So I've been watching the news story about the Carnival cruise ship that ended up floating helplessly for three days (see below). Believe it or not, I have a slight connection to this story.
Years ago, my parents took my family and me on a Carnival cruise. They wanted to give us something we would always remember.
We did. The cruise turned out to be a disaster. The food was bland, the staff unfriendly, the toilets worked but not well, the entertainment was crude, and there was very little to do other than smoke, drink, or gamble...none of which we did.
You couldn't even see the ocean. The ship was set up to focus all your attention on the casino. There were translucent plastic shields between the decks and the outside. That meant there was no place where you could sit and simply watch the waves.
My poor parents were aghast. And, I must confess, I've never had warm feelings about Carnival again.
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Source: Cruise passengers endured stench, cold food
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101112/ap_on_re_us/us_cruise_ship_fire
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Lean Back
4 years ago
A reason why I never joined the navy, Michael, even though they practically begged me - a couple of officers handed me a giant book of possible 'career opportunities' based on some 'aptitude test', is precisely for the reason you describe.
ReplyDeleteYou are essentially prisoners on a tin can in the middle of the ocean, and must do as you are told, or else (memories and conveniently available movies about what happens to insubordinate shipmates fill my mind) they will take you to ship-jail, and then real jail.
People pay to be prisoners on a ship. If only Orwell had had the time to predict such a marvelous business. Tragically for him (in his time) though, only the top 1% actually enjoyed sea travel. The rest had to spend their time below decks.
Now, they tell you it can be enjoyable, but don't tell you they mean the shareholders, and not you. Needless to say, I declined the Navy's invitation.