Your first cruise ship

[Copper10-8]

Our first was in 1985 just after retiring from the Navy. My last ship was in Long Beach, CA, and we used to watch the Carnival Jubilee enter and leave Los Angeles/San Pedro at the other end of the breakwater. Diane suggested a cruise and I thought it was a bad idea but her wiser head prevailed and we signed up for the Mexican Riviera. Before we cleared the breakwater I, with a rum beverage in hand, conceded she was right-not for the first or last time. We have never looked back.

Mike

 

 

Jubilee (1986-present) Delivered in 1986 as Jubilee to Carnival Cruise Line, she operated both in the Caribbean and on the west coast (Mexican Riviera out of L.A.) until 2004 when she received an internal transfer to P&O Australia, a Carnival subsidiary who renamed her Pacific Sun. After an intensive refit at Grand Bahamas Dockyards, she received interior as well as exterior changes. The most obvious exterior changes were the removal of both Carnival-trademark winglets on her funnel and the construction of so-called ducktails on her stern. Due to this addition, she will pitch and roll less and this will also increase her fuel efficiency.She is currently operating under that name out of Brisbane, Australia.

 

As a sidenote, on July 31, 2008, 42 of her passengers received medical attention after she was hit by severe weather and experienced 22 feet swells and 50 knot winds causing her to roll sharply just before 8 pm. She was enroute to Auckland, New Zealand following an eight-day cruise in the South Pacific.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on the Carnival Inspiration, cruising from San Juan to the Southern Caribbean. I discovered that I really liked cruising, but wanted to look around for a line with a different atmosphere. It took 3 years, but I discovered HAL and have stuck with them ever since.

 

I had accidentally won a cruise on an auction site (uBid, which no longer sells travel). I was looking for electronic gear and stumbled across a cruise up for auction. I had never thought about a cruise before, but just tossed in a $200 bid for a 7 day S. Caribbean cruise for no good reason - not expecting to win with such a low bid. A couple of days later, I was notified that I HAD WON. Panic! Who would I ask to go along? I asked an old friend in Seattle if she would be interested in a free cruise (but she'd have to pay her airfare). She said yes, and we had to make Very Quick plans.

 

Not knowing anything about cruising, I set it up for us to fly in to San Juan the day of the cruise. Her from Seattle and me from Santa Fe. She made it fine, but I missed a connection in Dallas due to weather. Got on the next flight and was the last person to get on board the ship, running through the terminal with the staff urging me to go faster. Found my friend, who had been enjoying the bar all evening. I did learn not to fly in the day of the cruise.

 

 

 

 

Carnival Inspiration (1996-present)

[Copper10-8]

We've been hooked on cruising ever since our honeymoon in 1973 on the Emerald Seas. It was the start of the oil crisis, and serious fuel shortages, so she only went to Nassau, where she stayed in port, tied to the dock, for three solid nights. From there, we graduated to Norweigan and sailed the Skyward, Seaward, Starward; and in 1998, the SS Norway. Also in 1998, we discovered Holland America. We went cheap that year, and only booked an inside on the Westerdam. We thought we had died and gone to heaven, compared to the others. Since then, we've tried Princess and Royal Caribbean, but always come back to HAL, which has never EVER disappointed us. On our last cruise, Veendam, we received our 100 day medallion. Yep, we're hooked!!!!!!

 

 

General W. P. Richardson (1944-2004) Built by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Kearny, NJ in 1944 as General W. P. Richardson (her keel had initially been laid as General R. M. Blatchford). Her maiden voyage took her from Boston to Southampton. After the end of the war, she was transferred to the U.S. Army on February 14, 1946 and then laid up in March 1948.

 

Between 1948 and 1949, she was converted at Pascagoula, Miss. to a passenger liner and then chartered by American Export Lines as La Guardia. Her first voyage took her from New York to Naples to Genoa on May 27, 1949. Her last Mediterranean voyage begun in New York in November 1951. She was returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission on December 1, 1951 and returned to troop service in Korea briefly,before being laid up on the James River in November 1952.

In 1956, she was bought by the Hawaiian-Steamship Company, renamed Leilani, and refitted for California - Hawaii service. Her first voyage from San Francisco to Honolulu took place on February 5, 1957. Her itinerary would include San Francisco or Long Beach to Hawaii, but she also completed several Mexican Riviera cruises in 1958. This service turned out not to be popular and was discontinued in December 1958. She was laid up in San Francisco and then moved across the Bay to the Todd Shipyard in Alameda. She was seized by the U.S. Government on May 12, 1959, put up for auction in June and bought once again by the U.S. Maritime Commission.

