It was not for nothing that the past century was dubbed the “cruising age” - these universal ships took an active part in both World Wars, fighting on all oceans and becoming the backbone of the fleet. And today, cruisers are the largest, most powerful and formidable ships after aircraft carriers, and with the advent of cruise missiles they have become deadly even for the “masters of the oceans.” This book contains stories about the people who served on these cruisers, written with sadness, humor and warmth.