Ramblings of a Salty Seadog

John Martin rubs shoulders with Dolly - At least that's what I think he said. Premier Cruise Lines, the Official Cruise Line of Walt...

The stories keep pouring in about unfortunate passengers and crew that do not make it to the end of their voyage but “Cross the Bar” and...

As every cockroach knows, thriving on poisons is the secret of success. - Mason Cooley “Why”, I was asked “has there been such a surge in...

They say that only two things are certain in this life, Taxes, and Death. My stories of death on the ocean wave have certainly shaken up...

On joining Oriana as a junior assistant purser I had a lot of life’s lessons to learn and being thrown into the deep end so to speak was...

Sunborn Yacht Hotel Royal Victoria Dock London Docklands When I first joined P&O n 1973 I was based in London for a few weeks and part of...

Identify the training needed - training for training’s sake was really a waste By John Martin My own education in becoming a training...

“The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea” by L.C. Tang Never judge a book by its cover or at least don’t prejudge. When I first heard of LC...

Harry Bonning continues his story of life on Orsova in 1968 Acapulco to San Francisco "Next stop Acapulco. In the 60’s Acapulco was not a...

Oriana 1974 On joining the great steamship Oriana I was lucky to be appointed Junior Catering Assistant Purser. I loved catering and had...

LIFE AT SEA WITH PAUL MOTTE-HARRISON By Michael Brady If the beating heart of a ship is its engine room then the Purser’s Office is its...

Prior to getting the job at sea, when I left school, I had a job with the British Linen Bank, in Glasgow, one of many branches in the...

Through the eyes of assistant purser Harry Bonner in 1968 On one cruise we called at Casablanca. One of the shore excursions was a trip...

I’m afraid you will need to let me know by this evening if you can offer me the job”, I told my interviewers at the London Hotel, “I have...

Open the book and start reading. I was immediately transported to Poplar in the 1940's and an early episode of “Call The Midwife,” Even...

SS. Orsova was a British ocean liner, built by Vickers Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness, England for the Orient Steam Navigation Company...

It’s not every day you get the chance to walk the coastal route from Folkestone to Dover. Leaving Folkestone harbour it’s a very steep...

A telegram came in. ‘You have a virus. Do not play games.’ Games? Games! It was the last thing I would want to do; play games on a...

On my first voyage (Dec '67) on Shaw Savill's Southern Cross, after the incident in Papeete, I had to keep my head low and try to do the...

When serving on passenger liners one always knew where you were going and when you were likely to arrive. Cruise lines today can even...