Danger Cruise - Softcover

Hart, Derek

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0595307582 ISBN 13: 9780595307586

Publisher: iUniverse, 2004

Synopsis

First Officer John Drake is Derek Hart's latest hero, yet perhaps it's the ship that takes center stage in this latest adventure. The Princess Carla is the setting for a tale of love and intrigue, romance and excitement, with some international criminals thrown in for good measure. Indeed Drake is handsome, dashing, and certainly entertaining, but it's Interpol Agent Raylene Capri who creates all the mystery and torrid romance.

Danger Cruise takes place during a one-week roundtrip cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico with several scenic stops in between. While the characters and certain events are fictional, not only is the cruise timeframe based on fact, but also all the details about life aboard the Carla during those days are true, right down to the movies shown, the live shows, and the food served.

Derek Hart effectively blends real life on a cruise ship with intrigue and romance, propelling the capable John Drake straight into the arms of the equally gifted Raylene Capri. As an independent fashion designer and manager of Musical Fantasy, a Las Vegas Review dance show, she's not only beautiful but concealing something too. However, complications arise when this man and woman fall in love, so everything becomes far more interesting and dangerous.

About this title

From the Author

The MS CarlaCosta was an actual cruise ship. In fact, it was upon this classy lady that a group of television producers wrote the first five scripts of the TV series "Love Boat."  She was originally built as the Flandre by Ateliers de l'Atlantique Dunkerque, in France in 1953.  Later rebuilt by L. Guarnieri Shipyard, in Genoa, Italy in 1968, she was subsequently renamed Princess Carla, then CarlaCosta.  The cruise ship was re-launched on August 3, 1969 and was registered in Italy.  Her home port was San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The ship displaced 20,477 tons, was 603 feet long and 80 feet wide.  She was powered with twin screw steam turbine 44,000 horsepower engines, which could reach an average cruising speed of 21 knots.  The Carla could berth a maximum of 900 passengers, while having a crew compliment of 400.  She was also one of the few liners of her time to operate a complete sauna and massage center.  The ship was easily recognizable, for her single stack was painted a brilliant yellow, with a huge blue "C" centered in the middle.

In 1992 she was transferred to the Greek Epirotiki Line, renamed Pallas Athena and operated mainly seven-day cruises from Athens to the Aegean Isles and Turkey.

On March 23, 1994 the Pallas Athena was disembarking passengers at her Athens dock when a fire started in an empty stateroom. Fortunately, all the passengers were off the ship when the fire suddenly developed badly and spread quickly.  The superstructure of the ship collapsed in upon itself, as did the funnel.  After the devastating fire was put out, the Pallas Athena was towed to the outer areas of the harbor and declared a total loss.  On Christmas Day, 1994, the former Princess Carla arrived at the Aliga ship-breaking company for demolition. Not until late 1995 were the last pieces of her hull lifted out of the water.

So came to a sad end the glorious career of one of the premium cruise ships of the era. 
Still, such a fine vessel will always be remembered for her name. 
Carla.

About the Author

Derek Hart is the prolific author of action and adventure novels, known for their historical accuracy, while still maintaining a high level of entertainment. Romance is also a vital part of Derek Hart's trademark style and his novels generally appeal to men and women alike. 

About this edition

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0595307582
• ISBN 13: 9780595307586
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 165