QuickieGlenn Posted March 29, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Went thru some old stuff and found my ticket for my honeymoon for the Song of Norway Feb 91 Outside room with a window, 7 day cruise out of San Juan and it cost $3651 (2 people) I think that included airfare. Amazing, you could get that room a lot cheaper now, ( A lot less included) I hated wearing a suit for dinner A lot has changed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topnole Posted March 29, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Went thru some old stuff and found my ticket for my honeymoon for the Song of Norway Feb 91Outside room with a window, 7 day cruise out of San Juan and it cost $3651 (2 people) I think that included airfare. Amazing, you could get that room a lot cheaper now, ( A lot less included) I hated wearing a suit for dinner A lot has changed I’m guessing Air was probably 300-400 per person back then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmFoster Posted March 29, 2018 #3 Share Posted March 29, 2018 My first was May 1991 on the Song of Norway out of San Juan too. Every once and a while my dear wife comes across the passenger manifest they handed out as well as recipes. Now all I have to do is find it again so that I can get the exact date to call C&A to add it back to my cruise history on their new setup. I have the correct points total, but that one cruise is missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc1025 Posted March 29, 2018 #4 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Our first was one of her sister ships, Nordic Prince. I remember we docked next to the newest ship in the fleet one day, Majesty of the Seas. With your sea pass from Nordic you could get on board Majesty and look around. We didn't think they could build anything bigger......lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONECRUISER Posted March 29, 2018 #5 Share Posted March 29, 2018 (edited) Yes, my first ship was brand new Sovereign of the Seas in 1988, the world's biggest cruise ship. Cabin 2102 a tiny port hole cabin. All other ships around us were tiny Love Boat size. Honeymoon, 21 yrs old & was 7 nite during the higher season that we paid was $3800... At least back then Soda Pop was free with the meals... At first could only cruise once every 4 yrs, then every 2, every yr....retired at age 44, cruising is cheaper then in past, currently have 100 nites scheduled in next yr including 1st TA and 1st round trip threw Panama Canal. All on Serenade/Vision class Aft/Corner cabins. I'm still hooked! Edited March 29, 2018 by ONECRUISER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted March 29, 2018 #6 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Song of Norway sailed out of Florida also....my parents did that cruise a looong time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mek Posted March 30, 2018 #7 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Our first was one of her sister ships, Nordic Prince. I remember we docked next to the newest ship in the fleet one day, Majesty of the Seas. With your sea pass from Nordic you could get on board Majesty and look around. We didn't think they could build anything bigger......lol. Never sailed Song of Norway but we did take Nordic Prince to Bermuda - it was so small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coralc Posted March 30, 2018 #8 Share Posted March 30, 2018 After sailing on Viking Serenade twice, and then Song of America...we thought that all cruise ships were that size. We couldn't believe how large Enchantment was! Our travel agent booked us on Song of America, with the standard booking statement, 2 twin beds together to make a King size. When we entered our stateroom, we found that one of the beds was a knee height Pullman that folded down from the side wall. The other bed doubled as the sofa and was at the far end of the room, under the window. We waved goodnight! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
existentialtraveler Posted March 30, 2018 #9 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Went thru some old stuff and found my ticket for my honeymoon for the Song of Norway Feb 91Outside room with a window, 7 day cruise out of San Juan and it cost $3651 (2 people) I think that included airfare. Amazing, you could get that room a lot cheaper now, ( A lot less included) I hated wearing a suit for dinner A lot has changed Wow. This takes me back. Our first cruise was also our honeymoon trip on the Song of Norway back in 1984. It was going to be the trip of a lifetime and cost a little over $3000, not including airfare. That was a lot of money for us back in 1984. The equivalent amount of money in 2018 dollars would be around $ 7200. It was, at the time, an amazing experience, and literally changed my life, opening us up to so many things, from wine appreciation to photography to scuba diving to gourmet cooking and on and on and on... . Over 100 cruises later, I still have very very fond memories of the Song of Norway. One restaurant, one pool, two bars, spectacular food, ridiculously inexpensive drinks and tours......In many ways, you get much more bang for your buck on cruises now, but that first cruise shall always be very special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
