Books about Cruising.

[Sideways]

I have always wondered what its like behind the "Crew Only" doors. Surely there must be some tell-all books out there. What it's like for the crew, What their cabins like. What they do on their time off..... ect

In the features section of this board there is a section called "Under the Captain’s Table" It has some articles written by Joyce Gleeson-Adamidis. Apparently she published a book in 2001 called "If I were not upon the sea". I have searched everywhere for this book and can not find it. Even major used book sellers like Abebooks don't list it. The only copy I could find was on Amazon.com. An author signed copy for $57!:eek:

So if anyone knows where to find a reasonable priced copy of this book or if they know of any other books on the subject of cruising, I would love to know....

[PRFIRE45]

Sideways

 

I too wanted the book and I researched and found out that you can only order through Joyce herself. She is in California and when she receives your payment she sends you the book with an autograph and anything else you may want written down. The cost of the book if I remember is about $ 15 to $ 20. I am unfortunately away from my house (where the book is) but I will be home Tomorrow and I will get the address and post back here ASAP. I have not read the book yet, I may wait till my July 1st cruise on the Dawn. I will get the sddress off the book and post it (don't worry).

 

Phil

[PRFIRE45]

To order book: (per instructions in the book)

 

Contact: Website: http://www.geocities.com/uponthesea/index.html

 

Email: uponthesea@yahoo.com

 

Or write: Joyce Gleeson-Adamidis (Book Order)

5640 Puite Ct.

Mariposa, Ca. 95338

 

Now you can order the book.

 

Happy reading

[Sideways]

Thank You for the info Prfire. I mailed off my order in today.

 

You would think there are other books out there on the subject. We'll have to keep looking.

 

Good cruising.

[LuvBNatC]

I've got several books that give an insider's view of the cruise industry:

 

Love Boats by Jeraldine Saunders (paperback)

(The real life story of the creator of "The Love Boat")

Pub. 1998 by Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minn.

[This one probably has a lot of the crew dirt you seem to be looking for. She was a cruise director.]

 

Selling the Sea by Bob Dickinson (prez. of Carnival) & Andy Vladimir (hardcover)

(An inside look at the cruise industry)

Pub. 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, NY

[i believe the authors have postings on all the CC boards right now looking for material so they can do a new edition of this book.]

 

Cruise Ship Blues by Ross A. Klein (paperback)

(The underside of the Cruise Industry)

Pub. 2002 by New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada

[This author is something of a muckraker who seems to thrive on ship horror stories.]

 

Devils on the Deep Blue Sea by Kristoffer A. Garin (hardcover)

(The dreams, schemes, and showdowns that built America's cruise-ship empires)

Pub. 2005 by Viking, NY

[This book gives a FASCINATING account of how NCL got started and how disagreements between the two founders (Knut Kloster and Ted Arison) led to the formation of Carnival, as well as many other stories. I highly recommend it.]

[Hikini]

Thanks for the info - this sounds interesting! Might be better to read AFTER the cruise, eh?:)

[LuvBNatC]

Hikini, I wouldn't recommend "Cruise Ship Blues" as pre-cruise reading. However, I think having an understanding of how "the other half" lives below decks would give people who might be inclined to complain over trifles a new appreciation for the excellent service that is really the norm on cruise ships. If I had to work 10-16-hour days, 7 days a week, for months on end, like so many crew members who do the menial tasks and basically keep the ship running smoothly and pleasantly for the passengers, you certainly wouldn't be seeing any smiles on my face. ;-) I have nothing but profound respect for the work they do and their willing spirit.

[Sideways]

Thanks LuvBNatC, I ordered all 4 book you recommended from AbeBooks for whopping total of $18.;)

 

I really don't know what it's like for the crew. I can only imagine. I've asked some of them. They are always positive. You get the feeling that they get asked a lot. Anyway, I like to believe they are saving money. Building a future for themselves after a couple year of really really hard work.

[LuvBNatC]

Wow! You got a fantastic deal on those books. I think I paid $45 for the Bob Dickinson book alone when it was first published.

 

I hope things are better on the newer ships, but a few crew members gave me tours of their quarters on the Norway. In many cases, they were 4 to a cabin, with a regular bathroom (shower, one toilet, one sink) between 2 cabins, which meant 8 people shared it. It was amazing to me, under those conditions, that they could come out looking so clean and pressed every day.

 

The cabins were TINY. One musician had an inside cabin with 2 twin beds with one small nighstand. The width of the nightstand between the beds was the only floor space. A TV sat on a little stand at the end of his bed. That was the whole cabin, except for a small closet and bathroom. It was like a cell. He was happy because he wasn't sharing the cabin at the moment, so it felt roomy to him. But imagine 2 strangers living like that for 6-10 months at a stretch?

 

There was a pecking order for accommodations, too. The ones who got the best cabins were the casino workers. Maitre d's had cabins to themselves.

 

On the other hand, they work such long hours, I don't think they spend much time in their cabins except to sleep. When they have time off, they want to be out doing other things.

[Got2Cruise]

On the Travel Channel they used to show "Behind the Scenes" on Cruiseships. It was a real eye opener. The one aspect most passengers don't really think about is how many employees the ship actually employs and the living conditions they have. Perhaps the Travel Channel still shows this program once in awhile, I haven't been paying attention.

[LuvBNatC]

The Travel Channel still does a lot of shows on cruise ships. Last night I watched an hour on Disney, and it was followed by Radiance of the Seas, and then I think the QM2. However, the programs seem to be sanitized by the cruise lines because they don't show any of the "real" behind-the-scenes stuff. It's all what you'd see on a tour of the bridge or the galley. All nice and automated and chrome-plated.

 

They did one series on the total refurb of the Sovereign of the Seas (I think) that got pretty suspenseful and tense (would they meet the deadline?), and that was very interesting. I don't think I've seen any NCL ships featured, though.

[Hikini]

Among other ships, NCL's Dawn is featured on 'Cruise FAQ' which airs now and then on the travel channel. Kieron Buffery is featured as the CD, so you know it was taped a long time ago. Nonetheless, it is interesting.

[Sideways]

The cabins were TINY. One musician had an inside cabin with 2 twin beds with one small nighstand. The width of the nightstand between the beds was the only floor space. A TV sat on a little stand at the end of his bed. That was the whole cabin, except for a small closet and bathroom. It was like a cell.

 

You should go on the web site for easyCruise and check out the passenger cabins! They look exactly like you discribe. Ha Ha.

 

Could you imagine 8 people shairing a bathroom. Especailly 8 women. My wife take 30 min every morning in the bathroom to get ready. Maybe they assign people to rooms based on differences in their work shifts.

 

I think I caught the tail end of that behind the scenes progrm on the travel channel. I will have to keep my eyes open for it to watch the whole thing. .