Timeline Feedback
Written with the benefit of much hindsight!
Over the years, since the Timeline first appeared in 2004, I have been very privileged to receive some wonderful
feedback from visitors. Considering that the site is simply an extended record of what's held in my archive, many
comments do bring a lump to my throat. The fact that spending time here evokes such powerful emotions for visitors
so many years after the “Green Goddess” foundered, let alone be in service, is very humbling.
By far the most evocative feedback for me comes from family members whose relatives were once Caronia travellers, whether they were crew or passenger! That is an unintended yet really happy consequence of building the Timeline. I'm often very moved by the powerfully emotional comments found within these emails.
Others comment about perceptions of luxury on the basis that it must obviously be far better today! My answer to that depends upon firstly asking how you would evaluate or define luxury.
Hopefully, No Rose-Tinted Spectacles
A surprising number of visitors express the wish of being able to take equivalent cruises today. I really don't want to devastate you, but I hope that my reports here are not too much influenced by a rose-tinted spectacles viewpoint. I'd not seek to mislead you.
I suppose there was always a danger that with hindsight would come an allegation of painting a picture here of harder times with tinges of fondness. To combat the fact that we worked hard, when the opportunity arose we played hard too.
We didn't work in the modern idiom of togetherness within teams. Perish that thought! Think more of it being like a gold-rush, where everyone was out for himself to protect whatever they thought was rightfully theirs, whether it was or not.
What really brought together the various factions was fear. Fear of letting your part in the scheme of things slip in any detectible way. That's just with your direct counterparts.
Above that there was a fear of the tin gods whose wrath projected a high level of threat. These people didn't need to sport Officer stripes. Above that would be the not a lot of love lost between the various departments: Catering, Deck or Engineering.
Everything combined led to a feeling of a well-oiled machine which in truth you were proud to be part of. However, as is often alluded to, tension was eased by the prodigious flow of the “greenback” leading to deft attempts by everyone to assuage every whim of its previous holders.
Perhaps I should find an alternative word to “eased” because it could be another cause of tension, especially if someone didn't play what others saw as their perceived part. Just human nature, really.
How Does Modern Cruising Compare?
Probably the biggest contrast these days is in the time spent at ports. Whether it's the local overnight berthing charges that make an extended stay in port prohibitive, or it's a restrictive contract with a Michelin Chef's marketers forcing passengers to dine back on board ship rather than ashore, is moot.
Either way, modern cruising does not give much local flavour of visits to many places around the World that deserve longer stays. Imagine no choice but go to the same night-club on board when you could instead visit several ashore amid a variety of different cultures. Isn't that what travelling the World is all about and do you begin to see what I mean about luxury comparisons?
Silver Service Rules!
Going back to service a moment. Today it's all about celebrity, and forcing a regime upon passengers that may not be their direct choice. Also, I shouldn't forget about the aim of parting them from their cash, should I? Regular travellers become very knowledgeable about World cuisine, so I can't imagine them being very impressed.
If you didn't know your job, it would not be difficult to be rumbled, at your cost! On a long cruise you'd quickly become aware of your diners’ preferences. Even with the most exacting, it wasn't hard work to meet their expectations at table.
The idea that today everyone gets a pre-prepared plate identical to everyone else's regardless, just does not compute as any form of luxury. Don't even try the “it's tastier than then” trick! Americans, our main traveller base would quite correctly regard that as being “cookie cutter” instead. Even today, there is still a lot to be said for the personal touch of “silver service”.
Better Now Than Then?
Imagine longing to visit Venice and yet not be able to enjoy the Piazza San Marco on a balmy evening once you get there. This simply to people-watch as you enjoy a coffee or some white wine. On board Caronia, you could repeat that exercise two evenings in a row, inviting friends to share the experience with you.
I could provide hundreds more examples of this. However, other than for breakfast, passengers who got the most out of a Caronia cruise would never be found in her restaurants for the duration, even when she was out at anchor!
Now to the controversial bit. Anyone calling me a “Cunard Man” had better stand clear. Back then, that company, as opposed to its ships’ companies, could not give two-hoots about its passengers. As you'll read in the following pages, they'd have no compunction to curtail a voyage if it suited them.
Not for the first time either, even to the point of later paying out grudging compensation for the unwelcome hiatus they've caused. I wonder, is it any different today?
Thanks!
On a regular basis I receive email requests to carry advertising on the Timeline. I wonder just what these people see here beyond US dollar signs. I'm pleased to offer a haven free from such irritants.
I can only end this header piece with a sincere vote of thanks to everyone who has either contributed new information or simply told me of their experiences here. I am humbled beyond measure to know that the Timeline brings you such joy. Thank you so much!
