Your first cruise ship

[Copper10-8]

1972! Now you know how old I am! DH even had hair then and we were both skinny and didn't have to worry about all those meals. Our cabin was an inside all the way in the bottom of the ship. Who cared, we were happy and when we left the ship we were totally addicted to cruising. The Mardi Gras was lovely, at least we thought so then. I do remember the dining room was completely closed in, no windows, and plenty of passengers left dinner some nights due to sea sickness. Thanks for bringing back all the wonderful memories, we need them here in Texas.

 

 

Empress of Canada (1961-2003) Delivered in 1961 as the Empress of Canada to British company Canadian Pacific Steamships as their last passenger liner, to serve on the Liverpool-Canada line. She made her maiden voyage on 24th April 1961, by which time the service had already become summer only. She ran her first winter Caribbean cruise from New York in December 1961. She cruised out of New York during the winter, and the number of Atlantic crossings reduced over the years, so that only seven crossings were made in 1969.

 

Sold in 1972 to Carnival Cruise Lines and renamed Mardi Gras. In 1993 she was sold to Greek company Epirotiki Lines who chartered her to Gold Star Cruises as a casino ship, renamed Star of Texas. In 1994 she became Lucky Star cruising out of Miami. In 1995 she was laid up in Greece and renamed Apollon. In 1999 she was chartered as Apollon to Direct Cruises in the UK for one year. From 2001 she operated out of Piraeus for Royal Olympia Cruises (the former Epirotiki) on 3- to 4-day cruises. In December 2003, renamed Apollo for her final journey, she was beached at Alang, India, and scrapped.

 

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[babyher]

John

 

 

I was just wondering if there were any sites on the internet you could go to to see the interiors of some of these ships. Some of the "Golden Age" ships are so beautiful, I would love to see what the cabins, dining rooms , etc looked like.

 

Is there anywhere that these types of pics are posted ?

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on P & O's Orsova in 1967. My girlfriend and I sailed from Vancouver to Hawaii. It was a 5-day cruise. We had an amazing time and it only cost us $199.00 each. In those days, there was tourist class and 1st class. We had booked in tourist class but it was over-booked so we got bumped up to 1st class. Unfortunately, most of the 20 somethings (like us) were in tourist class. So, we managed to sneak into tourist class, but were caught and reprimanded - hilarious when you think of it! They actually had locked doors which separated tourist and first class.

 

When you compare the amenities aboard ship today, there is no comparison. We had bunk beds in a very spartan room and the bathroom was down the hall. But the service was amazing and so was the food. And drinks were only 25 cents each!! Our room steward woke us up every morning with freshly squeezed orange juice! I'll never forget how beautiful and exciting it was in the early morning hours sailing into Oahu's harbour and watching the sun come up.

 

The following year, I got married and it took me until 1980 to convince my late husband to go on a cruise. He had had a very turbulent trip across the Atlantic before I met him (pretty near everyone was seasick) and had absolutely no desire to get back on a ship. That all changed when we flew into Puerto Rico and boarded the Veendam for a Caribbean cruise. He was then hooked, like me.

 

Thanks for starting this thread Copper - it's wonderful to read of others' first cruises and it's a real trip down memory lane for all of us!

 

Do you know what became of the Orsova? I would love to know.

 

Judy

 

 

s/s Orsova (1954-1975) a 1503-passenger ocean liner, was built by Vickers Armstrong Shipbuilders Ltd. of Barrow-in-Furness, England in 1954 for the Orient Steam Navigation Company or Orient Line, for UK to Australia services via the Suez Canal, the voyage taking 4 weeks. After 1955 the return trip was eastward via Auckland, Suva, Honolulu, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Panama, Trinidad and Cherbourg. In 1960, she reverted to P&O-Orient Lines after Orient Line and P & O were merged

She was transferred to sister company P & O (Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navihation Company) in 1966 and was switched to cruising. On 14 February 1974, she arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping which was completed in 1975.

 

 

 

[Copper10-8]

My husband's first cruise was on Vulcania 11/22/1936. Third class cabin. A transatlantic cruise from Italy to NYC. He was coming to his new home in America. It was a rough trip. He was processed through Ellis Island. I can't get him to take another transatlantic but he loves to cruise, all most as much as I do.

