How old were you when...

[dougnewmanatsea]

But it was not all glory for the Leonardo da Vinci. She had proved to be very unstable, just like her sisters

I know all about her instability - but what intrigues is your comment about "her sisters". Never mind that she didn't have any real sisters, which other Italia ships are you thinking of? Just curious.

 

At any rate, regardless of her problems - and she certainly had them - I still think she was one of the most beautiful ships ever built, for anyone.

[joeinwpb]

I know all about her instability - but what intrigues is your comment about "her sisters". Never mind that she didn't have any real sisters, which other Italia ships are you thinking of? Just curious.

 

At any rate, regardless of her problems - and she certainly had them - I still think she was one of the most beautiful ships ever built, for anyone.

 

The tragedy of the sinking of the Andrea Doria (b 1953) on July 26, 1956 was a serious blow, so the Italia line immediately decided to build a replacement ship and the Leonardo Da Vinci was launched in December 1958. (. Her maiden voyage occurred in July 1960, with spraying fireboats, tugs and helicopters escorting her into New York harbor )

 

The Leonardo Da Vinci, joined the Christofofo Columbo (b.1954).

 

All three of the ships were built along the same lines, as each other . The Leonardo Da Vinci had some major improvements, especially on the Lido deck, and was somewhat larger.

 

The demise of the Leonardo Da Vinci was dismal. Completion from the airlines made transatlantic cruising unprofitable, and the Leonardo Da Vinci was taken out of service where it languished for years.

The thought was entertained to dock it in the Themes, and use her for a casino, but nothing ever came of it.

An attempt was made to use her for Miami to Nassau cruises, but the ship was to expensive to operate. After that - The fire in the place it had been docked for so long. The fire was so great it raged for 4 days, and the ship was ready for the scrape heap.

 

Italia had the ship insured for $7,000,000. It was a white elephant, and they couldn't find a use for it anywhere. Did somebody say arson?

:confused:

[dougnewmanatsea]

All three of the ships were built along the same lines, as each other .

Yes, LEONARDO was an improved DORIA/COLOMBO but but I would say that she was different enough not to be a sister.

 

Anyhow, to get to the point - are you saying that DORIA/COLOMBO had stability problems?

[Nasmas]

I was 43 and single. I'd never really thought about a cruise because I thought they were only for "old" people. But, I met my future husband and he'd cruised before and loved it. We were planning a trip and I thought we were going to Cancun. He then told me that Cancun was booked. (I fell for that) and he booked us a cruise. On the Niew Amsterdam. I loved that ship. That was in 1994 and we've done one almost every year since. It is the only way to travel. We've stuck with HAL because the cruises have always been great. We're afraid to try something else, for fear we'd be disappointed. We're on the Zuiderdam in Sept. I hope it doesn't change our attitude. I'm optimistic about it though.

[Kay D]

Our 1st cruise was my 50th birthday present from my parents (1991) -- they took the 2 of us plus sister & hubby on Crown Princess for 7 day Eastern Carib cruise & put us all in balcony cabins!! A wonderful trip -- we got hooked on balconies!! They called us about 6 months prior to my birthday to find out if we would want to go & if we could get off work, so I definitely looked FORWARD to my 50th birthday!! Several years later my parents took us all on Sun Princess for sister's 50th.

 

We're taking our 3 adult children & spouses on a cruise in November -- for some of our children this will be their 1st cruise.

[bombero]

We were both 27, the first time we did it... Bombero. :D :D :D

[imsulin]

I was 5 years old in 1951, when we sailed the S.S. Patch from New York to Bremerhaven. Came back on the S. S. United States in 1956. Don't know if this counts as a "cruise", but I do remember having to get really dressed up for dinner every evening, and being given chocolate ice cream for dessert. (And barfing a lot in our cabin!). First "cruise" cruise was on the Love Boat (Pacific Princess) in about 1975 or 76..can't remember. Also went the next year. I was about 29 or 30. (Senior moment!) I remember being so impressed with that gawdawful teeny-tiny pool and all TWO of the bars on-board! I thought it was just wonderful!!

