Randall Shirley

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Randall Shirley 1:07 pm on January 14, 2012 Permalink | Reply
Cruise ship safety, and other travel safety

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Photos: Courtesy of AP

The grounding and capsizing of the Costa Concordia yesterday seems almost unbelievable. But it’s a strong reminder that when we cruise, we’re still on a big machine that floats, in the ocean.

No matter how much we gays travel—be it cruising, hotels, flying—it’s crucial that we pay attention to safety.

I generally do the following, but after yesterday’s disaster am recommitted to do at least these things when I travel. I encourage you to do the same.

On a ship
- During my FIRST visit to my stateroom, study the safety materials in the room.
- Learn the exit routes, as posted in the cabin. Go look at those routes.
- Consider alternate routes for how I would get off the ship if it were dark, or if the ship were listing to one side.
- Discuss an evacuation plan with my partner or other traveling companions.
- Pay close attention to the muster drill.
- Really learn to use the life vest.
On a plane
- Pay attention to the safety briefing.
- Actually look at where the nearest exit is, and count the number of seating rows between me and that exit, because in a smoky or darkened plane you might have to actually find the exit by feel.
In a hotel
- Learn the exit routes.
- In a foreign country, check to make sure the exit routes are not blocked, or worse, locked. It’s unlikely, but not unheard of. Ant it wouldn’t hurt to check on exits even in North America and Europe–just so you know the way and have a plan.
- Keep appropriate clothing ready in case of evacuation—shoes, pants, and shirt/coat near the door.
These are simple things, but in a world where we take travel safety for granted, yesterday’s Costa Cruises disaster serves as an excellent reminder of how wrong things can go.
Marvin Perton, Bill McFarlane, and Chris are discussing. Toggle Comments
- Chris 6:23 pm on January 15, 2012 Permalink | Reply
  
  I’ve been wondering if those of you who have Cruised with Costa perceive that line as being lax on safety. It would seem that emergency training of the crew (and passengers!) would be a first priority.
  Again, what has been your experience on Costa.
- Bill McFarlane 1:53 pm on January 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply
  
  Great Information Thanks Randall. On a cruise ship we also discuss evacuation routes from areas OTHER than our stateroom…for example how would you quickly get to the boat deck from a higher deck like the Lido restaurant. Evacuating a cruise ship must be very difficult and potentially frightening for people using wheel chairs or coping with physical challenges.
- Marvin Perton 7:35 am on January 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply
  
  Thanks for your safety tips, Randall. A friend suggest3ed another tip: PACK A SMALL FLASHLIGHT!
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Randall Shirley 8:43 am on January 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Azamara ( 2 ), Crew, Montenegro, Quest

Reflecting on Azamara: Our own Captain Stubing & Julie McCoy

My partner and I recently cruised in the Mediterranean onboard the Quest of Azamara Club Cruises. The gay-friendly experience raised the cruising bar for us, and if I had to pick a single reason why, I’d pinpoint the captain.

Captain Carl Smith of the Azmara Quest gives instructions before welcome about 100 passengers to join him for a hike in Kotor, Montenegro. The most-amazing cruise ship captain I've ever met. © Randall Shirley

Whoa…the captain? Yes, you read that right. On all my previous cruises, I have never encountered a memorable captain. They’ve all seemed like guys who put up with the time they had to spend greeting the passengers.

Not the captain of the Quest. Carl Smith is a fascinating guy—he’s British, and young, and he loves, loves his job. That showed in everything about the experienced we had on the Quest. I never asked his age, but he can’t be a day over 40. He is incredibly friendly. And during his daily noontime briefings and other encounters around the ship, it’s abundantly clear that he loves being on board a ship and being at sea—and the many things you can see and experience at sea and in port.

Two examples—one today, and one I’ll share in a future blog posting.

