Before, “Apocolypto”, came out I decided not to see it after hearing Mr. Gibson’s drunken, anti-Semitic remarks. I then learned that the first cruise of my next contract was to the Mexican Riviera. Normally, when sailing in Mexico, I like to share my academic past and often present a lecture entitled, “Land of the Maya.” Knowing I planned once again to give this very talk, I wondered how it would be received vis a vis, “Apocolypto.” Would guests who had seen the movie feel diffently about the Maya? Would they walk off the ship in Mexico, Belize or Guatemala with a negative impression of the ancient people that built the great cities of Tikal, Copan, or Chichen Itza?

One of my pet peeves is when people criticize movies they’ve never seen; therefore I decided I needed to go see it. I bit the bullet and contributed my $8. I read the reviews and knew that the movie was excessively bloody and gory. But I also knew the context and belief system behind many of the things potentially depicted so I was forgiving - an attempt at cultural understanding I later found sorely lacking in the movie.

I found the movie silly - without a plot. Prior to going to the theater I visited the movie’s official website that showed a time line of the decline of the “Classic Maya” - 250 AD - 950 AD. I assumed the movie was going to follow that time line which would have made it very poignant as many of the socio-environmental factors that contributed to the decline of the Classic Maya are relevant today. Unfortunately, it was not the same time line. The movie takes place at a time when Spanish ships were off the coast - circa 1519 AD which is the “Post-Classic” period. I am sure that “real scholars” went crazy as Gibson threw whatever “gruesome” practices he could find from any meso-american culture together under the banner of “Maya.” If indeed this was to have taken place at the time of contact it was laughable to see Gibson’s rendition of a post-classic city-state. I waited until the very end to read the credits, and unless I missed something, I did not see any anthropologist or archaeologist as a historical consultant. So, who could take it seriously, right?

Wrong! No doubt many people will. They will believe that what they saw was well-documented and truthful. Instead of showing the decline of a great civilization caused by population pressure that produced environmental failure which caused militarism and social collapse - we just see innocent villagers pursued by wanton, bloody killers for no apparent reason. It will be interesting to see what kinds of questions will now be asked as visitors explore what is left of the beautiful cities built by the Maya, as well as what kinds of repercussions there will be within Mexican and Guatemalan communities who still consider themselves Maya. It’s a shame no mention was made of the incomparable Maya achievements in astronomy, the calendrical system, mathematics, writing, art, and architecture. As an agricultural society citizens watched the heavens, astronomers calculates when to plant and sow and could easily anticipate things like Gibson’s spooky eclipse.
It has always been my dream to make a movie that would reconstruct an ancient civilization… had I the money and resources I would love to do it … but I’d be sure to hire someone to get my facts straight…. for the integrity of the movie as well as the subject. Since that was not the case with this film, my only hope is that people remember, “it’s just a movie.” Before visiting a Maya site, may I suggest, “The Maya,” by Dr. Michael Coe.

This summer Amazon.com started to carry, “The Cruiser Friendly Onboard Guide to Alaska’s Inside Passage.” Slowly but surely we have sold books and are moving-up in the rankings. After so many years working on ship where it is severly discouraged that staff solicit comments from guests - I need to make an exception. If you have read, “The Cruiser Friendly Onboard Guide to Alaska’s Inside Passage,” and found it to contain information that was valuable or helpful in the enjoyment of your Alaskan cruise, I would sincerely like you to document that feedback on their site.

As most of you know I wrote the book during a short three month break and self-published. It has yet to be submitted to a professional editor or designer, so it is far from perfect. However, the fact of the matter is it DOES contain good information that you are not going to get anywhere else, in any other cruise guide. Becasue of my many years of onboard experience I write about what you tell me you want to know. This really is YOUR book!

In the future I hope to find a literary agent and publisher who will help me take this concept and make it into a successful series. Until then, I need your help to put Terry Breen and “Cruiser Friendly Guides” on the charts! Thank you!

Ever fantasize about getting away for the Holidays? What would happen if just once you didn’t make the requisite turkey; didn’t wrap the mounds of presents but rather escaped to the sundrenched decks of a sexy, white cruise ship gliding through turquoise blue waters where your only obligation was… nothing! Though many people cannot fathom the holidays away from their homes and traditions, increasingly more people are packing up the entire family and heading off to sea. The holidays can be too much for those with busy schedules and the demands of a stressful life. The idea of letting someone else make the turkey while you enjoy the amenities of a world-class ship gives a whole new meaning to “gift.”

But what if you don’t want to forsake everything of the holidays; will you still find the spirit of Christmas or the solemnity of Hanukkah onboard the ship? Yes. Every cruise line in its own way recognizes and respects the religious observances and traditions associated with this special time of year. The usual interior decor of the ship is transformed with garlands and trees. You will find holiday standards like turkey and ham on the restaurant menu. In addition to these comforts of home, clergy are onboard to provide spiritual support. During Hanukkah, a rabbi conducts services as the candles of the menorah are light and for Christmas a catholic priest and Protestant minister are available. As the ship is also the home to hundreds of crew members celebrating the holidays far away from their loved ones, traditionally the evening’s entertainment on Christmas Eve is a special presentation by the crew.

For those who love a good New Year’s party - what better place to ring in the new year than a cruise ship. If you never get a chance to put on that tuxedo - New Year’s at sea will be a formal affair. Dancing ’til the wee hours of the morning no need to worry about driving home - you are just a few safe steps away from your suite.

Every effort is made to balance the needs of all guests onboard from those who wish to celebrate the season to others who desire nothing more than to get away. Next time consider cruising for the Holidays!

With the given rise in popularitry of day-spa services and walk-in cosmetic procedures, more spas at sea are considering doing the same. In addition to the usual offering of fitness programs, hair styling, esthetician services including manicure and pedicure, and massage; spas at sea are experimenting with everything from teeth whitening to acupuncture; and yes, some are considering the necessary licensing for using products like Botox! To support those who have come to lose weight and firm-up, some cruise lines employ registered nutritionists to educate and help guests develop healthful eating habits. The importance of the “mind/body” connection is acknowledged with classes in yoga and meditation. Rumors continue to abound that one day a “spa ship” will be built! State-of-the-art facilities would provide a healthy getaway onboard while cruising through some of the most beautiful areas of the world. For others, like people wishing to recover from cosmetic surgery in a supportive and annoymous atmosphere, the ship in cooperation with land-based medical clinics, would staff doctors and nurses to insure proper healing. Traditional entertainment and venues would still be available for those spouses and partners not participating in a spa program. There is demand… who knows? Sounds good to me! (I wonder if they’ll need lecturers???)

For those who enjoyed Captain Jean-Marie Guillou onboard the Seven Seas Mariner and were saddened at the thought of never being able to sail with him again - great news! - he has NOT retired. Rather he has now taken over as Master of Oceania Cruise Lines’ ship the Insignia. Research on Oceania Cruise Lines shows they recently received rave reviews by Conde-Nast and are also planning expansion. So, congratulations and all the very best to the much loved Captain Guillou!