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The National Review Institute Cruise
It was great to be cruising again, and to be on an NRI cruise. Although neutral observer and I have been on a few NR cruises, this was our first NRI cruise. The difference? The NR cruises had a lot more speakers and panel sessions. Even with the reduced number, we had a lot of fun and learned a lot. First of all, we had a near-continuous Ricochet Meetup underway. I don’t have the ten-Ricochetti dinner pictures, so someone else will have to post those. Here we go:
Left to right, we have Stad, neutral observer, Bob Herring, GLDIII, and Red Herring. The picture was taken at the bar (no shicker there) by the stylish main atrium:
Of the seven dinners, we had three guest speakers. First, here’s GLDIII discussing building one’s own airplane with Charles C.W. Cooke:
Our next guest speaker was none other than Andrew McCarthy. Here is neutral observer trying to figure out how to ditch me and head to Andy’s cabin:
Finally, we had not only dinner, but breakfast that morning with Veronique de Rugy:
Charles was his usual reserved former British self, but Andy and Veronique were a lot more open and animated when they discussed their passions: the law and economics, respectively. The three also shared many personal stories, some hilarious, others more somber. Bottom line? All of the guest speakers were approachable, very warm, and personable.
As for the Ricochetti, let’s just say there was a challenge to break the limit on our beverage packages, which included alcohol. I’m sad to report neither I nor neutral observer was able to break it (too old, I guess). Fellow Rico-shipmates can leave their excuses in the comment section . . .
Oh, the parties! There was a kickoff cocktail party, a cigar smoker, and a farewell cocktail party. Here is a picture from the farewell party (again, fellow cruisers – post your pics!):
Here we have Mrs. GLDIII, GLDIII, Stad, neutral observer, Red Herring, and Bob Herring.
The bottom line? Cruising is back in general, and it looks like the NRI cruises are returning. No word on a regular NR cruise, but it’s a possibility if they can rope the NRI President, Lindsay Craig into doing it. Oh! She’s a sweetheart, and was ready to join in the fun even though she had a job to do. I highly recommend NRI cruises, as you get to meet and hear from people who have done or are currently doing great things.
Okay, fellow shipmates – post your pics!
(Pssst. @roblong and @jameslileks, you missed a good one!)
Published in Meetups
I’ve read her at Reason magazine, I didn’t know she wrote for National Review.
That sounds like a fine voyage, Stad, thanks for writing about it.
This looked enjoyable – and wow that shot of the atrium!
Looks like y’all had fun!
Gotta say, I’ve never felt the desire to go on a cruise. Don’t know why, but it just doesn’t appeal to me. But for those that do enjoy it, glad you can once more take to the seas.
What was the mask situation?
Did anyone say anything to the NR writers about their anti-Trump bias?
I would guess that most people who cannot get over the fact that some of NR’s writers are anti-Trump wouldn’t spend money to go on a cruise with them. I couldn’t imagine going on a cruise with Esquire magazine so I could challenge the writers for having different views than mine.
OK, but I would think interacting with the writers would include discussing their viewpoints on a significant issue. I’m not suggesting being acrimonious–just a civil center-right conversation. It would not be the purpose of the trip.
Which means that the cruises just help to reinforce the bubble(s) they’re already in? What a shame.
Stad, thanks for the post. I’ve been increasingly critical of NR lately, with good reason (I think), but I’m glad that you had a good time.
Masks? What masks?
The terms of service for the cruise were rather vague on the issue and actually suggested that they were recommended in some situations. I assumed that this would be disregarded by those there for the NRI aspect, but I wondered about the “regular” cruisers. Seeing people, any people, with masks would bother me.
They had a good time on their own terms. Jeeze.
Thanks for the writeup. I hope to see some more pix from your fellow passengers.
There were many seminars on many topics: the media, election integrity, US role on foreign stage, impact of the conservative court, why debt matters, Britain, the state of black America, academia, pathology of privileges, business environment, libertarians, balancing morality and politics, Durham investigation, three book club meetings, foreign policy, mediating structures, and the Constitution and morality.
NRI arranged for a table for all ricochet. There were actually 11 ricochets on board if you count Veronique de Rugy.
yes, I bit my tongue a few times but that was nothing compared to the great times. The togetherness of the ricochet gang made it great.
I hope people aren’t taking my question as some kind of criticism of the cruise or its participants, but when I think of Andrew McCarthy, the first thing that comes to mind is . . .
