THE ADMIRAL
Time to Pay Attention
T
his Old Salt is rarely prone to bouts of irrational fears but I must admit to being afflicted by mild symptoms of what is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia: the morbid
fear of Friday the 13th, attributed by scholars to a modern amalgamation of two ancient superstitions, that of the number 13 (known as the Devil’s Dozen, the 13th Tarot Card, or Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper) and of Fridays, believed to hark back to the day Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden after eating the forbidden fruit.
Throughout the year, the conjunction of 13 and a Friday is inevitable. However, 2012 has the rare distinction that there are three – one in January, one in April, and one in July – all 13 weeks apart! Sadly, Friday 13th January 2012 is a date now etched into the psyche of the cruise industry, especially in Italy, where 13 is considered a lucky number.
The Costa Concordia disaster that occurred on this inauspicious day will go down in the annals of maritime disasters. It is not the role of this sage to apportion blame – that is the preserve of the Italian Judiciary and Boards of Inquiry. However, I do believe it is important to get this incident – whilst undoubtedly tragic – into context.
It was far from the loss of life that occurred during
Titanic’s maiden voyage, and it is misguided to draw parallels with the White Star Line’s catastrophe, despite the headlines in the tabloid press the morning after Costa’s leviathan foundered on the rocks off Isola del Giglio.
Cruising still remains the safest form of transportation – fact. I have always felt entirely safe on board the many vessels on which I’ve crossed the seven seas, and this includes QE2’s encounter with a 96ft ‘rogue wave’ in mid-Atlantic back in 1996. One outcome of the Concordia incident is safety protocols on passenger ships will become more stringent – and not before time.
Far too often, my swashes are well and truly buckled at what some companies consider appropriate behaviour at the mandatory lifeboat drills. Passengers making mobile phone calls while the Captain delivers his most important message of the cruise – not to mention eating and drinking – reflect a flagrant disregard for a recognised procedure that can save lives at sea.
Perhaps now, boat-station officers will be given the attention they deserve during this important exercise and shipboard photographers will cease the practice of using this drill to snap passengers in frivolous poses.
One certain outcome of the debacle is the practice of ‘saluting’ – where passenger ships deviate from the planned course to steer closer to land – will be consigned to Davy Jones’ locker. As for me, I’m happy to put my paraskevidekatriaphobia behind me as I’m already planning to be enjoying life on the ocean waves on those ill-omened Fridays in April and July.
Cruise News Enter, Voyager
Luxury small-ship line VARIETY CRUISES have announced details of their latest vessel, which will offer their deluxe, super-yacht style around the French and Italian Rivieras, Sicily, Malta and the Gulf of Arabia. The 72-passenger Variety Voyager will debut this June, a sleek, modern cruiser featuring ample deck space, floor-to- ceiling windows, a fabulous restaurant, lounge area and outdoor bar-lounge, as well as a Balinese spa and watersports platform. At 223ft long, with just 36 cabins and an ultra-attentive crew of 28, the ship is furnished in millionaire super-yacht fashion, with warm fabrics, rich marbles and soft-toned wood panelling. The features include: • An indoor restaurant seating 64 with expansive windows to showcase ocean views
• Outdoor restaurant area seating 50 • A lounge area on main deck seating 64 passengers with an adjoining reception area and bar
• A trendy and spacious outdoor Deck Bar Lounge, offering late-night music from resident DJs and other entertainment
• Wellness Zone on the Marina Deck, offering the Balinese Spa with massages, sauna, steam rooms and an exercise area with state-of-the-art fitness equipment
• The aft section includes a Marina zone, allowing for easy launch of Zodiacs, access to the sea and watersports equipment
• Internet corner and library • Audiovisual equipment perfect for groups and other entertainment Variety Cruises themselves are one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets but are branching out in 2012 with both new ships and itineraries, offering life-enriching journeys created especially for inquisitive travelers. The fleet of 11 fully-owned vessels, taking from 12 to 75 passengers, includes mega-yachts, sail cruisers and private luxury yachts, while the new itineraries feature the Middle East, West Africa and the Adriatic. In addition to Variety Voyager, two-masted sail-cruiser Panorama II, taking just 49 passengers, also joins the fleet in April. Founded in 2005 but with a history dating back to 1949 under the Zeus name, Variety’s experiential style is designed to embrace each destination, exploring a colourful collection of popular sites and hidden gems in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, France, West Africa, the Middle East, south-east Asia and more. More info:
www.varietycruises.com or call (in the US) 1800 319 7776 or (in the UK) 0208 3243114.
Spring 2012 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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