This Too Shall Pass
Yet fashions and tastes continue to change, and there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. If Crystal Cruises succeeds in its quest to restore and enhance United States, it could set the pace for a new generation of cruise ships—vessels that look attractive, exciting and enticing. You know, like in the old days.
The initial artist renderings released by Crystal are encouraging. They show an updated ship that successfully combines classic style with modern requirements and tastes (and, yes, United States will still have many private verandahs). Most of all, United States will look like a real ship, the type that people will talk about, write about and dream about traveling on and fall in love with. Is this all too much too hope for? Let’s hope not.
A Memory
As an eight-year-old in 1963, I stood on the deck of Hanseatic (1957) as she neared her Southampton berth on a calm summer night. The liner’s exterior was fully lit. As we slowly, almost silently, moved along the Solent, in the light cast off by our ship, I saw a seemingly endless string of faces along the bank. I lifted my chin from the railing and asked my mother, who was standing next to me, why so many people were gazing at our ship.
“It’s because we’re beautiful, dear,” she replied.