existentialtraveler Posted March 30, 2018 #10 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Our first was one of her sister ships, Nordic Prince. I remember we docked next to the newest ship in the fleet one day, Majesty of the Seas. With your sea pass from Nordic you could get on board Majesty and look around. We didn't think they could build anything bigger......lol. We went to Bermuda on the Nordic Prince as our second ever cruise in 1985. Again, very very fond memories of the Nordic Prince and of Bermuda. Bermuda was like Paradise back then. We ran into a hurricane on our return from Bermuda, and the Captain managed to skirt the edge of it. The wind and waves were absolutely incredible. All the open decks were closed to passengers, and sea-sickness plastic bags were placed at intervals on the railings in every hall way. One night I was one of the VERY few passengers in the MDR for dinner. Loved every minute of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilCO12 Posted March 30, 2018 #11 Share Posted March 30, 2018 I think she was first Royal Caribbean ship to sail from my home town in Harwich, England. As a student in the early 1990s I was a cleaner on the Holland ferries and remember seeing Song of Norway pass wondering how she compared to the ship I was working on. She was my inspiration to try out cruising. I never got to sail on her, but have sailed on several of her predecessors. Sadly RCL have now stopped sailing from Harwich so I have to travel further to get on a cruise ship. Roll on Symphony in 29 days... Sent from my Nexus 9 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowers44 Posted March 30, 2018 #12 Share Posted March 30, 2018 My DH and I took our first cruise in 1984 on the Song of America. It was out of Miami and went to San Juan, St. Thomas, the Bahamas. Classic first cruise itinerary. We also sail on her on her last voyage as a RCCI ship but I can't remember the itinerary, I think it might have been our first trip to Bermuda. Would have to check my cruise history to be sure of that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowers44 Posted March 30, 2018 #13 Share Posted March 30, 2018 My DH and I took our first cruise in 1984 on the Song of America. It was out of Miami and went to San Juan, St. Thomas, the Bahamas. Classic first cruise itinerary. We also sail on her on her last voyage as a RCCI ship but I can't remember the itinerary, I think it might have been our first trip to Bermuda. Would have to check my cruise history to be sure of that one. Yep, I was right. It was a 7 day to Bermuda on the Song of America in Sept. of 1998. I fell in love with Bermuda and have been back about 8 times on different cruises. We took our family to Bermuda for our 50th Wedding Anniversary back in July of 2013. Wonderful trip and the kids and grandkids fell in love with Bermuda too. Great memories to hold onto since my DH sudden passing last June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkerbink Posted March 30, 2018 #14 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Our first cruise (mother, sister and myself) was on the Song of America to Bermuda in 1996. My sister's fare was $99.00! Don't recall the other two but it wasn't much. We had an ocean view cabin with two twin beds and a pull-down from the ceiling. That ship docked right in Hamilton which was nice. Eighteen cruises under our belts but we still recall that one with great fondness! I guess you always remember your first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmFoster Posted March 30, 2018 #15 Share Posted March 30, 2018 I mentioned earlier my first was on Song of Norway like the original poster. But many people have also mentioned the Nordic Prince in this thread. That was great too. Besides missing those good old times on the ship, I have to say I'm quite sad that I may never be able to sail from Acapulco again like I did on the NP back in 1993. Damn shame what has happened in Acapulco. Also, we sailed a 2nd time on the Song of Norway. Our reservation was for Majesty, I think, while she was still being built. However there was a fire on the ship which set back the delivery so RCCL switched us to Song of Norway which was just fine with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickieGlenn Posted March 30, 2018 Author #16 Share Posted March 30, 2018 For our honeymoon we had the option of Hawaii or go on a cruise I picked a cruise because I figured we would never have the opportunity to do that again Cruising was definitely different back then I think I bough beer and booze to take back to the room from the gift