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 I will soon be pulling up anchor and leaving the good ship Tripharbour.ca.

It’s been a marvelous voyage and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. But after 27 months, 234 blog entries, hundreds of postings, and many wonderful exchanges with readers on various aspects of cruising, it’s time for a change.

During my tenure with Tripharbour, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the best people in the travel industry who have taught me a great deal about online media and cruise retailing. And I’m very proud of what everyone at Tripharbour (especially Stuart, Ian, Pat, Sabeen, Michelle, and Sherry) has accomplished in such a short period and in such tough economic conditions.

In just over two years since the site went live in April of 2008, Tripharbour has become Canada’s largest online-only player in the cruise category. Equally important, it has provided travelers with a new and better way to plan and purchase cruise vacations. And the voyage has only begun.

The work hasn’t been too tough, either.

Over the last two years, I’ve been on nine cruises to many wonderful places like South America, the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, Panama Canal, trans-Atlantic and Canada/New England. I’ve seen many beautiful ports like Buenos Aires, Moorea, Honolulu, Boston, Ushuaia, Cannes, Kusadasi, Santorini, Venice and Kotor. And I’ve met some fabulous people like Palo and Lorena in Santiago, Cruise Director David Bradshawe aboard the Pacific Princess in the Med, and too many great waiters and staff to remember their names. If there’s a better way to see the world than by cruise ship, I’ve yet to discover it.

But the best part of working at Tripharbour has been sharing my experiences with you, the 6,000 or so loyal readers who visit my blog each month. I’ve done my best to paint a vivid picture of everything we’ve seen and done, and to provide as many tips as possible about various aspects of cruising. I hope you’ve found it helpful.

Of course, I would be remiss to pull up anchor without saying thank you to all the readers who have taken the time to leave comments or ask questions on the site, and to the friends who have helped make Commodore Dave’s Blog a more interesting place. Among them are Pierre, John, Adam, Cheryl and Jackie.

Most of all, I want to thank my wife Gail, as well as our daughters Lindsay and Samantha for their feedback and support. Gail has co-written numerous entries to my blog, and edited most of the others (I’m grateful that one of us can spell). Lindsay also wrote a series of blog entries during one of our Mediterranean cruises, while Sam has provided many great photographs for my blog including some from our recent sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands.  

But while I will be sailing off into the sunset on the next tide, you will still be able to find my old blog entries on Tripharbour for some time to come. And if you’d like to stay in touch with the future adventures of Commodore Dave, you can always find me on Facebook under David Moorcroft of Toronto.

In the meantime, I hope you continue to enjoy calm seas and gentle winds, and that every cruise you take is a bon voyage!

There are lots of great deals out there on discounted cruise fares, particularly if you are willing to travel on short notice. In fact, I recently got an email-flyer from a major cruise line promoting an 11-day European cruise departing Dover, England on August 21 with fares starting at just US$999 or about $90 per day.

The problem, of course, is finding reasonably priced air fares at the last minute. Or for that matter, finding them for peak travel periods like Christmas, March Break and the summer vacation period even when you are prepared to book far in advance.

There’s also the issue of flying during bad weather, or into countries with labour disputes than could result in delayed arrivals or cancelled flights. For example, winter snow storms can play havoc with flight schedules, as can natural disasters like hurricanes and volcanic eruptions. Ditto for labour disputes. In fact, there have been many delayed and cancelled European flights over the past few months thanks to ongoing labour disputes at British Airways, and with traffic controllers in France and Spain.

So what’s the savvy traveller to do? Are there secrets to finding cheap airfares and protecting yourself against delayed or cancelled flights that could cause you to miss your cruise departure?

The answer to that question is “yes,” particularly if you are prepared to shop around and follow a few basic rules. For example:

1. Don’t take the cruise air package that the cruise line offers until you understand and like what the conditions are. Most cruise air packages require you to travel on their choice of airline and route, which means you might have to make several stops rather than flying direct (this is particularly true when flying from Canadian airports). In addition, most cruise air packages charge extra fees if you want to fly into the port of embarkation or out of the port of arrival a few days early or late.

2. Compare the cost of cruise air to fares you can book on your own. In many cases, I have been able to find lower-priced and more conveniently routed flights than offered by the cruise lines, including during my recent trip to England to board the Queen Mary 2 for a trans-Atlantic cruise. For example, despite booking only 14 days in advance, I was able to get a one-way ticket from Toronto to London for less than $600 on charter carrier Air Transat – which was several hundred dollars cheaper than what I could find anywhere else, including with the cruise line.

