It never ceases to amaze me what global complainers we've become. And some of the occasional flack I've seen aimed at the Island Princess makes me wonder whether I've been on the same ship.

Cards on the table! My wife and myself have never cruised before and, indeed, she had reservations because she can be a poor traveller at times.

But by the time we arrived at Fort Lauderdale she was an evangelistic convert. She loved it. We both did. And my own broad anti-social streak had even given way to an uncharacteristic tendency to actually speak to people ... even voluntarily start conversations over dinner ... and, holy moly, acknowledge people I'd come to know on first name terms as though I'd bumped into old friends in the village. Read more