The Queen Alien in Aliens

Movie contracts used to look like this until lawyers added 60 more pages.

I have a box of #QueenAlien #AlienQueen contracts. I guess Malcolm Weaver has too, he was the other side of her body. #Aliens #Aliensmovie It is impossible to know that you are working a really special film, but it was obvious to me we were working with a genius. Malcolm and I worked very closely with Stan Winston and James Cameron. Within days, Jim reduced the 6-man Alien team to just Malcolm and me. The reason we were told was that we understood his creature. I like to believe that he was that determined to get detail. Others might say it was Gayle running the budget. Whichever, it gave us a movie experience never to be repeated. Being the Queen Alien is one of those jobs that sticks. That gets you invited around the world to sign pictures and talk at events. Now, I get asked about my novels. But when you spend your apprenticeship learning from storytellers like James Cameron in a one-to-one situation for months, you absorb their character study because you are performing it. I should not ignore working closely with Sigourney Weaver but only mention her second as my work with her was so much less.

Jim built the Queen. He was there when we were hanging in bags, and he was explaining what he had in his head. The sculptures and latex modellers, including Steve Norrington who I went on to work with at Fugitive (see Krays blog) who was one of those.  We worked in a studio building, modelling and creating the Queen Alien inside and out, for weeks and months. The Queen grew in character as she grew in looks. Then, when we came to dance with the clapper loader, it was Sigourney's stunt double who everything was done with until it was ready for her to come in and see what was possible.  Then we went head to head and talked through the latex and dripping KY jelly.

Most of the work was done at Pinewood Studios, my second home from about 1979 to 1986. That period included Octopussy, Who Dares Wins, The Elephant Man and A View To A Kill. The other stages were rich with movies and other performers who became lifelong friends. But it was there I was taught to dream big, to think film, to understand your face would be sixty feet wise on the big screen so conserve your acting and emotions to be seen without great movement. It was a huge chapter in my learning to be a storyteller.

Here is a review that came in this morning on an American book club. Guess I should thank my peers.

Review of Cruise Ship Heistpost by priya43217 » 12 Sep 2023, 04:23 [Following is a volunteer review of "Cruise Ship Heist" by Stuart St Paul.] Book Cover 5 out of 5 stars Share This Review

I had the privilege of immersing myself in the pages of 'Cruise Ship Heist,' and as an avid reviewer, I'm excited to share my thoughts on this captivating novel. From the moment I embarked on this literary journey, I was immediately drawn into a world of suspense, intrigue, and heart-pounding action. In 'Cruise Ship Heist,' the intricate plot unfolds against the luxurious backdrop of a cruise ship, setting the stage for a high-stakes robbery that keeps readers guessing at every turn. As a reviewer, I found myself engrossed in the author's masterful storytelling, expertly weaving together a diverse cast of characters, each with their own hidden motives and secrets. The relentless pacing of the narrative, coupled with explosive action sequences, ensures that the tension remains palpable throughout, leaving no room for complacency. What sets this novel apart is its exploration of themes beyond the surface-level heist. 'Cruise Ship Heist' delves into the depths of human desires – from greed to loyalty – all while challenging the characters' moral boundaries. The relationships and alliances formed amidst the chaos add an extra layer of complexity to the story, highlighting the intricate web of emotions that drives their actions. As a reviewer, I appreciated how the author's vivid descriptions brought the cruise ship and its opulent surroundings to life, providing a stark contrast to the imminent danger that lurked beneath. The book's ability to seamlessly balance action with character development allowed me to not only root for the characters' survival but also connect with their struggles and triumphs on a personal level. In conclusion, 'Cruise Ship Heist' is a roller-coaster of a read that caters to fans of thrilling suspense and intricate plotlines. I am delighted to recommend this novel to fellow readers and reviewers who crave a novel that keeps them at the edge of their seats, challenges their perceptions, and ultimately delivers an unforgettable literary experience. As a reviewer, I can confidently say that 'Cruise Ship Heist' is a voyage well worth taking.". ****** Cruise Ship Heist View: on Amazon

Recently at a talk where I was explaining the months as the Queen Alien, a fan came up with the notorious flight jacket on all badged up. She presented me with a picture she had taken of me, the Alien. I have to thank artist Lynsey Hutchinson for helping me remember a very special time that few had the foresight to see how special and memorable it would be. If only we had smartphones back then.

