3 QUEENS MEET TO CELEBRATE ON MAY 9

The Three Queens  (Credit: Cunard)

Cunard will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the line’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, on May 9 with the arrival of the whole three-ship fleet in Southampton. This will be a rare occasion to see Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth together, and Southampton will be the only place in the world to have hosted the Three Queens three times.

The celebration begins with an early morning Birthday Salute, a special reception and lunch on board Queen Mary 2 for invited guests in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, and a big fireworks send-off in the evening before Queen Mary 2 leads the three ships in convoy down Southampton Water.

GOING CRUISING? DON'T FORGET YOUR SURFBOARD

When the Beach Boys were singing "let's go surfing" they probably didn't envision hanging 10 on a cruise ship. But the surf is definitely up on select Royal Caribbean ships, thanks to the innovation known as FlowRider. The surfing simulator lets guests experience riding the waves without leaving the ship. Gidget would have loved it. Check out the video:

NEW DINING OPTIONS COMING TO 'EQUINOX'

Some new additions are coming for one of Celebrity's Solstice-class ships, Equinox. After it leaves a scheduled drydock on May 8, it will debut two new dining concepts:

· Gastrobar – "A new craft beer and comfort food venue, Gastrobar will offer food and beer enthusiasts over 40 handcrafted boutique beers to choose from in addition to Celebrity's varied collection of wines and tasty cocktails with a twist, all perfectly paired with a menu of elevated bar-fare creations. Gastrobar’s upscale casual surroundings will feature inviting entertainment and music for the complete sophisticated lounge experience. Guests can find the new venue in the space formerly known as Cellar Masters."

· Slush – A frozen drinks venue that "introduces Celebrity’s curated menu of flavor-rich and fresh frozen cocktails. Slush will feature alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails with perfectly balanced ingredients ranging from fresh pressed lemon juice, raspberries, cucumbers and mint to Persian lime, Florida Valencia and Hamlin orange juice with organic agave nectar."

Other changes include: Equinox will also expand its retail offerings with "The Studio - Fine Art Photography” – a high-end portrait studio; the addition of a Michael Kors boutique and a new Internet lounge, iLounge, in the space formerly known as Online@Celebrity.

AMTRAK TESTING PET TRAVEL ON TRAINS

Reggie says, "I wanna go, too!"

As readers here know, Pam and I love taking the train whenever we have the opportunity, having made the Florida-New York connection several times. But one thing we miss is leaving one of our other traveling companions behind: Of course I speak of our Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Reggie.

But guess what? Amtrak is conducting a test for the next six months to evaluate allowing pets on trains nationally. They chose the route between Chicago and Quincy in Illinois. Too early to get excited, but stay tuned. Reggie may yet get her chance to see the Big Apple! Here's the full release:

CHICAGO -- Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation are teaming up to let travelers bring their pets along between Chicago and Quincy on Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg trains. Reservations are now available for travel from May 5 through Nov.2, as a test of the service.

Ticketing and travel with pets can begin only at staffed stations in Chicago, Naperville and Galesburg, advance reservations are required and a surcharge of $25 will be assessed for travel. Dogs or cats up to 20 pounds each will be accepted in carriers such as those used in airplane cabins and placed at the feet and under the seat of each pet owner. Trains 380-383 operate to and from Chicago, LaGrange, Naperville, Plano, Mendota, Princeton, Kewanee, Galesburg, Macomb and Quincy.

Other provisions apply; please see the attached Amtrak Passenger Service Notice. The pilot program is scheduled to be continuously reviewed.

"Amtrak is supportive of accommodating pets on trains, and through direct collaboration with the Illinois Department of Transportation and a working group led by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham of California, we are optimistic a plan can be reached to address the needs and concerns of all our passengers," said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.

"We in Illinois welcome this exciting new pilot program, which is something that has been suggested by train passengers," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider. "By listening to and accommodating all passengers, I am hopeful we can create a long-term policy that allows pets on trains and makes traveling on Amtrak even more appealing to a wider audience."

Amtrak routinely welcomes service animals on trains at no charge and that policy is unchanged.

MEET CUNARD'S HISTORIAN, MICHAEL GALLAGHER

Michael Gallagher

First, it’s a pleasure to meet you and thank you for generously agreeing to answer a few questions for Cruising Squared.

