Cruise Memories and Maritime History with Silversea and Cunard

Carla C docked at St. Thomas in April 1983. From the William H. Miller Collection. — *Carla C* docked at St. Thomas in April 1983. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Friendly chat over drinks with Capt. Luigi Rutigliano, Master of Silver Shadow

Capt. Luigi Rutigliano, Master of *Silver Shadow*. Photo courtesy of William H. Miller.

A native of Genoa, he began with Italy’s historic Lloyd Triestino (but on their freighters) and then fifteen years with Costa Cruises (his first ship was the Eugenio Costa and then Carla Costa, Enrico Costa, Costa Riviera, Daphne, Costa Romantica & Costa Victoria) before joining Monte Carlo-based Silversea. He noted, “Captains are no longer captains as in bygone days, but more like business managers. Navigating the ship is now much more of a team effort. It is all very different!”

The veteran *Carla Costa* (the former *Flandre)* was one of the Captain Luigi Rutigliano’s earlier ships. From the William H. Miller Collection.

That evening: Oscar, the Turkish-born Hotel Director, told me he first went to sea exactly 30 years ago. He noted with pride: “I was a dishwasher on the Rhapsody of the Seas and now I am hotel director on the Silver Shadow, one of the most luxurious ships in the world.”

Glorious History!

Cunard announced that on May 27, the company will showcase stories from guests worldwide as part of its new Sea of Glamour exhibition (staged first in Liverpool), which celebrates its 185^th anniversary. The exhibition will be curated by British photographer and filmmaker Mary McCartney (and yes, the daughter of Sir Paul) and feature 185 images sourced from the Cunard archives and a collection of guest pictures submitted by guests worldwide.

The addition of the top deck, wheelhouse and bridge, at the John Brown shipyard, Clydebank, Scotland, in 1968. Photo credit: Cunard Line. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Spaghetti!

Now from Sarasota in Florida, Vincent grew-up in Jersey City.

He told me: “Your lectures on Atlantic liners & crossing to Europe brought back nice memories. When I was fourteen, in 1959, my father took us to his native Italy, to Bari. We sailed over on the Italian Line, on the Augustus, and returned, in late August, on the Cristoforo Colombo. It was fun – even if I really wanted to remain home in Jersey City and with my friends.”

Augustus dock at Genoa, Italy. From the William H. Miller Collection. — *Augustus* dock at Genoa, Italy. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Vincent added, “We sailed down in tourist class and where there were other Italian-Americans going home for family visits. It was the ‘old country’ as some called it. Other teenagers joined together, played games and spent time in & around the ship’s pool.

“I also remember there were about two dozen nuns on board and accompanied by three or four priests and all of them going to Rome, to the Vatican. The nuns were very quiet, always together and I remember seeing them in the corner of an otherwise empty lounge. Together, they were deep in prayer.

“On the homeward trip, on the Colombo, there were lots of Italians moving to the States, to a new life. Some of them came from villages, small villages, and were unused to travel on a big ocean liner. I also remember that every day I had spaghetti for lunch and for dinner.”