Streamers

[CrznKris]

I am just wondering...do they still do the streamers and confetti off the side of the ship as you start to leave like you see in the movies? Is that something to bring? I haven't heard it mentioned so I'm thinking they don't do that. Probably something from my parents' era? :o

[Essiesmom]

Nope, not any more. Only cruise we did that was inaugural cruise of Star Princess from Singapore. It was raining, and the color ran on the colored streamers. Some people wearing white not happy. EM

[cruzeluver]

Yep, the streamers and confetti thing ended quite a few years ago. You can imagine the mess it makes as well as the environmental impact. Although I have to admit, it was fun as a kid cruising in the early 1980's!:)

[CrznKris]

Well darn. :) I hope people still stand at the ends and wave, at least.

[tak81288]

Well darn. :) I hope people still stand at the ends and wave, at least.

 

 

Yup. People still wave!

[Krazy Kruizers]

It has been years and years since we threw streamers when we left the Embarkation port. I still have a couple of rolls that I saved from Cunard and Princess.

As for people waving -- the US ports are very secured -- you will see dock workers -- once in a while a couple will wave. People in the US are not allowed down to the cruise to see them off like in the old days.

In foreign ports we have had the tour guides, bus drivers and vendors wave good bye to us.

If you have a cruise leaving out of Ft Lauderdale -- when you go by the houses and Condo's on the port side -- the ship will blow its whistle and several of the people will wave, flash their lights, wave a beach towel for that cruise line and a couple will blow a horn.

[sparky-elpaso]

Here's the link to the Port Canaveral webcam. The ships usually leave around 5:00 pm eastern time.

 

http://www.portfever.com/

[Mom_to_2_NC]

Here's the link to the Port Canaveral webcam. The ships usually leave around 5:00 pm eastern time.

 

http://www.portfever.com/

 

how cool!

[jocap]

There's often people waving the ships off in the Mayflower park, Southampton, especially when there's more than one ship leaving; I've noticed quite a few folk gathering at the end of the dock in Vigo.

Twice I've sailed from Venice with Italian opera music pouring from the ship- this makes even the gondaliers wave!

Jo.

[Marie51]

The confetti & streamers fall into the water and fish try to eat them....same with cigarette butts. Don't throw anything overboard.

[Harry and Lucille]

I wave. Always wonder why. Folks in their multi-million dollar homes, the folks in their high priced condos, sit on their patio or balcony, wave and some blow their compressed air horns as we go by. Then we go back to the Lido buffet. They go open a bottle of champagne and open the caviar and probably think that we poorer class folks think that we have hit it big. Little do they know that we are probably enjoying life more than they have ever experienced. :cool:

[STARFISH*4]

did get to experience this in the mid 1960s as a child when my family took a Navy ship from Guam to Oakland......was very COOL and all the leis in the water.--i remember having like 4 of them on me--i didnt want to throw mine.

[CrznKris]

Here's the link to the Port Canaveral webcam. The ships usually leave around 5:00 pm eastern time.

 

http://www.portfever.com/

 

Love the cam. Even when there's nothing to see, it sure puts me in the mood. Can't wait.

[eh2zed]

Did it on our very first cruise but alas no more

[patty0227]

Well darn. :) I hope people still stand at the ends and wave, at least.

 

We were at the port in Galveston a couple weeks ago when the Carnival Conquest sailed out of port and we waved and the people on the ship waved back . It was a nice relaxing afternoon, waiting for our RCI cruise 11-11-11.

:p

[Cruisin' Chick]

the only times I've seen streamers (at least the last several cruises) has been at deck parties. No danger of any of them falling over the side of the ship.

 

At some ports you can see people on land waving to you. If you are leaving from the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, there will be outside diners at the Mexican restaurant in the Ports O'Call building who will be greeting you on the starboard side.

[Happy ks]

The best sailaway we ever had was out of Honolulu Harbor in 2000. The old American Hawaiian Independence. There were hula dancers and a Hawaiian music playing on the dock and locals there to wave to us. The fire boats spraying water around us and private boats escorting us. They did have streamers, but it was a type that disintegrated upon hitting the water.

 

It was nice, we even got to bring some friends aboard for the afternoon, they had cocktails with us and buffet lunch. The whole day was lovely.

 

I have such fond memories of that cruise, it makes me sad the ship is no longer in service. Last I heard it was half sunk off the coast of (India??). Some people thought it was an old rust bucket in comparison to newer cruise ships. I thought it had a lovely patina and the best crew I've ever met. It was a Hawaiian experience, not just a cruise around the islands.

 

We've had other thrilling moment during sailaway or arrival. On QM2, the meeting of the Queens in Long Beach in 2006. It was incredible how many boats and people turned out for the arrival. Sail boats, private yachts, fishing boats, row boats and even jet skis were escorting the new Queen. Sailaway from Venice, Italy on another ship was beautiful and very emotional, people in St. Marks Square came out to wave to the ship.

 

Most of the time, you just have to be up on the pool deck and join the party, or make your own party, but no streamers or confetti. The Captain makes this announcement every muster drill...absolutely nothing thrown off the side of the ship.