Another 'Remember the Old Days?' topic

[Sekhmet]

Just thought the following might be of amusement value, and to illustrate another change over the years.

Going through some old cruise-related files, and found a copy of a Celebrity Ship review published on one of the cruise sites, dated 2001, describing Galaxy, Mercury and Century.  We'd printed it out before embarking on our second Celebrity cruise on Galaxy in July that year.

It starts "The three sister ships of Celebrity Cruises provide an upscale, elegant setting where the atmosphere is warm, friendly and, at night, quite lively".  The next sentence starts, and the emphasised type is mine - "At 77,000-tons, these ships are in the mega-liner category" 

[Mike981]

24 minutes ago, Sekhmet said:

Celebrity Cruises provide an upscale, elegant setting where the atmosphere is warm, friendly and, at night, quite lively"

 

Our first cruise was on the Mercury and was everything quoted above. It was supposed to be a one and done forever cruise, but we were/are hooked.

[ijscheer]

We never sailed the Mercury, but Galaxy and Century were on our list.  I guess the '90's Zenith and Horizon (our first X cruise) weren't considered mega-ships.

[Fang]

I remember thinking how huge the century was and wonderful. Sailed on both Mercury and Galaxy. Got me hooked on Celebrity. That was many cruises ago. I feel we got cheated when RCL took over and changed the Captain’s club

[chisoxfan]

Our first X cruise was on Century (5 nights Carib) which only offered assigned dinner seating at the time. We were in Concierge Class (I think I was more excited by that than I am now with a suite).

Of course, X was then 'famous' for their food quality.  We were excited to have a table for two even though it was close to others (assignment could be made for two at larger tables). Knock on wood, never a bad X cruise but I am frankly apprehensive about two upcoming cruises on new Edge class ships. Thought Aqua would be our niche but then came new ships without balconies.

[Traveling Fools]

In Sept 1984 while on a Carnival cruise, a ship with a large X on the stack steamed by us.  Everyone on deck looked and laughed.  To us the X translated to cross that line off your list.  Who would have thunk 20 years later we would end booking our 2nd major cruise with X, and that it would become one of our go too lines.

[Luvtoeat]

15 minutes ago, Traveling Fools said:

In Sept 1984 while on a Carnival cruise, a ship with a large X on the stack steamed by us.  Everyone on deck looked and laughed.  To us the X translated to cross that line off your list.  Who would have thunk 20 years later we would end booking our 2nd major cruise with X, and that it would become one of our go too lines.

I also remember seeing a ship with a large X many years ago and wondering what line it was. And BTW seeing your logo of the Blackhorse Regiment brings back many memories of a time long ago.

[Smmessineo]

Our first Celebrity cruise was on the Century, a 5 night Caribbean in maybe 2006. We were fairly new to cruising but had great experiences on Princess and Holland America. Let's just say we were underwhelmed.  And we had a suite for the first (and last) time . We wrote off Celebrity for years. Then  in 2010 we tried the Millennium out of San Juan 10 nights . And fell in love with Celebrity!

We tried a few other lines after that, but now we are exclusive to X. And we've liked or at least  been neutral to the changes they've made over the years.

[TeaBag]

Our first Celebrity cruise was the Meridian.  The food was amazing.  I'll never forget the vegetables served in little baskets with handles and the swan floating in a pool of chocolate sauce.  Yum.  Zenith was next.

[LouChamp]

3 hours ago, ijscheer said:

We never sailed the Mercury, but Galaxy and Century were on our list.  I guess the '90's Zenith and Horizon (our first X cruise) weren't considered mega-ships.

Aloha. Blessed to sail in the QE2 and Norway several times then came the Sovereign of the Seas. At that time it was booked solid for about a year. Then all the Celebrity class of ships. And you are correct that a ship that size was a monster and now is literally meaningless.  That said I do enjoy the super monster mega gigantors also but enjoy great memories. Thank you for this topic!

[Traveling Fools]

54 minutes ago, Luvtoeat said:

And BTW seeing your logo of the Blackhorse Regiment brings back many memories of a time long ago.

69-70, Departed RVN days before the Cambodia invasion.

[danceswithphones]

Chandris SS Galileo. I took this photo in Miami in November of 1988. Ship later became the Celebrity Meridian.