shop I remember gambling in the casino and placed a bad bet and the dealer told me not to they gave us pointers as we played Wont see that know My wife still has some towels we bought and the nice thick sweatshirt with the ships name Better quality stuff then, now it is junk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seetosea Posted March 30, 2018 #17 Share Posted March 30, 2018 First cruise was on the Song of Norway in 1976. The changes since then are many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet524 Posted March 30, 2018 #18 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Fond memories of Song of Norway. We took our honeymoon cruise on her in 1986. It was our first cruise and we were invited to dine with the captain, a very handsome man named Kjell Karlsen. In 2016 we celebrated our 30th anniversary on the Allure. Cruising has come a long way since then. Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvy Posted March 30, 2018 #19 Share Posted March 30, 2018 My first cruise,May 1985, Deck 4, Window, about $3,000. I recall choosing Song of Norway because I had seen an advertisement as it being "The Cruise Ship of the Year." It was impeccable service....as you all know cruising has changed tremendously. Service not quite what it was before but I continue to cruise at every opportunity and we have remained loyal to Royal/Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaspercat Posted March 31, 2018 #20 Share Posted March 31, 2018 My first RCI cruise was on Song of Norway -- 7 July 1991 (my cruise history shows Majesty of the Seas - but, I believe fire in dry dock delayed her release by a year and Monarch came out first -- I was booked on the Song of Norway so was glad for the delay). Sailed from San Juan to Martinique, Barbados, Antigua, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. I pulled out the photo album -- Cost - are you all sitting down -- a whopping $1,809.00CDN single with air from Montreal!! Cabin was Cat H - larger outside stateroom, two lower beds - Number 328. Captain: Ole Johan Gronhaug. Things are sure different now:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisinghawg Posted March 31, 2018 #21 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Our cruise on this ship was '91 in June and yes it was suppose to be the Monarch but there was a fire on her as mentioned previously. This was the first ship that was stretched I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordo Posted March 31, 2018 #22 Share Posted March 31, 2018 My first RCCL cruise was on Song of Norway in May of 1988 out of San Juan, and we had a wonderful vacation. The industry has come a long way since then, and we are enjoying the ride ;p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc1025 Posted April 9, 2018 #23 Share Posted April 9, 2018 Our cruise on the Nordic Prince was in 88 as well. We went of out FL., then Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Martin. We were four couples and you paid cash for everything on the ship. Remember the husbands found a place in the back of the ship to play cards and the wife's were at the pool. Had a server, still remember his name was Mark. They would order drinks and then he would come back to the back of the ship and collect the money from us. We saw him one on shore one port day and wanted to buy him a drink, he freaked out because he was not suppose to fraternize with passengers. We were already pretty well gone and forced him to go into this little out of the way bar with us to buy him one drink. We still kid that given the tips we gave him over the course of the week he probably quit and bought a plantation in Jamaica, his home country. We started with RCCL and have loved it ever sense. We love the Oasis class and are doing Liberty again in three months but all the couple still talk about that Nordic Prince cruise. Liberty has a bar the has a menu with some of their old ships in it and Nordic has a page. Great times. Good sailing to all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accio_7 Posted April 10, 2018 #24 Share Posted April 10, 2018 My first cruise ever was on Sovereign of the Seas in February 2008. I found all of my cruise documentation and Compasses the other day, I can scan them in if anyone is interested. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royalmoyal Posted April 10, 2018 #25 Share Posted April 10, 2018 My first cruise was on the Song of Norway as a teenager February 14 1987. My grandpa took the whole extended family. Little did we know that he had been diagnosed with cancer and passed two yrs later. I promised myself back then that I would sail again someday. That promise was answered March 2000 on our Honeymoon aboard Voyager of the Seas. I have been blessed to sail since then as well and am so grateful that Grandpa exposed me to the seas. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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