Number One. In Kotor, Montenegro, Smith actually guided a hike to St. John’s Fort, a magnificent spot some 4,000 steps above that gorgeous port town. Yes, the ship’s captain served as tour guide. The day prior he announced that in Kotor he and several of his officers would be doing the hike, and invited any passengers who so desired to join them for the hike—basically a “free” shore excursion! Denni and I jumped at the chance, and joined about 100 other passengers along with Captain Smith and many of the staff and crew of the ship. It was a blast!We all met on shore (first time I’ve ever seen a captain on shore), next to the ship, where Smith stood up on a platform and talked to everyone about the hike, letting us know it would be a strenuous hike. Strangely, many passengers decided to do the hike in sandals—big mistake (although most of them did make it to the top and back down). We all were required to sign waivers releasing Azamara from liability, and then we walked through the old city of Kotor, and past the gate to the stairs to the fort (Azamara covered the small entry fee for every one of us!).

Randall and Denni with the ship Azamara Quest from St. John's Fort trail, high above Kotor, Montenegro.

The hike was both strenuous and gorgeous. We could have done it on our own. But we had so much more fun doing it with the captain of our ship and having the chance to visit with him a bit—just like Love Boat passengers used to do with Captain Stubing. We also really enjoyed extra time to visit with Cruise Director Russ Grieve, who does an amazing job with the entertainment staff on board the ship, and by the end of the cruise had become a friend (just like Julie McCoy, Russ was even there as we debarked to bid us farewell).

As we all posed for a photo at the top of the hike, with the ship’s photographer shooting it. Of course, it was for sale back on board, a great memory available for those who were there.

While the Azamara Quest is a gorgeous ship, it is just a ship. Ultimately it is the staff and crew who bring any ship to life. Captain Carl Smith was truly key in making our Azamara trip amazing.

Obviously, Captain Smith isn’t on board every Azamara sailing. They do have another ship, the Azamara Journey, and even on the Quest, Smith rotates with another captain every few months. Staff members on the Questsaid that the other captains are all different, but that the experience of sailing on Azamara is outstanding and the service level remains extremely high.

The ship Azamara Quest from St. John's Fort trail, high above Kotor, Montenegro. © Randall Shirley

Next time: Captain Smith shows us an active volcano…where we didn’t know there was one!

*Note: as is customary in the professional travel writing industry, the author received complimentary travel on Azamara Club Cruises. The author strives to remain unbiased in his reviews. Please see our full disclosure statement here.
Randall Shirley 1:31 pm on December 30, 2011 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Alaska ( 2 ), Azamara ( 2 ), Holland America ( 7 ), Italy ( 2 ), Mexico ( 3 )
Old Year’s Cruise Gay Reflections

Holland America Oosterdam at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo: © Randall Shirley

Suddenly 2011 is at an end. It’s that strange time when I seem to be simultaneously full of reflection and full of dreams for the future. I’ll write about the future next week (which, as it happens, is the future…).

2011 was a great year for cruising—both for me and for many of my friends. I know from checking out your profiles that it was good for many MMOB friends who I haven’t met yet. My cruise memories include:
1. A ride on the Love Boat. Well, not really…but if I twist it enough ways I can say that Holland America is owned by Carnival Corp. which also owns Princess…so sailing Holland America on the Mexican Riviera (the classic Love Boat region) is sort of the same idea! The trip was last March on the Oosterdam*, and the best part, as with many cruises, was meeting new friends—including guys from MeetMeOnBoard.com. I’m proud to say that my partner and I had a MMOB success story—we e-met Jimmi and Kevinbefore our cruise, connected with them and became friends on board, and have been out to dinner with them since…when they came through Vancouver on (another) cruise. That’s what this site is really all about—connecting gay people who love to cruise. I’m proud to say it works.We met lots of other great gay guys and a few gals on that cruise. The ship was pleasant and lots of fun—and much credit for that goes to the inimitable Randall Powell, piano man extraordinaire! Randall made sure we had lots of great LGBT meet ups and that everyone got introduced. Unfortunately for cruisers, Randall is not on the ships anymore.
2. Azamara Quest in port, Kotor Montenegro. Photo: © Randall Shirley
  
