When did you first cruise?

[cruisinjudy]

When was your first cruise and what ship did you cruise on?

[Vicar]

My first cruise was in 1986 on the old RCCL Song of America

[cruisinjudy]

I see what Rev Neal means about the responses coming in before you finish the poll. It took me a while to figure out how to do the poll.
I first sailed in 1985 on SS Independence around Hawaii. :cool:

[ASM]

In 1970 as a teenager on senior trip on the SS New Bahama Star.

[SharonN]

Our first cruise was in 1986 to Alaska on the Regent Sea. Spent 3 days prior to the cruise at the Expo in Vancouver. After the cruise we did a tour between Fairbanks and Anchorage with a stop in Denali. The train was a great way to watch the scenery with the colors already changing since it was Sept. James Michener came into our car on the train (he was up there working on his book at the time) when one of the tour guides performed some story telling. It was the year of our 10th anniversary and will probably always rank in the top 2 or 3 vacations of all time for us. Our first HAL cruise was 10 years later on the Ryndam (in Alaska).

[FlorenceItaly]

On my honeymoon in 1983. It was a Carnival Ship, the Festivale, I think.
We booked the least expensive room, and had bunk beds, LOL. :).

Marie

[viennacruiser]

1980..my sister and I sailed to Bermuda on the Voleendam...it was my recovery cruise after surgery...I was 20 she was 19...that is when visitors could come aboard...
I went to a bon voyage party on the QE2 for my Aunt in the 1970's

[doone]

My first cruise was in the winter of 1982 on NCL's Southward. I have been hooked ever since.

[BCEagle78]

Went on our first in the Veendam in April of 1998. It went out of Ft. Lauderdale to St. Thomas and St. Kitts.

I had to be convinced that it would be fun.

I work a high-stress job and I found that the fact that I was out of range for cell-phones, pagers, any contact was a big plus when I thought it would create a problem. I found out that the people I left in charge while I was gone could survive without me!

Anyway, we had such a great time that we have made it a point to cruise at least once each year.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

Our first cruises were on the Cunard Countess in 1988 when we did back-to-backs. We did 11 ports in 14 days.

Had to talk husband into that cruise - now he is hooked!

We have had so many cruises since then.

:D :D

[CaptData]

According to my father, my first cruise was in Aug of 1954. I was born in Jun. We were visiting my grandparents and I became very ill. They put me on a ferry across Hudson Bay down to Trenton, On. Then I was driven to a Hospital in Toronto. :o

The first cruise that I count was in 1999. I'd just found out I had MS, so my husband drove from Manitoba to the Maritimes. We came back on the ferry from NB to Bar Harbour. It was an overnight trip. :D

For cruiseline ones, the first was the Dawn Princess Nov 2002. I thought she was a big ship until I went on the Navigator of the Seas. I still like Princess and the Dawn, nothing will compare to your first real cruise. :)

[sail7seas]

Our first cruise was Royal Princess in about 1990 (?). I'm not really sure what year. We only went on that cruise as a huge favor to dear friends of ours with whom we always traveled. We went everywhere with them and when they suggested we cruise, we were vehement in our displeasure with the idea. They prevailed; we did them "a favor" :) and booked our next cruise within one week of being home.

[stillfrantic]

First was in 1989 on the Sky Princess. The Sky had just been acquired from Sitmar Cruises, and all the logo items they had were still Sitmar Cruise labeled. We still have Sitmar pens, cards, exercise coins, etc.

[kelmac]

In 1977 I was on the NCL Starward--I think it was about 15,000 tons. Two stops in Jamaca, one in Haiti, and two in Bahamas. So so food, little entertainment and pure fun! $635 per person--heck I did several cruises in the last two years for less than that. Cruising is the "best bang for the buck" in the travel industry. Enjoy! Kel

[bobpatj]

My first time on a ship was not a cruise, but a "crossing" on a little HAL ship named Zuiderkruis, in 1958. I sailed the following year on the Lurline to Hawaii and back. My first "cruise" with my DH was in 1997 on the Legend of the Seas to Alaska.

[OCruisers]

WOW! My FIRST was on the SS Bahama Star for my Senior Trip when I was "Sweet Sixteen"! (Had to be the worst ship I've ever sailed ... but I was very, very young! :D )

Whatever .... It gave me a "LIFE LONG" LOVE of cruising!!!! :p

Hope the cruise lines understand that the "pesty teens/kids" are their future cruisers!