Please tell us a little about yourself, your background and how you came to your role as historian for Cunard.

Coming from just outside Liverpool (where Cunard was founded) and hearing all my Grandad's tales from his time working for Cunard I was very interested in the company from a young age. I used to pester the Public Relations Manager at the time, Eric Flounders, for information. We got to know each other and in 1994 he offered me a job as his Assistant. So, at 19 years old, I left home and went to work in London for Cunard - 20 years ago this August. Eric and I worked together until his retirement in 2011. It was at that point I was made Public Relations Manager and Historian. I am very proud of the "Historian" element as I am the first to undertake such a role in Cunard history.

Cunard has a long, rich and storied history. How did you set about learning it all?

I think having a real passion and interest in finding out as much as you can about something you love helps. And the fact that the Cunard story is unlike any other, with so many strands, means you are always learning more about the company.

If you were making a list of top five or ten most fascinating Cunard historical happenings, what would you include?

For starters...

• The fact that the company came about at all after Samuel Cunard's brainwave to establish the first scheduled service across the Atlantic and how he secured the Admiralty contract without Atlantic experience and without ships!

• The story of the little Carpathia rushing through the night to rescue all the survivors of Titanic.

• The company's war record. Cunard ships took the horses to the Charge of the Light Brigade at Crimea and Churchill saying that the contribution of Queen Mary and Elizabeth helped shorten the Second World War by a year!

• The amazing QE2 and how she defied the odds when she entered service in 1969, when many thought she would be laid up within six months, but she went on to sail more miles than any other ship in history and became one of Cunard's most-loved and longest-serving (39.5 years) ships.

• The association Her Majesty The Queen has with Cunard. She attended the 1938 launching of Queen Elizabeth and has since them launched / named four Cunard ship and visited and traveled many times. That association dates back 76 years!

• How Queen Mary was (and still is) heralded as a sign of the UK coming out of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

• How despite the fact more Cunard ships have won the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing and yet not once did the company collect / display the Hales Trophy or fly the Blue Riband, insisting its ships were not in it for speed.

• How not once in 174 years has the company been responsible for a single loss of life - or loss of a mailbag!

And that what Cunard started on the Atlantic one day Cunard will finish!

What’s been your top personal highlight or accomplishment in your time with Cunard?

There are many, including the ship namings, Royal visits and concerts held at the Liverpool Cathedral, but the biggest highlight has to be meeting Her Majesty The Queen on QE2 during her farewell visit to the ship on June 2, 2008.

So many of the new ships seem like amusement parks at sea. In your opinion, will there always be a market for “classic cruising” in the white glove style of Cunard?

Absolutely. No doubt about it!

We agree 100 percent! Thanks again for sharing your insights with our readers.

Special thanks also to Cunard's Jackie Chase, who assisted with this article.

'REGAL PRINCESS' COMPLETES SEA TRIALS

Regal Princess (Princess Cruises)

The word from Princess is that Regal Princess has accomplished another major milestone in preparation for her May 20 debut, with the completion of her sea trials. "The new cruise ship set out to sea from her construction dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and was put through her paces with a series of maneuvers to test her propulsion, steering and navigational equipment. After a successful five days of trials, the ship is now back in the shipyard for further exterior and interior finishing. Regal Princess will be ready for her maiden voyage from Venice, a seven-day Mediterranean cruise to Athens including stops in Corfu, Mykonos and an overnight call in Istanbul. Throughout the summer, the new ship will sail on Princess’ signature Grand Mediterranean cruises, with two itinerary choices." Regal Princess is a sister ship to Royal Princess.

VIKING ADDING 12 NEW RIVER VESSELS

The Rhine River (Credit: Viking)

Those European rivers may soon be as crowded as the Mississippi in the heyday of the riverboat.

Viking River Cruises has announced expansion plans for 2015 which include 12 new river vessels for next year – 10 additional Longships and two unique vessels for the Elbe River. This comes on the heels of their world record-setting christening last month of 18 vessels across four countries in five days and will bring the company’s total fleet size to 64 river vessels in 2015.