 

She was purchased by American President Lines in July, 1960 and sailed to Seattle, WA for a $10 million refit for luxury liner service which started in March, 1961. She subsequently sailed from Seattle to San Francisco in May, 1962 as President Roosevelt and began her first voyage from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Yokohama, Japan on May 11, 1962. She conducted a world cruise in 1966.

 

In 1970, she was purchased by the Chandris Line and extensively refitted (she was cut down to two decks above the waterline and had her upper hull and superstructure completely rebuilt) at Perama, Greece for cruising. She was renamed Atlantis and commenced cruising from New York and Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas.

In October, 1972, she was sold to the Eastern Steamship Company as Emerald Seas and used on three and four-night Bahamas (Nassau) cruises out of Miami, Fl. Eastern Steamship Lines became Eastern Cruise Lines and then Admiral Cruise Line. Changes weren't done yet as Admiral Cruises was taken over by/merged into Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL). RCCL had no use for Admiral's two older ships (Emerald Seas and Azure Seas) so disposed of them in 1992.

 

In 1992, she was bought by Festival cruises and renamed Sapphire Seas, cruising to Egypt and Israel. She was laid up at Piraeus in October 1994. In the summer of 1998, she was renamed Ocean Explorer I for use at Lisbon, Portugal as one of three Hotel ships for the Expo 98. At the conclusion, she returned to Eleusis, Greece and was laid up once again.

 

Beginning in November 1999, the World Cruise Company, of Ontario, Canada, began operating her for global cruising with three back to back world cruises from Athens. In May 2000 however, she was taken out on service at the completion on only the first circumnavigation, and she once again was laid up at Eleusis, Greece. Discussions of her possible use as an hotel-ship for the 2004 Olympics in Greece came to nothing. Her long life finally came to an end when, in April 2004, she was sold for scrap to breakers in India.

 

 

 

 

 

[Copper10-8]

Sovereign of the Seas - 3 night Bahamas trip April 05. She had just come out of a major overhaul. Okay for a first cruise but I wouldn'y do it again.

 

 

 

Sovereign of the Seas (1988-present) Delivered in 1988 to Royal Caribbean International at which time, she was the largest cruise ship in the world at 73,192 gross tons. She was initially based at the Port of Miami however in 2006, started sailing three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral, Fl. These cruises visit CocoCay, one of RCI's privately-owned islands, in the Berry Islands group. She will be transferred to the fleet of RCI's subsidiary Pullmantur Cruises (Spain) in late 2008 when she will be renamed Sovereign.

[Copper10-8]

My very first cruise was a three day Bahama cruise on the Fascination. I was going with a small group of close friends. There were three of us that were new to cruising and were really hype by the ones that had cruise before. The veterans wanted to take a seven day cruise, but the newbies wanted a shorter one just in case we didn't like it. We were set to fly in on September 13 and spend the night in Miami.

On September 11, 2001 everything changed. Our travel agent contacted us on September 12th and imformed us that Carnival would refund our money and we could book at a later date or sail and receive a OBC for keeping our sail date. Everyone got together and decided to drive instead.

I can still recall when we first arrived into the port area and I saw the ship. It was huge!! I was just like :eek: after boarding and walking around. I took a ton of pictures!

Due to most of the people cancelling, we set sail with under half of the normal passengers. It was so low that everyone was placed under one dining time.

I still end up having a wonderful time in that three short days. My favorite day was our sea day. My friends and I managed to grab some chairs near the pool and for the rest of the day we swam, ate,nap, gossip, drank alot of foo foo drinks (our OBC was almost equal to what we paid and we all had quite a bit left) and watch the ocean.

I was hook after that!

Now it's 2008 and thanks to the Fascination getting me hooked on cruising, I'm setting sail on a 14 day cruise within a month. It's all thanks to that 3 day cruise!!

Happy sailing!!

 

 

Carnival Fascination (1994-present)

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was an 11 day Caribbean on the Norwegian Sky. We had a porthole and could not believe how tiny the room was. However, we were hooked and have continued to prefer cruise vacations.

