Sailaways in the old days.

[Taxguy77]

I remember the old days and my DH and I still dress to board and travel.

 

I could have commented on any one of the messages here -- choose to comment on yours because of your remark your daughter "howled" - this reminded me of something I saw on TV last night. For get what show, there was a interesting discussion that an Ivy League College on the east coast has a college class to teach students what dress and style use to be and how the average "housewife" in the l950s dressed to go shopping, church or anywhere for that manner. The name of the class is "Have We Become a Country of Slobs?"

 

When I saw this last night, I thought to myself at last, someone is recognizing there is a big need for improvement in this area today. I feel sorry especially for young people today, they have no role models. What will they look like when they get old? Just maybe the days of flip flops, shorts, tshirts as acceptable attire anywhere will change to something better. I hope so.

 

Even in these days of limited luggage allowance on air it is still possible to dress well, we do it easily. It is just a matter of priority and pride which is what motived folks so many years ago. I feel we lost that over the years.

 

Do remember the days when everyone dressed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While that maybe extreme, I would be happy to see it done for dinner today. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.

 

I liked your post, even though I lived on the Island for years where shorts, flip-flops and T shirts are considered semi-formal. HAL said several "formal" nights so I took some dress shirts and old (Don't have any new) ties for dinner. Then found that Lido was a much nicer venue than the depressing MDR, and ate in shorts the rest of the cruise!

 

What I don't understand is the people that wear T shirts in the MDR.:eek: My grandsons learned in High School golf that a collar is required for access to any reputable golf course!

I always take T shirts on a cruise, for pajama tops.:rolleyes:

[tbmrt]

We booked an upcoming cruise on MSC and were disappointed to read that they really made very little of sailaway....We love the ambiance of sailaway since it seemed to really "start" our cruise!

 

MSC doesn't leave Miami til 7pm and I guess sailaways conflict too much with dinner times.

 

That being said, we'll toast to a great cruise on our balcony!

 

Barbara

[TARRA]

When was the last time there was a band playing as you sailed away?

 

A booklet with passengers names listed?

 

Charge for lounges at the pool?

 

Drinks that were cheaper than in the States because the liquor was duty free after sailing away?

 

All meals were served at your seating time not just dinner?

 

You got smutty from the engine soot up on deck?

 

Nost of the crew were the same nationality as the ship?

 

I sailed the SS Homeric in 1967 on a Computer Matched Cruise with my friend. We had the normal BonVoyage Party in our cabin, complete with hors d'oevres and drinks. Sailaway was accompanied by streamers and confetti, a band, and waving to friends on the pier! The drinks were very reasonable (cheap) and were good! There was small bands playing throughout the ship daily and good entertainment in the lounges at night. It was a different and fun time!

[jammen]

I remember in the "olden days" at sailaway there used to be a lot of confetti and most of all serpentine. It was a rolled up strip of paper and you'd hold one end and the other end would unravel. If someone came to see you off they'd be on the dock and you would aim it at them and they would hold on to their end and you each hold your end as the ship sailed until it broke. I realize that it was not an ecologically sound move and would never be done today but it made the departure fun and exciting. Anyone else remember those "thrilling days of yesteryear"?

 

Without a doubt, I do miss those days. What memories.

[JimAOk1945]

I'm glad this old thread resurfaced. I've enjoyed reading it.

 

Happy cruising to all!

[Kentchikan]

I'm glad this old thread resurfaced. I've enjoyed reading it.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Me too it's a great trip back in time.

[YubaSutter]

I remember in the "olden days" at sailaway there used to be a lot of confetti and most of all serpentine. It was a rolled up strip of paper and you'd hold one end and the other end would unravel. If someone came to see you off they'd be on the dock and you would aim it at them and they would hold on to their end and you each hold your end as the ship sailed until it broke. I realize that it was not an ecologically sound move and would never be done today but it made the departure fun and exciting. Anyone else remember those "thrilling days of yesteryear"?