 

Maria

 

 

m/s Vulcania (1928-1974) Built by Cantiere Navale Triestino in Monfalcony, Italy in 1926 for the Italian Cosulich Line. Launched in 1926, she sailed from Trieste on her maiden voyage to Patras, Greece, Naples and New York. In December 1936, she commenced her last Trieste - New York voyage for Cosulich Line and in 1937 went to the newly formed Italia Line or Società di Navigazione Italia. In 1941, she was requisitioned by the Italian Government to carry troops to North Africa and in 1942-1943, she was used on three special missions to repatriate women and children on a route between Genoa and East Africa via South Africa. In October 1943, she became a U.S. troopship and on 29 March 1946 was chartered to American Export Lines to run between New York - Naples - Alexandria. She commenced her last voyage on this service on 4 October 1946 and, after six round voyages, was returned to Italia Line on 15 November 1946.

She then sailed New York - Naples - Genoa. In July 1947 she made a single voyage from Genoa to South America and then resumed the Genoa - Naples - New York service. On 28 October 1955, she was transferred to run between Trieste, Venice, Patras, Naples, Palermo, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Halifax and New York. In 1965 she was sold to the Siosa Line who renamed her Caribia. In 1972 she was laid up and in 1973 she arrived in Barcelona under tow to be scrapped and departed for Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping on 15 March 1974. the She is seen here at New York in October, 1959.

[Hutch&Pat]

Think it was called The Queen of Bermuda in the early '60's .... sailed out of NYC, hit a bad storm, took an extra day to get to Bermuda due to rough seas! Ship had no stabilizers; 90% of the passengers and over 50% of the crew were out of commission. I remember the waiter pouring a pitcher of water on the table cloth as we sat down to try to keep the plates and glasses from sliding off! Had dinner last night with a friend that I shared the cabin with -- what great memories.

Probably my favorite memory was being on the Norway in St. Thomas when these two cute sailboats came up and saluted us ...... later sailed on one of them, and the captain was captain of one of the two Windstars' that day!

Pat

[u4ea]

Thanks Copper John, I’ve very much enjoyed this!:cool:

My first cruise was also on the Windjammer Polynesia in 1975 with my father.

My first cruise as an adult where I got hooked was on the Carnival Jubilee in 2001. Four night western Caribbean round trip from Tampa and I remember it well (despite the lost brain cells :eek:;)).

Jubilee is now P&O Pacific Sun. BTW, that’s the ship that got “knocked around” in 25ft seas off the coast of New Zealand a couple of months ago.

Mark….

[ookpik]

First voyage..Mombassa/S'oton and backin 1960 on Kenya Castle(When it was pronounced KEEnya!)

First cruise on the Statendam,S Caribean,March 1978..just before RuthC

Remember those old flag colours of orange ,turquoise and white?

[RuthC]

Remember those old flag colours of orange ,turquoise and white?

Sure do! In those days we didn't get the nice canvas bags we get now. They did use plastic bags, though, in that orange color, with the wavy flag design on it. I still have mine.

[Copper10-8]

First voyage..Mombassa/S'oton and backin 1960 on Kenya Castle(When it was pronounced KEEnya!)

First cruise on the Statendam,S Caribean,March 1978..just before RuthC

Remember those old flag colours of orange ,turquoise and white?

 

 

HAL house flags:

 

 

Nederlandsch Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij/Netherlands American Steamship Company (1873-1971)

 

HAL (1971-1983)

 

HAL (1983-2000)

 

HAL (2000-present)

[Copper10-8]

this is a really great topic

my 1st was CROWN DYNASTY from los angeles to vancover.

(now BRAEMAR) now over 40 cruises later MAXIM GORKY this coming saturday

dave

 

Crown Dynasty (1993-present) Constructed in 1993 for Effjohn International 's Crown Cruise Line, operating under the name Crown Dynasty. Between 1993 and 1997, she vessel was charted by Cunard Line, who named her Cunard Crown Dynasty while under their flag. In 1997, she was chartered to Majesty Cruise Line, who renamed her Crown Majesty. This only lasted until the end of that year when she was chartered once again, this time to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), who renamed her Norwegian Dynasty. She returned to her original name of Crown Dynasty in 1999, but was them sold to Fred Olsen Cruises (UK) in 2001, where she is currently operating under the name Braemar.