Also, follow my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CruiseShipHeist/

Charleston USA Jean’s guide for Doris Visits

Charleston USA Jean’s guide for Doris Visits: 

The port can appear at the bottom of a New England Cruise, or the top of a Caribbean Cruise.

BOSTON - a vibrant cruise port

 Boston Massachusetts has a lot to offer. Cruisers are likely to be dropped off at Quincy Market by the shuttle bus. Everything is nearby. Faneuil Hall, the Freedom Trail museum and lecture centre is through the market in the next building. The wharf is in the other direction. In our video guide.

• 0:00 Introduction by Jean
• 0:15 Quincey Market & Faneuil Hall
• 1:54 Paul Revere House
• 2:35 Clough House
• 2:46 Captain Jackson's Historic Chocolate shop
• 3:37 Edes & Gill Printing Office
• 5:33 Boston Common
• 5:40 Massachusetts State House
• 5:51 Cheers
• 6:32 Long Wharf
• 7:50 Boston Tea Party Museum
• 8:47 Joes

TIPS FOR BOSTON from NANCY on our chat groups

On the Harbor Walk near the Tea Party Museum at the James Hook and Co, you can find the most authentic lobster rolls. It’s a little place on the water with picnic tables outside and to die for lobster rolls or steamed lobsters.

Also try Mike's Pastry in the Italian North End, famous for its cannoli.

Walking through the Boston Common, continue over to the Boston Garden and take a ride on Boston’s iconic Swan Boats, then continue for a stroll up Newbury Street.

 

THE DORIS VISITS FILM CONTINUES

Jean takes you to the visitor's centre in Faneuil Hall run by The National Park Service. She then starts you on the Freedom Trail which is a 2.5-mile-long walk that passes by 16 locations. It is marked out largely with a winding brick line. It was the idea of local journalist William Schofield in 1951, and by 1953, 40,000 people were walking the trail annually. She dives off and finds Cheers then takes you along the Wharf for a very rounded film of Boston. Note, Boston is the subject of our Halloween Podcast (S1E03) because it is famous for its ghosts and ghoulies!

1. Boston Common
2. Massachusetts State House
3. Park Street Church
4. Granary Burying Ground
5. King's Chapel and Burying Ground
6. Benjamin Franklin statue and the former site of Boston Latin School
7. Old Corner Bookstore
8. Old South Meeting House
9. Old State House
10. Site of the Boston Massacre
11. Faneuil Hall
12. Paul Revere House
13. Old North Church and Clough House.
14. Copp's Hill Burying Ground
15. USS Constitution
16. Bunker Hill Monument

Fred Olsen cruises to BOSTON click here.

Marella Cruises - Marella Central America Cruises

The Harborwalk connects over forty parks, a dozen museums, seven beaches and hundreds of restaurants and stores and stretches 43 miles along the Bay of what is officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is the most populated state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The variety the walk offers ranges from maritime industrial areas and working port operations to areas for swimming or fishing. You are never going to walk it all, not in a day, certainly not at a cruise stop, but it is interesting to know that it links so much. Mayor Raymond Flynn began this project in 1984 as a commitment to protect public access as the waterfront was redeveloped. Since then, the Harborwalk has emerged piece-by-piece and is nearing completion. Where possible it is a 12-foot pathway with public amenities such as parks, restaurants, stores, cultural institutions and importantly bathrooms. There is also a water transportation infrastructure.

There is a house tucked away by the old church that is on the Heritage trail, it is called Clough House and is a gem that deserves a special mention. It is an old house, built in 1712 by master bricklayer Ebenezer Clough as a home for himself and his wife. Now, inside there are two actors working their socks off all day, one demonstrating the old-fashioned way of making chocolate in Captain Jackson's old Chocolate shop. The other, Howard, is printing on an old double-press printing press as if in the old shop of Edes and Gill. He prints the Declaration of American Independence, which they then sell. Anyone can sign it and it and have it hung on the wall. Entrance to this house is free, which is amazing as most of the sites and places to visit on the coast charge, some quite regally, but here at Clough House they do have things to sell and ask for donations. They suggest three dollars!