I’m interested in how these work.
Here’s how I look at it. One of my favorite magazines is Car and Driver. They review a lot of gasoline-powered performance cars (which I like) and they review SUVs and pickups and increasingly more electric cars (which I don’t care much about). If I were at a big event hosted by Car and Driver and had the chance to meet and hang out with various authors, I’d be very excited to talk to them about sports cars and great winding roads. It wouldn’t occur to me to strike up a conversation about pickups.
We aren’t connecting. Trump is at the heart of what these writers have been doing, unlike pickups to sports cars.
See what you started, Stad?
Not sure that’s comparable.
My first question to Andy McCarthy would probably be something like “Considering how you’ve been wrong about so much the FBI/DOJ/etc have done over the past umpteen years, likely because of your ‘willful blindness’ (title of his book, zing!) from having worked there in your youth, why should anyone pay any attention to what you say now?”
No masks or vaxxes required. Some complained about the anti-Trump bias, but I didn’t. Having too much fun!
Some speakers acknowledged the good Trump did. Still, they had the usual disclaimers. Personally though, they were a lot of fun!
As Peter Robinson says, “Join the conversation” . . .
Yeah. My idea of a nice cruise is one in which I would be locked in a gorgeous stateroom with a small “porch” from which I could sit mere feet above, and simply watch, the beautiful waves (I love the sea), accompanied by a stack of my favorite books and favorite crafts. Four or five times a day, the small hatch in the door would open, and someone would shove absolutely decadent and delicious meals and drinks at me, but otherwise, I’d be left to my own devices. Meaning that I could spend the entire time in my pajamas, I’d never have to dress up for, and appear at, the Captain’s Table, nor would I have to participate in any inane or unwelcome activities. (Some history there, for those who are wondering.) Glorious solitude and peace.
Crimenutely. Unpleasant frissons of a post, many years ago (7 1/2 to be exact, my pedantic friend who sits on my shoulder and insists on whispering into my ear “Remember, thou art mortal,” advises me.)
That particular post was a follow-on to a post recounting a joyous celebration of a Ricochet meetup. The (follow-on) post author took the opportunity to “fat-shame” the participants, and to lecture us all on proper nutrition and our responsibilities in promoting good eating habits.
“Epic,” is not too strong a word to describe the reaction, nor the remembrance.
Is it so difficult simply to say, “I’m really glad you had a good time,” without ruining it by imposing our own political mirror on the event?
God, I hope not. Because if it is, this isn’t the site I signed up for.
Bravo!
I remember that one.
**closes eyes and shakes head**
My favorite Car & Driver author was P.J. O’Rourke, author of the famed “High Speed Performance Characteristics of Pickup Trucks.“
My kind of insightful automotive commentary.
My favorite part of Car & Driver – I don’t think it was Road & Track – was their April reviews. The NASA rocket transport platform (“maximum cornering G force .000000001” or something), the Sedan Chair (powered by “twin underhand lackeys”) etc.
Thanks, Stad, for posting the pictures! Nice to see George and Linda. I wish I could have been there – my husband and I enjoyed those cruises immensely. I hope I can go on one again.
I think talking about things that we don’t agree on would be one of the highlights of something like this. It can easily be done without being an ass.
Love P.J. O’Rourke, but I can only read one or two pieces of his at a time. Much like Hunter S. Thompson (whom I also love), he is best in small doses.
I did have a small private session with Rich on the character issue between Trump and earlier presidents, and pressed the point that the only difference is we know his flaws real time vs just the press knowing and choosing to not covering their despicable “character” issues.
He conceded some on that point, but this is really a issue with native New Yorkers have just too many years of familiarity with him. As intellectual cover the NR editorial focus is the “post” election coup attempt. They also won’t entertain that ballot box stuffing has reached the point of tipping national elections. Yet when I asked if it wasn’t working for the Dems why was it their number one legislative imperative (SB 1 and HB1) in the immediate post election period. Until there is some definitive demonstration that the unrequested ballots to illegal voters (ie dead, have moved, or just made up) from bloated voter roles is being harvested back to the unmonitored drop boxes we are not going to convince them our system have more fraud than they are willing to entertain.
NR does not do investigative reporting, they just have been attempting to do straight news reporting.
Key word: “attempting”.
Each ship will change to a mask policy if there is a covid outbreak. We didn’t have one. Some crew wore masks but not all. Some passengers wore masks. Seems to be personal choice.