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[Peggy Sue]

April of 1993 - SS Oceanbreeze - then sailing under dolphin cruise lines .. Barbados. She was an old girl then..but we had a wonderful time. It was the smallest inside cabin I've ever seen. You couldn't even turn around in the bath..and when you took a shower...the entire bathroom got wet... But, we went with dear friends..and had a terrific time!

Last year when we were on the ziderdam, we docked in Nassau...a couple of berths over....there she was...sailing 2 night trips out of Miami. She looked tired and was belching black smoke. When we left port that afternoon, she had left a couple of hours ahead of us. We passed her that evening..it was bittersweet to stand our on verandah and see her lit up across from us..she fell behind quickly and then out of our site forever. We read in cruise travel a few months later that her sailing days were over and she had taken her last sail to the junk pile.

We took pictures of her when we were in Nassau and mailed them to our friends who had sailed with us back in 93..we shared some great memories.

[swysong77]

My first cruise was on the Grandeur of the Seas in Nov. 2002.
After that was Sovereign of the Seas in May 2003.
Next up is Mariner of the Seas on Aug. 29, 2004.

I'm definitely hooked! ;)

[Joedog]

My first cruise was Winter 1973 - Spring 1974 onboard the U.S.S. Buchanan DDG-14. I caught it in the Phillipines and sailed it back to San Diego by way of Singapore, Mombasa Kenja, Kao Shung Taiwan, Yokosuka Japan, Hong Kong, Wake Island & Pearl Harbor.

It was a real eye opener for an 18 - 19 year old (had my 19th birthday in Supic Bay Phillipines) and probably what sealed my fate as a career sailor.

There has been a lot of water under the bow since then.

My first cruise ship cruise was my honeymoon last July on the NCL Dawn. I will be taking a least one cruise a year for the rest of my life, more than one probably after I really retire and have more flexibility to take advantage of the short notice deals.

[tankerjo2]

Early 90's....2 week Alaska cruise on World Explorers SS Universe. SS Universe was part of the Semester at Sea program which had college students traveling Worldwide. Summers were spent on 2 week cruises Vancouver to Vancouver...not fancy but a lot of fun. The Universe is long gone to the "breakers" but it provided a memorable 1st cruise.

[ejbmorr]

My first crossing was in July of 1960 on the Cunard Sylvania from Montreal to Grenock, Scotland. Twelve of us from college, I being 20 years old, headed out for the summer in Europe. We were booked 4 to a cabin, upper and lower berths, with a tiny porthole that opened to get a little fresh air. In the corner was a little round sink, but the rest of the facilities were shared down the hallway. I can still remember that none of us lacked attention from the ships officers and the day of the huge storm at sea we had seconds and thirds of everything on the menu. No stablizers meant lots of seasick people.
It was a fantastic crossing, and I have been a cruise liner/ship lover ever since.

[krimpet]

are First Cruise Was On The Rccl Sun Viking IN 86.......we Got Married On That Cruise.......... We Got Married In St. Thomas At The Court House.. :)

[LoveLifeAtSea]

My first cruise was in January 1980. I was an inexperienced young, single woman who wanted to take "her first independent vacation" away from family as a young adult. Both, my friend and I, originially wanted to go to the mountains, but was "talked" into a cruise by our travel agent. For those who remember, cruising at that time was for the "older, very wealthy people". Anyway, he did such a fabulous job of "selling" us on a cruise, that we changed our plans and went. At the time, Carnival was the cruiseline for younger people. We had a FABULOUS time and I have personally never turned back! The only thing I have done differently is experience other cruiselines, such as NCL, RCCL, Princess and HAL.

So, for those who don't personally know me, I "Love Life at Sea"!!!!

[RevNeal]

I had to ask my parents to make sure I got the year right. My first cruise was in 1962, a round-trip crossing to and from Europe on the SS United States. I was 5.

As an adult, my first cruise was in 1994 on the HAL Nieuw Amsterdam.

[SHayesShip]

It was a crossing on the Queen Mary in 1961.
My first HAL cruise was in 1972 on the Rotterdam V.

Steve Hayes

When was your first cruise and what ship did you cruise on?