Until 1806, the home was lived in by individual families, the first two generations of the Clough family, and then Joseph and Sarah Pierce and their families.  The home was inherited by their daughters and their politically active husbands, including Moses Grant, a participant in the Boston Tea Party.  It was purchased in 1959 by the Old North Foundation for the purpose of showing the past as a working interpretative space. 

Cheers, the new bar is a rebuild of the original bar, The Bull and Finch Pub, that was here in 1981 and inspired the writers to go off and write the sitcom which is now part of popular modern history. The interiors were obviously shot in a studio built in Los Angeles, but this is the exterior that was used over and over again. The show was nearly canned as the first series failed to gain an audience; it ranked nearly last in the ratings. The show ran from 1982 to 1993 and reached number seven on the charts and is listed as one of NBC's best all-time shows. A staff writer on the show who later joined the production team, David Lawrence Angell was on the first plane to hit the World Trade Centre in 2001.

Boston has become a fun young city with much to offer. Inland there is another path, a brick line as Dorothy might follow in the Wizard or Freedom, because it is the Freedom Trail with many stops of interest from the Boston Massacre, to the Tea Party. From the real Cheers bar to the one at Quincy Market, from Museums to lectures and information by Park Rangers, Boston is a city you can walk around. Here is our overview film. The guide to Boston.

Laura Aikman and Dyan Cannon to meet, ahead of the new ITVX series 'ARHIE', from Dyan Cannon's book.

 Dyan Cannon and Laura Aikman have become friends, and plan to meet when Dyan comes to the UK for the release of the TV mini-series ARCHIE, which she Executive Produces for ITVX. The show is based on her book. From Doris Visits https://www.dorisvisits.com/archie/

In her book Dear Carey, Dyan Cannon reveals she wasn't looking for romance when she sat down for lunch with Cary Grant in the studio canteen; she was a young actress on the outskirts of Hollywood just hoping for her big break. Her sweet, sad, candid, but honest autobiography, Dear Cary, reveals a side of Cary Grant the world has never before seen. Executive Producer Cannon was keen that her book was interpreted carefully, and the casting of her as a young actress was right. After many conversations and video callbacks and auditions with every young actress in Hollywood and beyond, Laura Aikman was chosen. When they spoke after Laura had been contracted and were discussing Laura as the star, Dyan was shocked to discover that Laura is from England and the American accent that she had heard for months was not Laura's native voice.

Laura misses cruise on the P&O AZURA to film ARCHIE

The two spoke regularly throughout shooting, screening, and editing. Now friends, the two are to meet when Dyan comes over for the Archie press launch. They will both be flying in, because Laura, who has been filming all year on different shows, has yet to have a holiday. The launch is in the middle of her holiday. Laura also missed a planned cruise she was due to take on the P&O Azura, where her parents were both on board as celebrity guests. Her father Stuart St Paul is the Celebrity Stuntman, movie director, and cruise crime author of Cruise Ship Heist, and her mother, Jean Heard, is an actress who has played in the West End and On Broadway and now presents Doris Visits Cruise TV.

Laura Holly Aikman went to Haberdashers School in Northwest London, which Jason Issacs also attended. (as did Sacha Baron Cohen and Matt Lucas). At Habs she did many stage performances including Henry V speaking only in French. She left school just before A-levels, when the BBC asked her to lead out the Saturday morning Show MYSTI. She has also led out the series Personal Affairs, and played James Cordon's girlfriend in the Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey.

The series concentrates on Dyan's time with Carey from episode 2. The first episode sees the boy, Archibald Alec Leech, born in January 1904 in Bristol, UK, invent and become Cary Grant. What Dyan found in meeting Cary was a star-crossed soul mate - a man who fell instantly in love with her, pursued her relentlessly and eventually persuaded her to love him back equally. Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon were a glamorous and popular celebrity couple, the epicentre of chic and swinging 1960s Hollywood. For a few brief years, their romance flourished; she became his fourth wife, and they had a daughter. Their romance played out like one of Grant's movies - bold, witty, full of dramatic gestures, and equally tender moments. When the love died, however, it ended in the same way it had started: dramatically, on courthouse steps and on the front page of every newspaper in the world. Sweet, sad, candid, and honest, Dear Cary reveals a side of Cary Grant the world has never-before seen. It has taken Dyan Cannon two decades to reconcile herself to the death of Cary Grant and to come to terms with their stormy, difficult love. Dear Cary, is the end result of that acceptance; her final love letter to her one true love, Cary Grant. Archie is a result of Dear Cary, and Laura Aikman portrays that sensitive role. Grant was married five times; to actresses Virginia Cherrill (1934–1935), Barbara Hutton (1942-1945), Betsy Drake (1949–1962), Dyan Cannon (1965–1968), and Barbara Harris (1981-1986).