[kelmac]

I was 28 years old; the ship was NCL's Starward; the year was 1978; a June cruise to two stops in Jamaica, Port-a-Prince Haiti, and NCL's Stirrup Cay. Everything about the cruise was mediocre, but I loved it! ;)

[Slinkiecat]

My first cruise was two years ago when I was a new bride of 63 years (second time around for both of us after being widowed). We had 12 glorious days on Celebrity Constellation, cruising the Mediterranean from Barcelona. Now that DH and I are retired, we plan to do some more cruising.

 

Slinkie

[serendipity1499]

In my early 30's took my first 7 day Cruise on the "Orion" (can't remember what Cruise Line it was) from Athens into the Greek Islands & Istanbul..I was charmed with cruising!

 

After getting married, tried to convince my new DH & our friends to go on a cruise..They couldn't understand why go on a cruise when we all could travel free by Air..(we were in the Airline Business)..On top of that my DH said we had a Sailboat which would cost us hardly anything... But no way was I going to cook on my Vacation!..

 

Well that was a test of my "sales skills" & worked hard to convince them.. They didn't make it easy, but finally "consented" to go on the "SOUTHWIND" a Norwegian-Caribbean Line Ship.(Now known as NCL). We had a ball! They were hooked & now can't keep them away from " da bigga boats"..

[gwenmarie]

My first cruise with also on RCCL Song of America! It was the Mexican Riveria from Los Angeles my husband and 12 year old daughter,we had an inside room near the very bottom of the ship. Wonderful time great family vacation. My husband and I are on our 6th with another planned for next fall.

[stanjj111]

We did our first in our fifties. I thought that it would be too boring. I was wrong. Needed the relaxtion.

[woodofpine]

A better question would be a cruise of 5 or 7 days or more. I voted 0-9 since I had a Chicoutime to Quebec City overnight in the very early

60's and a one or two night greek island cruise at age 9 (1968), then late 70's Brindisi- Korfu- Igouminitsa- Patras overnighters and a couple Algeciras - Tangier ferrys. Those count for a LOT but they weren't cruises - my cruising began in 2001 on an Ocean Princess trans-canal

[mcpepe]

I was 11 years old when we went on our first cruise. I was with my parents and two brothers. It was the Incres Line's MS Victoria. It was amazing. It was also 30 years ago. :-)

 

Maria

[westerdam]

My first actual cruise was in November of 1998 over the Thanksgiving Holiday on HAL's Westerdam. I was 20 at the time. Since then I have been on 15 cruises with 16 coming up in December on the Volendam.

[akur23]

I was 12 or so, a Rhine River cruise that my mom (she was a travel agent) was taking a tour on. I loved it! :D

[hunterafri]

Hi Gang;

 

I was also 16 and a senior in high school for our senior trip aboard the Bahama Star. Many years later I was on the Nordic Prince, which was an RCCL ship. This ship was cut in two and an addition was added to it. I was on the first sailing after the addition. I believe a year before that Sun Viking had it done.

 

Best Regards to Everyone,

[MaryTiller]

I was 35 when I took my first cruise and it was also on the Song of America. I have since been on 16 other cruises, three total on the Song of America. I loved that ship, lots of open deck. I was sorry to see her go.:(

[cruisinjudy]

I took my first cruise at the age of 40. My parents started cruising after i was out of the house.

Anyway that first cruise was on SS Independence around Hawaii in an inside cabin surrounded by elevators and stairs and I was hooked.

[C 2 C]

Just turned 8 and sailed on the White Star Line's Georgic from England to Halifax's Pier21.. like NY's Ellis Island ....

[nhcruiser]

I turned 40 on our first cruise in 1992 aboard the Regal Princess. We have been hooked since and have cruised at least twice per year. My wife says that she can't relax on a land vacation the way she does on a cruise. Works for me!