[Terri Lee]

My first real cruise was in 1994 on a Greek ship,OCEAN MONARCH of which less said the better!My first HAL cruise was the following year,1995,when I sailed on the SS Rotterdam through the Panama Canal and thought I had died and gone to heaven!!That was the start of my love affair with HAL and their fabulous crew!!:D


Terri;)

[Bill S]

It was August 1998 on the Ryndam to Alaska from Vancouver. I was hooked from day one! :cool:

[ger_77]

Our first cruise was July, 1989 - on Carnival's Jubilee to the Eastern Caribbean. I'd won the cruise through a local radio station and although it was originally scheduled as a cruise for 2, we upgraded and brought our 7 year old with us. The three of us were officially hooked on cruising at that time - we had a blast together. Our first HAL cruise was last February on The Zuiderdam and we just recently completed our Black Sea & Beyond cruise on the Prinsendam. We're now looking forward to "doin the ditch" - the Panama Canal in Feb/05 with 2 other couples we have become friends with from previous cruises. Ahhhhhh, cruising! Love it!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[terrascape]

My first cruise was with my parents on the Canadian National Railroad's cruise ship SS Prince George in 1963. It was a nine day round trip cruise from Vancouver to several ports in British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. The ship was very small by todays standards (around 300 or so passengers, I believe). It was small enough to do the "real inside passage", unlike the modified semi-inside passage route that the cruise ships of today take. It was also intersting to read the comment from the earlier poster who made a two week cruise on the SS Universe. In 1971 I was fortunate enough to be one of the students to make the 112 day semester-at sea world cruise (at the time sponsored by Chapman College) during my junior year of college. We sailed West from Los Angeles to the South Pacific, New Guinea, Australia, Bali, Singapore, Ceylon, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Sierra Leone,and the Canary Islands, finally ending in New York. This certainly has always rated as one of the greatest experiences of my lifetime.

[jasl]

Had suggested several times to DH that we try a cruise, but it was always sorry NO. For our 20th anniversary in 1977 he gave in to an Alaska cruise, this was on the Vera Cruz. A few more followed in the Caribbean, maybe one every two years and when we had visited most islands, we ventured in to itineraries further away. When I come across an interesting itinerary, the reply now is "book it", yes he is hooked allright. Lost count, but we have done at least 35 cruises, the next one in September will be on the Royal Star Clipper, a true sailing ship and this should be a different adventure. We have made many friends while cruising and keep in touch with most of them. Happy sailings to ALL.

[Cookiegirl]

First time was March '04 on Celebrity's Century. Looking to sail HAL to Alaska in '05.

[lknick]

First ship: June 1937, RMS Queen Mary, New York-Cherbourg.

First HAL: January 1951, SS Grota Bear, San Francisco-Osaka.

Best HAL: April 1953, SS Nortstaar, Inchon-San Francisco

[Mary Ellen]

My first cruise was September 1980 to Alaska on the (previous) Prinsendam. I was 26 then, DH 30, and we've been happily sailing HAL since. So much for the 'geezer' cruise line theory.

DH's first cruise was circa 1951 (18 mo. old) when he sailed transatlantic to the US. He was born in Europe (Army brat ;) ) and his mother wanted to bring him 'home' to meet the family. He'd sailed transatlantic 3x, transpacific 2x and a r/t Hawaii before that Alaskan cruise. He doesn't get seasick, I REALLY do.

[elmorejj]

Our first cruise was in 1982 on CCLs Carnivale. I thought I`d died and gone to heaven!! Such service and food! I had to coax my DH into taking a cruise, all he kept saying was "I can`t swim". I told him he couldn`t fly either, but he gets on airplanes!!
Since then we have taken dozens of cruises, and have loved every one of them....jean

[dustyroad]

sept 10, 2003 i boarded the carnival spirit and sailed away to alaska and glacier bay for 7 days. it was a dream come true. i was a solo passenger but had the time of my life. i loved it so much i am taking a friend who wants to do the same trip next may. i cant wait to go again :D .

and i know these two trips wont be my last!!!!

[waltl]

:p November 1970, Home Lines "Homeric"

[L2cruise]

My first cruise was on NCL Skyward Oct 1981.

Since then 12 cruises with number 13th coming up this Sept and 14th in April 05. I have sailed on 4 NCL, 2 RCCL, 2, Princess, 2 Celebrity, 2 HAL.

Maxine

[whynotnow]

Our first cruise was on the Veendam, Aug. 13-20, 1984, RT New York/ Bermuda. Loved every second of it and we were hooked.

