LET’S GET SHIPSHAPE
With the start of the year and everyone talking about resolutions, many people are focused on getting shipshape at the gym. But Talk of the Town is taking the idea a bit more literally and heading out to sea, from unique cruising experiences to some sailor-speak and a roundup of seaworthy films.
When you think of cruising, your mind probably drifts to well-known lines like Carnival and Princess. Here are three entirely different cruising experiences that might be off your radar.
Fresh from its maiden voyage last month, Regent’s Seven Seas Prestige is the newest ship in the luxury line’s fleet. Billed as the most exclusive address at sea, the 2-level Skyview Regent Suite offers more than 8,000 square feet of space with two bedrooms, 2.5 baths, floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive wraparound terrace, private gym and sauna, formal dining room, and elevator.
For a very different style of luxury, consider the Aria Amazon. With just 16 spacious suites, all featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, this sleek vessel sails from the Peruvian river towns of Nauta and Iquitos. 3-, 4-, and 7-night voyages with twice-daily, naturalist-guided excursions are designed to immerse guests in the wild beauty of the Amazon rainforest.
For romantic, wind-powered elegance, step aboard the Wind Surf, Windstar Cruise’s 342-guest, masted sailing yacht. With tall sails billowing and a yacht-inspired ambiance, she offers 7 to 21-day itineraries in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. No Broadway shows or bustling crowds, just intimate elegance and a deep connection with the sea.
You don’t have to swear like a sailor to be shipshape and seaworthy. But knowing a few key sailors’ terms can make your next sea voyage a little bit smoother.
First up: nautical speed, measured in knots. One knot equals one nautical mile per hour. Unlike the miles we use on land, a nautical mile is based on the Earth’s circumference—one minute of latitude, or about 1.15 land miles. So, when the captain announces your ship is cruising along at 22 knots, typical for a Caribbean voyage, that’s roughly 25 mph—the speed your car’s odometer would read.
Then there’s swell versus sea (or wave height), terms you’ll hear regularly in daily shipboard updates. Swell is the long, rolling movement of the ocean caused by distant winds and storms—so even on a calm day, the ship might gently rock with distant energy. Seas refer to the shorter, choppier waves stirred up by local winds. Together, they decide whether your sea day is smooth sailing… or a little bit livelier.
Telling the kids you’re heading up to the “poop deck” may elicit giggles. But in fact, it refers to the highest deck on the ship, traditionally located at the back of the vessel and used for navigation and observation; it comes from the French word for stern, la poupe. On modern ships, this has been replaced by the bridge situated closer to the bow.
Things at sea aren’t always shipshape! And that’s what makes these documentaries so fascinating, entertaining, and eye-opening.
The Secret Life of the Cruise is a behind-the-scenes look at life aboard the MSC Seaside. With privileged access to every corner of the vessel, this 1-hour documentary reveals the choreographed operation—and the army of crew members—required to keep a 4,500-passenger megaship running smoothly.
Released in 2022, Hell of a Cruise is a gripping account of what happened aboard the Diamond Princess at the start of the global pandemic. What began as a luxury cruise devolved into a weeks-long quarantine nightmare, worsened by poor communication, official missteps, and rapidly changing circumstances.
Then there’s Trainwreck: Poop Cruise, the almost unbelievable retelling of the 2013 Carnival Triumph saga, when an engine-room fire left the ship powerless and adrift in the Gulf of Mexico. With no air conditioning and no functioning toilets, 4,000 passengers endured conditions that quickly made international headlines.
If all this leaves you craving fictional fun, Like Father delivers. This heartfelt comedy stars Kristen Bell as a workaholic executive who—after being left at the altar—ends up on her honeymoon cruise with her estranged father, played by Kelsey Grammer.
This month’s “Ship Shape” theme is a reminder about the importance of healthy waterways. With 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, here are two organizations working to protect the waters we depend upon.
In our own backyard, Alliance for the Great Lakes aims to protect the fresh, clean waters of the Great Lakes. Based on careful research and analysis, they partner with communities and decision makers to develop effective conservation policies and action-oriented education programs.
Based in the USA, Ocean Conservancy works globally to protect marine biodiversity, advance climate solutions, and prevent ocean plastics. Their goal is simple: Healthy oceans and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone.
Whether you volunteer locally or donate to support broader conservation, these groups make every dollar—and every drop—count.