[Copper10-8]

Great topic - interesting replies.

 

My first ocean voyage (a crossing, not a cruise) was June 7, 1950 from San Francisco to Honolulu aboard Matson Lines' fabled Lurline. And, yes, my love affair with ships has never waned with well over 300 crossings/cruises under my belt.

 

My first voyage with HAL was aboard the 1938 Nieuw Amsterdam - August 12, 1952 from Hoboken to Rotterdam.

 

Lurline (1932-1987) Lurline was launched in 1932 as the last of a trio of ocean liners built for the Matson Lines’ Pacific services. She was one of two Matson liners which provided service between Hawaii and the American mainland (California) until the United States became involved in the second world war. From 1942 until 1946, she became a troopship. After the war, from 1946 until 1963, she resumed her Hawaiian cruises mixed with the occasional Pacific cruise.

Serious competition from jet airliners caused passenger loads to fall in the early 1960s. After suffering engine trouble, Lurline was laid up until being sold to Chandris Lines in 1963. She cruised for Chandris as immigration ship Ellinis on Greece to Australia service until being laid up between 1980 and 1987. She was sold in 1986 to be scrapped in Taiwan in 1987

[Dett]

I cruised RCCL's Song of Norway in 1978 with my Mother. We went to the eastern caribbean and visited Dominican Republic, St. Thomas and San Juan. I will never forget the Dominican Republic as it is the first time that I had ever seen such poverty.

[Copper10-8]

GREAT THREAD!!

 

Wow....I am yet another one that sailed for the first time on the Viking Serenade and that exact itinerary!! Only ours was the following year -- Nov of '92. It was given to my as a SURPRISE by my now ex (it's ok-we're still great friends) for my XX b'day.......He was great.....He even packed and had us all ready....he took me out to lunch and then headed for the pier.....had it all set up with my boss.....

 

So.....YES!! I am STILL hooked!!! I would go ANYWHERE via ship!!

 

 

Scandinavia (1982-present) The Scandinavia was delivered in 1982 to DFDS Seaways' subsidiary Scandinavian World Cruises. She operated a cruise-ferry service from New York to Freeport, Bahamas which was not successful so she was transferred the Oslo-Copenhagen service briefly in 1984. In 1985, she was sold to Sundance Cruises and renamed Stardancer. Sundance soon merged with Eastern Cruise Line to form Admiral Cruises. When Admiral was bought by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1991, she became RCCL's Viking Serenade.Built as a car ferry, her chunky ferry looks were further spoilt when the funnel was shortened and an RCCL's Sky lounge was fitted. In 2002 she was renamed Island Escape and she is currently operating as part of Island Cruises, a Royal Caribbean/First Choice Holidays joint venture.The Island Escape currently operates in the Mediterranean Sea during the northern hemisphere summer, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil for the southern hemisphere summer season when she is based out of Santos (Sao Paulo). During her European season she is based at Palma de Mallorca, Spain

.

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was on Carnival's "Holiday" in Nov., 1986. My husband won the trip on the game show, "Let's Make a Deal". It was a brand new ship at the time and they put us in one of the 10 top rooms which were called verandah suites and let us bring our 2 girls who were then 6 1/2 and 9. They also threw in several days at Disney World. It was a great trip.

 

Unfortunately, with raising kids and all, we never cruised again until May, 2001 on HAL's Ryndam southbound to Alaska and as my signature shows we are now "Hooked" and I am really addicted and addicted to reading as much as I can on cruise critic. Alaska has been my favorite place to cruise. The scenery in Alaska is so picturesque and peaceful to the psyche.

 

If I am not researching information for an upcoming cruise I feel like something is missing. Really bad! My husband doesn't care much where he cruises just as long as he is cruising.

 

You know the saying, "cruising is always better than not".

 

 

"Holiday" (1984-present) Delivered in 1984 to Carnival Cruise Lines for which she is still sailing. However, she will be transferred to Spanish Line Iberocruceros, a joint venture between Carnival and Orizonia, for which she will become Grand Holiday in NOV 2009

[Copper10-8]

Don't remember the name of the ship but it was in the late 1960's. Do rremember that it was a converted troop transport from WWII. I will always remember that fathroom. You could sit on the commode, get a shower, and shave in the mirror all at the same time. It was that small. The beds were welded to the floor. We were way forward and when underway the porthole was under water.