[mariner]

Ellinis 1968

[PhylHarv]

Our first cruise was in 1974 on the original Song of Norway--before it was made longer. Since then, we have cruised on the old Mermoz three times (Paquet Lines), Crystal Harmony, Noordam twice, Veendam twice, Volendam twice, Stella Solaris, Infinity, Norwegian Crown, and a couple riverboat cruises. We are now booked on the new Westerdam--love cruising!

[gatour]

First Cruise was on the NCL Sunward II, in Jun of 81. Second cruise was Carnivale in Jun of 82

[luv2cruise450]

If the Yangtze River cruise in 1999 doesn't count...then it would be our western Mediterranean cruise on the Maasdam in May 2000 and we have been 'hooked' ever since and HAL is our favorite line!
Happy sailing memories to all!

[CINCY40]

We took our first cruise just last August on the Amsterdam to Alaska. We were hooked immediately. Did Eastern Caribbean on the Zuiderdam in December and Western Caribbean on the Zuiderdam in May. We're looking forward to a cruise in December.

Nancy

[iluvcruzin]

1989 the Inaugral Voyage of the ss Atlantic Premier cruiseline. It was a get-away from the babies and husband cruise I took with a friend. That's all it took to get me hooked.

[Tvisitor]

see below

[debblue]

1976 home lines any of the ships sailed most of them then started with hal wen home lines was purchaed by them;)

[cactuslady]

I cheated on the word "cruise." My family crossed that Atlantic from Germany as immigrants in the summer of 1956. I was 3 (now revneal knows my answer to his poll). I used to know the name of the ship, but it's long forgotten.

Unfortunately, other than later reports from my mother about my seasickness, I am not able to make any comparisons as to the relative improvement or decline in food, service, cabin size, etc. Since I don't have to travel steerage anymore, I'd probably say things have gotten better. I imagine, however, that the sight of the Statute of Liberty from the forward deck would be equally inspiring now as then.

Next time after that was in 1979 or so, a circumnavigation of Santa Catalina Island out of Dana Point on a chartered sailboat. Food was definitely worse then, as one of the couples forgot to bring their assigned cooler of food.

[ekerr19]

Thanks everyone, what a pleasure to read - so many fond memories aren't they?

First cruise, 1984 Maiden voyage of the Noordam with Mom & Dad and my younger brother. What a fantastic time!

I had to persuade my DH to cruise on the Veendam - he thought he would be bored - but one 7-day cruise was all it took!

Looking forward (nostalgically) to the Final voyage on the Noordam - November 3, 2004.

[LizB1]

My first sailing was on the ss Maasdam from Hoboken to Southampton in 1956-returned on the old Queen Elizabeth.

First real cruise was for two weeks in January 1967 on the ss Rotterdam V from New York to the Caribbean.

Still sailing, and loving it even with all the changes, and hope to do so for many more years.

[trustee55]

Hi!
My very first cruise was on the old Chandris line's VICTORIA back in 1984. We had a wonderful Caribbean cruise and visited St. Thomas, Curaco, San Juan, Martinque and Caracas. What a wonderful experience that was...sailing for the first time.
My husband's first cruise was back in 1948 when he came to Canada from England with his family on the Cunard's Aquitania. When he saw all the food after suffering through wartime rationing, he thought he had died and gone to heaven.
After that, we sailed on the Warfarer to the small islands of the Caribbean in 1986, and then on the Song of America 1994 and 1995 to Bermuda. In 1996, we sailed on The Seawind Crown. Loved that old ship.
We had two cruises on the Sundream, one to the Meditteranean and the other to Cuba. Then we discovered Holland America!!!
We sailed on the Maasdam transatlantic in 1999, the Rotterdam in 2000, the Amsterdam in 2001, the Veendam in 2002, the Maasdam again in 2003, the Noordam in 2003, and the Zaandam and Prinsendam in 2004. We are booked on the Rotterdam this October.
Love those DAM ships.

Happy Sailing,

Carol Ann

[abrowncow]

first cruise was in 1994 (my honeymoon) on the Carnival Festivale.
we chose it because of the itinerary (how we choose most of our cruises... that's how we've ended up on NCL 5 times). the ship was small, old and cramped.
i think it is now cruising somewhere in the mediterranean if it hasn't been turned into tuna cans!

[olderpilot]

Nieuw Amsterdam, April, 1988 out of Tampa. We had our 13 year old daughter with us. Stayed on the lowest deck - bunk beds, but we had fun and still talk about the cruise.

It was 7 years 'til the next one. Booked a verandah cabin on the Statendam. We were totally spoiled after that.

[BBT]

January 1999 on S/S Norway. Asked my wife to marry me on that cruise. We had a blast! Tried to do too much though, not wanting to miss anything, thinking it might be our one and only cruise. Been on 2 more. Still love cruising and can't wait for our next one.

Sad to see Norway will longer will be sailing.

[Keith Rita]

Our first cruise was a group cruise on the Carnival Sensation in Sept 1997. To say the least--it hooked use. We were a part of the old CompuServe cruise forum and about 50 of us met for the first time on that ship. We were cruise rookies, as was others. Some of the veterans had 30 or more cruises under their belts. We made permanent friends with a few and still cruise together on occasions. :cool: :cool:

[DFD1]

1971 (I think, give or take a year) on the SS New Bahama Star. In my early 20's and recently married. Had a great time. Hooked for life. How lucky I was ! ! Time dims the memory, but I just tried to recount the cruises since them. I believe the count is up to 28 so far and looking forward to the Volendam on 11/26/04. Many of the grand old ships are gone now.....The Emerald Sea, The Monarch Sun, The Regent Ships, The Sunward and Sunward II, The Carla C, The little Enchanted Isle, and of course, the great Norway. What a time it has been !! DFD1

[MISSYLOU]

We were on the Dolphin IV in 1989 in the very bowels of the ship, inside cabin where you could here the anchors and every sound the engines made. Had one of those bath rooms where you could do all the three S's at once. S..., shower and shave. (don't mean to offend anyone that's just what we called it then)


We thought that everyone in cabins above us must be really rich to have cabins with windows as this was a four day Bahamas cruise that cost us $245 each and we really had to scrimp to come up with that kind of cash.:) We were really nervous when it came time for the tips but we did manage to come up with the appropriate cash.

It wasn't until 2001 when I saw photos of the Statendam balcony cabins and I told Paul lets go to Alaska. Been totally hooked ever since.

[MandyGirl]

Our first cruise was December 2000 on Norwegian Cruise Line's "Sky" when we were ages 26/28. We had the highest level inside cabin for a grand total inlcuding port/taxes of right at $450 each - a deal we felt could not be beat. Like many others, have been hooked since then, so we now try to balance land vacations, cruise vacations and teacher budget. :) That new car I've been wanting for several years can just keep waiting - I don't want to have to cut my travel budget!! :D

[gizmo]

Sad to see Norway will longer will be sailing.
What a ship!!! The Norway will always be at the top of my list. I guess all good things end sooner or later.

My first cruise I won by throwing a paper air plane at a hockey game. It was on on other than the Norway. I was hooked from then on and so was Mr. Gizmo. We did 4 cruises on the Norway and loved every one of them.

[Aussie Gal]

My first cruise was on the "MV Kanimbla" with my my parents and sister in the mid 50's. We went from Melbourne to Perth across the Great Australian Bight calling in to Adelaide on the way over. After a 6 day journey we arrived in Perth, had another five days there on land and then returned on the ship back to Melbourne. It was a wonderful trip and it gave both my sister and self a love of ships and the sea.

We each had our own cabin and felt very grown up. It was in the days of two class ships and I remember there was no way that one franternised with the other class, we being in first class.

Our parents had been cruising for years and they continued to do so for many more years on the wonderful P&O liners. I am so grateful to them for giving us a taste of the "good life".

Jennie

[amyr]

What a wonderful thread, I'm enjoying reading everyone's memories! Please pardon my butting in from another board :) My first cruise was on whatever Rydnam was sailing in 1968. We were to sail from Rotterdam to Montreal, but got put off in Halifax due to a dockworkers' strike. I was five years old, and made my poor mother take me to the theater every day to watch Mary Poppins.

My parents' first cruise was in (I think) 1960, on a Portugese liner from Lisbon to Miami. They stopped in Havana and had to eat their dinner out on deck because Castro and his cronies came aboard and took over the first class dining room for dinner.

Mom is still loyal to Holland America, but I'm partial to whatever itinerary looks good when I can go. I've booked my first Princess cruise for September, and I'm looking forward to trying them out.

Amy

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

Our first cruise was on the Majestic. This was the original 'Love Boat' of TV fame. We spent three days on a private island in the Abacos. A lovely small ship, although we were knee to knee on the two single beds and the shower was a bit small.

George

[sassycassie]

My first cruise was in 1985 on the beautiful HAL Rotterdam V for a wonderful week long Caribean voyage out of Ft. Lauderdale. Lately (2004) the NCL Star in Hawaii!

[Lithium]

First cruise was January of this year to Southern Carribean on the Norweigan Sky. Not the best cruise line, but we paid $450 for an ocean view room. I have been longing to go on a cruise ever since and am convinced its the only way to travel. I am now booked on HAL for Sept. 4th sailing to Western Carribean. I can't wait!!!! :D

[Lisa63]

Our first was on Atlantic, then owned by Premier, in 1990. We've been hooked ever since. :)

[CrabbyHarper]

1978 or 1979 on the Carnival - a very old ship, formerly Empress of Brittania - maybe Carnival Cruise Line's first one. A seven day cruise to Bermuda from Baltimore. Very small inside cabin shared with two other ladies. Had a blast!

Since then, RCI's Nordic Prince -twice and Song of America once - Great Fun!

Once on NCL's Sunward - so-so, will not do NCL again.

Celebrity Zenith once and Galaxy once - great! Loved Celebrity.

American Cruise Lines American Eagle - once - will not go again - overpriced and they do not deliver what they promise, too bad, because the itineraries are unique.

HAL's Maasdam in April 2004 - a big disappointment because the ship was overloaded with many unsupervised feral kids. (There were some notable exceptions that I wish were my kids!) But will give HAL another try on Maasdam in early Nov 2004 - hope the kids will all be in school!

[the2ofus]

Summer 1960. Italian Lines SS Aurelia across to France, HAL Groote Beer back from Rotterdam. Fell in love with ocean-going ships but never had a chance to do it again until 1993 on MS Statendam in her inaugural year.

Oh yes, on both those ships the bathrooms were down the hall, and you reserved your shower time. On Groote Beer I shared a cabin below the waterline with three other gals. We could hear the waves slapping the hull day and night. Ah, how things have improved. I may be one of the very few on this board who does NOT lament the "good old days of cruising".

Some purists may say that a Statendam Wayfarer Caribbean cruise is not an ocean voyage, but we were out of sight of land, there was deep blue water as far as the eye could see for hours on end and I was gently rocked to sleep each night. Good enough for me!!

Speaking of being rocked to sleep, I could use a bit of wave action tonight! Thank goodness insomnia is not a frequent event.

[danga]

My first cruise was in 1994 (Honeymoon) on RCCL Monarch of the Seas. She was new and "big" and I remember the Captain welcoming us to the largest cruiseship on the seas. I was awestruck, and that title was shortlived. The service was personal, people always dressed up and I felt like I was one of the most important people in the World... Funny how very little changes!!!
The industry has changed significantly since then but I still feel that it is the best value vacation for my money....Heres to my seventh cruise next month on the Zuiderdam (Tenth Anniversary).........

[catlib55]

Our first cruise was on the TSS Atlas (Epirotiki Cruises) out of Piraeus, Greece in August of 1982. We had our two children with us (11 and 14). We went to Rhodes, Greece, Port Said, Egypt, Ashdod, Israel, Patmos, Greece, and Kusadasi, Turkey. We disembarked in Kusadasi, because at the time, we were living in Izmir, Turkey. The ship continued on to Istanbul and back to Piraeus.
It was a wonderful cruise, and we all had a great time.
We have taken many, many cruises since then, with and without kids.
Our next one is in Dec. on the Rotterdam.
When I was a teenager, I sailed from Honolulu to Yokohama, Japan on the SS President Wilson. Then in Okinawa, I sailed on the USS General Edwin Patrick from Naha to Yokohama, and on the USS General Mitchell from Yokohama back to Naha. Then in 1962, I sailed on the SS United States from Southhampton to NYC.
Mary Ellen

[Slinkiecat]

Hahaha. What a honeymoon! I'll bet you were glad to get back home.

Slinkie

[raydon]

Fall 1982 on the NCL Sunward, 4 night cruise to Bahamas. We have been hooked since then!

[imsulin]

My first ocean crossing was in 1951...on either the SS Patch or the SS United States - no one seems to be able to remember! Think it was the Patch. We came back on the SS United States (from Germany - Bremerhaven) in 1954. My first "cruise" was on the Pacific Princess in 1978 or 1979. Senior moment - can't remember, but we did it two years in a row. Back when we were "rich"! :)

[Robin7]

Our first cruise was in January 1991, three days after the start of The Gulf War! We were on the Westerdam. Our best friends were with us, and she'd taken one of her children to the after-hours clinic the night before we left and left her driver's license in her checkbook which she left at home. They nearly wouldn't let her board the ship! Now she wouldn't even be able to enter the airport......