[Texed]

8 minutes ago, danceswithphones said:

Chandris SS Galileo. I took this photo in Miami in November of 1988. Ship later became the Celebrity Meridian.

 

Very nice.  Thanks for posting. 😊

[PTC DAWG]

12 minutes ago, danceswithphones said:

Chandris SS Galileo. I took this photo in Miami in November of 1988. Ship later became the Celebrity Meridian.

28k gross tons, caught fire and sank in 1999.

[goofysmom99]

My first cruise was in 1993 on Zenith.  I'd been a Food Service Officer in the Air Force many years earlier and was absolutely amazed at how they could mass-produce such outstanding cuisine.  Expressed my admiration to the F&B Mgr who then took me on a very detailed tour of the kitchen(s) and the food stores.  Still remember that awesome cuisine.  Murano now isn't quite as good as the MDR was back then.

[Mike45LC]

3 hours ago, TeaBag said:

Our first Celebrity cruise was the Meridian.  The food was amazing.  I'll never forget the vegetables served in little baskets with handles and the swan floating in a pool of chocolate sauce.  Yum.  Zenith was next.

My first cruise was the Meridian, Dec 1990.  Passengers were greeted by a ship's officer at the boarding ramp, who turned us over to a crew member to escort us to our cabin.  White glove service in the dining room.  My, how times have changed.

 

I did the Meridian again, then tried the Horizon before I did the Zenith.

[Loracpin2]

6 hours ago, ijscheer said:

We never sailed the Mercury, but Galaxy and Century were on our list.  I guess the '90's Zenith and Horizon (our first X cruise) weren't considered mega-ships.

We sailed both the Zenith and Horizon prior to our sailings on the Century class ships followed by Solstice class (have our first Edge class scheduled for January). 

 

For the Zenith & Horizon, even without standard balcony cabins and all the bells & whistles of today's Mega ships, the entire ambience of the ships was outstanding!!! Formal evenings in the MDR (no specialty restaurants back then) were Formal!!! 

[jmfdr]

7 hours ago, Mike981 said:

 

Our first cruise was on the Mercury and was everything quoted above. It was supposed to be a one and done forever cruise, but we were/are hooked.

Our first cruise, about 2004, was an Alaskan cruise on the Mercury.  I guess we loved it because we have continued cruising ever since, almost exclusively with Celebrity.  Unfortunately, Celebrity is no longer our default cruise line.

[Northern Aurora]

Our first cruise was on the Mercury.  After about 12 hours onboard we realized cruises could become addicting. 

 

Our favorite ship was the Century.  We were only on her for 6 cruises, but thought that the ship was so elegant and classy.  Just loved the Crystal Room.  In 2019 we were on a B2B2B in the Mediterranean and while sitting on our balcony we saw ship in port.   Could make out the painted over "X."  Goggled the ship name and it was the old Century.

[WatchHill]

DH showed me a spec sheet on the Meridian. 3 station radio in cabins, some had tv's, too! I seem to remember the room keys were metal, more like skeleton keys. And the marble bath rooms. Food was amazing, lots of table-side prep of elegant desserts.

 

Darcy

[doghog]

Our first cruise was with American Hawaii Cruise Line on the SS Constitution in 1991. We were hooked. Second cruise was with Celebrity on the Zenith in 1994. We thought this ship is huge. We'll never find our way around. Paid ($35.00 per person) to join the Captains Club. I believe it was called the Founders Club (?). 

Edited September 29, 2023 by doghog

[Mike45LC]

17 minutes ago, doghog said:

Our first cruise was with American Hawaii Cruise Line on the SS Constitution in 1991. We were hooked. Second cruise was with Celebrity on the Zenith in 1994. We thought this ship is huge. We'll never find our way around. Paid ($35.00 per person) to join the Captains Club. I believe it was called the Founders Club (?). 

I think it was called "Michael's Club."  I joined for $10 in 1990 after I loved my first cruise.  

[Luvtoeat]

22 hours ago, Traveling Fools said:

69-70, Departed RVN days before the Cambodia invasion.

66-67 trained at Ft. Meade and we all went over by boat.

[Torfamm]

My first Celebrity cruise was on the Century in 2001. I have very fond memories of what a fantastic experience it was.

[maggie.1008]

I paid $35. To join the club in 2001.