. Thecruise director collected our departure informationand arranged taxis/shuttles as required. Luggagewent outside our doors the morning wedisembarked. After breakfast we simply walkedoff the ship. All very easy and simple, especiallywhen compared to the chaos often experiencedwhile disembarking a larger ship.

PUBLIC ROOMS & ACTIVITIES – TheGrande Caribe has an informal, low-keyatmosphere, where passengers get to know eachother and make new friends easily. When you

board you are given a name tag to wear about theship to help you know who your fellowpassengers are but after a few days everyone is ona first name basis with or without the name tags.

The ship as no formal bar, and unlike the mega-liners the policy is BYOB. There is a bar area ofsorts in the lounge with storage space, including arefrigerator and storage for passenger liquor anddrink setups and snacks are always furnished. Ibought myself a bottle of gin in Newport and putmy name on it and put it on the shelf and it wasthere for me throughout the trip. Your choice ofbeer or wine is complimentary with every lunchand dinner and Blount serves drinks on theCaptains welcome aboard and farewell receptions.Soft drinks are always complimentary.

The lounge on Sun Deck is the center of activityon the Grande Caribe. In the morning passengersmeet here for coffee before breakfast and then againfor Happy Hour in the evening before dinner. Thereis a bookcase with hard and paperback books plusmany board games all for the taking. On someevenings a movie is shown on the widescreenwhich is also were the lectures are held.

Our onboard lecturer, Sam Ladley was a NewEngland maritime historian. His knowledge of theentire New England area was amazing, both inhistory and today. His talks were well attendedand with the large screen and GPS he was able todetail our exact location. Often he would talk viathe PA from the top deck as we arrived anddeparted ports. Plus he was easily accessible andfriendly throughout the cruise to just say hello andchat or answer questions.

We also had an expert photographer CarolPalmer on board and she gave interesting andinformative talks about taking pictures andphotography with your camera. She was greatgiving tips and private talks to anyone. I learnedthings about my camera I did not know it coulddo, and I have owned it for years!

We also had a kayak instructor namedWilliam Oberg who would set up kayak groups inthe ports. The kayaks seemed to be a hard sell onour cruise but that did not deter Bill. A nice touchwas that Sam, Carol and Bill were easily

9

accessible throughout the trip to answer questionsand they would join us for meals and cocktails.

In addition to kayaks the ship carries its ownbicycles for passengers use if you feel likepedaling around a port. Both of these features helpdefine why the company is called Blount SmallShip Adventures.

The Blount passenger tends to be anexperienced, mature and well-heeled travelerwith talks during meals involving past trips tovaried destinations. On our cruise passengers werefrom all over the county but I was surprised thatover a third came from Massachusetts and RhodeIsland; as they were cruising right in their backyard. Half had traveled with Blount before and arevery loyal citing Blount’s personalized serviceand interesting itineraries.

STATEROOMS – Cabins are located on allthree decks and include both outside and inside

staterooms. The least expensive cabins have nowindows and a double bed (usually with asingle bunk above). Outside cabins withportholes or windows that open may lead out toa central corridor or the open side promenadedeck. These cabins come in a variety ofsleeping configurations: a single double bed,twin beds arranged side-by-side or at rightangles to one another, or one upper and onelower berth.

The cabins are small, especially whencompared to larger cruise ship standards, but theyare efficient and well laid out, ranging from 80 to100 square feet. My cabin a Category 4 on SunDeck had two parallel beds under a window thatslid open, a night table, open closet, four deepdrawers and three deep shelves, two openshelves, a shower stall separated from the washbasin and toilet compartment and individualtemperature control. The attractive bedspreadswere a dark blue and maroon, and the room had avery nautical flair. The hot water is limited toabout 10 minutes per person before it has toreboot. There are no televisions, radios ortelephones in the cabins but there is a PA systeminto each room for announcements and wild lifesightings that can be turned off if you prefer.

One thing that surprised me is that the cabindoors do not lock from the outside. You can lockfrom the inside but with the small, familyatmosphere of the ship no one was concerned bythis and I doubt that it has ever been a problem.One problem I did find was that the airconditioning in my cabin was rather noisy but asmy window opened I would turn the AC off andenjoy the fresh sea air.

SERVICE & CREW – Since these are US flagships, the crew is all American, and generallyyoung and the entire crew from Captain on downis closely engaged with the passengers and willtypically address you by name, another nice touchto being on a small ship.

