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Read the text and say why the captain of the Prinzessin Victoria Luise killed himself.

The cruise ship idea came from Albert Ballin, a German businessman. In 1900, he constructed the world’s first cruise ship and named her after the daughter of the last German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II. The ship was launched on June 29, 1900 and christened Prinzessin Victoria Luise. With cruises targeted toward wealthy travellers, the Victoria Luise was designed to look more like a private yacht than any of her commercial counterparts. She was painted all white with two masts and had a rounded stern and a richly decorated bow ending in a figurehead of the German princess. Onboard, she also did not look like other commercial vessels of the time. She contained 120 cabins, all first class. There was also a library, a gymnasium, and a darkroom for the development of film by amateur photographers.

She was a revolutionary ship for the times but her career was short lived. Almost five years after her debut, her illustrious career came to an end while on a West Indian cruise. On the night of December 16, 1906, the ship departed Kingston when her commander Captain Brunswig mistook the lighthouse at Plumb Point for that at the westernmost point of Port Royal. Heading north at 14 knots, the ship hit and climbed onto the rocks bow first. In an attempt to dislodge the ship, the engines were put full astern to no avail. The crew quickly calmed panicked passengers who were safely disembarked the following morning. The captain remained on the vessel after the evacuation, retreated to his cabin, and shot himself. A German Admiralty court found him negligent.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.

2. Find the English equivalents in the text for the following:

спускать (судно) на воду; безуспешно; давать полный назад; обвинять в халатности; давать имя при крещении; носовое украшение корабля; закругленная корма; возвращаться в каюту; ударяться килем о скалы; аналогичные суда коммерческого характера.

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3. Make a virtual journey through time to the year 1906. Tell the story on behalf of a solo traveller aboard the Prinzessin Victoria Luise who witnessed the shipwreck of December 16.

1. Read and name the main competitors of the ferry operators in Great Britain.

The busiest seaway in the world, the English Channel, connects Great Britain and mainland Europe sailing mainly to French ports, such as Calais, Boulogne, Dunkerque, Dieppe, Cherbourg-Octeville, Caen, St Malo and Le Havre. The fastest crossings go from Dover in southeast England to Calais in Nord Pas de Calais region, taking 90 minutes. This is the most popular route with hundreds of sailings every 24 hours and operating 365 days a year. Ferries are operated by P&O Ferries. P&O now has a new ship, Spirit of Britain, launched in January 2011, the biggest ferry ever to cross the Dover Strait. It is the best to sail on, with new facilities and greater comfort. Ferries from Great Britain also sail to Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Ireland.

When the Channel Tunnel opened in 1993, it was expected that ferry services across the Channel would be threatened. The tunnel did take about 50 per cent of the market, but passenger ferries have also been severely hit by low-cost airlines offering cheap fares to Europe. It is often cheaper to fly and drive rather than take your own car. The number of passengers has declined considerably. However, the ferry companies work hard to remain competitive on price and many passengers prefer the sea trip to the tunnel. The Channel Tunnel and low-cost flights are not the only competition faced by the ferry operators, there are also high-speed catamarans operated by newcomer Speed Ferries, which is offering low fares to attract customers.

2.Participate in the group discussion. The topic is whether the Channel Tunnel encourages more tourists to come to the UK or more UK tourists to go abroad. Search the Internet for the necessary information. Consider the points below.

1)Statistics for use of the tunnel (Eurostar and the Shuttle)

2)Whether the tunnel creates new business

3)Competition with air and sea routes

4)Services and facilities built up around the terminals

3.The UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. There are over 700 ports, harbours, jetties and piers around the coastline of the UK. Look at the names of the main ferry ports in the UK and practice their reading. Check the ports on the map and make sure you know the location and the country.

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SECTION 2

Cruising is one of the most luxurious ways to enjoy a vacation. Although the importance of sea travel for passengers has decreased due to aviation, it is effective for short trips and pleasure cruises and cheaper. In pairs, discuss other advantages of travelling by sea.

Read descriptions 1–4 of the four main types of accommodations on most cruise ships. Then, decide which types of cabins would be most suitable for passengers a–e below.

1)Inside/interior cabins are cruise ship staterooms that do not have portholes. These generally include two twin beds that can convert into queen-size, a private bathroom, a vanity area, a closed circuit TV, a radio and a telephone. These cabins are more economically priced and are often best suited for сruisers on a budget, night owls who plan to spend very little time in their cabin or parents purchasing a separate cabin for their older, unsupervised children. Since inside cabins do not have portholes, it is difficult to tell the time of day or the current weather conditions without leaving the cabin and going up on deck.

