Back to NYC via Sea – 9 July 2026

This is the last day of the cruise and we are at sea. A wonderful way to spend the last day. Packing, lectures, reading, and eating!

Mr. Cruise Ship – Bill Miller – led another lecture about the cruise ships of different countries since the early 1900. Interesting how everyone was building them and competing on size, style, and amenities. Some interesting factoids: SS United States was the fastest ocean liner ever built. It could cross the Atlantic Ocean in 3 days between NY and Southhampton. Early cruise ships did not have air conditioning! Famous people were recruited by the cruise lines to help sell their cruises. Mae West would cross and pay nothing in tips except give a photograph of herself one way and sign it on the return. Many of the European cruise ships were taken over by the USA after WW2 and used to transport troops home. Some were given back and some were turned into cruise ships.

Another lecture was about the NY skyline and the various skyscrapers built over time. The term skyscraper became used as it is the name of the tallest sail on the center mast of a sailing ship. People began referring to the new tall buildings as sky-scrapers and it stuck. Jason Barr led the lecture and also wrote a book about the skyscrapers of NY. He is a professor of economics at Rutgers University. Book title is Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers.

Shirley and I enjoyed one more “cheers” last night to this incredible cruise as we arrive back home in the USA!🇺🇸♥️