Her parents, who now have the TV cruise channel Doris Visits as their retirement project on YouTube, will miss the launch of Archie as they are ship jumping as Stuart is on a book tour for the release of his novel Cruise Ship Heist. Stuart says, when Laura started in the film industry people used to say, "Oh, you are Stuart St Paul's daughter." When it got to the point, that when I walked on set they said to me, "Oh, you're Laura Aikman's dad!"  He goes on to say, "As proud as I was, it was time to put my feet up, cruise and write."

 

Visiting the Trevi Fountain can be like going to a rock concert.

Visiting the Trevi Fountain can be like going to a rock concert.

ROME from Civitavecchia; TREVI FOUNTAIN & SPANISH STEPS, ANGELS & DEMONS and pimp your Magnum!

 Visiting the Trevi Fountain can be like going to a rock concert. People cram and push to get to the front, to get that great photo opportunity when the best photo position is behind you upstairs in the clothes shop's first-floor window.

Seeing the Pope on his balcony is also a crowded affair. Rome is busy, it is fun, and it is endless. Whether you are just wandering, looking for the Holy Grail (some say it is there) or on an Angels and Demons tour, take a look at Jean's film. We hope it helps see what is possible and orientate you around this ancient city.

In 1629 Pope Urban VIII found the fountain at the junction of three major roads inadequate and asked for designs in a competition. The Trevi Fountain was designed by the winner, Italian architect Nicola Salvi who failed to complete so it was completed by Pietro Bracci. It is 26.3 metres (86 ft) high and 49.15 metres (161.3 ft) wide, which is why you need to get back or have a wide lens. One of the most famous fountains in the world, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and is called the Trevi Fountain because it is in the Trevi district. MOVIE TIME - The fountain has appeared in several notable films, which means this makes our Cruise Destination where Movies were made list:-

1. La Dolce Vita, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival and the Oscar for Best Costumes. It still remains one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time.
2. Three Coins in the Fountain the romantic comedy, which was nominated for Best Picture Oscar, and spawned what became a classic standard song, sung by the uncredited Frank Sinatra, "Three Coins in the Fountain" won an Oscar for Best Song. It also won Best Cinematography at the 27th awards in 1955. The American film was made in Italy.

The Spanish Steps are 135 steps that stretch between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. The result of another design competition was held in 1717. Funded by a Frenchman, French diplomat Étienne Gueffier, and in Italy, they are a set of steps, which may be Spanish, but again are famous in films and songs.

1. Roman Holiday (1953), Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.
2. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) The main apartment used in the film is halfway up on the right.
3. The Talented Mr. Ripley the Matt Damon movie features the steps heavily.
4. Bob Dylan song "When I Paint My Masterpiece," mentions both the "Spanish Stairs" and the Colosseum.

If you are visiting Rome, you may also have other stops in the Western end of the Mediterranean. Another Italy port can be La Spezia for PISA.

Abba Voyage + Abba Museum

 

Abba Voyager sounds like the name of a cruise ship. So, we went to Pudding Mill Lane to investigate.

Tower Bridge lifts for the cruise ship Silver Wind

 Only small cruise ships can get right up to berth at Queen's Wharf opposite the Tower of London. To achieve that, the Iconic Tower Bridge must lift. The cruise ship Silver Wind makes a spectacular sight going through the neogothic Bascule bridge which was built in 1894. About 40,000 people use the bridge a day, but they all must wait if a ship wishes to go through. It is free to lift, but notice must be given.

The Silver Wind is a luxury ship, which brings her 274 guests right into the heart of London when on a British Isles tour. In 2018 she had a major upgrade and then a re-fit in 2021 and she now has a reinforced Ice Class hull, just in case the Thames freezes over.

