Carmen Was Wrong: 22 Days on the Vasco da Gama

It started with a dare.When Carmen challenged Denis to write fifteen pages about a bus ride to a Buddhist temple on Java, he should have said no. Instead, he picked up the pen – and didn't stop for twenty-two days.Carmen Was Wrong is the true story of four friends on a cruise from Bali to Mauritius aboard the MS Vasco da Gama – a ship built in 1993 with the charm of a grand old lady and the plumbing to match. What was supposed to be avoyage to Dubai becomes an unexpected detour around Africa when geopolitics intervene. What was supposed to be a simple travel diary becomes something more: a funny, honest, and surprisingly moving account of life at sea.Along the way, you'll meet:Carmen, who booked Business Class and a suite with a balcony – but forgot to visit the complimentary champagne lounge for four daysMartin, the quiet pragmatist who opened an umbrella inside a tour bus to protect against a dripping air conditionerRegina, whose designer hair styler declared war on the ship's 1993 electrical system from day oneDenis, a reluctant writer, chronic Guinness enthusiast, and man whose cabin toilet needed seven minutes to decide whether it felt like workingFrom the ancient temples of Java to the chaos of Colombo's tuk-tuks, from the turquoise waters of the Maldives to a spontaneous pool-deck party fueled by Bacardi and a Bluetooth speaker – this is a cruise diary like no other. Noglossy brochure language. No pretend perfection. Just real people, real places, and the kind of humor that only happens when four friends are stuck on a ship together for three weeks.Carmen Was Wrong is for anyone who loves travel, cruises, or a good laugh – and for anyone who's ever been dared to do something they secretly wanted to do all along. Read more