Twenty-Five Years before the Mast

In Twenty-Five Years Before the Mast, Peter Longley reflects on his twenty-five-year career as a cruise director aboard some of the world’s most iconic luxury ships, including ten years on Cunard’s legendary Queen Elizabeth 2. Entering the industry in 1978, when cruising was still reserved for the rich and famous, Longley offers a behind-the-scenes look at life aboard these floating cities.

From royal encounters and gala evenings to storms at sea, strikes, and even murder, this memoir captures the glamour, drama, and rapid transformation of the cruise industry. Blending history, humour, and personal anecdotes, Longley charts the evolution of cruising from imperial voyages to today’s global mega-ship industry.