3. Ask if the cruise line air deal offers any protection on delayed flights. Most people assume that air travel purchased through a cruise line automatically affords them protection should the flight be delayed or cancelled, and results in them missing the departure of their cruise. This is not the case with most cruise lines. However, Princess Cruises recently introduced an innovative program called “eZAir” which offers competitive airfare pricing, next port protection, no customization fee, and a much wider booking window.

Among other benefits, this program allows customers to see real-time airline inventory and pricing from multiple carriers, gives them flight assistance at no cost to the next port of call should their delayed flight cause them to miss their sailing, and gives them a window of from 4 to 330 days before their cruise departure to book their airfare. This cruise air program from Princess is probably the best in the industry, and more cruise lines should follow their lead.

4. Look for business class upgrades with cruise air. Some cruise lines, particularly the upscale ones like Crystal, Silversea and Regent, occasionally offer air upgrades from economy to business class for free or at very attractive rates for selected cabin categories and/or voyages. This can be a bargain compared to the regular cost of business class travel, and a real benefit on long-haul flights.

5. Check out a wide range of air options over several weeks, and look for special offers. While airfares are usually lowest when booked early, particularly during peak travel periods, they can often drop for a short period if sales are not going well. For example, I recently booked business class tickets to Europe with Air France for a thousand dollars less than the airline was asking for just a few weeks before and after my booking. I’ve had the same experience with other airlines including Air Tahiti Nui, British Airways, Delta and Air Canada.

At the end of the day, getting the lowest air fare with the best set of conditions is often a mixture of good research, lots of persistence and good timing. However, knowing a few things about how cruise air programs work and when it’s actually better to book your own air can go a long way to helping you get the best deal, even at the last minute.

With record high temperatures gripping most of North America this summer, it may seem like a strange time to be thinking about where to spend the winter holidays. After all, most of us just want to crank up the air conditioning or lounge by the pool.

However, many of the best choices and deals on this year’s holiday season cruises will be gone by the end of September, along with the best airfares and routes. So it does pay to book early from both a pricing and convenience perspective.

Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s cruises are offered in a variety of warm-weather destinations, but the most popular ones take place in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and the Mexican Riviera. These cruises vary in length from five to 14 days, and typically depart from easy to reach cities in Florida, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, and California. There are also a handful of departures from New York City for those who don’t mind braving a few days of cold weather before the ship arrives in the Bahamas.

Holiday season cruises typically attract people who don’t have or want to be part of large family gatherings at home, or simply want to avoid the hassle of all the preparations. The larger ships tend to draw lots of families with children on their holiday sailings, while the smaller, upscale lines usually attract couples.

While some itineraries include both Christmas and New Year’s Eve, most offer just one or the other. Whatever your preference, try not to start or end your cruise on either of these holidays as it will take away from your experience. It also pays to arrive at your port of disembarkation a day early to avoid any delays caused by poor winter weather.

What can you expect from a holiday cruise?

Whether it’s singing carols by the pool or welcoming in a New Year while dancing under the stars, a holiday cruise offers many of the seasonal trappings of home combined with a wonderful tropical twist.

For example, the interiors of ships are decked out with festive décor and restaurants offer holiday menus with seasonal favourites like roast turkey with all the trimmings. In addition, many guests decorate their own cabins with wreaths, menorahs, and decorations picked up in each port of call. Some also put up stockings and leave wrapped gifts in a section of their cabin to open on Christmas Day.

Most holiday cruises travel with ministers, priests and rabbis so that passengers can attend religious services for Christmas and Hanukkah. And there are usually plenty of opportunities to observe familiar rituals such as tree and menorah lighting ceremonies, Christmas caroling, and holiday meals and drinks.

During December and early January, most ports-of-call are bursting with holiday decorations, music and festivals, all with a tropical twist. As for New Year’s Eve, dinner, entertainment, and a bang-up party are all included in your cruise fare.

So if the thought of having someone else prepare your holiday celebrations while you sail around idyllic islands sounds appealing, why not put a holiday voyage under the tree this year. Once you’ve tried it, you may well decide that a holiday season filled with palm trees, beaches and steel drums is a lot more cool than one filled with snow, ice and freezing temperatures.

The fatal shooting this week of a 14-year-old girl visiting St. Thomas by cruise ship has many people wondering whether the U.S. Virgin Islands are still a safe place for tourists.