[Jean&Gene]

It was a long time ago, but I remember our first cruise: 1979 Carnival Festival - We had a "queen sized bed" 13 feet above the water on the lowest passenger deck - I still remember the water spashing against the port hole. Stopped in San Juan, St. Thomas, but missed the St. Maartin stop because of high winds and seas. Lot's of people sick on that cruise - but I loved it !

Jean
North Carolina

[localady]

On my honeymoon in 1983. It was a Carnival Ship, the Festivale, I think.
We booked the least expensive room, and had bunk beds, LOL. :).

Marie
And being young and in love, you probably didn't mind at all!!!:D

My first cruise was on Splendor of the Seas in the Meditterean!!! It got me totally hooked. :eek: It was a gift to myself in 1999 for my 40th birthday!!! Little did I know that it would become such a passion!!:cool:

[scamper]

S/S Norway

[NoCruiseBlues]

I Wife & I Took Our First Cruise For Our 25th Anniversary On Majesty Of The Seas In 1993.

[steveweese]

We started on the same ship as you. The S.S, Independence What a great time we had.

[cruisinjudy]

Hi Steve, we had a great time too!

[ron46936]

Our first cruise was 1995 on Sovereign of the Seas, we committed to our second on the way home.

[Ziggy7]

1986 Sitmar Cruiselines to the Caribbean! I was just out of High School a few years hehehehe.

[starysacz]

Our first cruise together was on the Volendam in 1980 from N.Y. to Bermuda and repeated the same cruise on the same ship in 1982. My DW's first cruise was on the SS United States in 1952 from N.Y. to Southampton. It was the 2nd cruise for that ship.

[Spot]

Cruised on Carnival's Mardi Gras with my sister in law - quickie Freeport/Nassau cruise - what a great time we had. It was a rust bucket but since it was our first cruise we had nothing else to compare it to. We ate all the time, drank like fish, and gambled every chance we got.

[margord]

We first cruised on the RCCL Song of Norway in 1991.

[Himself]

My first cruise was the last week of April, 1996 on the Enchanted Isle which was owned by the now defunct Commodore Cruise lines. My first HAL cruise was on the old Nieuw Amsterdam and that was in November 1996.

Slainte!

Himself

[RedmondCruiser]

First cruise was in 1986. We took a one night cruise on the Noordam from Vancouver to Portland ( where she went into drydock ). We took a group, all had never cruised before, and all were hooked. HAL did a good marketing job. They had steak and lobster for dinner and did the baked alaska parade. 30 cruises later we are going on a 21 day PC on the Statendam in Oct. which will take us to about 150 days on HAL.

[arzz]

Christmas of 1980 -- the original Sun Princess -- (aka Spirit of London, later Premier's Majestic) -- were in Martinique on Christmas day and at that time all the stores were closed on Christmas -- there were hardly even any cab drivers working that day to take us on a tour -- bravo to them a the time -- in more recent times we have discovered that even Martinique on Christmas day has given in to the lure of profits.

But the best part was the "island picnic" we were the first, second, or third week that Princess had initiated this NEW idea -- they anchored off of Palm Island in the Grenadines (what an exceptional gem of a place with a world class beach, and only one very small resort that was at capacity with 20 or 30 guests). The crew (dressed as pirates in 3/4 length pants) started at dawn and tendered in with everything that we needed for the day (beach chairs, umbrellas, charcoal grills, food, etc). They prepared an incredible feast for us on the beach and then packed it all back up and returned to the ship. My DH and I were hooked for life at that moment on those incredible Bahamian and Caribbean beaches like the one at Half Moon Cay, the Grenadines, and the ones you find all over the family islands of the Bahamas. Was Princess the first to do this and is this experience what eventually grew into today's Private Islands?

In those days the ships were small (Sun Princess was 17,000 tons as I recall -- and the cabins were hardly bigger than the double bed we slept in -- my husband and I took turns getting dressed for dinner as we could not both stand up in the cabin at the same time) but the service on board was incredible. At the end of the week our dining room steward gave us a complete set of dining room menus to keep as a momento (still have them today!)

[Fran0521]

October 1986, on the SS Norway to the Eastern Caribbean