On the cruise I took to Alaska summer before last, the passenger-to-crew ratio was about 4 to 1. If we allow the crew to only work eight hour days, then there should be one crew member on duty for every ten to twelve passengers at any time. This means that each passenger should receive about two hours of personal attention per day. P&O Line just about lived up to that. I was, initially, a bit skeptical about the whole packaged-up tour concept being a basically independent person and being a person who hates to stand in line a be hearded around with the masses. But, from the moment I got there and realized that I didn't have to worry about and plan everything, I could just relax and let the ship's crew sweat the details, I was really happy with the whole experience. I think the longest line I stood in the whole time was probably three people long. It seemed like for anything if the line got to be more than about two people long, they got another crewman or two or three to speed things along. As we were leaving, I needed to put a second roll of film in my camera, a two-handed job, and was looking for a safe place to set my champagne down. No sooner could I think about the problem, but a waiter arrived with a tray. I said, "I'm not done with this, I just want to put it down for a moment while I change my film."
"Allow me to be of assistance," was his reply. He held my glass on the tray, while I changed my film.
From that moment forward, I knew I was going to like it.
I loved going to take a sauna and using a dozen or two big towels. Each time I'd come out of the sauna, there'd be a big new stack of towels. I guess I'm easily amused. But, that's my idea of luxury: more towels than you can possibly use.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