 

 

#towerbridgelondon #towerbridge #Silverwind #silversea

Here she is at Tower Bridge where she had two overnights just after the coronation of King Charles III. The bridge sees over 40,000 people use it each day and it lifts when required. The engine room is manned 24/7. The lift takes under 5 minutes.

Here is the link to lifting times.

Great to see cruise ships showing London off. See our amazing cruise ships menu. Please share Doris Visits with other cruisers.

It is a sister ship to the Silver Cloud. The Silver Wind was built in 1995.    

• Guest capacity: 274
• Crew capacity: 239
• Last refurbishment: 2021
• Tonnage: 17 400 Tons
• Length 164m
• Beam 22m
• Ice Class hull

The Video.

0:00 - Silver Wind details

0:26 - Tower Bridge

0:48 - HMS Belfast

1:03 - Bridge lifting

1:20 - Ship near bridge

1:42 - Model for blind

1:52: - HMS Belfast

2:25 - High-Level Walk

2:45 - Ticket Office

3:37 - Tugs attach

3:43 - Bridge lifts

4:07 - Ship pulled to bridge

4:24 - Tug through bridge

4:50 - Ship through bridge

5:05 - Guests on deck

6:00 - Audio book starts

6:40 - Silver dawn reversing upriver

ZADAR, Croatia - The very best of ZADAR

Located between Rijeka and Split on the Adriatic Sea, this old town boasts many Roman ruins but the history of Zadar stretches back beyond that. It is the oldest continually inhabited city in Croatia with evidence of inhabitance dating back to the late Stone Age and settlements that have been dated as early as the Neolithic, which is between 15 and 8 thousand years BC! Traces of a settlement date back to the 9th century BC with an Illyrian tribe known as Iader. The Romans moved here around 59BC and formed a municipium which was a social contract between them and the locals. Within ten years they had taken more control and roads and infrastructure increased as it became the Roman City of Ladera. Recent history saw it under Italian rule until the second world war when it fell back to Croatian rule. The walled port reveals a network of narrow streets Roman ruins and Romanesque churches. These sit alongside cosmopolitan cafés, medieval churches, museums of culture and vendors. Zadar is not spoiled by tourism and has the only Sea Organ we have ever seen. These are pipes or holes in the stone sea wall through which the sea movement forces air. It also has a Sun Salutation - a 22m square art installation of 300 glass plates that capture the sun's energy during the day. The sea is clean, the food is good, the beaches are first-class if you just want a lazy day and there is an electric tourist street train if you fancy a lazy tour before a cold beer.

 

The Chest of St Simon the God-receiver is located over the main altar in the Church of Saint Simeon. Zadar's "Kopnena Vrata" (Landward Gate) has the  Lion of Saint Mark on it which is the symbol of the Venice Film Festival and a symbol of the Republic of Venice as a reminder of the Venetian rule. Zadar has a borderline humid subtropical and Mediterranean climate with less than 40mm of rain in the summer. Only Dec & Jan can see the temperature dropping to 63F the rest of the year is between 70 and 97F. It is about an hour from Krka National Park for some swimming and walking or Paklenica National Park if you fancy a spot for hiking or rock climbing or you can find a local beach.

 

See the Cruise before you Cruise the Sea - Our Dubrovnik film

• Fred Olsen - Book your cruise to Zadar with Fred Olsen  - Click here
• or for the late Fred Olsen deals click here to see the fleet click here
• Saga Cruises  - Search, check availability and book - Click here
• or for the late SAGA CRUISE deals click here to see the fleet click here

Want to look around the ships, take a look at the 450 ships we list

P&O AZURA FULL PASSENGER AREA TOUR

 The Azura cruise ship is a firm favourite with many cruisers. The Grand Class of ships have always been a hit and will be tomorrow's classic.

The Chat Group uCruise Azura   Darcey Bussell is the Godmother of this ship.

Azura is the fly-cruise of the two Grand Class ships. It home-ports in Barbados in the winter, and Valletta in the summer. This means that with just a short break, you can holiday in some fantastic places. We have always been huge fans of the Grand Class ships and have some great memories.

