Everyone loves a behind-the-scenes look at the travel industry, and I’m no exception.  When I talk about the things that happen on a flight, people often can’t believe the stories – and more than once I’ve been accused of making things up.  Believe me, with what we see every day, we don’t have to make this stuff up!

Cruise Confidential

It was with that frame of reference that I picked up Cruise Confidential:  A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew Lives, Eats, Wars, and Parties? One Crazy Year Working on Cruise Ships by Brian David Bruns.  Bruns left life on land to pursue life on the sea – all to follow the woman of his dreams, and this book chronicles his training and life as a waiter for Carnival Cruise Lines.

I’ve cruised many a time before, and while I knew there was a hidden side to life at sea, this book was a real eye opener.  Oh sure, there were the usual stories about silly and/or demanding passengers, tedious and mean co-workers, raucous exploits during precious downtime, and tales of schedules and life just not working out the way it was supposed to.  Working in the airline industry, I could relate and chuckle at the stories, although these guys have it much tougher than those of us in the air.

And while the front of the ship workers seem to have it pretty darn sweet, the waitstaff, of which Bruns was a part, works grueling, seemingly never-ending shifts in pretty intolerable conditions.  From crappy quarters to sleep in, to barely any time to sleep at all, this book will give you a new appreciation for those who bust their butts to give you great service.

There’s also just enough stories of drunkenness, crew antics, infighting and sex to keep up the pace, but for me the real story was how passengers, taking advantage of all the cruise lines have to offer, actually make life difficult for the waitstaff.  I never realized that asking for another piece of toast, or lingering over a cup of coffee, made the job tougher for these hard working people.

But here’s the unanswered question for me:  Bruns bio says that he’s married, but never mentions his wife’s name.  I’m dying to know, did he wind up with the girl?

Cruise Confidential is available from Amazon for $10.17, and for Kindle for $9.99 (affiliate links).

This is an easy read, full of fun and silliness, and not pretending to be more than it is.  Give it a go.

Photo credit: Amazon

Share on Facebook

What’s better than a wonderful cruise vacation?  A wonderful cruise vacation that’s FREE, of course!

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and USA Today newspaper have launched the Reporter at Sea contest, looking for a talented citizen journalist (blogger?) to cover the pre-inaugural voyage of the Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Sea

Oasis of the Sea has 16 decks and can carry 5,400 guests in 2,700 staterooms.  It’s themed around a neighborhood concept, with specific themed areas:  Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place.

Starting today, and running through October 9, 2009 at 11:50 pm (Eastern Time) you can submit a creative video that is no long than 45-seconds that showcase your reporting skills, and giving RCCL a reason to choose you to be their reporter at sea for this preview sailing on the Oasis of the Sea.  One winner will be chosen from the United States, and additional winners from Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the United Kingdom will also be chosen.

After the entry deadline, the judges will select 10 finalists from each of the above countries, based on creativity and quality, as well as the entrant’s ability to entertain, effectively bring to life and clearly explain travel or cruising concepts, and articulate why he/she should be chosen to represent their country.

Following the judges narrowing the field, the selection process moves online.  Voters will have the opportunity to choose their favorite video between October 20-25th, with the winner from each country announced on November 4th.

What’s the prize?

The winner and a guest will be flown to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 18th, 2009, where they will have overnight accommodations in a local hotel and a $200 allowance for food.  The next day, they’ll board the ship for a 3-night cruise with balcony cabin stateroom.  During the cruise, the winner will experience the sailing right along with Gene Sloan, USA TODAY’s cruise editor, and receive behind-the-scenes information and access to write blogs posts and video clips.

Sounds like a lot of fun, huh?  Who’s going to enter?

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Share on Facebook

While many of the sectors within the travel industry are struggling, the cruise industry is thriving.  In fact, it’s the fast growing segment in the travel industry, yet this $30 Billion business is still is looking at at rocky times ahead.  So what’s up with that?

In a one-hour special, Travel Expert Peter Greenberg and crew investigate the strengths and weakness of the cruise industry, and they spend a week about the Norwegian Pearl, one of the newest ships from Norwegian Cruise Line.  These ships are mini cities and self-contained resorts, complete with shopping malls, swim parks, casinos and clubs for guests and living quarters for staff and crew.  Greenburg was granted access to both above deck and below, and he shares a side of industry that most of us will never see or experience.

I asked him if budget conscious and value-demanding travelers should be considering a cruise vacation.

Here’s what he said:

If you look at the nearly suicidal pricing being offered by many cruises, it is representative of a buyer’s market of unprecedented proportion — and length. And, if you’ve never taken a cruise — and even if you’re a veteran cruiser, this special lifts the veil on the inner workings of the cruise ship industry. Prices have never been lower– some seven day cruises are being sold at just $249! –  but this is the one special you really need to watch before you ever book that cruise. . . .

I’m taking that as a qualified yes, but will be watching the special to be sure.

Cruise Inc:  Big Money on the High Seas airs on CNBC on Tuesday, March 24th, at 9 and 10 pm (ET), and March 25th at 1 am. It will repeat on Sunday, March 29th at 10 pm.   Check out the website which offers additional video, profiles, and additional information.

Whether you’re an experienced cruiser or merely curious, this documentary promises to be an eye-opening look at the industry, so get this on your viewing calendar or set your recorder.

Photo credit: SXC

Share on Facebook