Lizmarie Perez Chapparro was struck by a stray bullet on Monday as she rode with her parents on an open-air safari bus. The family, which arrived on the island that morning aboard the 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory, were taking the bus to the Coki Point Beach area when gunfire broke out between rival gangs attending a funeral at a cemetery along the route.

In response to the incident, several cruise lines with port calls this week in St. Thomas have cancelled excursions to the Coki Point Beach area. In addition, some ships have even offered full refunds for anyone wishing to cancel their pre-booked shore excursions anywhere on the island.

The U.S. Virgin Islands have been plagued by growing violence over the past few decades, first in St. Croix and more recently in St. Thomas. In fact, as of Monday’s fatal shooting, the territory of 110,000 people had racked up 44 homicides this year – an increase of more than 30% over the same period last year. At this point, the U.S. Virgin Islands are on track in 2010 to experience a record homicide rate that is 13 times the American national average.

As a result, some cruise lines are thinking about reducing the number of port calls they make in St. Thomas, or even dropping the destination altogether. And it wouldn’t be the first time that cruise lines have taken this kind of drastic action.

For example, most cruise lines pulled out of St. Croix in 2002 because of concerns over rising crime on that island. And a number of cruise lines have pulled out of, or reduced port visits in Jamaica for the same reason.

So should cruise ships pull out of St. Thomas as a result of Monday’s senseless and tragic death?

As someone who has been to the region more than a dozen times over the past 30 years, I would hate to see that happen. After all, St. Thomas is a beautiful island with great scenery and beaches, lots of wonderfully warm and friendly people, and some of the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean.

In addition, there isn’t a destination in the world that is completely crime-free, or where tourists don’t need to be cautious of where they are going. And fatal attacks on tourists are extremely rare anywhere in the Caribbean.

However, I do believe that Monday’s tragic event could be used as a catalyst for positive change in the region.

For example, cruise lines need to explore alternative ports in the region and begin reducing the number of calls they make in a very congested St. Thomas which is already too crowded on most days in winter. Some lines have already begun to do that by calling in the nearby British Virgin Islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, which are relatively crime free.  More lines should follow this lead.

In addition, the government of the U.S.V.I. needs to get more serious about reducing crime on St. Thomas, particularly violent crime. They ignored the problem on St. Croix and have already seen the economic impact of their inaction in terms of lost tourism dollars. So it’s time local leaders took their heads out of the sand and faced up to the fact that their island paradise is becoming ‘Paradise Lost’.

But if, among other things, local crime and port congestion can be curtailed, there’s no reason why St. Thomas can’t regain its reputation one day as a true Caribbean paradise.  

Majestic mountains. Sensational glaciers. Pristine fjords. And endless miles of gorgeous coastline.

If this kind of stunningly beautiful scenery sounds like something you’d enjoy, there are only a few places in the world where you can find it including Chile, Norway and Alaska. And if you’d like to see these destinations in all of their glory, the most economical and spectacular way to do so is by cruise ship.

Land of Fire and Ice: Surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, emerald forests and pristine lakes, Chile’s beautiful Lake District is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the majestic Andes Mountains. The region is part of the zone known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” and sits atop two major tectonic plates with more than 1,000 volcanoes, 41 of which are still active. Just a few miles south, you’ll find the majestic fjords of southern Patagonia where you’ll sail between walls of tall, craggy rocks and snow-capped peaks on your way to the Strait of Magellan and nearby giant glaciers. And you’ll see plenty of native wildlife including penguins, sea wolves and cormorants.

The dramatic scenery of Southern Chile can be seen on cruises that sail around the Horn of South America between Valparaiso, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. These itineraries usually last between 12 to 20 days, and have cruise fares that start as low as C$94 per day.

Majestic Fjords of Norway: It’s been called “the world’s most beautiful voyage” and was recently voted to the top of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s list of most iconic travel destinations. We’re talking about the magnificent fjords along Norway’s dramatic 1,250-mile west coast, which will fill your days with spectacular vistas, snow-capped mountains, and an astonishing variety of flora and fauna.

The natural beauty of the fjords comes from their narrow, crystalline rock walls that rise up to 4, 500 feet from the Norwegian Sea and extend 1, 640 ft below sea level. In particular, the Geiranger Fjord region is so beautiful that it was recently designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

A number of cruise lines sail to the Norwegian fjords, including Cunard, Crystal, MSC, Holland America and Seabourn. And Norwegian-based Hurtigruten offers year-round coastal cruises around Norway that depart daily. While cruise fares for Norway are usually more expensive than those for the rest of Europe, they can still be purchased for as low as C$136 a day.