Captain Abbrizzi started as a deck hand withthe company and Nancy Blount herself who is nowat the helm of Blount Small Ship Adventuresworked as a stewardess during high school andcollege summer breaks. Many have worked their

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Norwegian America Line Circa 1951

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Passenger Capacity: 96 Builder: Blount Marine Corp.Number of Crew: 17 Warren, RITonnage: 99 Entered Service: 1997Length: 184 feet Refurbished: 2009Beam: 40 feet Former Name: NoneDraft: 6.5 feet Maximum Speed: 10 knotsPassenger Decks: 3 Propulsion: Diesel Registry: USA

Ocean & Cruise News Classification: Specialty

Passenger Cabins:Category I (88 -114 sq ft) ................................11 Category II (95 -106 sq ft) ...............................4Category III (76 -102 sq ft) .............................16 Category VI (84 -104 sq ft)............................19

Passenger Services: Main lounge, library area, sun deck, free Wifi Internet access, , electric stair lift,two passenger launches, bicycles, kayaks plus sunfish sailboat & snorkeling equipment in Caribbean.No gift shop but clothing/souvenirs for sale informally

Restaurants: Dining room with open seating; Deck barbecue

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...............................................2 Quality of Ports ................................................3Air/Sea Program ...............................................N/A Passenger Conveniences...................................2Alternate Dining ...............................................N/A Quality of Food ................................................2Menu Selection .................................................1 Food Preparation ..............................................2Food Presentation .............................................2 Stateroom Comfort ...........................................2Overall ..............................................................2

Suggested Tipping: $12-14 per day

Strong Points: Varied and different Itineraries, friendly and courteous crew, family atmosphere,interesting and reasonable priced shore excursions, knowledgeable on board lecturers.

Weak Points: Small cabins, limited variety of dinner choices

CRUISE FACTS — GRANDE CARIBE

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way up in Blount and thus have a goodunderstanding of the crew.

Just like any cruise ship the Grande Caribe hasa Cruise Director and a Hotel Manager. Our CruiseDirector Jeniffer McDaniels had started as astewardess also about 7 years ago. She remembersyour name from the beginning and what shoreexcursions you have booked and other personallikes and preferences. She always has a bright smile.Hotel Manager Jennifer Jesus runs a tight ship witha friendly and courteous staff and is always close byshould you have a question or need.

The service was friendly, courteous andwonderful by the entire staff. They provided alevel of service you would expect on a luxury line,but were like family rather than crew which madethis a truly special experience and which is a niceplus when traveling on a small ship.

FOOD & DINING – The food is a very tasty all-American fare, often reflecting the cruisingregion. Meals are served open seating at tables forfour to eight. Each day the menu is posted on thedining room’s chalk board and guests are calledto each meal with the ringing of a bell. Passengersmay sit with whomever they wish and everyonebecomes friendly right away. As the dining roomhas large windows on each side most tables havegood views of the passing scenery and there werefresh flowers on every table daily.

There are set meal times, generally 8am, noon,and 6pm. Also, as with real families, the chef setsthe menu of the day, with a choice usually of a meator seafood and 2 deserts for dinner. Breakfast startswith a buffet line for fruit, milk, juice, and hot andcold cereal. Cooked entrees are served family style(large platters are passed around the tables) atbreakfast this was usually a mix of sausage, bacon,waffles etc. Lunch is also served family style,always with a tasty soup and then a platter ofsandwiches while dinner is served traditionally.

Dinner began with salad set at every placesetting, a freshly baked oven warm loaf of breadand then a main course that features among otherentrees; rack of lamb, grilled salmon, roast beefand pork loin. Both the quality of the ingredientsand preparation are very good. Dessert run from

freshly baked pies and cakes to ice cream with achoice of toppings.

The meals are delicious even if somewhatshort on selection. Between meals there are snacksavailable in the lounge and dining room, selfservice soft drinks in the lounge and a coffeestation in the dining room available at all hours.

I am one of those few people who do not enjoyseafood and this cruise, as a result of the itineraryand the chef taking advantage of the local freshseafood, was a seafood lover’s delight. As you canview the menu ahead of time I would simply justgo to the galley and talk with Chef Andy Vielepersonally. He will make you an alternative with asmile. I would have liked a little more variety inthe menu at lunch and dinner but everyone waswell fed and happy. Dietary requirements are metwith advance notice. Your choice of beer or wineis complimentary with every lunch and dinner.