 

The first time I sailed on a ship was 1970. It was fun to throw the streamers off the ship and wave to the crowd at the dock. I also remember smacking golf balls into the ocean and trap shooting off the back of the ship.

[Mparis184]

Oh those good old cruising days. Now the only thing that is old is me. LOL

 

Marion

[Kentchikan]

Oh those good old cruising days. Now the only thing that is old is me. LOL

 

Marion

 

Well, at least we're still here which is more than we can say for some of the ships we sailed on. LOL :D

Edited June 27, 2014 by Kentskie

[SPacificbound]

Don't forget there were few if any verandahs.

No or poor air conditioning.

No private baths in all cabins.

Prices were very high and only the wealthy could cruise.

Formal dress many nights and gentlemen expected to be in tie and jacket every evening in MDR with ladies dressed commensurately.

Generous tipping was de riguer.

Guests sharing a table shared their wine. One guest each night would treat the table.

No TV's or DVD players.

 

Some changes from the 'good old days' are most welcome by me. :D

 

 

I'm very happy with the "new" days. :) Which one of these days will be called the "good old days".

[celebrity]

On my first cruise we left out of NYC.

 

In those days we did throw confetti and in the afternoon before we left friends and family could board and there were all sorts of parties.

 

Keith

 

Our first cruise was out of NYC as well.It was our honeymoon. Family and

friends boarded with us for a Bon Voyage party arranged by my parents with the cruise line. We were served cocktails and Tid bits in the lounge while the band played. Set sail with streamers and my loved ones waving us off to our new life together. :)

Sadly, the Achille Lauro changed what was once a wonderful tradition. Glad I had the experience

[Kentchikan]

Our first cruise was out of NYC as well.It was our honeymoon. Family and

friends boarded with us for a Bon Voyage party arranged by my parents with the cruise line. We were served cocktails and Tid bits in the lounge while the band played. Set sail with streamers and my loved ones waving us off to our new life together. :)

Sadly, the Achille Lauro changed what was once a wonderful tradition. Glad I had the experience

 

I didn't realize that the Achille Lauro had change that tradition. I have a friend who was on the cruise before the cruise that was hijacked. And on one considers that we were on the cruise director had been the cruise director on that ship on that trip.

[crzndeb]

Wow, this thread makes me think about those days. My first cruise was on Sitmar Fairwind in 1980, and how grand it was. I was 29 and I went with 3 girlfriends. The Italian crew, oh my!! They would sneak into our cabins, bring alcohol, and we would laugh, and talk about their country. Sometimes there would be 8 in our cabin having innocent fun.

 

I remember paying $1100 for an inside cabin, but that included air, and hotel the night before the cruise. I thought that was a great deal.

 

I sailed Sitmar 4 more times before it was sold to Princess. Those cruises enabled me to be Platinum on Princess, and I haven't sailed them since 2000. I hope to return.

 

I remember the meals made at the dinner table, the sommelier coming to the table with his tasting spoon around his neck, the theater where many of us dressed up for the Rocky Horror Picture show, Circolo de Commadante party for return passengers (I still have the etched crystal glasses), and there were usually .less than 40 people.

 

It was before the internet and there were no expectations. We stepped on board the ships and we were in awe, excitedly going from one end to the other, exploring all the nooks and crannies. There was no discussion about smuggling, chair hogs, buffet line cutting.

 

We respected each other and walked by with a truly friendly hello. There were pleases and thank you's and we felt blessed being able to take this type of vacation.

 

It's a new era and a new generation now, but you can always tell which cruisers are from back then. We try to hold onto a little bit of the nostalgia. We have a few more wrinkles, and have a few more aches and pains, and walk a bit slower, but we remember!!

[dorisis]

The old Norway did it best!

 

SO TRUE!! With bands playing. No balconies back then, so most passengers would be out on deck.

[Kentchikan]

Wow, this thread makes me think about those days. My first cruise was on Sitmar Fairwind in 1980, and how grand it was. I was 29 and I went with 3 girlfriends. The Italian crew, oh my!! They would sneak into our cabins, bring alcohol, and we would laugh, and talk about their country. Sometimes there would be 8 in our cabin having innocent fun.

