Would you sail one of the original Royal Caribbean ship if it was in the fleet today?

[PuterMonkey]

I feel like it's easy to say "Sure, I'd try that."

 

But in reality, with all the big flashy options out there, that's not the ship I would pick. Not unless the budget difference was that big.

[ukulelemick]

Yes. .I would if it meant less people on the ship.... But maybe the ratio of persons to size of ship stays the same.

[PRgymnast]

No balcony, no cruise for me.

[timeoff]

Sailed on all three and have wonderful memories. Thats how we got hooked on cruising. Would do it all over again. Something about those ships that new ones do not have.

[Canadian Tyler]

Very cool pictures. Can't get over how small the VCL looks.

 

 

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[berwyn]

No balcony, no cruise for me.

Back in the 80's no one ever thought balconies on a ship were possible.

We honeymooned on the Song of Norway then sailed Sun Viking and Nordic Prince. The unstreached Sun Viking was our favorite

[seashell]

My first cruise was on the Nordic prince. Updated version would be great since my cabin was a galley style inside. pull down uppers so it could fit 4. the shower was tiny and part of the bathroom so the floor always got wet. between us and the next cabin we blew a fuse on a formal night. pitch black. we only had one plug in the cabin so hairdryer and curling iron for my sister and i was a battle.

 

i had a blast on that ship. absolutely loved our cabin steward and George our waiter. the royal viking crown lounge hopped at night. pool games were great. everything was fun. that cruise got me hooked. I should not have waited so long to go again.

[VFL Cruiser]

Not me. I'm a 'balcoholic'.... got to have a balcony.

 

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[IWORK2CRUISE]

We missed the chance to sail on Song of Norway, Nordic Prince, or Sun Viking but always loved Sovereign of the Seas and Empress of the Seas.

 

I would do it again!

Also, smaller ships would be able to go to smaller islands! We might be able to visit some places that we have not yet been.

[LMaxwell]

At first I was thinking it would satisfy me for a 3 or 4 day cruise. But the idea of going to smaller ports, less commercialized, to islands I haven't been too does sound appealing and could support a longer trip. One day I will have the coin to try that on the luxury lines.

[seacruise9]

Hi,

 

I certainly would cruise aboard one of the original three ships again. In 1983, I sailed aboard the Sun Viking and had a wonderful time. The food and service were excellent. In fact, even though the cruise was over 30 years ago and nearly 70 cruises ago, I still remember the name of our waiter (George) and head waiter (Ernesto). They made such a favorable impression I remember them to this day. Although the new ships have spectacular features, they lack the attention to detail that was present on the earlier ships.

 

Chuck

Edited October 4, 2014 by seacruise9

[LetsGetWet!]

Would anyone sail today on Song of Norway, Nordic Prince, or Sun Viking if they were still in service with Royal Caribbean today.

 

For frame of reference Song of Norway originally was 552 feet, 18,000 gross tons, and had a passenger capacity of 720! The ship was stretched to 638 feet, 23,000 gross tons, and had a passenger capacity of 1200. For comparison the smallest Royal ship currently is Legend of the Seas/Splendour of the Seas at 69,000 gross tons, 867 feet, and a capacity of nearly 2100 guests.

First, let me give credit where credit is due - very interesting & thought-provoking question.

 

Now, after some thought, my answer:

 

Absolutely, IF...

 

Mentioned this to DW too, and we both agree... If we could sail on one of those ships with the same experience they offered "in the day" we'd book it in a heartbeat! The MDR food quality, the lavish midnight buffet with ice sculptures, the "white glove" service, the wine tastings, the included drinks, etc... Absolutely!

 

One of those ships with today's food, drink & service levels? Not so much...

[LMaxwell]

First, let me give credit where credit is due - very interesting & thought-provoking question.

 

Now, after some thought, my answer:

 

Absolutely, IF...

 

Mentioned this to DW too, and we both agree... If we could sail on one of those ships with the same experience they offered "in the day" we'd book it in a heartbeat! The MDR food quality, the lavish midnight buffet with ice sculptures, the "white glove" service, the wine tastings, the included drinks, etc... Absolutely!

 

One of those ships with today's food, drink & service levels? Not so much...

Agreed 100%. my heart might have just skipped a beat.

[annwingtoo]

I would definitely try it. I think it might be nice.

[JM-1972]

My first cruise was on Song of America in July 89 or 90. About half way through the cruise there was a fire. The first we became aware something was wrong was when the engines were switched off. We were in a show lounge at the back of the ship and my father had been out on deck and came back and told us. We were then told there was a fire, some of the crew in the lounge started wearing life jackets and they advised us to go to our cabins and get our life jackets. We were not allowed to access our cabins when we went to get the life jackets as they were near the fire. It was very chaotic. We were then told to go to the life boat stations. An announcement was made by the captain that everything was fine and a few passengers had panicked. We laugh about it now, the passengers were only doing what the staff/crew had advised. My mother was distressed when we got to the lifeboat station as there was no sign of my brother. He was in the cinema oblivious to it all. He only heard the captain's announcement that a few passengers had panicked! The next day you could see where the bow of the ship was damaged due to the fire. The fire was in a paint store in the bow of the ship. If I remember correctly the fire was started by a crew member. Was anybody else on this sailing?

 

Amazingly it has not put us off cruising and when we came home my brother and I both said we had preferred the cruise to the week we spent at Disney.

 

To answer the question I prefer the modern larger ships, my parents however would prefer to sail on the older ships. My Dad say's they are proper ships!

[Justmekaren918]

I sailed on the Nordic Prince out of NY to Bermuda and never again! It was so bad we were looking for flights home! Worst trip ever! I didn't like climbing the ladder to VCL. Inside cabins were so clostrophobic! To this day I will never sail in an inside again! We were talking about the Prince, and how you got to the lounge, and I was surprised how tiny VCL was on Vision! I haven't sailed on Majesty class, and soon to be on Liberty class! I love that balcony. Something about being able to open the door to fresh air!

[Aquahound]

I would only sail one of those ships if the ports were also as they were 40 years ago.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Aquahound

[Philly Steve]

Absolutely!

 

We cruised MS Carousel (Nordic Prince) some time ago and loved it even though the Viking Crown Lounge had been removed. Some of the RCCL markings were still visible.

 

Lovely ships with handsome clipper bows. :cool:

[flpab]

Yes. My fav ship was the Big Red Boat. Anyone remember that?

[2Ports]

We'd sail the Empress again in a heartbeat. We were ready to sign up for the same cruise on her the next year, but it was her last sailing for RCI. :( :( :(

[cruiselvr04]

One of top cruises with RCL was on the Empress in an inside cabin smaller then my walk in closet. Yes!

[deliver42]

No I wouldn't. Not much to do and would miss the balcony.I don't mind a smallish cabin, but those were boxes.

[printingchick]

It would depend on the itinerary; it always does for me. But absolutely!! I prefer the smaller ships with fewer of the "resort amenities" that draw attention INWARD (to the ship features) rather than OUTWARD (toward the ocean). As someone else said, the pool, maybe shuffleboard - that's all I need. I don't have young kids anymore. I don't use the casino. I only eat in the MDR. I've yet to spring for a balcony (someday, I hope). I might miss mini-golf and the solarium pool, but only for a moment. I think I'd love trying a smaller ship sometime.

[jbond]

Our first RCI cruise was Nordic Prince in 1980 and it was the best cruise we have ever taken. We have also sailed Nordic Prince a second time, the beautiful "tiny" Sun Viking three times and the Song once. Would I sail them again? If the food, service and entertainment were the same, in a heart beat. If the food, service and entertainment were at today's level, I'd probably prefer a Vision class ship.

[angelinaxox1]

I was on the Nordic Prince to Bermuda when I was young and to this day, it remains one of my all time favorite cruises. I loved the activities and cruise staff. Ken Rush was our cruise director. The ship docked in Hamilton and St. George, not King's Wharf. Although I have fun on bigger ships, I miss the intimacy of the smaller ships. I never felt bored on any of the small ships I was on. The one thing I can laugh about on the ship was the shower curtain constantly clinging to me as I took a shower. Would I sail on the Nordic Prince again? Yes, I would.

 

 

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