By the way, we went from a port hole on the first cruise to the Owner's Suite of Norway on the second cruise. Our first cabin was the size of the bathroom on the second cabin. I think I enjoyed the first one more. Maybe because it was my honeymoon:)

 

 

m/s Skyward (1969-present) Completed in 1969 for Norwegian Caribbean Lines (founded in 1966 by Knut Kloster and Ted Arison and later renamed Norwegian Cruise Lines), for which she operated until 1991 on Florida-Caribbean cruises. She was sold in that year to Singapore owners, receiving the subsequent names Shangri-la World (1991-1992), Asian World (1992), Fantasy World (1992-1993), Continental World (1993) and Leisure World (1993-present). Since 2005, She operates under this last name for New Century Cruises out of Singapore as a casino ship, although in practice, she is usually anchored in international waters with transfers to and from the ship by high speed launch.

 

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was on the Legend of the Seas, 7 days Vancouver round trip Alaska, in 1997. Bob had been on the sea, before, while in the Navy, and I had experienced an Atlantic crossing and a Pacific crossing before trying a cruise. We've been hooked ever since! :D

 

 

Legend of the Seas (1995-present) Delivered to Royal Caribbean International as Legend of the Seas, the first of the six Vision-class vessels

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was a Med cruise in August 1988 on the Ocean Princess, a ship of the defunct Ocean Cruise Lines. It was a great cruise and I am forever spoiled because it was such a small ship. The food was the best I've ever had on a cruise.

 

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Ocean.html#anchor140132

 

Nice

Sardinia

Sorrento

Taoromina, Sicily

Corfu

Dubrovnik

Venice

 

 

 

Italia (1967-present) Built by Cantieri Navale Fesigli, Trieste, Italy for Crociere d’Oltremare as the first of two planned sister ships. Upon completion, she was chartered by Costa Lines for three shakedown cruises to the Mediterranean. Costa then subchartered her to P & O's Princess Cruises for Mexican Riviera sailings from Los Angeles during which she was marketed as Princess Italia. In 1969, Princess based her out of San Francisco for Alaska cruises. In 1973, she joined the Costa fleet for cruises out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, once again as Italia. Four years later, she was outright purchased by Princess who used her to cruise the Caribbean from San Juan and Ft. Lauderdale and later to South America and the Mediterranean.

In 1983, she was sold to Ocean Cruise Lines who named her Ocean Princess and operated her in the Mediterranean in the summer, and on Latin America/Caribbean itineraries in the winter. In 1990, Ocean Cruise Lines was purchased by Paquet Cruises. On March 1, 1993, during one of her cruises up the Amazon, she hit a sunken wreck in the Amazon, and settled on the bottom, flooding the engine room and lower decks. All passengers and crew were removed without injury but she was declared a total constructive loss. She was then sold to Ellis Marine of Piraeus who renamed her Sea Prince, and had her towed to Greece for repairs. The plan was for Sea Prince to begin Greek-based cruises in 1995 for newly-formed Sunshine Cruise Line but a fire on 26 May of that year put an end to that. In September 1995, she was sold to Louis Cruise Lines of Cyprus, who briefly named her Princessa Oceanica.

Her new owners gave her a major refit and renamed her Sapphire. Following this, she was chartered to Thomson Holidays (UK) in 1995, but additional mechanical problems nescessitated a further lay-up at Perama, Greece. She then began cruising for Thomson in 1996 and in 1999 was chartered to French-based Croisieurs Francaises, before once again joining the Louis fleet. She is currently based at Limassol, Cyprus and caters to an almost exclusively Cyprus-based clientele on cruises to Egypt, Israel, Syria, Lebanon and the Greek Islands.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

Ship - Disney Wonder 3 Day - with children

Year - 2000

Ports - Nassau, Cocoa Cay, Sea Day

 

Delightful time...we were hooked and booked a 7 day on the Disney Magic just 3 months later. :) Now we cruise 1-3 times a year, some have been w/children, but most without. ;)

 

 

Disney Wonder (1999-present)

[Copper10-8]

Think it was called The Queen of Bermuda in the early '60's .... sailed out of NYC, hit a bad storm, took an extra day to get to Bermuda due to rough seas! Ship had no stabilizers; 90% of the passengers and over 50% of the crew were out of commission. I remember the waiter pouring a pitcher of water on the table cloth as we sat down to try to keep the plates and glasses from sliding off! Had dinner last night with a friend that I shared the cabin with -- what great memories.

Probably my favorite memory was being on the Norway in St. Thomas when these two cute sailboats came up and saluted us ...... later sailed on one of them, and the captain was captain of one of the two Windstars' that day!