America’s Final Frontier: This is where you’ll see magnificent glaciers calving huge chunks of ice into the bay, Orca whales frolicking in the ice flow, and black bears roaming the coastline of magnificent fjords. It’s Alaska, the most northern, western and eastern state in the union (the end of the Aleutian chain of islands crosses the international dateline), and a place so beautiful that it is consistently rated one of the top cruise destinations in the world.

It’s also the closest to reach from Canada and the U.S., and currently offers some of the best rates in the industry with cruise fares starting as low as C$82 per day.

A wide variety of cruise lines offer Alaska voyages between April and September, with departures from San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier. The best itineraries include a sail up one of the spectacular fjords to pass by a glacier (usually Glacier Bay, Sawyer Glacier or Hubbard Glacier), and stops in ports like Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau that are within easy reach of sensational attractions like train rides across the mountains and helicopter landings on glaciers.

So if you’re ready to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, all you have to do is decide which destination you’re going to cruise to first.

The recent announcement by Fred Olsen Cruises that it will likely drop its Canada-New England cruise itineraries if more rigorous ship emission standards are introduced raises some interesting questions about the future viability and cost of cruising the coastal waters of North America.   

For example:

Why are new emission standards necessary?

According to a clean technology company called STI, exhaust emissions from ships are a significant source of sulphur oxide, with the 15 biggest ships alone emitting about as much sulphur oxide pollution as all cars combined. Sulphur in the air creates acid rain, which damages crops and buildings, and when inhaled, can cause repiratory problems. That’s why the Canadian and American governments are introducing tougher emission standards for cruise and cargo ships.

How tough will the new standards be?

The regulations will require ships to use a more expensive grade of fuel with less sulphur content when they come within a 200-mile clear-air buffer zone in North America known as an Emission Control Area (ECA). Under the new standards, the maximum allowable sulphur level will be 1.0 percent by 2012, and by 2015 it will go down to 0.1 per cent. By comparison, cruise ships in Canadian and American waters typically burn bunker fuel that has a sulphur content ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 per cent.

Why is the cruise industry resisting?

The cruise industry says the annual cost to meet the 2015 standard will be $100-million in additional costs for Alaska cruises and $30-million for New England/Canada cruises based on current fuel prices.

What will be the impact of the new standards?

It will likely mean higher cruise fares and fewer cruises for passengers, and the loss of tourism dollars for communities on the east and west coasts of North America. While it’s unlikely large cruise lines will abandon the market like Fred Olsen, they will position fewer ships in Alaska and New England-Canada, and probably sail shorter itineraries to save money on fuel costs.

Don’t cruise lines care about the environment?

The world’s major cruise lines support smart environmental stewardship and most have rigorous programs in place aboard their ships to reduce waste and pollution. After all, unlike cargo ships, cruise ships have a vested interest in keeping their cruising destinations clean, beautiful and attractive places to visit.

So what’s the problem?

The cruise industry believes there are more cost-effective ways to reduce sulphur emissions than just requiring them to use higher grades of fuel. For example, they say there are alternatives such as scrubbers that remove sulphur after the oil is burned but before emissions are discharged through the funnel. In addition, cruise lines would like the implementation dates for the new standards to be delayed so they have more time to equip their ships with the appropriate equipment and technology. In light of the size of their fleets and the age of some vessels, the cost and time involved in retrofitting ships to meet the new standards in such a short time span will be time-consuming and costly.

So what’s the solution?

The emission standards should be changed so that ships can choose the most cost-efficient ways to emit less sulphur into the air. Regulators should be establishing emission limits, not prescriptions on how to achieve them. Regulators should also be flexible on implementation dates, and provide extensions where circumstances warrant.

In addition, ports of call should be looking at what they can do to help. For example, some North American ports, including Vancouver, Seattle and Juneau, have installed shore power systems that allow cruise ships to connect to city grids while docked instead of burning fuel for their power needs.

What’s the bottom line?

It’s important the cruise industry continue to improve their environmental performance, including by reducing the pollutants they emit into the air and water. However, governments should not be implementing new standards for the cruise industry that go beyond what is required on land. Nor should they be creating standards that go beyond what is technologically possible, or be establishing timelines that cannot be met without destroying the economic viability of a cruising region.