2)Oceanview/outside cabins are also called outside cabins because passengers in these staterooms can look ‘outside’. These staterooms offer the same amenities as an inside cabin except the cabins are often larger and include portholes, standard size windows or floor to ceiling windows with a view of the ocean or current port of call.

3)Standard oceanview cabins with balconies offer all of the same amenities as oceanview staterooms but with the benefit of a floor to ceiling glass door out to your own private verandah overlooking the ocean or current port of call. Private balconies are a great way to escape the crowds. You can enjoy the same view from your own deck chair while having a cup of coffee. They are generally the same size as an oceanview stateroom but with additional square feet or more of verandah space which includes a couple of deck chairs and a small table perfect for morning coffee.

4)Suites and mini-suites are the most spacious and elegant staterooms on a cruise ship. Depending on the suite category and on your cruise ship, suites can vary in size from 200 square feet to over 1,500 square feet depending on the ship. Not only do they include the basic amenities of balcony cabins, they can also include large sitting areas, a walk in closets, and bathrooms with double sinks whirlpool tubs. Some cruise lines offer special benefits to suite passengers such as preferred check-in and disembarkation, concierge service, in-room hors d’oeuvres nightly, in-room massages, and even butler service.

a)a newly married couple on their honeymoon

b)a family with two children of fourteen and fifteen

c)an unmarried man of twenty-seven who enjoys partying and loud companies

d)a wealthy businessman tired of work and willing to have a luxurious journey with his girlfriend

e)an elderly couple who were presented with a round-the-world cruise by their children

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COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. Some things are more or less the same in cruise ships and hotels, but are given different names. Match the items on the left (hotels) with their nearest equivalents on the right (cruise ships).

2. A sea cruise can be a vacation of a lifetime, and it could be one of those vacations that you talk about for the rest of your life. Search the Internet and create a voyage of your dream.

1. A cruise vessel is a hybrid between a ship and a five star hotel, therefore in general the cruise ship personnel is divided into two main categories:

1)Marine Operations Division – officers and crew who are directly responsible for sailing and operating the cruise ship;

2)Hotel and Guest Services Operations Division – crew and staff members who directly or indirectly service and entertain passengers.

Match the crew members with their responsibilities and then refer them to either Marine Operations Division, or Hotel and Guest Services Operations Division.

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2. Read and translate the advertisement for a job on a cruise ship.

The famous cruise line Celebrity Cruises is looking for inspired global professionals who believe in success through commitment and pride to join our expanding family. As an industry leader in service and innovation, we provide a working environment that fosters career growth and development for our onboard team members. With a fleet of innovative cruise ships, each offering guests a premium vacation experience, there are almost countless opportunities to join us at sea.

Join our team today as Shore Excursions Manager. This position has an exciting responsibility to manage our onboard Shore Excursions Programme and deliver excellent guest service, while maintaining established quality goals. The successful candidate is going to:

1)take responsibility for the operation of the shipboard Shore Excursion programme;

2)prepare tour information sheet;

3)provide and deliver tour talk to audience;

4)maintain tour sales budgeted figures;

5)meet with Tour Operators in the ports;

6)inspect new excursions in ports, and monitor tours on a rotating basis in order to constantly review quality control.

3.You decide to apply for the position advertised in exercise 2 above. Your goal as an applicant is to stand out and get noticed among the thousands of other applicants. Visit the website http://www.celebritycruises.com/, find the cruise you like and prepare your shore excursion programme to present to the prospective employer at the interview.

4.Would you like to work as a massage therapist, beauty therapist, acupuncturist, nail technician, personal trainer, barber, hair stylist or receptionist? Steiner Leisure is a leading operator of spas onboard luxury cruise ships, recruiting more than 2000 spa, salon and fitness professionals. Fill out the form below to apply for a position. For more details about how to apply, visit the website of the Steiner Leisure http://www.onespaworld.com/page/Global- Recruitment-Interview-Dates.aspx.

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Read the text about safety measures on cruise ships. Are there any tips you did not mention in the previous exercise?

Statistically, cruise ships are safer than hotels and resorts when it comes to fires and violent crime. However, it is in your best interest not to abandon common sense just because you board a cruise ship for a wonderful vacation. For example, do not leave valuables lying around in your cabin, put them in the cabin’s safe or the purser’s safe. Be sure to use all the locks on the door when you are asleep. Protect your cabin key and cabin number. Do not invite strangers into your room. Do not go into areas marked ‘No access’. Do not get drunk and sit on the railing.

Take your common sense with you when you go ashore. Reading up on local customs and dangers before you go is always a good idea. Do not dress flamboyantly, wear expensive jewelry or flash wads of money around. It is best to wear an under-the-clothing money belt but, if you must take a purse, be sure you can wear it with the strap across your body. Men, if you must carry a wallet, keep it in a front pocket and put a little money in each pocket. Beware of that handsome stranger offering to change your money at a better than market rate. It is most likely a scam! Watch out for groups of kids who are often well-organised gangs of pickpockets. One will distract you while another strips you of your belongings.

