Italian Cruise Liners
The current plight of the Costa Concordia reminds one of a comment made by Churchill.
From "The Wit and Wisdom of Winston Churchill" by
James C.Humes:
Late in his life, Sir Winston took a cruise on an Italian ship. A journalist from a New Yorknewspaper approached the former prime minister to ask him why he chose to travel on an Italian line when the Queen Elizabeth under the British flag was available.
Churchill gave the question his consideration and then gravely replied: "There are three things I like about Italian ships. First, their cuisine, which is unsurpassed. Second, their service, which is quite superb. And then — in time of emergency — there is none of this nonsense about women and children first."