At the end of the day, all level-headed people involved in this issue should be working towards the same goal – a significant reduction in sulphur emissions from cruise ships plying the coasts of North America, and a continuation of a vibrant cruise business that creates thousands of jobs and generates millions of tourism dollars for communities in the east and west coasts of North America.

The world’s major cruise lines are set to make a big splash over the next three years, with some 15 new ships being delivered in 2010, and another 10 setting sail in 2011 and 2012. Among them will be some of the most spectacular and innovative vessels to ever cruise the Seven Seas. 

So what are the most exciting ships in the current wave of new builds, what should you expect from them, and when can you sail on one during its maiden season?

* Celebrity Eclipse: This 120,000 ton beauty is the third Solstice-class ship from Celebrity. Launched in late April, the Eclipse has lots of fabulous features including a water fountain that doubles as a dance floor, 10 different restaurants including a gorgeous two-storey main dining room, a beautiful pool area and enclosed solarium, a live glass-blowing show, and a Lawn Club on the top deck with a bocce patch, putting green and picnic area all sitting on real grass. Her inaugural season begins in Europe.

* Norwegian Epic:  NCL’s largest and most innovative ship to date was launched in late June with great fanfare, and so far it has lived up to its advance billing. And what else would you expect from a ship that has six bowling lanes, an aqua park with three water slides, rock climbing and rappelling walls, an ice bar, evening entertainment from the likes of Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group, more restaurants than most small cities, and dedicated cabins for singles. Her maiden season will be in the Caribbean.

* Seabourn Sojourn: The latest ultra-deluxe ship from the Yachts of Seabourn was christened in early June by British supermodel Twiggy before beginning her maiden voyage in Europe. Like sister ship Seabourn Odyssey, this 32,000 beauty boasts the largest spa afloat for a luxury vessel, four gourmet restaurants including one with a tasting menu, and the traditional Seabourn water sports platform at the stern of the ship.

* Nieuw Amsterdam: Holland America Line’s newest ship launches this month with a series of Mediterranean cruises. She will feature many of the same innovations as her sister ship, the Eurodam, including a pan-Asian restaurant that serves Indonesian specialties, and an open-deck area with private cabanas.

* Queen Elizabeth: Cunard Line’s third ship in a fabulous trio of ocean liners will begin her maiden voyage on October 12 when she sails from Southampton to the western Mediterranean. The Queen Elizabeth will carry the name of its original predecessor, the famed Cunard ship which was launched in 1938 as the world’s largest liner. It will also resemble the first QE in interior grandeur, décor and style. At 90,000 tons, the QE will be the same size as the Queen Victoria, but will feature a different interior design based on an art deco décor (the QV’s interiors reflect the grandeur of early 20^th century ships like the Normandie).

* Allure of the Seas: When it debuts in December, Royal Caribbean’s latest ship will share the distinction of being the world’s largest vessel afloat along with its sister-ship, the Oasis of the Seas. At 225,282 tons, the Allure will be double the size of the average cruise ship, and offer more spas, pools, bars, entertainment, restaurants and activities than the typical resort hotel.  In fact, while aboard both the Allure and Oasis you can zip line, play miniature golf, go rock climbing, surf in a special FlowRider pool, play basketball, have a massage, play volley ball, take a yoga class and work out in a huge state of the art spa. The ship’s official maiden voyage will depart Fort Lauderdale on December 5 and sail to the Western Caribbean.

* Oceania Marina: This will be the first custom-designed ship for the cruise line, and at 66,000 tons it will be double the size of the fleet’s other three ships. When it debuts in February of 2011, the Marina will feature special “owner’s suites” with Ralph Lauren décor, boccie courts, a Jacques Pepin inspired French restaurant with Lyonnaise-inspired dishes, and a special wine-tasting area called La Reserve by Wine Spectator.  The Marina’s maiden voyage will depart Barcelona on January 22 for Miami, where it will begin a series of trans-canal and Caribbean cruises.
As for the rest of 2011, there are a number of fabulous vessels scheduled for launch. For example, the 128,000-ton Disney Dream will splash down in January, the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic will debut in June, the 32,000-ton Seabourn Quest will leave drydock in July, and the 122,000-ton Celebrity Silhouette will arrive in the fall. Then a number of spectacular new ships will debut in 2012, including the Costa Fascinosa, the Carnival Breeze, the Disney Fantasy, the MSC Favolosa and the Oceania Riviera.

So with all these marvelous new ships ready to make big waves, the only question for cruise passengers should be which one they want to take first. Or perhaps more appropriately, how many maiden voyages they can fit into their budgets and schedules over the next two years!

The sun was just beginning to set on the picturesque villages, green fields and old stone houses that grace the shoreline of southern England as Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 sailed out of the Solent estuary past the headlands of historic Spithead on its way into the Atlantic Ocean.

My wife Gail and I were grateful for the warm weather that allowed us to stroll the outer decks and admire the beautiful scenery that flanked our ship between the pretty Isle of Wight and the verdant south coast of England. After all, this was the last bit of terra firma we would see for the next six days as we crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Southampton to New York City.

But without any ports of call, what would we do for the better part of a week? And what kind of people should we expect to meet on a ship that was designed for ocean crossings rather than cruising?

According to our Entertainment Director Paul O’Loughlin, most people who choose a trans-Atlantic crossing want to experience a truly classic and historic voyage, and/or prefer the simplicity of crossing the pond by ship rather than by air.

The latter, O’Laughlin points out, have grown tired of the many hassles, delays and line-ups involved with air travel, and have discovered that sea travel provides great value. For example, the cost of a six-day crossing on the QM2 starts as low as $900, compared to $650 for an economy ticket and more than $2,000 for a business class ticket on a trans-Atlantic flight between England and North America.

As for the former group, O’Laughlin says they want to experience what it’s like to cross the Atlantic in style on a grand ocean liner the way it was done during the Golden Era of sea travel. Other passengers simply want to relive the journey their ancestors made when they immigrated to the Americas in the 19^th and early 20th centuries, or returned home from the Second World War.

Whatever their reason for sailing, passengers will find the QM2 is a destination in her own right with a décor and ambience that pays tribute to the great luxury liners of the past including the Queen Mary, Normandie, and France. For example, the QM2 has more than 5,000 pieces of art ranging from sculptures and expansive murals to oil paintings, hand-woven tapestry, a sheet bronze relief panel that graces the ship’s main lobby, and the largest ballroom at sea.

So what’s there to do aboard a luxurious liner while it gracefully crosses the ocean?

During the day, most people prefer to crawl into a deck chair with a good book and enjoy the fresh air and outdoor pool. However, since we were sailing through a patch of thick fog and light rain, we decided to stay indoors for most of the voyage. Thankfully, the QM2 has plenty of interior space and amenities including a fully covered pool area, as well as an extraordinary enrichment program with lots of great speakers, events and activities.

For example, during one day at sea we were treated to a performance of ‘The Taming of the Shrew” by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). The troupe also ran a number of interactive sessions during the cruise where they ran games and exercises about acting.

In addition, we watched several World Cup football matches in the Golden Lion Pub, played a round of golf in the ship’s golf simulator, worked out in the Canyon Ranch gymnasium, listened to classical recitals by students from the Julliard School of Music, attended several presentations by faculty from the Cunard Insights program, and watched a show about our solar system in the Illuminations Planetarium (the only one at sea).

During the evening, which is a much dressier affair on Cunard ships than most cruise lines (we had three formal nights in six days), there was a wide range of classy entertainment. For example, in just about every lounge we were treated to live music that ranged from jazz ensembles to pianists.

In the Royal Court Theatre, we were able to attend a nightly production show by the ship’s singers and dancers, or a virtuoso performance by accomplished artists like London singing sensation Emma Sinclair. And we enjoyed a number of themed party events in the Queens Room, including the Red, White & Blue Big Band Ball, and the Grand Masked Ball.

However, while the QM2 and our voyage across the Atlantic were wonderful experiences, the best was still to come.

On our final morning at 5:00 am, we joined hundreds of fellow passengers on the deck of the QM2 as we sailed under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (with only 13 feet of space to spare from the top of our funnel to the bottom of the bridge) and into historic New York Harbor.

As the Statue of Liberty and skyline of Manhattan appeared over our bow, I felt a tingle go down my spine. I was looking at the same scene that had greeted millions of immigrants 100 years ago when they crossed the Atlantic in search of a new life. And more importantly to me, it was the same scene that my father had witnessed when he had sailed to New York aboard the Queen Mary at the end of the Second World War.

He had told me many stories about that crossing and how excited he was by the sight of New York when his ship finally arrived in the harbor. We had never had the opportunity to do this trip together before he passed away. But as I stood on the deck of the QM2 watching the skyline of Manhattan grow larger, I finally understood how he must have felt on that wonderful morning when he and 15,000 other soldiers were finally welcomed back home by Lady Liberty.

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