Before you leave home, make a few copies of your passport, driver’s license, credit cards and travel documents such as airline tickets and leave a set with a trusted friend or family member at home. Be sure to have a copy of the credit card company’s contact number inthe case of lost or stolen cards. Pack the copies in a different place than you have the original documents. Leave the copies in a safe place on your ship and take a copy of your passport ID page with you when you go ashore. Cruise lines exist to provide a safe, relaxing and enjoyable vacation experience for the cruise passenger. With a little common sense and vigilance, anyone should be able to have a safe cruise vacation.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. Match the words on the left with their equivalents on the right.

2. Find the English equivalents in the text for the following:

комплект туристических документов; сходить на берег; страница паспорта с личными данными; банда карманников; водительское удостоверение; сидеть на перилах; украсть чьи-либо принадлежности; терять рассудок; здравый смысл; обменивать валюту по более выгодному курсу, чем рыночный.

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1. Communication at sea is the essential part for the effective and safe running of the ship. It takes place within the ship herself, between the ship and shore stations, between the ship and other ships and sometimes between the ship and aircraft. All the mariners need to be sure that their speech communications are as precise, simple and unambiguous as possible. Read and learn the phonetic alphabet used to avoid communication errors.

2. Emergency situations at sea can be categorised as distress (бедствие), urgency (срочность) and safety (безопасность).There are special signals used by mariners for each of the emergencies. Study the signals and their descriptions.

3.Identify the signals in exercise 2 with the emergencies below.

1)Sighted unlightened derelict vesseladrift. Keep sharp lookout!

2)Main engine breakdown. Not under command. Require towing!

3)The engine room is on fire. Require immediate assistance!

4)There is a slick of oil in position. Navigate with caution!

5)The ship is sinking. Require rescue lifeboat!

6)A man lost overboard. Help with search and rescue immediately!

7)The tanks with dangerous cargo are on fire. Require immediate fire-fighting assistance!

8)There is a dangerous rock in position. Navigate with caution!

9)A man injured on board. Require medical assistance!

10)There is a dangerous shoal in position. Keep sharp lookout!

SECTION 4

In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1) How safe is a cruise vacation travel?

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2)Have you ever been in an emergency at sea or have you heard of any? Share it with the group.

3)What are the measures appropriate to your own survival and to the survival of others at sea?

Read the text and fill in gaps 1-6 with sentences a-f below the text.

The Costa Concordia, a luxury cruise ship, ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, gashing open the hull and forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate on lifeboats to a nearby island, Isola del Giglio, January 13, 2012. The cruise ship left Civitavecchia port near Rome for a Mediterranean cruise early Friday. The passengers were eating dinner when they heard a loud noise at about 8 PM. 1) … . The ship lost its power and it started to list on its right. A voice from the ship’s messaging system told the passenger to calm and that the ship experienced electrical failure. 2) … . Many people jumped into the water while others made a chaotic rush to board lifeboats as the ship continued to list to starboard and take on water. 3) … . From the recording of the ‘black box’, it was revealed that the ship captain, Francesco Schettino, ignored the order of the port official to supervise the rescue. 4) … . The captain was arrested by the Italian police on charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the vessel. Authorities launched an investigation of the cause of the disaster and alleged that he had navigated the ship too close to the island. The ship captain invited the boss of the ship’s restaurant, Antonello Tievoli, into the bridge and told: “Come and look. We’re passing your Giglio”. 5) … . Tievoli’s sister, Patrizia, posted a Facebook message few minutes before the accident, saying that the Concordia would pass really close, which was a big hello from her brother.

Seventeen people are known dead, including 15 passengers and two crewmen; 64 others were injured, 16 are missing. 6) … . The Costa Concordia entered service for Costa Cruises in July 2006 as the largest ship built in Italy at the time. By tonnage, it is the largest passenger ship to sink.

a)But passengers interviewed by Italian television said they quickly understood that the problem was not merely electrical.

b)That was like a noise when dragging large metal.

c)Three people trapped below deck were rescued in the days after the incident.

d)It was confirmed by the parents of Tievoli saying that their son called them and told them that the Concordia would be passing.

e)Many were able to make it to the rocky shore of the island, where residents helped them and took them to nearby hotels and homes.

f)Passengers complained that initial emergency actions on the part of the crew were woefully inadequate and that crew members appeared to be unprepared to help passengers to safety.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. Match the words and word combinations on the left with their equivalents on the right.

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