 

I remember paying $1100 for an inside cabin, but that included air, and hotel the night before the cruise. I thought that was a great deal.

 

I sailed Sitmar 4 more times before it was sold to Princess. Those cruises enabled me to be Platinum on Princess, and I haven't sailed them since 2000. I hope to return.

 

I remember the meals made at the dinner table, the sommelier coming to the table with his tasting spoon around his neck, the theater where many of us dressed up for the Rocky Horror Picture show, Circolo de Commadante party for return passengers (I still have the etched crystal glasses), and there were usually .less than 40 people.

 

It was before the internet and there were no expectations. We stepped on board the ships and we were in awe, excitedly going from one end to the other, exploring all the nooks and crannies. There was no discussion about smuggling, chair hogs, buffet line cutting.

 

We respected each other and walked by with a truly friendly hello. There were pleases and thank you's and we felt blessed being able to take this type of vacation.

 

It's a new era and a new generation now, but you can always tell which cruisers are from back then. We try to hold onto a little bit of the nostalgia. We have a few more wrinkles, and have a few more aches and pains, and walk a bit slower, but we remember!!

 

Well said and so true.

[celebrity]

Feeling so nostalgic! There was no internet as someone mentioned, just a glossy brochure .

There were no TV's in the cabins. You relied upon the world news that was slipped under your door in the wee hours. I remember that they reported John Wayne's death on my first cruise but neglected to mention there was an oil embargo while we were at sea. Our cab driver broke the news to us as he drove us to our first home as a couple. He said, " I hope you have gas in your tank as people are siphoning from gas tanks. " : eek : I recall having the staff line up as you stepped foot onboard, welcomed you onboard by name and escorted you to your cabin.

The orchestra was playing in the centrum and you felt so privileged to be onboard.

It was such a special time and I so agree that you can tell who sailed " back then. "

Don't get me wrong, I still love cruising and always will BUT yes you can always spot an old timer by the very way they conduct themselves onboard.

Grabbing tissues now.

[boogs]

I remember paying $1100 for an inside cabin, but that included air, and hotel the night before the cruise. I thought that was a great deal.

 

Would you be willing to spend $3,175.85 for that same inside cabin "great deal" today? I doubt it. Your $1,100 in 1980 would now be 288% higher due to inflation (Source: http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=1%2C100.00&year1=1980&year2=2014). Most of the "nostalgia" people conveniently forget that if prices had kept up with inflation they would be thinking that cruising today was far too expensive to enjoy more than once in a life time, if at all.

 

People lament the way it used to be. But, they also paid much more to have those relatively few "good old says" amenities that are missed. Today we now enjoy a long list of additional amenities that didn't exist a few decades ago, and at a much lower price. Sorry, but I the current times are "the good days" of cruising.

Edited June 29, 2014 by boogs

[celebrity]

Would you be willing to spend $3,175.85 for that same inside cabin "great deal" today? I doubt it. Your $1,100 in 1980 would now be 288% higher due to inflation (Source: http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=1%2C100.00&year1=1980&year2=2014). Most of the "nostalgia" people conveniently forget that if prices had kept up with inflation they would be thinking that cruising today was far too expensive to enjoy more than once in a life time, if at all.

 

People lament the way it used to be. But, they also paid much more to have those relatively few "good old says" amenities that are missed. Today we now enjoy a long list of additional amenities that didn't exist a few decades ago, and at a much lower price. Sorry, but I the current times are "the good days" of cruising.

 

I know what you are saying. We paid $699 pp for a 7 day cruise to Bermuda in 1979.

Howvever, it was spectacular. 5 star service all the way.

If we continued to pay those rates factoring in inflation, our 2 sons would never have enjoyed the 19 cruises we paid for them. They had quite an amazing childhood.

Doesn't mean I don't miss the grandness of old time cruising.