Sam's Sea Stories

How valid are opinions from people we don’t know? I’ve been compelled to write this week about the validity of opinions, more specifically opinions I encounter on a daily basis on the quality or otherwise of certain cruise lines/ships. When discussing cruise options with clients I’ve often encountered many saying:…

Another first for the cruise industry with the announcement that legal same-sex weddings at sea will become reality in 2018. P&O Cruises recently became the first British cruise line to offer same sex weddings at sea, with ceremonies beginning in January 2018. The change comes after a court victory in…

The Costa Concordia tragedy seems like so long ago now so I was surprised to hear that the dismantling and recycling of the infamous cruise liner has only just been completed in Italy, marking the official end to final phase of what is considered the largest maritime salvage job in history.…

We all tend to hear about the worlds busiest airports and the sheer numbers of people passing through them on a daily basis, so I thought for a change I'd take a look at some of the worlds busiest cruise ports and see just how many people they have to…

In true seafaring spirit the Cunard Queen Mary 2 was recently involved in the rescue of a British yachtsman who got into difficulty in an extreme Atlantic Storm. 73-year-old British sailor Mervyn Wheatley embarked on his 19th Atlantic crossing when, sailing back single-handed his yacht was severely damaged. The lone yachtsman…

Well in case the monumental occasion passed you by, Sunday May 28th was indeed Americas 'National Burger Day' (surely you're not surprised), and getting in to the spirit of the occasion were two of Americas largest cruise operators - Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line. Carnival in true American…

In the 'Eco Friendly' age we now live in the following news will come as a shock to some, and leave a bitter taste in the mouth of others I would imagine. Princess Cruise Lines has been sentenced to pay a US$40 million penalty related to illegal dumping overboard of…

I find it hard to believe that given the amount of family friendly cruise options around these days, all of which include swimming pools, some even large scale on board water parks that it's not compulsory for cruise companies to employ lifeguards, especially when you consider some of the recent…

All Inclusive cruising has long been the main stay of the 'premium/high end' brands such as Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, now for the first time one of the 'mass market' cruise operators has decided to do the same. Norwegian Cruise Lines have announced every ship, every itinerary…

Last summer it was announced by P&O Cruises that the popular Strictly Come Dancing themed cruises would be continued in 2017, well for all you 'Strictly' fans, the wait is over, the 'Strictly Stars' have been announced! Craig Revel Horwood will once again be in charge, passing judgment on the…