MARITIME HISTORY:

• 14 / 15 Apr 1912 was the fatal date for Titanic as we remember this historic event Chris updates us on the important role (but less known story) Cunard’s Carpathia played in the rescue attempts.   

NEWS:

• Cunard's Captain Christopher Wells Retires after 20 years
  • Cunard Captain, Christopher Wells, is retiring after a stellar 20 year career with Cunard, part of 30 years spent working across Carnival Corporation cruise lines. In recognition of his outstanding service he has been awarded the rank of Commodore.
  • Commodore Wells has spent the last 13 years leading the team on board Cunard's flagship, Queen Mary 2, having originally been a key part of the commissioning of the ship which launched in 2004.
  • During his three decades on cruise ships, Commodore Wells has had the pleasure of meeting Her Majesty the Queen at the naming event for Queen Mary 2 and once again as Master at the naming of Queen Elizabeth.  Another highlight was in 2017 when Commodore Wells climbed the tallest sail of the Sydney Opera House to mark the 10-year anniversary of Queen Mary 2's very first visit to the Australian city.
• P&O Pacific Encounter completes her transformation in Singapore:
  • P&O Cruises Australia’s much-anticipated ship Pacific Encounter has today completed her transformation, leaving ‘dry dock’ in Singapore with her iconic ‘name badge’ and the stylish finishing touches to her onboard spaces and features.
  • P&O’s iconic-trio of restaurants – the Italian fan-favourite Angelo’s, sultry Pan-Asian-inspired Dragon Lady and contemporary Australian dining outlet The Waterfront – have all been fitted with stylish new carpets and artworks in keeping with the home grown cruise line’s signature look and feel.
  • Brisbane is scheduled to become Pacific Encounter's home port later this year. Pacific Encounter, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Explorer will complete P&O’s fantastic three ship line-up in Australia.
• PONANT, has announced the release of no less than 58 Mediterranean voyages for 2022
  • This range of 7 to 14-night itineraries showcases a diversity of destinations – including many important UNESCO World Heritage sites – endowed with layers of civilisation reflected through history, art, music, architecture, language and boundless culinary temptations
  • Comprising not only the familiar Adriatic, Aegean, Balearic, Ionian, Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas but also the lesser-known Alboran and Levantine Seas … and, providing access to the Red and Black Seas, it makes sense to explore the Mediterranean crossroads of civilisations with a local, familiar with the very best bays, beaches and historic ports, many inaccessible to large ships.
  • A tempting selection of 2022 Mediterranean itineraries to whet the appetite:
    • NEW – Ancient Civilisations of Eastern Mediterranean
      Aqaba to Valetta | 10 nights on board Le Bougainville or Le Bellot.
      Departs 5 March and 9 April 2022.
    • EXCLUSIVE – Black Sea Odyssey
      Istanbul to Istanbul | 12 nights on board Le Bougainville.
      Departs 30 July 2022 – 1 departure only!
    • Island Hoping in the Mediterranean – Italian Coast, Malta & Sicily
      Valetta to Nice | 7 nights on board Le Jacques Cartier.
      Departs 5 and 18 May, 7 and 21 October 2022
    • The Heart of the Greek Islands
      Athens to Athens | 7 nights on board Le Bougainville, Le Lyrial or Le Jacques-Cartier.
      11 departures between June & September 2022
    • The Best of Croatia
      Venice to Venice | 7 nights on board Le Lyrial or Le Jacques-Cartier.
      18 departures between June & September 2022
• PONANT announces Smithsonian Journeys alliance
  • Ponant, announces an alliance with Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, for select voyages beginning in 2022. Drawing on Smithsonian's resources dating back 175 years, the new themed sailings will feature notable experts and experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment and wildlife.
  • Nineteen departures exploring Antarctica, Japan, Iceland, the Mediterranean, British Isles, Great Lakes, Norwegian fjords and more, will debut in 2022, providing opportunities to engage with a variety of experts, ranging from archaeologists and scientists to anthropologists and historians
• Holland America Line Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Private Bahamian Island Half Moon Cay During 2022-23 Caribbean Season
  • Holland America Line's island-hopping adventures sail from October 2022 through April 2023 and feature five- to 14-day itineraries to the eastern, western and southern regions, including sailings that spend a day discovering the Panama Canal. All Caribbean cruises include a call at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line's award-winning private Bahamian island, and the 2022-23 season commemorates the 25th anniversary of the line's acquisition of the tropical jewel.
  • Porthole Cruise Magazine, Travel Weekly and TravelAge West have repeatedly named Half Moon Cay the industry's best private island, and it is consistently ranked the highest-rated Caribbean port by Holland America Line guests. The quintessential and quaint sanctuary has evolved into a playground for cruise guests, and features the finest beach in the Caribbean, a natural 700-acre lagoon, two-story villas and private cabanas, delicious dining venues like Lobster Shack, a children's waterpark and a variety of shore excursions for nature lovers, adventure-seekers and explorers.