  Raising the bar on cruising. They say once you’ve flown first class, it’s hard to return to coach. Well, I’ve now cruised at a new level—on the fabulous Azamara Quest. That trip has decidedly raised the bar. The level of service was beyond expectations, the food was beyond expectations, the ship was gorgeous, and best of all it only carries about 700 passengers for a more intimate experience. And those passengers seemed to be more sophisticated than many of the folks I meet aboard big, mass-market ships (not snobby, just interesting). I absolutely loved this trip.* This was also my first cruise outside of North America, and I enjoyed the Italian, Croatian, and Montenegran ports.The gay quotient on that trip was decidedly smaller—and the LGBT meet ups were sparsely attended. We did meet a few gay guys, and overall the ship seemed gay-friendly. A particular highlight was Denni and I slow dancing together, in the middle of all the straight folks. No one batted an eye!
3. Glaciers at Prince William Sound, Alaska (day cruise). Photo: © Randall Shirley
  
  A mini-cruise in Alaska. I should be ashamed of myself—I live in Vancouver but have never taken an Alaska cruise. I was lucky to go to Alaska on business last summer, and took a day cruise* to Prince William Sound. Seeing the glaciers there was awesome. There were lesbians on board, and it was a reminder that when you can’t get a full cruise “fix,” a mini-cruise can come to the rescue!
Happy Old Year, so long 2011…

*Note: as is customary in the professional travel writing industry, the author received complimentary travel on Holland America, Azamara, and Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises. The author strives to remain unbiased in his reviews. Please see our full disclosure statement here.
Jimmi is discussing. Toggle Comments
- Jimmi 5:21 pm on January 12, 2012 Permalink | Reply
  
  We had a great time and you know we will always look you up when in the Vancouver area! We had a great time, just wish we had more time to spend with you guys. There are always other cruises though…
Randall Shirley 2:18 pm on December 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
Tags: gay group cruise ( 8 ), hawaii ( 6 )

Shore time craziness — when the lights went out on Oahu.

What’s the strangest thing that’s happened to you on shore? For me, it was the lights going out on Oahu. Add to the conversation by commenting at the end of this posting.

Aloha cruisers.

Randall Shirley at Honolulu's Aloha Tower, cruise ships dock nearby. Photo: Kevin Spragg.

I’ve just returned from Hawaii. Unfortunately it wasn’t a cruise vacation, but while flying into both Honolulu and Lihue (Kauai) we could see cruise ships in the ports—a Carnival ship at Honolulu and NCL at Kauai.

Seeing the ships in these far-flung islands reminded me that occasionally there are gay group cruises that visit here—I organized one of them a few years ago (did you know you can organize a group cruise? Check out these tips on how to organize your own group cruise.

But it also reminded me of a wild experience that happened on shore during that gay group cruise. Our Honolulu port day had been fairly typical, some Waikiki gay beach time at Queens Surf Beach, some Honolulu gay bar time at Hula’s, and of course some shopping. Toward evening as my partner and I began heading back to Aloha Tower and the ship, all the lights went out in Honolulu—we watched in disbelief as neighborhood by neighborhood, the entire city went black. Traffic turned into a mess, so we walked the hour or so to the ship.

Of course, this was a huge news item worldwide—mostly because U.S. President Barack Obama was on the island at the time. Well, while his compound got it’s power back from generators (most of the island was powerless into the next day) at the cruise terminal of Aloha Tower, things were decidedly dark.

The cruise terminal on Oahu couldn’t board the ship because the lights and security equipment on the shore side were out. The ship itself was lights-ablaze, but 100s of passengers were stuck on the shore side, temporarily denied boarding. I’m sure safety was the biggest concern—security could be handled onboard the ship if needed.

Waikiki gay beach area, photo: Randall Shirley

It seemed to take forever (maybe an hour), but finally someone got really creative—the port workers found some flashlights, and the lighting equipment from the ship’s photo studio was moved onto the shore – strung through the building’s corridors on long extension cords back to the ship. Before we knew it, we were carefully guided back through the cruise terminal and onto the Celebrity Mercury where things were fully powered up. It was strange to look over the side of the ship at the very dark silhouette of Waikiki!