The Azura has eleven restaurants and eating areas, twelve bars and places to drink, four pools, a gym, two spas, outdoor cinema, a theatre and two show lounges. She is 290m long and has a beam of 36m. Its 24-knot speed is achieved by two 21 MW electric motors with fixed propellers driven by 6 Wärtsilä diesel generators. It also has three bow thrusters, and three stern thrusters which may not be enough when trying to berth as seen on our film where 3 tugs pushed her into Chania (Souda Bay)

It has four pools. The Terrace pool at the back is the one with steps and a handrail for those who are a little unsteady. It has a hoist with a chair on the Aqua pool. The Coral pool is the one with the pizza, grill, and sea screen. Then, there is the quiet pool, where no children are expected to be, that is the Oasis pool at the bow near the gym. The Oasis pool is the only one that does not have a bar.

The ship has five main entertainment venues. The Manhattan is a nightclub venue which normally has a comedian, a DJ or the occasional floor show from the Headliners. The middle club is called Malabar and now has a singer working to backing tracks, making it more like a club venue. However, the big act is often put in there for their second performance which I feel is such a waste. I have seen both Andrew Browning as George Michael in there, and Owen James as Sting, two of the best tribute acts we have ever seen. The main theatre, the Playhouse Theatre is where all the big acts do at least one of their shows, and the Headliners put on their extravaganzas and shows like 'Astonishing'. The fourth venue is the atrium, which has a dance floor by the Java Cafe. A singer can use this, like the Busker, the resident act that sings around the ship and at some sail-aways. It can also be used for ballroom dancing, line dancing and Fitsteps. Last but certainly not least is the stage in Brodies, where all manner of entertainment happens from quizzes to karaoke, from the Busker to video game competitions. It is also the sports bar and screen. I would not suggest that either the Blue Bar on Deck 7 or the Planet Bar on Deck 18 are entertainment venues, but they can have a pianist playing. The Planet might have the busker or a trio but that seems rare now.

Entertainment can also happen around the pool areas, especially when the weather is good.

There are very few port talks now, so we strongly suggest you look at our filmed port guides and lists of tours which are ideal for research, all listed in the menu.

Restaurants are many. The three main dining halls are the Oriental, the Peninsular and the Meridian. We enjoy a mixed shared table there most nights we are on, for a three-course meal. On gala or celebration nights, these are normally the black-tie formal nights, the meal steps up a notch and is four courses and amuse-bouche. One of the two weeks might be the Macro Pierre White lobster meal, which is lobster pieces in a choux-pastry shell.

The Premium restaurants have become the place to dine out, and on all our recent cruises they were booked to capacity every night, and even the Glass House which does not take reservations is full early doors. The Epicurean is a more formal restaurant with a great meal, meat or fish. The Sindhu is an Asian restaurant with Indian-style food that is quite mild unless you advise them you prefer it more spicey. The Beach House is half the buffet with the tables laid, lights lowered and waiter service. Here the nachos and fish skewers are as much a favourite as steak still cooking on a stone. The buffet is always a good and easy option. The dress code applies to the main dining area, and the Epicurean is smart.

A silly thing that probably won't affect you - there is a net on the top of the basketball court so you can't shoot hoops. Silly thing that may affect you, the shops always have a discount day on most times. It can be a different item discounted on different days or a vast 40% off on the last day. They will normally tell you, but you risk missing something as items do go. There is no deck 13, and you cannot walk through on decks 5 & 6, so have to go up to 7 and come back down.

If you wish to return home without masses of laundry, we recommend using the laundrette early evening the day before the day before you leave. It will be empty as everyone is getting ready for dinner. Dump your washing. Go back shower etc then return and use the tumble drier. You can pick it up just before you go out to dinner. So lovely not to have to face a case full of washing when you get home.

Our new 2023 Azura ship tour will be loaded this weekend, it is far superior to the one we currently show, so we are excited. Here is what to expect when our poor 4Mbps finally loads it. So far it has been 5 hours and we have achieved 58%. That's rural London for you, anywhere in the world would be faster.

My prediction for the long term. I can see the main dining becoming less and less important, and deck 5 Meridian being looked at as a Limelight Club and cinema. I also think that when the two smaller adult ships are released from the fleet, the two Grand Class ships will see their kids club areas converted into cabins as they did when the Aurora was changed up. But that is just future guessing, I have no actual knowledge.