CONCLUSION – While I was kidding when Iquestioned whether I could survive a cruise on aship without swimming pools, shopping arcadesand casinos, I will say that after we set sail I nevergave them a thought. Blount Small ShipAdventures offers an amazing experience that youwill simply not find travelling on big ships. Theconvenience of small ship cruising takes you tolesser-known destinations and affords a wonderfulup-close view of the coastal waters and charmingunspoiled coastal towns. You get to know yourfellow passengers from the get go and the staff iscourteous and friendly and all bond into almost afamily atmosphere for the cruise.

However Blount is not for everybody. Peoplewho want a big menu of activities, those who wantto be pampered in luxury and those who have apreset idea of what a cruise should be might bedisappointed. Those who are open to a new andintimate cruising experience where you will feelextremely comfortable traveling as a single, ormight enjoy having some really nice time togetheras a couple strolling quaint villages, kayaking,bicycling and meeting new friends will have awonderful time.

Would I take another cruise with thiscompany, certainly! In fact, I can’t wait!

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The interest in cruising on the West Coast ofNorth America was taking off at the same time.Princess Cruises was finding great success withthe Island Princess and her running mate“Princess” Italia. Shipping giant P&O hadbegun their own dabbling in this market withtheir new Spirit Of London and the 20-year oldveteran liner Arcadia. During the pivotal year of1974, P&O purchased Princess Cruises, alongwith the Island Princess, during the summer andfollowed up in October by buying the SeaVenture. By April of 1975 the ship had beenrechristened the Pacific Princess and becamethe newest member of the three-ship fleet ofPrincess Cruises, made up of her sister and theSpirit Of London which was renamed SunPrincess. The chartered Italia had previouslyleft Princess in 1973. The stage was set for whatwould become one of the most successful cruiseoperations the world had ever seen.

Even today, if the words “The Love Boat” arementioned, the average person may think of acruise, or more specifically Princess Cruises orthe Pacific Princess. While the populartelevision show is well-remembered, the sourcematerial came from a book written by a femalecruise director that had worked for Princess bythe name of Jeraldine Saunders. Many of herhumorous recollections took place aboard the“Princess” Carla C., although that ship wasnever specifically named. The cover of the bookThe Love Boats added the teaser “Welcome tothe wild, deliciously wicked world of the floatingbedroom - the luxury liner!” Who could resist?Certainly not Hollywood, and Princess Cruisesproximity to the television and movie capital,made it a natural choice when it came time toproduce the shows. Beginning in 1976 producerDouglas Cramer made a pair of two hourspecials, initially using the Sun Princess as thesetting for the high seas hijinks.

After partnering with Aaron Spelling, theproducers convinced the ABC televisionnetwork to make the show a weekly series. It ranfrom mid-season 1977 until 1986, with thePacific Princess in the leading role. Each weekthe crew of regulars; Captain Merrill Stubing,

Gopher the purser, Isaac the bartender, Doc, andCruise Director Julie were joined by featuredguest stars who would together “set a course foradventure” with every cruise lasting one hour.The Love Boat television show became sopopular that Princess Cruises adapted the namein their own advertising campaign, and althoughthat has not been the theme for many years,Princess ships are still known as “The LoveBoats.” The whistle on the newest RoyalPrincess of 2013, even plays the first few notesof the memorable theme song.

For free publicity, Princess Cruises had hitthe lottery. Cruising in general took off with thelines that had once struggled to fill their ships,suddenly sailing at capacity. The ship buildingboom that started in the early 1980’s has neverabated. Everyone benefited, but the PacificPrincess was the epicenter of the excitement atthat time. After seeing them on TV, passengerswere already familiar with the ship’s interiors.Onboard, they could stand in the iconic two deckhigh lobby, dine in the orange and red décor ofthe Coral Dining Room or sip cocktails in theforward Carousel Lounge or the aft Pacific Cluband Lounge with its upper level terrace. A two-story wall of glass separated those rooms fromthe aft pool. The Crystal Pool and the adjacentLido Deck were the scenes of many fictional andreal life encounters. Above the three circularpools the name Pacific Princess wasalways visible. Forward on the same deck onecould find the lovely Starlight Lounge, situatedabove the bridge, decorated in pretty shades ofpale blue. In one case of life imitating art, theintimate Skaal Bar was transformed into thePirate’s Cove simply because that room was onthe television show. Most of the public roomswere pretty accurately rendered whether on theship or a soundstage. However, the one thing thatalways seemed larger on TV were the cabins.They looked huge while their real-lifecounterparts were comfortable but compact.