There’s lots of info about Hawaii on this site! Click here to learn more about cruising gay in Hawaii.

What strange things have happened to you while cruising? Comment below!

Sophie Needelman is discussing. Toggle Comments
- Sophie Needelman 12:06 am on December 21, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  
  Love this post! Thanks for turning a frustrating situation into an entertaining one!
Randall Shirley 2:21 pm on November 29, 2011 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Christmas, crowds., Hanuka, Holidays, Kwanza, new years
10 holiday cruise tips for gay passengers

Suggestions for improving your travel and cruise experience during the upcoming holiday season – and mitigating the challenges presented by large numbers of families with children.

If you’ve chosen to cruise during the KwanChrismUkah holiday season (my term for Kwanza, Christmas, Hanukah…haven’t figured out how to tie Festivus into it yet), there are a few things you can do to help make your cruise experience a bit better. I’m assuming that you’re traveling with a spouse or partner, and without children.
- Accept what you’re getting into. If you cruise during the holidays—especially on itineraries traveling to/from U.S. ports, the ship will likely be packed, and that will include families with kids. Accepting this fact and putting on your “patience cap” is a big part of making holiday travel more enjoyable.
- Add extra days. This should go without saying, but arrive in your embarkation city at least one day early for your cruise. If you wait until same-day to travel to the port city, you run the risk of flight, train, or highway delays that could cause you to miss the ship.
- Problems can also arise on debarkation day; if possible, stay a day in your final port city. At the very least, book the latest possible flight home from the port destination. I’ve seen people miss their flights because debarkation was delayed.
- Check the location of your cabin—and consider what is around that cabin! Make changes before the cruise if possible.
- Is the pool deck or jogging track above your room? That could create overhead noise all day long.
- Does your cabin have an adjoining cabin door—noise can easily travel through such doors.
- Do the cabins on either side of you have extra pop-down beds? That type of cabin can be attractive for a family with children who can be quite noisy (this has happened to me).
- Request the late seating at dinner. Families sailing with smaller children are likely to dine on the earlier side.
- Buy the full-week pass for the private pool/spa area. Do this immediately upon boarding the ship (most ships have it, and they may even have a discount package at that point). This will be one place on the ship that there won’t be kids.
- Make sure GLBT Meetup is on the first-day itinerary. If it’s not, talk to someone on the cruise director’s staff immediately. Then attend and make friends! (Don’t forget to tell everyone about MeetMeOnBoard, you could do it by using our handy Cruise Cards).
- Traveling with a group? Talk with the ship’s hotel manager about reserving a small space (library, lounge, conference room) for your own Christmas Eve gift exchange.
- Befriend your cabin steward ASAP—and do it with a bit of cash. Even though I’ve found a $20 bill given to my steward on the first meeting—usually presented by saying “thanks for how beautifully you’ve prepared our room, and we’d like you to keep the ice bucket full,” helps them know I’m a customer who expects and rewards good service. Especially during a cruise that could be especially packed, having your steward on your side could help make for smoother sailing.
- Be yourself. If you’re a gay couple who tends to hold hands, don’t hide that on the ship. In my experience, the cruise lines are very supportive of their gay passengers.
- Wait until January! If you don’t have to travel during the holidays, then wait a few weeks—you’ll likely get better deals and have far fewer families and children to deal with, and probably a less-crowded ship.
10 holiday cruise tips for gay passengers | News & Expert Advice | First Time Cruise Ship Tips is discussing. Toggle Comments
Randall Shirley 9:37 am on November 18, 2011 Permalink | Reply
Tags: agent, discount

How do you choose your travel agent? Should you know them?

A few years ago I booked, and took, a cruise via an agent I found via CruiseCompete.com. And other than a “how was your cruise” email or two, I never heard from her again.