Pat

 

 

 

s/s Queen of Bermuda (1933-1967) Built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, England as Queen of Bermuda for the Furness, Withy & Co. After her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York City in February 1933, she was used on their New York-Bermuda service by Furness-Bermuda Line, a subsidiary. When World War II broke out, she was pressed into service, first as an armed merchant cruiser after having been converted in 1939, and then as a troop transport between 1943 and 1947. During this service, she had one of her original three funnels removed. Laid up for refitting for two years, she resumed Bermuda service in 1949. She was rebuild again between 1961 and 1962 and had a second funnel removed, leaving just one. After 33 years of service, she was sold for scrap in 1966, and was broken up at Faslane, Scotland between 1966 and 1967.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

Thanks Copper John, I’ve very much enjoyed this!:cool:

My first cruise was also on the Windjammer Polynesia in 1975 with my father.

My first cruise as an adult where I got hooked was on the Carnival Jubilee in 2001. Four night western Caribbean round trip from Tampa and I remember it well (despite the lost brain cells :eek:;)).

Jubilee is now P&O Pacific Sun. BTW, that’s the ship that got “knocked around” in 25ft seas off the coast of New Zealand a couple of months ago.

Mark….

 

 

Argus (1938-present) Built in 1938, Argus was one of the last of the great Portuguese Grand Banks fleet. The 248 foot schooner was acquired by Windjammer Barefoot Cruises in 1975, and renamed Polynesia.

[Copper10-8]

I cruised RCCL's Song of Norway in 1978 with my Mother. We went to the eastern caribbean and visited Dominican Republic, St. Thomas and San Juan. I will never forget the Dominican Republic as it is the first time that I had ever seen such poverty.

 

 

Song of Norway (1970-present) Sailed for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line from 1970 until 1997. Became "Sundream" from 1997 until 2004, "Dream Princess" between 2004 and 2006, "Dream" between 2006 and 2007, "Clipper Pearl" in 2007 and currently sailing as "Clipper Pacific" for the Peaceboat organization

[ellbelle]

John, Thanks for posting all of these great photos and history. I was glad to have seen Costa's Daphne on page 19, but on the way saw other ships we have been on including Cunard Crown Dynasty, RC Monarch of the Seas, SS Azure Seas, Celebrity Galaxy and the most memorable cruise on the SS Independence. Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

 

Cheryl

[JunPOA]

Great topic, kudos:) - we need a little fun after this past rocky news week.

Carnival Festivale 1995 S. Caribbean-all port days no sea days what a great way to see the Caribbean and get hooked on cruising!

 

 

 

 

leah, RN

[NapTown Jim]

My first ship was the Maasdam, Montreal to Boston in 2006. Yes, it hooked me. :D

[ssminnow]

copper 10-8 thank you for all your posts

this is a history lesson on shipping you should have a web site of your own devoted to this or how about a book?

my first cruise was the jubilee mexico 7 day out of san pedro I rember the northridge earthquake happend and many passengers had to go home early.

also at the capitans dinner the many drunken lady passengers were sitting on the capitans lap and having their photos taken. tims were different then.

copper 10-8 do you have a photo of my ss minnow ?

we had to leave her on that island and thats the last time I saw her.

[rpjkw11]

First cruise was on Holland's Zuiderdam, 7 days Western Caribbean.

 

Bob

[Mr Veendam06]

Our first ever cruise was back in july 4th 1981 on the Home lines Oceanic:D to Bermuda ans Nassau from NYC.We were in our early 20"s then and just this past feb. we did our 70th cruise on the Noordam an 11 day S Caribbean cruise first winter cruise from NYC we love it no flying !! Been on every cruise out today and alot that are not around anymore .Love trying a new ship everytime out :D

 

 

IT"S GOOD TO BE OPN A WELL RUN SHIP

 

Sun Way cruises

 

Let your self go

[wwinfl91]

HI everyone,

 

Figured I might as well add our first cruise to this list. It was on HAL's Noordam.

 

HAL Noordam March 1997 Western Caribbean 7 day (Inside cabin)

Tampa Grand Caymans Santo Thomas Guatemala Cozumel Mexico

 

We booked it thru AAA and paid way more than we should have but it was our first cruise and we didn't know any better.

 

We took a plane flight from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá which was one of the main reasons we took this particular cruise. We did all ship sponsored excursions for fear of missing the ship and having to pay our own way home.

