Do you remember when NCL

[TrumpyNor]

I realize that the stuff I miss the most on NCL nowadays, are actually some food items from Le Bistro:

* The mushroom soup served in a bowl made of bread - it was delicious!

* The waiter made Caesars Salad table side (made to order) in both Le Bistro and in Cagney's

* The Crepe Suzette flambée (at first they did it table side in Le Bistro, and then they changed it to "one corner of the restaurant", and then it disappeared from the menu)

[SissasMomE]

I realize that the stuff I miss the most on NCL nowadays, are actually some food items from Le Bistro:

* The mushroom soup served in a bowl made of bread - it was delicious!

* The waiter made Caesars Salad table side (made to order) in both Le Bistro and in Cagney's

* The Crepe Suzette flambée (at first they did it table side in Le Bistro, and then they changed it to "one corner of the restaurant", and then it disappeared from the menu)

 

OMG that mushroom soup was heaven!!

[Starflyr3]

I miss the ss NORWAY !

 

Me too!

 

Unfortunately, she is on the bottom of the South China Sea.

 

We took our honeymoon on her just a little while before it was sold to be a casino ship over there.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

I loved sailing the Dream through the Kiel Canal and watching her "flip her lid" so she could get under the bridges. It was shortly after 9/11 and people lined the banks waving American flags. After dark they lined the bridges with flashlights and candles. It was a wonderful experience.

 

I also remember she had OV cabins that had windows almost to the floor so it was almost as good as a closed balcony door.

[Homosassa]

I remember when NCL was good[emoji57]

 

I cruised NCL in 1978. It was so lacking in the cruise experience compared to other cruise lines I had taken that it took me 25 years to try them again. It still hadn't improved.

[Cruzinnana47]

Me too!

 

Me three! We sailed on the SS Norway twice--both times in the same cabin. So glad to have had the experience. I can't dwell on how she ended up--too sad.

 

Just remembered something else--all the changes of silverware/china for the different courses, and the waiter/asst. waiter rolling the crumbcatcher across the tablecloth.

[watchdiva]

I miss afternoon tea dances in the International Lounge on the Norway. I miss baked Alaska, ice carving demos poolside and the elegance of sailing on the SS Norway. God I loved the Blue Lady...

[ncklhaus]

Remember when they would walk around the MDR and sell the single red roses? LOL

 

Yes! My husband bought me one on our Jewel CTN in 2013.

[Gershep]

I miss when they used to dim the lights in the main dining room and come out with the Baked Alaska Flambe, I miss Cherry Jubilee, and also the Norway. But more recently I miss the walnut brownie sundae on NCL.

[emcelh]

Remember the NCL Majesty served Charleston SC - Bermuda cruises continuously and would dock in St. Georges. It went thru the "town cut", which was a fun experience, Bermudians and the town crier would wave to the cruisers on the ship.

 

And they were there when you left calling "thank you".

[fairygirl1]

Ships had no balcony cabins, it was ocean-view/porthole and insides only.

Free hot breakfast room service.

Smoking was allowed everywhere.

Cruises were generally longer as the ships weren't as powerful.

Ships dumped their trash directly into the sea.

Some ships had dining rooms with no windows - not even portholes.

Stateroom were generally smaller, and the beds uncomfortable.

Entertainment would include some big names, although at the time some may have been on the rise.

There were a lot fewer cruise ships to choose from, which lead to...

Cruise prices were much much higher compared to the cost-of-living at the time.

There was really only one dining room, and everyone would eat there every evening.

 

That sounds pretty terrible,,, I like things today much better ! Lol

[biker@sea]

How about some of the Great Entertainers like " The Chocolate Goddess of Love " Jane L. Powell . :D

 

And Dave Heenan .:)

[TrumpyNor]

I just read the whole thread, and I noticed that several has mentioned that they miss (among other things) the ice carving demonstration on the pool deck. Well, they (NCL) still do the ice carving - I actually believe they have done it on all 18 NCL cruises I have done between 2003 and 2015.....

 

One of the photos below is showing ice carving on the Pearl in October 2014, and the other one is showing the result of a "fruit-and-vegetables-carving" from the same cruise, that was even more impressive than the ice carving... :)

Edited May 3, 2015 by TrumpyNor

[newmexicoNita]

I also remember a good mortgage rate was 17%

A pack of cigarettes were $1.50

Two slices and a coke $1.00

Movies were $2.00

A gallon of gas was .89 cents

I remember when a new PC cost about $2,500

 

Things change, life goes on...