I arranged and booked a another cruise — a group cruise — via an agent who I found from an online cruise agency—the kind that send out weekly emails listing super deals on cruises. That agent got the commission for several cruise cabins because of me.

And I never heard from him again, either.

I would have expected both those agents to try and curry a long-term relationship with me — a frequent cruiser for whom they could likely book multiple future cruises. But no. Nada.

In both of those cases, price of the cruise was a huge factor—we needed the absolute cheapest rate we could afford. But I can’t help wondering if it isn’t a case of “you get what you pay for.” Does using a travel agent who you actually know—who may not be the cheapest—pay off in the long run?

I’d like to hear your opinions on this, because it’s one area where I’m NOT an expert. Thoughts?

Deb, and Peter are discussing. Toggle Comments
- Peter 11:29 am on November 19, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  
  I think if you cruise a couple times a year on a luxury line you will get better treatment from the average travel agent than if you cruise once on Carnival. I still believe there are benefits to booking a cruise through a reputable agent but if they only show their appreciating for your business through an automated email…move on! I’ve owned a business for over 25 years (non-travel related) and I have treated all my clients the same no matter how much work they bring my way. It’s usually the small clients that recommend me to others and it leads to large clients.
- Deb 6:20 pm on November 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  
  Hi Shirley-I am Manager of the GLBT Travel Club of New England…I organize GLBT specific travel groups and send out a monthly newsletter to club members. I would love to become your Travel Agent and my agency is GLBT friendly. I have a GLBT cruise to Bermuda on the NCL Star coming up 4/29/12 from NYC if you are interested please contact me-ok? Thanks, Deb
Randall Shirley 11:55 am on November 7, 2011 Permalink | Reply

Gay cruises — including some where kids belong

I don’t have kids, and I’m not a fan of having many kids around when I’m on vacation. I prefer that to be adult time.

But I realize many gays and lesbians do have kids (or nieces/nephews) and enjoy vacationing with them. So thank goodness for R Family Vacations. The company, which was co-founded Kelli Carpenter (Rosie O’Donnell’s ex), and Gregg Kaminsky, who formerly worked at Atlantis (the mega gay-cruise company), is now almost a decade old, and offers a variety of land-based and cruise vacations for LGBT families–however you translate that concept.

Their upcoming cruise doesn’t seem to be completely gay-family focused; instead it seems perfectly suited for gay men. It’s a Broadway themed cruise on NCL from New York to Bermuda (not the most gay-friendly destination). I suppose this one would be perfect for parents with a gay kid who wants to tread the boards of the Great White Way! But honestly, the concept even tempts Yours Truly! Sailing is July 8-15.

They also have an adults-only gay and lesbian cruise on a European riverboat (on the Danube) that sounds like a good time (Aug. 21-30).

Have YOU done an R Family cruise or vacation? What was your experience?

Sophie Needelman is discussing. Toggle Comments
- Sophie Needelman 11:06 pm on November 16, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  
  Love this post! Keep the great content coming
Randall Shirley 1:40 pm on October 28, 2011 Permalink | Reply
Tags: costumes, Drag Queens

Costume parties on cruise ships … have you ever done one?

One of the easier, yet most effective, costumes I've ever seen on a gay cruise. And yes, his ass was visible...but keeping it PG rated here. Photo: Randall Shirley

Happy trickin’ and treatin’ this weekend:

tell us about your favourite cruise ship costume moment?

It’s that hallow’d time of year…the time when gays truly bring out their inner child and dress in full-on costume.

I, alas, am not one of them. Maybe it was the clown costumes my mother dressed me in as a child, but I have never enjoyed dressing up as something I’m not.

In the gay world, that seems to make me a minority. And on gay cruises, costume parties tend to be one of the most popular events. Every RSVP ay cruise I’ve taken has had one, and while I personally didn’t dress up, I had loads of fun watching others. Prizes in those contests have been juicy (a free cruise was one of the prizes, not sure if they still do that), and competition has been cut-throat.

