Did You Know – Fun Facts

• that when sailing from ­ England to the Caribbean in “the old days” a rule of thumb was to sail south until the butter melts, then proceed west?
• that the word “buccaneer” comes from the French word boucanier, which means: “to cure meat on a bucan (barbeque)?” Since pirates often used this method of cooking, they became known as buccaneers. The word buccaneer, strictly speaking, was used to denote pirates in the Caribbean.
• that in 1992 Carnival Cruise Lines used its original ship Mardi Gras as an accommodation ship? It was for senior executives and staff who were made homeless when Hurricane Andrew hit Miami in August that year.

• that the first “en suite” rooms (with private bathroom) were on board Cunard Line’s Campania of 1893?
• that the first single-berth cabins built as such were also aboard the Campania?
• that the first liner to offer private terraces with their first-class suites was Normandie in 1935 (the Trouville Suite had four bedrooms as well as a private terrace)?
• that the first ships to feature private balconies were the Saturnia and Vulcania in the early 1900s?
• that the first ship to be fitted with interior plumbing was the 6,283-ton Normandie of 1883?
• that the first ship fitted with an internal electric lighting system was the Inman liner City of Berlin in 1879?
• that Carnival Cruise Lines places more than 10 million chocolates on passenger pillows each year?
• that orders enforced on all entertainment-free ships sailing from Great Britain in 1849 instructed all passengers to be in their beds by 10pm?

• that an unwritten rule called “Ward’s Third Law of Gluttony,” states that passengers will take precisely twice as much food as they need from breakfast and luncheon buffets, then add a lettuce leaf or two at dinner in order to justify the guilt complex brought about by over-consumption?
• that Cunard Line is reputed to be the world’s largest single buyer of caviar – spending about $500,000 a year – after the Russian Caviar on toast and Ukrainian governments?
• that most of the major cruise lines have replaced champagne with sparkling wine for the captain’s welcome aboard cocktail party?
• that the liner Amerika in 1938 was the first ship to have an alternative restaurant open separately from the dining saloons? It was named the Ritz Carlton.
• that the first à la carte restaurant aboard a passenger ship was in the German ship Amerika of 1905?
• that the longest bar aboard any current cruise ship can be found aboard AIDAcara? It is 195 feet (59.5 meters) long.
• that a whole county in Iowa raises all its beef cattle for sale to Carnival Cruise Lines?
• that Legend of the Seas was christened in 1995 with the world’s largest bottle of champagne? It had to be specially made, and was a “Sovereign-size” bottle (the equivalent of 34 bottles) of Moët & Chandon champagne.
• that the United States Line’s Manhattan in 193l was the first ship to have a cocktail named after it – perhaps the only ship that can claim such a distinction?
• that 2,000 Methuselah-sized bottles (the equivalent of 12 bottles) of Cristal champagne were made specially for Crystal Cruises’ passengers to purchase for the millennium celebrations on the eve of the year 2000? The cost: $2,000 each.

• that the French liner Ile de France was the first, and only, ship to have a real carousel in the children’s playroom? This was also the ship used in the 1960 movie The Last Voyage, with Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone.
• that a 15-ft-high model of Goofy hangs upside down over the stern of Disney Magic? He’s painting the ship.
• that Carnival Cruise Lines and Mattel teamed up to produce a nautical-themed Barbie Doll? She can be found in the gift shops aboard all the company’s ships.

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Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2009 by Douglas Ward © Apa Publications 2008-2009 www.berlitzpublishing.com

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