• 0:00 - Intro Azura
• 0:26 - Glass Lifts
• 0:50 - Cabin Steward's new routine
• 1:05 - Playhouse Theatre D7
• 1:22 - Glass House D7
• 1:44 - Shops D7
• 2:06 - Malabar D7
• 2:20 - Photogallery D7
• 2:30 Sindhu Indian R D7
• 3:07 - Manhattan D7
• 3:32 - Oriental D6
• 3:42 - Shops D6
• 3:52 - Reception D6
• 4:03 - Casino & Brodies D6
• 4:37 - Kamala Room D6
• 4:47 - Excursions D5
• 4:57 - Library D5
• 5:10 - Meridian Java Cafe D5
• 5:20 - Atrium Dance Floor D5
• 5:38 - Whitewall Gallery D5
• 5:55 - Ivory Suite D16
• 6:08 - The Bridge D14
• 6:19 - Oasis Pool D16
• 6:50 - Gym D16
• 7:07 - Deck 18 Sun
• 7:19 - Coral Pool
• 7:32 - The Grill
• 7:42 - Grab & Go
• 7:52 - Pizza & Ice Cream
• 8:02 - Aqua Pool
• 8:12 - Sea Screen
• 8:20 - Deck Quoits
• 8:30 - Terrace Pool
• 8:45 - Epicurean
• 8:58 - Golf & Sports
• 9:08 - Planet Bar
• 9:22 - Kids Clubs
• 9:50 - Buffet
• 10:09 - Beach House
• 10:30 - Main Dining
• 10:55 - Ship Map
• 11:04 - Split preview
• 11:48 - Kusadasi preview

The Azura is the sister of the Ventura. See our Facebook chat group for the Azura. uCruise Azura is a big friendly group. It has chat rooms within the group for specific cruises - see EVENTS.

Join the Azura Cruise Chat - click the picture and share your knowledge or ask questions

Our Adriatic Port Guides - click to play all

Dubrovnik Split  Zadar Trieste Venice

Our Eastern Mediterranean Port Guides - click to play all

Valletta Rhodes Valletta Mykonos Athens Heraklion Chania Zakynthos

Our Western Mediterranean Port Guides - click to play all

Valletta Ajaccio Civitavecchia (for Rome) Naples Pisa Spezia

Sod's Law - when it can go wrong, it does.

Why does your central heating fail in winter? Why does your alarm go wrong just before a holiday? My dad used to call it Sod's Law. I was rather loathed to write that so checked and it is an official term both in the dictionary and Wiki. It means basically that things can go wrong, they do, and often when we don't want them to.

Just as we were about to cruise in January, the heating stopped working. One plumber said the boiler needed changing, another said the boiler had ten years left and it was even ready for the new gas mix if and when it ever came in. The latter changed a broken fan at the top and it worked again after a reset.

The cost of things we don't understand can be high, and some may exploit them. However, not all overcharging is from exploitation, some is just the modern way. Or a lack of ground roots education. Engineers are trained to change things. Arrive, charge a call-out fee, figure out which part is not working, and then replaced the part.

I mention this as most of us are looking to save a few pounds to spend on a meal when on holiday, or treat ourselves, but funds get wasted on bad repairs. Sure, if the item is repaired then that's good, it is peace of mind. But a call out to test an alarm will cost just under £100 and then the part at trade might be £40, but to the customer more. Then they will change batteries and other items if there is a chance to upsell. Whilst we have never been a fix-it channel, I do come from a generation where we were taught not to throw things away but fix them. To that end, as others kept reporting the alarm was failing and we had a week to cruise I had to think long and hard. There was a nagging in my head which said no. Don't call someone out. I thought I had a spare keypad to test but couldn't find it. Then I had one of those R-Whites moments. Yes, you got it, it was just one of those nights when you must get up ... R-Whites. (for the young it was a lemonade commercial about someone who had to wake up in the middle of the night).

I took the alarm keypad apart and looked for dirt. It was black, tarred, and filthy. There was no way that the contacts could be made. So, I filmed myself cleaning it to help others. Repair cost - a little of Jean's nail varnish remover which she still has even though she has gels (and I'm a hoarder!)

Alarm Keypad

https://youtu.be/nkmgzPZNVW4

Similarly, I did a video about the heating when it stopped last year. It is very old, but it should work. The cost of me mending it was about £10.