On my last RSVP cruise, some of the guys had managed to borrow elaborate gowns costumes from an opera company, and were sure they would win. Imagine their shock when a guy with a dog up hiss ass crack took the prize–a hilarious, and much-less-complicated costume inspired by a Far Side cartoon. Very, very funny.

The one costume that’s almost guaranteed on an all-gay cruise is drag, and the drag queens may choose to dress up at times other than the costume party. On my first all-gay cruise, one of the cutest guys turned into a woman every single night. She entered the dining room intentionally late, and made a grand entrance down the stairs each night to the delight of both passengers and staff.

So, happy trickin’ and treatin’ this weekend, and in the mean time, tell us about your favourite cruise ship costume moment?

Theme Party Ideas For Costume Parties | Blog Archive | Party Costume Shop is discussing. Toggle Comments
Randall Shirley 2:03 pm on October 21, 2011 Permalink | Reply
Dream Cruises: What dream cruises – gay or straight – are on YOUR list?

Star Clippers is on your Editor's list of dream cruises!

What dream cruises are on YOUR list? Add them below! And on your profile, too.

It’s funny how I dream of my next cruise…when I’m on a cruise. But the cruise lines know they’ll snag you by marketing their future itineraries—after all, if you’re enjoying their ship and service, and you’re relaxed a bit, you’re likely to book for a future cruise.

I’ve never actually booked my next cruise at that point—reason has said to me, “wait, they really just want your money so they can make interest on it while you go home and change your mind.” I know people who do book while on board, and swear it’s the best way to get a great price. What do you think?

But I DO get dreaming of my next great cruise while I’m on board, and I bet you do too. Here are several cruises I personally would love to take in the next while:
- Azamara Quest: Barbados to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We studied the Azamara brochure in detail during our recent Azamara cruise, and this itinerary has several things we want: the same ship, the same captain (we asked; they are on rotation, you know), the right time of year, lots of sea days, cool ports. This one is likely for us—not booked yet so it’s not in my “upcoming cruises” section, but it is on my wish list!
- Atlantis Events Exotic Southern Caribbean. If I were to do a big all-gay itinerary, of the ones currently available this one appeals most. I like the islands of the southern Caribbean—they do seem more exotic to me. I also LOVE San Juan, so sailing in/out of there would be a plus. Also, the ship, the Celebrity Summit, is the right size. Frankly I just don’t need more than 2,000 homos on a ship (or 2,000 straight passengers either, for that matter…I’m not a big ship fan).
- Cruising with Pride’s 2012 all-gay river cruise from Paris. While I’ve never sailed with these guys and don’t know much about their company, it looks quite nice. And they’ve got one of my favorite entertainers, Mr. Rudy de la Mor, on board, so it’s bound to be a hoot. He’s a very fun pianist with a zillion hats. I’ve also never sailed rivers, but guys I know who do it, like it a lot.
- 16 nights, Barbados to Malaga on Star Clippers Royal Clipper. I’ve always wanted to do one of these sailing ships, and have heard great things about Star Clippers (from people I met on Azamara). I love sea days, and love the motion of the ocean, so would totally be game to try such a sailing.
What dream cruises are on YOUR list?
Randall Shirley 9:04 pm on October 17, 2011 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Italy ( 2 ), Shopping, Shore excursions

Silverware and coffee makers: My best shore shopping experience. What’s yours?

What’s the best thing you ever bought during a shore excursion? Where was it made? Comment below!

Salami and Pasta shopping in Sorrento, Italy. © Randall Shirley

My partner and I recently completed a Mediterranean cruise onboard the Azamara Quest. Our favorite port was Sorrento, Italy—a place we almost stayed on the boat!

Of course, unless you take a ship-organized shore excursion, the quality of your shore time really depends on a combination of two things: the port itself, and the effort you put into it.

