Category Archives: Steve Read

Goodbye Vistafjord

Posted on 12/04/2017 by Patricia Dempsey

Today, the very last UK built passenger liner arrived at her final resting place at plot 58, owned by Malwi Breaking Co. in Alang, to join her former fleet mate, Sagafjord in maritime memories and history.  Every time I mention … Continue reading →

Posted in Cunard, General, Saga Cruises, Southampton, Steve Read | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Joy of Saga!

Posted on 03/11/2014 by Patricia Dempsey

Saga Cruises, a name synonymous with ocean going voyages for far longer than many would think. In fact, it has been 18 years since the Saga Group ventured into what is now familiar territory. The first ship was Saga Rose … Continue reading →

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Goodbye Saga Ruby

Posted on 10/07/2012 by Patricia Dempsey

Today, Captain Greybeard reports Saga will be retiring Saga Ruby in early 2014. Now while this isn’t a surprise, it makes me a little sad. I went down for all but one of her and Saga Rose’s world cruise sailings … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Saga Cruises, Ship Stalking, Steve Read | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Balmoral Bound

Posted on 25/05/2012 by Patricia Dempsey

And now my first cruise of the year has arrived on the fabulous ship, Balmoral. After a stressful few months caused mainly by people who don’t listen, treat you like crap and think they’re right despite masses of evidence to … Continue reading →

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Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

Posted on 31/12/2011 by Patricia Dempsey

Well it’s that time again when it’s out with the old shippy year and in with the new. What a year it’s been, beginning in January with a trip to Southampton Docks to help the journalist, Steve Read document the … Continue reading →

Posted in Canary Islands, Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Fred Olsen Cruises, General, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Saga Cruises, Ship Stalking, Southampton, Spirit of Adventure, Steve Read, Transocean Kreuzfahrten | 1 Comment

Ship Visits – Travel Agents or Public?

Posted on 30/06/2011 by Patricia Dempsey

There is a long-held belief by cruise lines they will get more sales by treating travel agents to free boozy lunches. They reckon the public (potential cruisers) only want a nosey with no intention of booking and, as a result, … Continue reading →

Posted in AIDA Kreuzfahrten, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Compagnie du Ponant, Costa Cruises, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Fred Olsen Cruises, General, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Iberocruceros, Mano Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Australia, P&O Cruises, Phoenix Reisen, Princess Cruises, Quail/Happy Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Saga Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Southampton, Steve Read, Thomson Cruises, Transocean Kreuzfahrten, TUI Cruises | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Farewell Ferret – aka: Steve Read Who Loved Cruises!

Posted on 23/02/2011 by Patricia Dempsey

In case you’re wondering, ferret isn’t a derogatory term but rather his nickname from when he worked at the Evening Tribune in Nuneaton, due to his ferreting out a story. Yes, sadly on the 21st February 2011 many of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Steve Read | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Love Boat Unloved A Bit Longer – Updated

Posted on 14/02/2011 by Patricia Dempsey

On the 2nd February, an auction with sealed bids was held in Genoa for the Pacific, only to be suspended at the 11th hour. The late journalist, Steve Read, had written about it in his blog after contacting the official … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrity Cruises, Cruises, Mediterranean, Quail/Happy Cruises, Steve Read | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Grand Princess Loses Her Handle

Posted on 10/02/2011 by Patricia Dempsey

As the late, great journalist, Steve Read wrote back in December, Princess Cruises are completely changing the look of the original Grand class, Grand Princess Of course, if they’d done more to generate revenue it wouldn’t have been a loss-maker … Continue reading →

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Steve Read, Ship Nut, Friend. RIP

Posted on 09/02/2011 by Patricia Dempsey

It’s with a heavy heart I write about the sad and unexpected passing of my friend, journalist, Steve Read. I’d last spoken to him in the middle of the night (aka 3am last Saturday morning) about various shippy-related things including … Continue reading →

Posted in Steve Read | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Azura World Cruise? – Updated

Posted on 20/01/2011 by Patricia Dempsey

In 2013 & 2014 at least apparently. This is quite a turn around for P&O fly cruises to the Caribbean. Currently we have Arcadia & Aurora gone plus Artemis on her final Far East jaunt. Oriana had one between September-December … Continue reading →

Posted in Cunard, Fred Olsen Cruises, P&O Cruises, Saga Cruises, Ship Stalking, Southampton, Steve Read | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bittersweet Cruising & Stalking

Posted on 11/12/2010 by Patricia Dempsey

On the 25th November 2010, my mum died almost ten months to the day after being told she had cancer. She wasn’t a ship nut like me, my dad and many of my friends, but she did enjoy watching them … Continue reading →

Posted in Cruises, Cunard, Fred Olsen Cruises, Ship Stalking, Southampton, Steve Read, Thomson Cruises | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment