A Little Bit Of Ship Banter: A Mid Ship Cinema Podcast

The companion to our YouTube video!

Head to the Society Islands on board ‪@pgcruises‬ MV PAUL GAUGUIN, a ship that was designed specifically to sail in French Polynesia. Peter Knego takes you on a typical seven night itinerary with footage shot in 2013 before the ship was acquired by French luxury and expedition cruise line Ponant. Also, attend the world premiere of Peter Greenberg's latest travel documentary, "Hidden Tahiti" at the Director's Guild in Los Angeles, where Peter Knego was able to capture an exclusive interview with Emmy-winning travel journalist Peter Greenberg. Greenberg has visited French Polynesia some 30 times since 1981 and he shares his insights about this enchanted place and the making of the documentary. #paulgauguincruises #ponant #paulgauguincruiseship #petergreenberg #hiddentahiti #tahititourisme

Follow our journey:

Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: ⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

Season One Finale!

In our tenth and final episode of Season One, Peter Knego and Dan Trachtenberg talk modern day Cunard while Knego compares two recent Alaska trips on Cunard's QUEEN ELIZABETH and Oceania Cruises RIVIERA.  A crossing in the beautiful 1959-built ferry COHO from Victoria to Port Angeles is also illustrated and there are shouts out to some very big and familiar names in YouTube land.  #cunardline #cunardqueenelizabeth #oceaniacruises #oceaniariviera #blackballferryline #cohoferry #blackballline

Follow our journey:

Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: ⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

The audio companion to our YouTube!

Peter Knego has just returned from a seven night cruise aboard Cunard's QUEEN ELIZABETH and provides a detailed top to bottom tour of all the ship's passenger areas. Despite the impressive hardware, there were some shortcomings and issues.

As Peter writes:

As an ocean liner lover and someone who loves sea travel, I've never been able to fully buy into the modern day Cunard mystique. Yes, back in those postwar years with ships like the first MARY and ELIZABETH, CARONIA, BRITANNIC, MEDIA, PARTHIA, MAURETANIA II, and the four SAXes, it was quite a fleet and going first class must have been an extraordinary experience. But from my first and vastly disappointing visit to a beat up looking QE2 in the mid-70s to my first three night cruise on board the absolutely miserable CUNARD PRINCESS, I've found the legend and reality of Cunard completely separate things. Yes, I did grow to like QE2 over the years and I do think the QM2 is a very special ship. I even like the VICTORIA and ELIZABETH for their smart design and in the ELIZABETH's case, some of her faux Deco trappings. But the food and service are subpar and the nickel and diming is inappropriate, although not surprising. I think in this video, I may burst a few bubbles but I can't rave about hardware without making observations about the experience, itself. So, if you are a diehard Cunard fan, and I know many of you, buckle up. In the meantime, I'll stick with smaller lines like Atlas Ocean Voyages, Windstar Cruises, Oceania Cruises and, probably my fave these days, Viking (Ocean). Even budget UK line Ambassador Cruise Line provided a much more enjoyable experience and in a classic ship, to boot.

Also on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YaXtrlskAE&t=1190s

Follow our journey:

Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

The audio companion to our YouTube video!

I captured Mark Zuckerberg's shiny mega yacht LAUNCHPAD in Ketchikan last month from the MV RIVIERA. I was going to eventually post a short video about her and then today, received the news that the $300 million vessel refused a call for assistance from a stranded skiff, despite being the closest vessel. Fortunately, UnCruises' WILDERNESS LEGACY was also nearby to take the skiff under tow to a safe anchorage where it was given the necessary fuel to continue its journey. Not a good look for our Meta guy if this is the case but great for UnCruise, one of my favorite small ship cruise lines and the very best way to see Alaska. #uncruise #metayacht #launchpadyacht

Also on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTQpSf2jIoU

Follow our journey:

Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

The audio companion to our YouTube video!

To be fair and honest, I am not one of those ocean liner sycophants who has only praise and love for the SS NORWAY. While I did love many things about her that are covered in the companion video, "The 13 Things I Loved About the SS NORWAY", she was a highly flawed ship that was increasingly downgraded as time marched on. NCL was cutting corners to keep her operating and doing anything they could to reap a return on the investment of having her in their fleet. After that hideous addition of two decks at Bremerhaven in 1990, the few remaining vestiges of her glorious SS FRANCE days were gradually being replaced with revenue-generating spaces. This video discusses those changes and more.