Italy is full of lovely towns that mix the modern world with old-world memories. Sorrento is yet another of them, but set atop a cliff face, about 100 feet above the sea. We chose to walk up a combination of stairs and sidewalks to get into the town, and while most of the other passengers and land-based tourists turned right at the top of the stairs, following their tourist maps into cozy alleyways filled with tourist traps, we wandered to the left, and quickly found ourselves away from the swarms of tourists that had maddened us during previous stops in Taormina and Dubrovnik.

Totally local experience: Coffee at Bar Paradise, Sorrento. © Randall Shirley

We enjoyed a great coffee/croissant experience at Bar Paradise, a place catering to bus and train drivers, bought a suitcase-full (no kidding) of regionally-made pasta at a very local grocer/salami shop with a super-friendly salami salesman, and stumbled our way into the Italian version of the Gap, called Piazza Italia. (For better or for worse, the actual Gap recently opened in Italy).

Then we happened into one of the most amazing shopping experiences either of us has ever had, anywhere: we met Umberto Esposito, at L’Argentario. A window display of cute Top Moka brand Italian coffee maker devices caught our eye, and we decided to price a dual-cup, stove-top espresso maker. Inside the not-large shop we were surrounded by all manner of upscale dishes and cutlery, as well as some fine china and pots and pans. We had no intention of buying a set of cutlery, but the gorgeous styling of Bugatti caught my eye, and once we began discussing pricing with Umberto, we knew we’d found possibly the best-ever souvenir of a trip (since we both love cooking and entertaining—the cutlery will be a great conversation piece at future meals).

The Espositos at L'Argentario, Sorrento, Italia. © Randall Shirley

But the best part of the experience was meeting a merchant who hasn’t sold out. We learned that his shop only sells items made in Italy—which is becoming increasingly rare. He told us that tourists often come in, see the price of some of his products, and challenge him that they’ve bought the same thing elsewhere for much less money. He challenges them back, asking them to show the bottom of their product where it inevitably says the new three most-common words in the English language: Made in China. (In Italy we often saw this written as “Made in PRC”).

Every time Umberto discovers that a supplier has moved production from Italy to one of the world’s factory countries, he stops carrying that product. We were delighted. While we are stuck buying plenty of Made in Somewhere-else product at home, we don’t travel with the hope of buying Chinese-made products as our souvenirs—unless we’re traveling in China. Several hundred Euros later, we are delighted to have paid a bit more, and come home with not only Italian design, but Italian craftsmanship. Oh, we bought the Top Moka coffee maker, too.

If Sorrento is in your travel plans—either as a cruise destination or land-based destination—I encourage you to stop by L’Argentario. Introduce yourself to Umberto, thank him for setting a higher bar. And buy something fabulously Italian for your home.

L’Argentario, Corso Italia, 205-207 Sorrento
Phone 081 877 3417
Email: largentario@alice.it

What’s the best thing you ever bought during a shore excursion? Where was it made?

Note: Reviewer sailed courtesy Azamara; shore experience at own expense. See our disclosure policy here.

Alan Pacquer, and Dave Cantrall are discussing. Toggle Comments
- Dave Cantrall 6:15 am on October 23, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  
  Hi Randall!
  
  Very interesting article and great photos! Really enjoyed reading this!
  
  Dave
- Alan Pacquer 2:23 pm on October 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  
  Randall,
  You gave travelers a great insight on experiencing another side of shopping in Italy instead of shopping for the usual T-shirts, olive oil decanters and limoncello. It brought back great memories as a few years ago, my partner Bob and I left Mark and Dale at the train station, they on their way back to Rome and Bob and I, sister and Mom heading further south to Sorrento after a perfect day in Pompeii. I remember waving to Mark and Dale as their train headed north with a pack of stray dogs running after the train on the platform. “Back to Sorrento”…the city is perfect as a base for exploring the Amalfi coast. Like you Randall, we prefer the less traveled route, leaving most tourists to the trendy shops, one of the reasons we travel off season. We unfortunately will not be joining Mark and Dale on their cruise this week out of New Orleans, so to get over my sorrow, will be returning to Italy next week. Looks like I’ll be looking for kitchen items “Made in Italy”!
  
  Alan