The two Elbe River ships will be designed specifically for the "Elegant Elbe" itinerary. "As a result of high customer demand, the two new ships will join the recently refurbished Viking Schumann and Viking Fontane, doubling the company’s capacity on the Elbe River in 2015. Hosting 98 guests in 49 staterooms, sister ships Viking Astrild and Viking Beyla will be the newest and most modern ships sailing the Elbe River."

Viking will also introduce two new itineraries in 2015, both of which showcase the Rhine River during the springtime. Here are details from their press release:

SPECIALTY COCKTAIL PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

Credit: Norwegian

Did someone say "cocktail"? Now you have our attention.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today a partnership with mixologist Gabriel Orta of Miami-based Bar Lab Cocktails to "create five seasonal beverage menus focusing on local ingredients that celebrate popular summer destinations including Bermuda, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska and Europe."

The regional menus each will feature four specialty cocktails created with traditional spirits and flavors relevant to the ships’ itineraries. Here's more from the news release:

"Recognized for their ingenious approach to the industry, the avant-garde cocktail programs created by Bar Lab have been awarded numerous professional honors and featured in publications worldwide. The summer menus designed by Bar Lab along with the Norwegian beverage development team feature avant-garde cocktails made with fresh juices, aromatic herbs and complementary local spirits. The new cocktails offer guests an advanced taste of the ship’s ports of call and further immerse them in the local culture.

ROYAL PARTNERS ON THE SCIENCE OF THE SEAS

While passengers are partying, eating and drinking on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, scientific instruments placed all along the ship are busy recording valuable ocean data for scientists at the University of Miami.

It's part of a decade-long program between the cruise line and the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) to gather real-time data from the ocean and the atmosphere to study things like the affect of climate change. Here's more in this week's video:

A DOUBLE DECKER HISTORY LESSON

Loading onto the Queen Mary (Cunard)

If you are history buffs, as we are, you'll enjoy this item written by Michael Gallagher, public relations executive and historian for Cunard Line and part of an ongoing series of key moments in the Cunard Line's history.

"After purchasing Queen Mary, the City of Long Beach wanted to build an 'Olde London' village alongside their new acquisition. As well as buying the great Queen herself, the City purchased two London Double Decker buses to be used in the village. The easiest way to get them to Long Beach would be on Queen Mary. Before her final departure from Southampton in October 1967, the buses were loaded onto the aft decks of the ship.

"It would prove to be a very good revenue stream for Cunard as tickets (a dollar a time) were sold to passengers to sit on the bus as Queen Mary rounded the notorious Cape Horn.

"The 'Olde London' idea never quite came to fruition and neither did the plan to have live electric eels swimming in specially-made handrails on staircases in the Jacques Cousteau's Museum of the Sea which was built in the gutted machinery spaces!

"A London Double Decker Bus was used at ceremonies to mark the Float Out of Queen Mary 2 in March 2003. The bus ferried guests to and from the airport and then took them on an excursion into the dry-dock to see Queen Mary 2. An on board Conductor processed tickets giving the destination as 'QM2'. It was perhaps then we realized just how big she is...."

Credit: Cunard

10 SPECTACULAR CLIFFTOP HOTELS

Bali, Indonesia (TripAdvisor)

This list title from TripAdvisor says it all: "10 unbelievably spectacular clifftop hotels."

We admit they are all pretty awesome, although if you are afraid of heights, probably not the right venue for you. And even if you aren't, watch that first step.

Here's sending all well wishes for everyone to enjoy the Easter holiday weekend. -- Pam and Gerry

SMOOTH SAILING SO THE SHOW GOES ON

High dives ... ice skating jumps ... high-octane musical dance numbers. Those acrobatic performances are hard enough on land, yet alone in the middle of the ocean. But that's what happens aboard Royal Caribbean ships every day of the year. It takes skillful hands and knowledgeable captains to hold "steady as she goes" while the show goes on. Here's more in this week's video:

ADMIRAL MICKEY'S NAVY EXPANDS OPTIONS

By Bob & Sandy Nesoff
Members: North American travel Journalists Association
American Society of Authors and Journalists
Special to Cruising Squared

Passengers arrive at Castaway Cay (Disney)

Over the years cruise lines plying the Caribbean have added a stop along the itinerary that does not involve shopping, jewelry, liquor purchases or group touring. 

They’ve bought, rented, captured or otherwise taken control of small islands in the blue waters of the Caribbean.

Most lines have been content to ad a few amenities and for the most part let passengers frolic in the warm waters, relax on the beach and gorge themselves on hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad and cole slaw.. Not too bad.

Disney Cruise Lines has never let the obvious control its direction. As with its parent company it seeks to add options for its passengers that make a good trip great. So it is with Castaway Cay, the private island in the Bahamas where all Disney ships cruising the region stop for a day of fun and down time.

WIN A TRIP TO THE FLORIDA KEYS

How about a free trip to the Keys? If that gets your interest, here are the details:

"Through mid-June, mobile users can text the word KEYSFUN to 65047 and register to win a five-night trip for two to the Florida Keys to enjoy the islands' above- and below-water activities. Travel dates are July 9-14, 2014.

"The winner and a guest can experience both Key Largo and the Lower Keys regions as well as participate in the quirky Underwater Music Festival. The 30th annual festival is to be staged Saturday, July 12, at Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 6 miles south of Big Pine Key.

"The prize includes an air travel card valued at $1,000 (redeemable on the traveler's airline of choice), a $300 car rental certificate, two nights' accommodations in an ocean-view suite at Key Largo's Ocean Pointe Suites, three nights at Little Torch Key's Dolphin Marina & Cottages, diving/snorkeling trips, guided backcountry kayak and botanic garden tours, a sunset cruise and much more.

"One entry per person is allowed and the deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014. Mobile device users without a text-message plan can visit www.FloridaKeysWin.com. Prize value is approximately $3,400. Entrants must be at least 21 years of age and reside in the continental United States."

SHHH! THE SECRET TO CRUISE CUISINE

By Bob & Sandy Nesoff
Members: North American Travel Journalists Association
American Society of Journalists and Authors
Special to Cruising Squared

Passengers from Uniworld enjoying lunch in Croatia at
the home of a local resident. They enjoyed
 a hearty meal and had an opportunity
 to interact with the locals. (Photo: Bob Nesoff)

If the Pentagon and CIA ever decided it wanted to learn how to develop a weapon and keep it secret from anyone else in the world, it might take a cue from the great chefs on this planet. That holds especially true for cruise line chefs.

Accomplished chefs whose dining rooms float across the world’s oceans and seas work, sometimes for years, to develop and perfect recipes that will tempt, delight and bring guests back time after time. Cruise lines often promote their chefs to an ever-increasingly competitive market.

The top cruise lines today offer enormous salaries, benefits and incentives to chefs because dining afloat is one of the great pleasures of cruising. A bad meal or two, or one that is not up to par, can cost a line many future bookings.

No wonder they keep their best recipes under wraps.

FLORIDA GRABS 10 SPOTS ON BEST BEACHES LIST

Siesta Key (Credit: Trip Advisor)

The votes for the 25 best beaches have been tabulated by Trip Advisor, and guess what? Florida scored 10 places on the list. Pretty impressive. But considering the state we call home has over 800 miles of beaches altogether, maybe we should have had more, right? It's just 10 more great reasons Florida is the place to be if you like sun and surf. The 10 include: Siesta Key (3); St. Pete Beach (9); Caladesi Island State Park (11); St. Augustine Beach (14); Big Pine Key (17); Pensacola Beach (19); Panama City (20); Clearwater Beach (21); Lido Beach (22) and Navarre Beach (25).

10 STUNNING OVERWATER BUNGALOWS

Maybe the closest thing to a cruise without actually boarding a ship is a stay in an overwater bungalow, such as this one -- the Four Season Resort in Bora Bora, courtesy of TripAdvisor and their "10 stunning overwater bungalows" list. We have to suppose room service arrives in a boat. Have a great weekend, all! -- Gerry and Pam

A MAIDEN CALL TO HALONG BAY

Stopping at Vietnam's Halong Bay             Credit: James Morgan

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth made her maiden call March 31 at Halong Bay in Vietnam. These fishermen seem impressed. The bay, noted for its "spectacular seascape of islands and sheer rock pillars, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous as a James Bond film location." Queen Elizabeth is over half way through her annual Round World Voyage, and headed for Singapore, Sri Lanka, India and Dubai, arriving back in Southampton on May 9 after 118 nights and calls at 40 ports in 23 different countries.