Cruise liners were parked at sea last year. I could see them from the beach at Scheveningen. And a travel company did send me an offer I could refuse…

It was a different story on 3rd of July 2012, when P&O celebrated its 175-year anniversary: for the first time ever its seven passenger ships were in port together. An ex-P&O friend of mine was there taking pictures. Here is the flotilla leaving Southampton.

The offer of a £150 reduction comes on heavy white paper

SS Zeus floats downstream on the Danube.
Elderly passengers, each with their own balcony.
A decade on, scale models the colour of gold
are on display in suburban charity shops
where other old hands fumble,
hand over coins with the monarch’s head.