This is a reprint of a review I wrote published over a decade ago in the Daily News of Galveston County.
‘Devils’ exposes cruise ships’ sordid history
By Mike Lardas
Correspondent
Published January 7, 2007
“Devils on the Deep Blue Sea: The Dreams, Schemes and Showdowns that Built America’s Cruise-Ship Empires” by Kristoffer A. Garin, Viking Books, 366 pages, $24.95
Devils are tempters, as well as torturers. No industry deals temptation in wholesale lots like cruise lines. In that sense, the management of the cruise ship industry merits the “devils” accolade of the title.
Kristoffer Garin seems okay with temptation. The great gobs of money made by selling temptation are what bother him. Owners squeeze a good chunk of profit by keeping operating costs — including wages — as low as possible in an industry that legally operates outside national laws.
Their worst sin? The money earned is not easily taxed. If God grants governments first call on wages and earnings, then cruise lines lead the rebel angels.
“Devils on the Deep Blue Sea” tells an absorbing story. Garin starts with the origins of the modern cruise industry. He shows why the established lines like Cunard missed the potential of cruising — voyages with the ocean as the destination. He then shows how a few men turned this seemingly screwy notion into a money machine.
Knut Kloster had a ship, but lost his passengers. Ted Arison had passengers, but lost his ship. Lesser men would have quit. Kloster and Arison solved both problems by founding Norwegian Cruise Lines.
When the partners fell out (in best buccaneering tradition, over a division of loot) Arison started Carnival Cruise Lines — with NCL’s money. Carnival’s first ship, Marti Gras, ran aground leaving port on its first voyage. Having bet everything on Carnival, Arison doubled-down, throwing open the bar to passengers that chose to stay, and finished the voyage.
Those stories are typical of the early days. Garin follows the industry as it becomes a behemoth. Carnival made Arison one of the world’s richest men.
Yet Garin shows unbridled capitalism working. Cruise lines must deliver value — including safe surroundings — or they quickly go bust. No one needs a luxury. They must want it — in the thousands for cruise line economics to work.
Given the cruise industry’s increasing role in Galveston, this book is a valuable read for any island resident.
Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, amateur historian and model-maker, lives in League City. His website is marklardas.com.
I don’t go on cruises per se but have taken a cruise ship shaped ferry to the Northern Island of Japan 4 times. It takes 20 hours one way.
Thanks for posting Sea Writer.
“He shows why the established lines like Cunard missed the potential of cruising — voyages with the ocean as the destination.”
Huh? Who does/did this (besides transoceanic cruises)?
with virtually every cruise line, the destinations (Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean) are secondary. You take a cruise to travel on a ship. The ship is the real destination. If you want to see Alaska or the Caribbean or Mediterranean you fly there. It is quicker.
Look at things like the National Review cruises. People don’t sign up for those to get to Norway or wherever. They are on them for the trip, not the destination.
Seawriter
You’re right but I would also add that many people enjoy these tours because it’s a whole lot of work to plan a 2-3 week trip on your own. I would know, but have never regretted the effort because I got exactly what I wanted.
Consequently, I usually have to take a vacation after my vacation!
I think that I have to disagree. Many cruises seem to be tours (as Liz notes) during which you only have to unpack once. And now the ships themselves are the destination: pools, climbing walls, buffets, shows, etc,etc. If you just want to be on the ocean book on a merchant marine ship…
The ship is a moving hotel. You only like the vacation if you like the “hotel”. Most vacations are to places outside hotels.
Ships are my favorite form of transportation. There is plenty of space and you get to wide down. The downside is that it takes a lot of time to get from point A to point B.
My parents took ships to and from Japan in the day. It was 10 days to 2 weeks one way in the day. Passenger/freighters at that time were the cheapest ways to go.
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