Also on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6-D88Q355k

Follow our journey:

Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

Audio companion to the video on the MidShip Cinema YouTube channel!

Peter Knego digs through many hours of original archival footage he took of the S.S. NORWAY (ex FRANCE) in the late 90s through 2000 to present this countdown of the thirteen things he loved about this historic and much lamented ship. Fans of the NORWAY, please chime in with your comments about what you liked most.  #ssnorway #oceanliner #norwegiancruiseline #ssfrance

Watch the full video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/gpN8RSeJpfg?is=WTRYYGoklAiZspx4

Follow us on all our socials and YouTube!

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠

In this edition of A Little Bit of Ship Banter, co-hosts Peter Knego and Dan Trachtenberg provide an essential update on some of the world's most beloved classic vessels.

Our focus this episode includes:

 NS Savannah: An in-depth look at the current efforts to preserve this historic icon in Baltimore.

 SS United States: The latest updates regarding her current reefing status.

 Retrospectives & News: We reflect on the SS Blue Lady at Alang (2006), the uncertain future of the MV Funchal, the latest on the MV Birger Jarl (Baltic Star), and more.

Community Question: What is your most memorable cruise ship dining experience—for better or worse? Let us know in the comments below!

Follow our journey:

Find all our socials and watch us on YouTube: https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury

In this eight "A Little Bit Of Ship Banter" podcast with hosts Peter Knego and Dan Trachtenberg, those pesky YouTube algorithms are at the forefront as the two banter and yes, kvetch, about the frustrations and rewards of hosting a channel devoted to ocean liners and cruise ships in a realm inundated with influencers and AI.  Also discussed are the latest scenarios for the SS UNITED STATES, the NS SAVANNAH, the steamboat DELTA QUEEN, the preserved SS ROTTERDAM and much more, along with a tribute to the living legend of ocean liner historians, Bill Miller.  No holds barred, no "iconic" (except in one rare circumstance where the world actually means something) and no pandering of any kind...  #americantreasure #cruiseship #ssunitedstates #ssrotterdam #deltaqueen #billmiller #mroceanliner #johnmaxtonegraham #frankbraynard

Follow us on all our socials and YouTube!

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠

The audio companion to our YouTube video!

Peter Knego has returned from a three night stay on board the SS ROTTERDAM with some good and some concerning news. In this 60 minute video, Knego's history with this favorite ship is documented in photos and video, from the first time he saw the SS ROTTERDAM (in 1975) to the ship's final cruise in 1997, which Knego experienced. Knego also interviews Klaas Krijnen of the S.S Rotterdam Foundation about the ship's current status and why it is such an important part of Dutch maritime heritage and culture. The final 20 minutes shows all pertinent details of the ship as she is today with an emphasis on her art and "New Dutch" design. #ssrotterdam #rotterdam #hollandamericaline #oceanliner

Also on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUOLTylKa5U&t=1719s

Follow us on all our socials and YouTube!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠⁠

The audio companion to our YouTube video!

Peter Knego spent a few hours on board Princess Cruises new 178,000 gross ton, 4,300 guest "Sphere Class" STAR PRINCESS during the ship's maiden call at Los Angeles. He had enough time to capture many of the ship's impressive deck areas as well as some disappointingly bland and generic interior spaces and capped it off with an epicurean dining experience in the acclaimed Makoto Ocean, all shared in this ten minute video. Curated by chef Makkoto Okuwa, Makoto Ocean is an exclusive to the Sphere Class SUN and STAR PRINCESS and the Japan-based DIAMOND and SAPPHIRE PRINCESS with a menu of Edome style sushi featuring tangy and spicy sauces. Music licensed from Artlist: "Go With The Flow" by Zac Nelson, "Elastic Vibe" by Ziv Moran, "In My Eyes" by Sailing Ship, "In Pulse" by Asaf Ayalon and "Away Again" by Campagna.#makotoocean #starprincess #sphereclassship #princesscruises #bigships #edomesushi #megacruiseship

Also on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noMdc6bDZMs

Follow us on all our socials and YouTube!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠⁠