Topic starter
18/01/2012 12:59 am
from an article on SFGate.com about river cruising coming back in 2012:
In 2006, travel company Ambassadors International decided to corner the U.S. market on old-fashioned paddle wheelers by forming Majestic America Line and buying up all the competition, including the dominant Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Then it followed up that master stroke by managing to sink the entire seven-boat operation in a matter of months.
Read more: Cruising industry rides new wave as demand grows
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18/01/2012 1:26 pm
*RE: Succinct summary of MAL.*
Hi, Judy & Steamboating colleagues:
Thanks for thinking on the fate of MAL, Judy. I clicked and read the article so indicated. Very interesting and goes hand-in-hand with other recent business B-Mail articles from commentators on the burgeoning interest world-wide in river cruising with expanding fleets, re-fits, new builds. One commentator also mentioned the possibility, on other larger world rivers, the 'possibility' of seeing river vessels capable of carrying up to 800 passengers. That gave me a moment of pause.
Not 'steamboats' as such but no doubt you all have been following the tragedy of the COSTA CONCORDIA wreck off the coast of Italy. How could we miss it? That coast, from experience, very rocky with small islands, out croppings, points jutting out. This AM a discussion on Internet news RE: ethic of "Women and children first." Those views of the passengers inching like ants down over the side of the CONCORDIA in the night to the water frightening. The Italian people are a noble race with an ancient history of maritime experience. Judging all by the seeming acts of one captain not typical. Our thoughts go out to ALL concerned. Human life always first. Possibility of the ship being salvaged and renovated will be long and expensive--if she doesn't break up first. Italy went through this with the ANDREA DORIA in 1956 and was in time vindicated by evidence the officers of the STOCKLHOLM were at fault. Well, what do I know?
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.
22/01/2012 9:58 am
Dale, a local talk show host here in Tampa came up with a great name for the captain of the Costa Concordia: Chicken of the Sea!
-JH