• Atlas Ocean Voyages Unveils Special Valentine's Antarctica Weddings Voyage
  • Couples can exchange vows at ‘the end of the world' on a once-in-a-lifetime Antarctica expedition with Atlas Ocean Voyages' new Happy Ever Atlas destination weddings and vow renewals. Departing on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2022, World Navigator's Happy Ever Atlas voyage will offer couples and their companions the most adventurous destination wedding on earth. The Happy Ever Atlas destination wedding package is complimentary for guests when registered in advance.
  • The Happy Ever Atlas wedding package includes marriage license, one-tier wedding cake, digital photo package, welcome itinerary & giftbag, personalized bridal parasol, custom penguin jackets, flower bouquet and boutonniere, and custom nuptial announcements and Thank You cards. World Navigator will also throw separate group bachelorette and bachelor parties, as well as host a wedding reception.
  • Additionally, Atlas will establish an online wedding registry, which allows family and friends to contribute to the couple's voyage costs or other gifts. Family and friends can gift upgraded transfers, excursions, spa services and more.
• The Pandaw Clinics Emergency Appeal
  • The worsening situation in Myanmar, with an average of 100 civilians a day being arbitrarily shot, is now reaching the state of genocide. We have seen video clips of soldiers shooting into people’s houses and Kalemyo, a popular stop on Chindwin cruises, was shelled by artillery last week. This is a genocide by the army against their own people.
  • Paul Strachan founder of Pandaw “Thank you for your kindness in supporting Burma at this time. We have to date raised just over USD120,000
  • Our Pandaw clinic medical teams have been treating a number of gunshot wounds and have ramped up operations to extend to a broader area beyond the seven villages where they normally run day clinics. With these funds we have been able to expand our usual GP clinics with free medications to a much larger geographical area and to more people across rural Burma, many of whom are now in dire circumstances due to the collapse of the economy.
  • As part of this we have also been handing out food parcels like those shown here, each of which costs USD8. We have now delivered 500 of these and hope to roll out more using Pandaw crew members as volunteers. With markets closed, all forms of business and trading shut down, and nearly all work opportunities finished, people are now suffering from real hunger. I know just 500 parcels in a country of fifty-six million is a mere drop in the ocean, but it is better than nothing. However, once we get the logistics up to speed (purchasing and delivery) I believe we can move a lot more.
  • Details of how to support Pandaw and their work to support their community https://www.pandaw.com/river-cruise-news/pandaw-clinics-emergency-appeal 
• Cruise ships' assist efforts in St. Vincent volcano eruption
  • The Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships each have about 100 crew on board and rushed from their layup in Barbados to assist last week, as did the two Carnival vessels that also have been laid up in the region.
  • Two Carnival Cruise Line ships were released from standby off St. Vincent Tuesday, even as Soufrière volcano continued erupting, while a pair of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises vessels remained in the vicinity.
  • Over the weekend, Royal Caribbean International's Serenade of the Seas carried 137 evacuees from St. Vincent to St. Lucia, Celebrity Reflection has also been on hand.
  • Though as many as 20,000 people have reportedly fled the northern region where Soufrière is located, the Associated Press said Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves might call off the cruise ships since most people are staying on island for now.
  •  

LISTENER QUESTION:

• Samuel asks Baz, “Love the quick fire round you have for guests, can you do one with Chris on QM2”
  • Sunrise / Sunset
  • Show time in Royal Court Theatre or Enrichment in Illuminations
  • Afternoon Tea in Queens Room Ballroom or Quiet moment in Carinthia Lounge?
  • Day ashore or enrichment at sea?
  • In the Commodore Club, my shout, what are you drinking?
  • Speciality Dining in Verandah or traditional Pub Lunch in Golden Lion?
  • Treatment in the Canyon Ranch Spa or relaxing day by the pool?
  • Favourite Location on Qm2
  • If you could sail on her tomorrow, where and why?

EMMA CRUISES:

• Emma Le Teace joins us this week to share the excitement that is building in the UK as the restart of cruising approaches. Emma has her first cruise booked on MSC’s Virtuosa…
  • Website: https://bit.ly/3dqiZAE
  • YouTube: https://bit.ly/3stlmqS
  • Instagram: https://bit.ly/3mYN51f

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Join the show:

• If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/  

Guests:

• Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg    
• Chris’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisCunard  
• Peter Kollar: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home  

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