Central Heating Fault

https://youtu.be/xqKNjT5eRQY

So, I have a few, that may help you. But if they don't apply then they still teach a logic that seems to be missing nowadays. Maybe it is me, but being taught logic has all but gone. However, I am reliably told by my son that those who can think that way can earn bundles in writing and fixing code. Maybe logic has just moved on... but the code writers might not have been able to fix my G-Tech. I guess they would argue that they don't have to, they earn enough to replace. 

Faulty GTech

https://youtu.be/UAYF40nD_2I

I guess my point is, that's not the point. So, forgive my odd little helpful video... and by the way, it is sometimes also called Murphy's law.

My How To Playlist of films

Oh ... and if it can go wrong ... it does for me in Cape Verde

https://youtu.be/r2eYtcGmwbc

HMS Murder

 A new TV show for Channel 5 and Paramount+ is set on a cruise ship and shot in Malta. In HMS Murder, Cabaret singer, Jack Grayling, who was previously a detective, discovers sinister elements onboard a cruise ship when a passenger is found murdered.

In Cruise Ship Crime Investigators book series guest speaker on a cruise ship, Kieron Philips is thrust back into his investigator past. He was previously in the British special forces.

In HMS Murder the ambitious First Officer Kate Woods has her desire to be captain thrown into jeopardy by this turn of events.

In the Cruise Ship Crime Investigators series started in 2015, book 2 - Cruise Ship Serial Killer, the ambitious head of security Officer Ruby Jenkins discovers a murder on the long Pacific Ocean crossing and sees this as an opportunity for a career bump. Then there is another murder, then another.

In HMS Murder a wave of murder mysteries follows, and each is set against the backdrop of a different stunning coastal destination. Scenes were shot in 20 different locations in Malta and used it to represent ports in other countries such as Casablanca. Malta is known as the Hollywood of the Mediterranean with film studios and the Popeye Village. See our Malta pages

In CSCI, all the books are based on ships and in cruise ports. Cruise Ship Heist starts in Port Limon, Costa Rica then takes Kieron Philips, the guest speaker through the Panama Canal. On discovering millions of drug money onboard he is thrust back into his detective role to figure out how he is being used. The ship then goes to Cartagena in South America, across to Bequia and the story ends drastically in Madeira. The series is serialised on YouTube and you can start listening here.

https://youtu.be/-90fO5qyaCg

The UK based indie TV company Clapperboard has made this in association with Endeavour Content. It is being billed as “Murder She Wrote meets Below Deck.”

The team is Paul Testar, Commissioning Executive, Drama for Channel 5 and Paramount+. Executive producers for Clapperboard are Mike Benson and lead writer Paul Matthew Thompson. Sandra MacIver is producing, and Gordon Anderson is directing.

Channel 5 has shown a number of cruise shows, not least the popular Cruising with Jane McDonald. Strange they then use the term HMS when cruise ships are all MS and the remaining single liner at see the RMS Queen Mary II is the only RMS. They have underestimated the proud knowledge of ship lovers and cruisers with the Carry On term.

Paul Testar said: “I’m really happy to work once more with the talented team at Clapperboard Studios to bring HMS Murder to screens. With a variety of gloriously sunny locations added to the classic murder mystery genre, and with a splash of music on top, Channel 5 viewers are in for a treat.”

Clapperboard Managing Director Mike Benson added: “We’ve seen a lot of murder mystery shows in recent years – but not many featuring murder, mystery and a cruise ship cabaret singer solving crimes. HMS Murder is probably our most ambitious series to date, filmed across 8 different countries as well as a 6000 cabin luxury cruise liner sailing the med.”

Prentis Fraser, EVP of Television Distribution at Endeavor Content said: “As soon as we heard this pitch we were completely on board – this series is a genius combination of elements, a Murder She Wrote meets Below Deck with the p

erfect mix of glamour, charm and intrigue taking place in an abundance of gorgeous, glossy locations. With the accessibility of a procedural and a playlist of iconic tracks, HMS Murder is ideally designed to be a fan favourite returnable series.”

See the CSCI Cruise Ship Crime Investigators page here on Amazon.

Cruise Crime series Amazon page

and here on this website. We also list the other cruise authors.

See all the books here