 

We later did another cruise on the previous Noordam for a 14 day Southern Caribbean cruise.

 

This cruise started us on cruising and we are still at it 11 years later.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[wwinfl91]

HI everyone,

 

Figured I might as well add our first cruise to this list. It was on HAL's Noordam.

 

HAL Noordam March 1997 Western Caribbean 7 day (Inside cabin)

Tampa Grand Caymans Santo Thomas Guatemala Cozumel Mexico

 

We booked it thru AAA and paid way more than we should have but it was our first cruise and we didn't know any better.

 

We took a plane flight from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá which was one of the main reasons we took this particular cruise. We did all ship sponsored excursions for fear of missing the ship and having to pay our own way home.

 

We later did another cruise on the previous Noordam for a 14 day Southern Caribbean cruise.

 

This cruise started us on cruising and we are still at it 11 years later.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[rkacruiser]

First ocean cruise was on Rotterdam V in July, 1970 from New York (an 8:00 P. M. departure), an 11 day sailing, to Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, and St. Barts. St. Maarten, I think, was also a port.

 

First cruise was a week-end sailing from Detroit to Buffalo, Cleveland, and back to Detroit on the Georgian Bay Line's South American. This cruise re-affirmed my interest in travel on bodies of water so that when I could, I booked my first ocean cruise on the Rotterdam.

 

I am not just "hooked", but addicted!

[Cuttle]

copper 10-8 do you have a photo of my ss minnow ?

we had to leave her on that island and thats the last time I saw her.

 

SS Minnow: Are you aware that the SS Minnow was purchased and restored as recently as this September? Google SS Minnow. The following is information from Wikepedia, and there are other references to check. Maybe you can enjoy a "cruise" on what is obviously a very special boat for you.

 

"The S.S. Minnow, also previously known as the 'Bluejacket' now resides at Schooner Cove Marina on the east side of Vancouver Island, in Nanoose Bay B.C. After undergoing a major restoration the new owner plans to do charters and sight seeing tours with it. It is equipped with an old life preserver with "S.S. Minnow" on it and other show items".

[Copper10-8]

Ther was a contest on a local Radio Station Lite 96 and they called out your name and you had to call in within 10 minutes. My wife's name was called and a friend woke me up (I was on night shift) says her name was called ,, Just by chance my wife had her cell phone on and she called in.

Our first trip was Jan2 2002 on Royal Carribean Visions of the Sea a seven day trip including airfare. Throughly enjoyed the experience and wish to continue on. I enjoy meeting people and hanging over the railing looking for sea life and just watching the world go by.:) :)

 

We have cruised

Royal Carribean Radiance of the Sea 15 day Panama Canal

Holland America Ryndam 10 day Sea of Cortez

Holland America Ryndam 7 day inside passage Alaska

coming this Feb Noordam 10 day carribean

 

 

Vision of the Seas (2000-present) Last of RCI's Vision-class ships

[Copper10-8]

After 350 posts, all very interesting, I guess I will add mine. I had 6 years active USN with 9 hrs "sea" time (Panama Canal Transit in 1977 aboard the USS Kinkaid) I had my first cruise on the Zaandam in 2000. As with many, the first was the best. Two of the cruise staff were from SEC schools (FL and KY) so we had a lot to talk and joke about. I had a great time and was more than ready to cruise again. As a side note, the Kinkaid was a new build out of Mississippi when I did the transit and is now a reef somewhere.

 

Rich

 

 

m/s Zaandam (2000-present)

 

USS Kincaid DD-965

[Copper10-8]

Ok, here's another first on the Mardi Gras, 1981. Great first cruise at 21 years of age....since then, 10 more cruises.:D

 

 

Empress of Canada (1960-2003) Delivered in 1961 as the Empress of Canada to British company Canadian Pacific Steamships as their last passenger liner, to serve on the Liverpool-Canada line. Sold in 1972 to Carnival Cruise Lines and renamed Mardi Gras. In 1993 she was sold to Greek company Epirotiki Lines who chartered her to Gold Star Cruises as a casino ship, renamed Star of Texas. In 1994 she became Lucky Star cruising out of Miami. In 1995 she was laid up in Greece and renamed Apollon. In 1999 she was chartered as Apollon to Direct Cruises in the UK for one year. From 2001 she operated out of Piraeus for Royal Olympia Cruises (the former Epirotiki) on 3- to 4-day cruises. In December 2003, renamed Apollo for her final journey, she was beached at Alang, India, and scrapped.