IN MY VIEW
NEXT EDITION GOING SOUTH
W Learning
the Lessons of Concordia
T
here has been a huge outpouring of fact and fiction about the tragic Costa Concordia incident in January. The basic facts are startling in cruise terms, but much of the media has added a layer of sensationalism that doesn’t help the ongoing inquiry. As most people will know, the January 13 accident occurred when Captain Schettino took his ship so close to the Italian island of Giglio that he hit a reef and gashed the hull so badly it quickly became a major maritime disaster. The captain’s conduct does not bear close scrutiny and he faces charges of manslaughter and abandoning his ship in disregard of normal maritime law. A full inquiry is urgently needed to ascertain the full details of what occurred and Costa’s safety and evacuation proce- dures must be closely scrutinised. It was reassuring to see many companies pre-empt any findings by initiating new safety-drill procedures to ensure a proper lifeboat drill is carried out BEFORE their ships sail. But let us not lose sight of some basic facts in this tragedy. First of all, cruising remains inherently safe and practical. Modern ships are neither “too big” nor “badly prepared” for eventualities like this. None of the loss of ship or life would have happened if Capt Schettino had stuck to his proper, prescribed course. In more than 20 years of writing about cruising, I have never heard of a captain taking such cavalier action with his vessel. In fact, despite all the modern glamour and trappings, the safety of the ship has always remained the top priority in every captain I have come across.
4 WORLD OF CRUISING I Spring 2012
Whether Capt Schettino is genuinely a ‘rogue’ operator or whether Costa have other issues to deal with is a matter for the Italian authorities and their inquiry. I am absolutely 100 per cent convinced, though, there is no underlying safety problem for the cruise industry and Concordia will be remembered for a sad but eminently avoidable sequence of events we will not see repeated. Now, back with our regular program- ming…we do have another feature-packed instalment to offer you, starting with a unique look at the history, glamour, yes, and tragedy, of the transatlantic cruise run. We went to two of Britain’s foremost experts and asked for features on the magic and mystique of the North Atlantic, and one of the most historic – and misunderstood – cruise companies, the famous White Star Line. You will see the results on pages 19-28, and we think readers will get an amazing amount of insight into the two subjects. Then we head off for another globe-
trotting voyage, from the luxury of a 12-passenger hotel barge in Burgundy to the massive Norwegian Epic in the Caribbean; from the boutique style of Orion in Vietnam to the sail-cruising style of Star Clippers in the Med; and from traditional Princess Daphne to the French chic of L’Austral. We also have the historic Juno on the Gota Canal in Sweden and another small- scale adventure, sailing the inland waterways of the USA from New England to Chicago. And, to finish off with another transatlantic tale, our Aft View features an interview with the descendant of one of the Titanic’s most famous victims, musician Jock Hume. Of course, we also have our usual features on the world of Fashion and Spas; columns from The Admiral and Captain Greybeard; our Letters page and the essential News section. It all adds up to another sea-going saga of great writing and photography that we still like to call... the World of Cruising.
e head for South America in our summer issue, highlighting the
excitement of a cruise Around the Horn and the scenic highlights along the way. The Galapagos are also on our radar, with an up-date of all the cruise lines visiting this wildlife sanctuary off the coast of Ecuador. Then we branch out – for the
Caribbean, Florida, Canada and the Mediterranean, with a wonderful array of voyages to catch your attention. We have Silversea and Celebrity Cruises, the traditional Funchal of Classic International Voyages, and an in-depth look at the new Disney Fantasy of Disney Cruise Line. We take a journey on the
Rocky Mountaineer and check out Alternative Dining among the many cruise lines. And we have the latest word from our two top columnists Captain Greybeard and The Admiral, as well as our usual array of news and features, including World of Spas. It will all be ready for you in time for a June escape (if you are looking to avoid the London Olympics) or just a comfy armchair at home if you’re determined to soak up all the summer sporting excitement!
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