A-Cruising We Shall Go

Ocean-going cruises are all the rage.  They have been for years.  Those with a more sophisticated take on passage to unknown places take cruises to Alaska, where they gape a huge, glistening icebergs, floating in the freezing Arctic ocean in complete and utter comfort, knowing little perhaps and caring even less of the 18th and 19th-Century exploits of the Russians, the British, the French and Norwegians sending out expeditions to search out the North West Passage, or whalers entering the frigid waters, able to teach the navies' expeditions a thing or two about Arctic survival, but none would ask them.

It's likelier that those who want to experience life on a luxury cruise ship would prefer to go to Europe, to the Caribbean, even to Easter Island, for those who have seen everything else and want a new thrill.  The cruise lines are investing more money, building grander, larger, more luxurious ships able to accommodate thousands of people more than willing to pay the passage, because it has become such a lucrative trade.  Perhaps they're paying a little less attention to retrofitting and upgrading the tired, older vessels in their fleet in their excitement at building bigger and more extravagant ones.

Paying passengers, anticipating an exciting yet restful experience, may get more of the former than of the latter, given the experiences just latterly of three cruise ships that have got themselves into a spot of trouble.  The latest being the Azamara Quest cruise ship, stranded at sea as a result of an engine room fire that knocked out the electrical grid.  Mind, its passengers got to see the port of Sandakan on Borneo Island, and that too must have been exciting, although their trip came short of the other stops they were to have visited.

There are now about a thousand people who may anticipate that the cruise company, Azamara Club Cruises - to maintain its reputation and customer base and restore confidence in both - will offer compensation of some kind.  If it's another passage on the Azamara Quest, there may be few takers, however.  "We understand that this was a difficult journey, and we appreciate their upbeat and positive attitude.  We look forward to welcoming them back soon", said the company's chief executive.  Fairly oozing confidence.

It's not all that likely that any passengers may choose to sue, on the other hand.  Unlike those who were on the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia, with its loss of lives, after its captain made decisions that were rather ill-advised for someone in his position of responsibility.  Thirty-two dead out of 4,200 on board.  Not quite a similar occurrence, but one that will perhaps not whet the appetites of those who experienced it, for another try.