 

First HAL cruise was on the Noordam in the 1980's. We will always love that ship. Got to sail on the new one sometime in the future...

 

Ruth & Jim

 

 

m/s Noordam III (1984-present) Delivered to Holland America Line in 1984 and operated for them until 2004 when she was time- chartered to Thomson Cruises and renamed Thomson Celebration

 

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on NCL's SS Norway. I was only about 6 or 7 so I do not quite remember the exact date. I was actually on the final cruise on this wonderful ship back in 2003.

 

 

s/s France (1962-2007) Delivered as ocean liner "France" to the French Line aka Compagnie Generale Transatlantigue (CGT) in 1962 and served as that line's flagship until 1974. In that year she was mothballed in Le Havre where she stayed until purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line in 1979. Renamed s/s Norway, she sailed for NCL until a boiler explosion occurred in 2003 while she was berthed in Miami, Fl. She was eventually soldin April 2006 to Bridgend Shipping Limited of Monrovia, Liberia, and renamed SS Blue Lady in preparation for scrapping. She was towed to Alang, India where, after lengthy court battles, scrapping was begun in December 2007 continuing into 2008.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was NCL Star in 1984. We flew from California to Miami and cruised to St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata, and Haiti. Instant addiction for me.

 

 

Starward (1968-present) First operated by Norwegian Caribbean Line, later Norwegian Cruise Line. Sold to Festival Cruises in 1994 and renamed Bolero. Renamed Orient Queen for Orient Queen Shipping in 2005 and currently sailing under that name for Louis Cruise Lines since 2006.

 

[Copper10-8]

Now I understand why this addiction started. Our first cruise was on RCI the Sovereign of the Seas. We thought it was wonderful...that was in 2001. No more land vacations for us!

 

 

Sovereign of the Seas (1988-present) Delivered in 1988 to Royal Caribbean International at which time, she was the largest cruise ship in the world at 73,192 gross tons. She was initially based at the Port of Miami however in 2006, started sailing three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral, Fl. These cruises visit CocoCay, one of RCI's privately-owned islands, in the Berry Islands group. She will be transferred to the fleet of RCI's subsidiary Pullmantur Cruises (Spain) in late 2008 when she will be renamed Sovereign.

[Howasaur]

Ther was a contest on a local Radio Station Lite 96 and they called out your name and you had to call in within 10 minutes. My wife's name was called and a friend woke me up (I was on night shift) says her name was called ,, Just by chance my wife had her cell phone on and she called in.

Our first trip was Jan2 2002 on Royal Carribean Visions of the Sea a seven day trip including airfare. Throughly enjoyed the experience and wish to continue on. I enjoy meeting people and hanging over the railing looking for sea life and just watching the world go by.:) :)

 

We have cruised

Royal Carribean Radiance of the Sea 15 day Panama Canal

Holland America Ryndam 10 day Sea of Cortez

Holland America Ryndam 7 day inside passage Alaska

coming this Feb Noordam 10 day carribean

[Copper10-8]

Unless one counts the numerous ferry trips across Puget Sound, the Virginia V boat I took to/from camp on Vashon Island each summer or the Princess Margarette that sailed between Seattle and Victoria.... Our first cruise was on the Prinsendam (I) in Sept 1980. That was her last completed sailing.

 

Now, DH had crossed the Atlantic and Pacific a total of 5x as a child, but I doubt he knows the names of those Army transport ships. He did actually sail on the cruise ship s.s. Lureline when his dad was transfered to Hawaii. That he remembers, as he (about 8-yrs old) ordered beef bouillon at dinner the first night and was quite surprised about what he was served. :rolleyes:

 

I can't say DH had an instant addiction until we sailed on the Prinsendam. :D

 

 

m/s Prinsendam I (1972-1980) Delivered as Prinsendam I to Holland America Line in 1973. She was the last cruise ship to be built in the Netherlands and the first built specifically as a cruise ship. At first she was routed on a year-round schedule of 14-day cruises out of Singapore for the cruise trade in the Indonesian Archipelago. Those expectations were high; even an option for a sister ship was taken, but this strategy proved to be unsuccessful.

