Boston, Massachusetts USA.

North Atlantic Ocean 22 June 2011


Greetings, Cruise Director Nigel is back with you.

Today Boston is the subject for my blog; we were there on 15 June. It was our last USA port of call this voyage, we have been to fourteen in all, I imagine that could be a record for any P&O Cruises vessel since this great company was founded in 1837!

Boston is a great city, I could quite happily go on holiday there, it has deep rooted links with the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Boston is named after Boston in Lincolnshire England and six Massachusetts counties are named Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth, Worcester and Bristol, it makes you feel at home!

In 1630 Puritan colonists from England founded the city, and in the late 18th century Boston was the location of several major events during the American Revolution. The Boston Tea Party happened on 16 December 1773 and remains an iconic event in American history.

Boston like all of the USA was a city of immigration, mainly European and particularly Irish, by 1850 about 35,000 Irish lived in Boston. The Irish have played a major role in Boston politics; prominent figures include the Kennedys and Tip O’Neill. People of Irish descent form the largest single ethnic group in the city even to this day.

Boston is an international centre of higher education and a centre for medicine. Students contribute an estimated $4.8 billion annually to the city’s economy. I say students but being a parent of a student it’s more like the parents of the students contributing to the economy!!! Two years ago when I was last in Boston, (on Artemis), I walked from the ship's berth to Harvard University, this is a long way!!! It was well worth the effort as the university is everything you imagine it would be. Harvard University was established in 1636 and its one of the most prestigious, and the wealthiest universities in the world, it was named after its first benefactor John Harvard.

Eight shore excursions were available to our passengers in Boston, from general sightseeing tours to ‘Historic Salem and Witch Museum’. Never ever say you do not get a good choice of tours at P&O Cruises!

I did manage a few hours ashore and walked the ‘Freedom Trail’. This is a 2.5 mile red brick walking trail that is a unit of the Boston National Historic Park and leads you around 16 significant historic sites. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958 the trail is a unique collection of authentic American treasures including churches, meeting houses, burial grounds, parks and the USS Navy Ship Constitution.

Do enjoy the photos today of Boston and the Freedom Trail.

The USS Constitution

This is a wooden hulled, three masted heavy frigate of the US Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the USA she is the world’s oldest floating commissioned naval vessel.

The USS Cassin Young

The Destroyer Cassin Young was commissioned on 31 December 1943 and served during WW2 in the Pacific and was twice hit by Kamikazes attacks. She was decommissioned on 29 April 1960 and is now a memorial to destroymen and the ships they served on.

The USS Constitution Museum

The Bunker Hill Monument

This obelisk marks the site of the first major battle in the War of Independence.

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground

This is the second oldest cemetery in Boston and has graves dating back to 1659.

The Old North Church

Quincy Market

Built in 1826 this lovely restored market is filled with international and speciality foods, shops and craft stalls.

Faneuil Hall

This was a gift from the French merchant Peter Faneuil in 1742; it still serves its original purpose as a place for town meetings and a public market.

The Old State House

This is Boston’s oldest public building dating from 1713. The Declaration of Independence was first proclaimed from its balcony on State Street.

The Old South Meeting House

Built in 1729 as a Puritan Church, it hosted many town meetings including those concerned with the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party.

The Old City Hall

Blog Extra!

This shot was taken on 16 June in the Meeting Room on Arcadia. On 15 June I had been 30 years with P&O Cruises and the Captain and a selection of the ship's officers very kindly had a cake made for me to celebrate this auspicious occasion! Thank you Executive Chef Trevor Connolly!

Left to right; Executive Purser Peter Thomas, Restaurant Manager Elvis Rodrigues, Captain Kevin Opray, Hotel Stores Manager Dail Hodywalla, Staff Electro Technical Officer Martin Hepple, your blogger, Doctor Baggit Chhokar, Accommodation Services Manager Anthony Rodrigues, Passenger Services Manager Jackie Bott, Commercial Manager Cory Brown, Personnel Development Manager Dawn Gardener, Crew Manager Simon Stevens, Deputy Captain James Brown, Food and Beverage Manager John Brodie and Chief Engineer David Dewkes.

Your blogger and the cake!

Well blog readers, that is it from me, I go on leave tomorrow in Southampton. I have now written for James Cusick's blog in 2009, 2010, and 2011, maybe I will be back with you as your blogger at another time.  I will be handing over to P&O Cruises Managing Director, Carol Marlow, for a short time followed by Aurora's Port Presenter Johanna Grove.  James returns in around one month.

Thank you for reading, and for your comments.

All the very best.


Nigel