 

Great post; don't we all!!!

NJLVW: yes, Le Bistro was $5.00

 

How many remember when you could buy a fantastic house, even in Ca for $40,000?

Edited May 3, 2015 by newmexicoNita

[newmexicoNita]

I remember when cigarettes were $ .50 a pack. Gas was $ .31 a gallon, my new 1968 Volkswagen Bug was less than $2,000 and my salary back then was 1,900 a year and I could never afford to go on a cruise.

 

Yes, I remember when a few friends were starting to cruise, but we couldn't begin to afford to even think about it: we had kids in college, I was pretty much a stay at home mom and we could barely afford to go camping once a year. We can all look back and say, I remember when...some things were good, some bad..

 

This would be a fun post if so many didn't decide it was a post for ranting and only negative thoughts.

[watchdiva]

Thanks Trumpy for the heads up about the ice carving. We don't go to the pool but I will be sure to read the Dailies to see when it will be offered on our future sailings and make a point of being there.

[QuickieGlenn]

Remember when

 

You could use cash onboard

buy beer or booze at the onboard store and take it to your room

tiny rooms and even smaller showers

Playing roulette or blackjack after a few too many and the person running the table told you not to do something because it was stupid

buying a uncut 10 carat blue topaz on the special table and find out it was a good deal

having to bring a tux to wear for dinner when you would rather wear shorts

tendering in St Maarten

having Marvin as the room steward in 1991 and he never slept(always cleaning) and after a few cocktails singing "how he was a friend of mine"

[MagnoliaBlossom]

There was a nightly bombe on the dessert menu. Really interesting ice cream flavors, for the times anyway.

 

The waiter came and ground pepper over your entree in the MDR

 

The showers were tiny and low pressure.

 

There was no thermal suite, just a closet sized steam and sauna - but they were free.

 

There was a very nice dance band during the dinner hours. Used to be the only time we could dance when the kids were young.

 

There was a captains party

 

The latitude party had a tray of real drinks, I remember Martina's and Manhattans

 

I remember when there were primarily two nationalities of the staff, stewards were Philipino and wait staff were Jamaican.

 

They would not allow anyone to disembark if one foll had not cleared his account. Since it was the Stone Age, everyone had togotothe pursers desk and clear their account the final night or last morning. What a pain.

 

Sailed from San Juan, but not til almost midnight, so you had the day to roam the city.

 

Introduced the term Texaribbean! Their logo was a cowboy riding a dolphin.

Edited May 3, 2015 by MagnoliaBlossom

[curleyjane]

The good menus! Each lunch and dinner would be different. Chilled soups! A treat delivered to your room everyday. When all the servers were polite.

[shapatack0]

Remember when the $7.95 room service fee allowed you to order unlimited items from the room service menu and not just two before incurring an additional $7.95 fee? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2204345

[Quench]

Love this thread it's like a history lesson!

[smartinm]

I remember paying around 150$ on the Sky to get their photo package which allowed you to get every single picture they took of you...which meant my photo obsessed mom dragged us to the photo shoots daily XD :p

[biker@sea]

I remember when cigarettes were $ .50 a pack. Gas was $ .31 a gallon, my new 1968 Volkswagen Bug was less than $2,000 and my salary back then was 1,900 a year and I could never afford to go on a cruise.

 

I remember saving up for a New 1970 Ford Maverick Stick 6 " 3 on the tree " no radio = $1995 sticker price

 

Ended up with a 64 T-bird . :cool:

Edited May 3, 2015 by biker@sea

[barnacle_boy]

Actual movies in the theater.

 

I saw Big Hero 6 in the Breakaway Theater (not the atrium) several months ago. 3D glasses too!

 

Unfortunately, she is on the bottom of the South China Sea.

 

SS Norway was scrapped on the beaches of Alang, India, about 7 years ago.

[Cruzinnana47]

I remember saving up for a New 1970 Ford Maverick Stick 6 " 3 on the tree " no radio = $1995 sticker price

 

Ended up with a 64 T-bird . :cool:

 

Our 1st "new car" as a married couple was a '71 Ford Maverick "Grabber" - Lime Green - cost $2100!:D:eek: We thought we were so cool...:p