 

From 1975 the Prinsendam was switched to the more lucrative Alaska cruise trade and was based out of Vancouver. While sailing on a positioning cruise from Vancouver, BC to the Orient, and transiting through Gulf of Alaska waters, approximately 120 miles south of Yakutat, Alaska on October 4th, 1980, an engine room fire broke out. Luckily the passengers and crew (524 in total) were all saved. Despite furious efforts to extinguish the fire, the ship heeled over more and more and eventually sank on October 11th, 1980 at 08.35 local time.

In April 1981, Popular Mechanics magazine published an article about the disaster, reproduced here.

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[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was in 1968 as a seven year old on the SS United States going from New York to Bremerhaven, West Germany. First adult cruise in 1981 on NCL Starward out of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean.

 

ss United States (1952-present) Built in 1952 for the United States Lines. While the United States was at Newport News for her annual overhaul in 1969, her owners decided to take her out of service and she was laid up at Newport News. A few years later, she was moved to Norfolk, Va. Since then, ownership has been passed between several companies. In 2003, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) purchased the ship from the estate of Edward Cantor when she was put up for auction after his death with the stated intent of fully restoring her to a service role in their newly-announced American-flagged Hawaiian passenger service called NCL America. The ship is currently berthed in Philadelphia until a decision is made about her fate.

 

[kayden]

Mine was the Statendam, in July of this year (2008) (already pictured in this thread) to be exact. I was hooked on cruising as soon as I boarded the ship. I'll be sailing on it again in 2 days, and after that, who knows what my next ship will be! :D

[Copper10-8]

Copper John – I goofed!!:eek::eek:

 

When I thought of our first cruise, my mind raced to HAL and our Nieuw Amsterdam voyage to Alaska in 1992. But alas – our first cruise was actually in 1989 aboard Society Expeditions World Discoverer. It was a 14-nite expedition cruise down the Amazon River from Manaus, Brazil to Iquitos, Peru. This was a fabulous intro to adventure travel (we didn’t think of it as a “cruise”). And yes we were hooked & sailed aboard the World Discoverer to Antarctica a few years later – before ill fate met the company.

 

Bewa Discoverer (1974-2000) Delivered in 1974 as Bewa Discoverer and built expressly for expedition and adventure cruises, she sailed originally for Bewa Cruises (Denmark). In July of 1976 she was sold to Adventure Cruises Inc. and renamed World Discoverer. In 1980 she began a long-term charter by Society Expeditions whose name, in 1987, was changed to Society Expedition Cruises by new owners Discoverer Reederei (Germany), with offices in Bremen, Germany and Seattle, WA

On April 30, 2000, in the middle of a trip to the Solomon Islands, near the World War II battlefields around Guadalcanal, the ship struck an uncharted coral reef in the Sandfly Passage, ripping a large hole in the hull and causing a 20 degree list. The captain decided to run her aground to stop her from sinking further.

All ninety-nine passengers onboard were taken off and ferried to nearby Ngella island and later taken to the main Solomon island of Guadalcanal by charter vessel.

 

The nearest salvage companies were in Australia, and by the time they reached the ship, it had been ransacked, and tidal action had caused further damage. Complicating matters was the civil war raging in the Solomons; one of the warring factions had allegedly boarded the ship at one point, looking for supplies and equipment. The owners eventually declared the ship a total constructive loss. As a side note, Society Expeditions ceased operations in June, 2004,

 

[cruisinjudy]

This is great. I am reliving old memories. Not only did I see my first ship, but I have seen others I sailed that are no longer in the fleets. Thanks

[richwmn]

After 350 posts, all very interesting, I guess I will add mine. I had 6 years active USN with 9 hrs "sea" time (Panama Canal Transit in 1977 aboard the USS Kinkaid) I had my first cruise on the Zaandam in 2000. As with many, the first was the best. Two of the cruise staff were from SEC schools (FL and KY) so we had a lot to talk and joke about. I had a great time and was more than ready to cruise again. As a side note, the Kinkaid was a new build out of Mississippi when I did the transit and is now a reef somewhere.

 

Rich