For most of the first decade of her Princesscareer, the Pacific Princess remained based inLos Angeles for cruises to the Mexican Riviera,Panama Canal and Alaska. During August of1984 she remained tied to her usual dock, Pier93A in L.A. Harbor on a charter for the Olympic

(Last Look… continued from page 1)

Games. At the end of that year, she wasrepositioned away from Los Angeles. In achanging of the guard-type moment, with thenew Royal Princess docked on the oppositecorner of the pier, she left what had amounted toher homeport for years and although she wouldreturn from time to time on port calls and for drydocks, the rest of the world now beckoned.

The Pacific Princess remained a vibrantmember of the Princess Cruises fleet during aperiod that saw the company expand beyond allprevious recognition through new builds andacquisitions. Appropriately, during her finalseason the ship was placed back on the NewYork to Bermuda service for which she had beenbuilt. The gorgeous etched glass mirrorsadjoining the lobby that told the story of the SeaVenture and Bermuda were now back where theybelonged. The final seven day cruise ended onOctober 27, 2002. A last voyage from New Yorkto Rome followed at which time the PacificPrincess was turned over to Pullmantur Cruisesand her name shortened to simply Pacific.

Much of her career after Princess involvedsailing in the charter market, notably for touroperator CVC who operated her along the coast ofBrazil until 2007. Quail Cruises came into thepicture in 2008 and repainted the ship in theirrather attractive color scheme, although the beautyof this company remained only on the surface. InJuly, 2009, the Pacific was seized at Genoa by theItalian Coast Guard on behalf of creditors. Shewould never sail again. In an attempt to duck thebad publicity, Quail Cruises changed their name tothe completely inappropriate title of HappyCruises, but ceased operations in 2011. A partialrefit was never completed and the Italiansattempted to sell the deteriorating ship in 2010with no takers. In 2012, a Turkish scrapper placeda deposit on the ship but was never able to takedelivery and forfeited the money.

The end finally came as the ship was towedfrom Genoa on July 27, 2013 with her finaldestination being the breakers yard at Aliaga,Turkey. Izmir Ship Recycling reportedly bought theship for $3.3 million in scrap value, shortening the

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Pacific Princess in Bermuda Photo Courtesy of Author

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name to Acif for that last fateful trip. A severe list tostarboard developed en route and the sinking shipbarely reached the breakers beach, plowing into thepartially dismantled Rochdale 1 (ex Ayvazovskiy,Karina, PrimeExpress Island) and coming to restnext to meager remains of her former PrincessCruises fleet mate, the one time Sky Princess(originally built in 1984 as the Fairsky and latercruising as the Pacific Sky, Sky Wonder, andAtlantic Star) In her final death throes the former“Love Boat” lists 40 degrees, submerged to nearlythe Aloha Deck on her starboard side, too dangerousfor even the scrappers to begin their work.

It is probably best not to remember her in thisway. In the course of the 42 years since she wasbuilt, the ship brought happiness to manywhether on sunny cruises to Bermuda asFlagship Cruises lovely Sea Venture, or in hersecond, and most famous role as PrincessCruises, Pacific Princess. This ship helped makecruising what it is today and brought joy,laughter and yes, even love to millions of peopleboth on television and in life.

ABOUT THE AUTHORShawn J. Dake has been involved intourism and the cruise industry for overthirty-five years. A native of SouthernCalifornia, his first job was working asa tour guide aboard the ocean linerQueen Mary in Long Beach, anexperience that would have anenormous influence on his futurecareer. For 30 years, he has operatedOceans Away Cruises & Travel. He isalso a freelance writer andphotographer specializing in the cruiseindustry. Shawn has personallytaken over 111 cruises includingvoyages Around-The-World, multiplecrossings of both the Pacific andAtlantic Oceans, and visits to all sevencontinents. He resides in SouthernCalifornia with his wife Caroline, and apair of twin orange cats.

FAREWELL TOSEABOURN PRIDE

Seabourn has announced a series of voyagesaboard Seabourn Pride dedicated to celebratingthe ship’s 25-year history with the company. Theship will be transferred to its new owners(Windstar) in Europe in the spring of 2014.

Seabourn has created a series of Caribbeanvoyages incorporating signature Seabourn eventssuch as the iconic “Caviar in the Surf” beachbarbecue and the water sports Marina Day thatpioneered a new style of luxury small-shipcruising when Seabourn Pride was launched.

The line has designated 15 cruises fromNovember 11, 2013 through the transatlanticcrossing as the ship’s “Farewell Season” and hasbrought back many of its most veteran staffmembers, and other alumni who served on boardover the years. The company has also gatheredrecipes from the past, including the popular“Presidential Dinners” that recreate ceremonialstate dinners served in the U.S. White House.Special onboard activities and themed eventswill be featured on board.

The final voyage under the Seabourn bannerwill be a transatlantic voyage departing FortLauderdale, Florida, on March 30, 2014.

VIKING ORDERS MORERIVER SHIPS

Viking River Cruises has announced that it hasincreased its order for additional VikingLongships, bringing the total number of new shipslaunching in 2014 from 12 to 14 vessels. Theincreased order reflects the popularity of rivercruising as the fastest growing-segment of thetravel industry and the leadership position ofViking, the world’s leading river cruise line. By theend of 2014, Viking will have introduced a total of30 new ships in a three-year period – the mostrapid fleet expansion program the cruise industryhas ever seen. The 14 new ships in 2014 will sailViking’s most popular itineraries in Europe.

In 2015, Cunard will commemorate the 175thyear of the company's founding, and the globalvoyages planned will celebrate this significantmilestone in style. This festive time will heraldseveral Cunard Royal Rendezvous events duringthe World Voyage itineraries: Queen Mary 2 andQueen Elizabeth will depart Southamptontogether on 10 January; on 12 March, QueenMary 2 and Queen Victoria will meet in Sydney;and on 3 May, all three Queens will return fromtheir World Voyages to Southampton.

Carnival Corporation announced it isintroducing its Princess Cruises brand to Chinain 2014, naming Shanghai as home port forSapphire Princess during a four-month seasonexpected to carry 70,000 passengers.

P&O Cruises is offering two world cruisesfor 2015, collectively visiting 69 uniquedestinations in 38 different countries andcovering 61,470 nautical miles. Arcadia issailing a 106-night full World Circumnavigationexclusively for adults with single cabinsavailable, and Aurora is sailing a 105-nightSouth America and Pacific Adventure forfamilies, couples and solo travelers alike. Bothsail roundtrip from Southampton.

Lin Arison, wife of the late Ted Arison,founder of Carnival Cruise Lines, will serve asgodmother of Carnival Sunshine, the formerCarnival Destiny, which was renamedfollowing a massive $155 million makeoverearlier this year. She will officially nameCarnival Sunshine during an invitation-onlyceremony held on board the completelytransformed ship at its new U.S. homeport ofNew Orleans on November 17th.

The Tampa Port Authority and RoyalCaribbean International have announced that thecruise line will be deploying a second ship at thePort of Tampa beginning in the fall of 2014.Royal Caribbean has been operating one ship atthe Port of Tampa, during winter cruise seasons,since January 2002. The Brilliance of the Seas,which will sail seasonally four- and five-nightWestern Caribbean cruises, will now be joined

by the Vision of the Seas, which will offer seven-night Western Caribbean cruises, sailing fromTampa throughout winter 2014-15.

Abercrombie & Kent is offering a new Arcticcruise program centered on the polar bear. Thetrip will be accompanied by a team of researchscientists and naturalists and will use Compagniedu Ponant’s Le Boreal cruise ship, which isdesigned for polar waters.

Polar Cruise Enterprises, a new Norwegian-Finnish venture, is planning to build an icebreaking cruise liner at the Rauma yard of STXFinland, a Finnish media report says. Theventure plans to construct a ship withaccommodation for 240 passengers and a crew of70. The planned vessel would be built to thehighest ice class and it would mostly be used inthe Arctic.

Venice has moved a step closer to banningcruise ships from the Giudecca Canal,according to an Italian newspaper. ItalianEnvironment Minister Andrea Orlando isproposing enacting emergency legislation –drafted after the Costa Concordia accidentwhich would ban ships of more than 500 tonscoming within two nautical miles of landscapesof natural or cultural importance.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has published anEnglish-language brochure for the 2014-15season of the new Europa 2. The new brochure,illustrated with high-resolution photographs, willbe available in travel agencies starting this monthand will feature cruises from April 2014 untilApril 2015. The new ship, christened inHamburg in May, will sail to 167 ports in fiveregions, including the eastern and westernMediterranean, Western Europe, North America,the Caribbean and South America.

Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager ofthe Seas and Mariner of the Seas will be in Asianext summer. The cruise line announced itssummer 2014 Asia cruise season for the two ships,continuing sailings from Shanghai (Baoshan),Beijing (Tianjin), Hong Kong, and Singapore.

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MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS