Your first cruise ship

[lilbeej]

What was your first cruise ship? What cruise line, the year and the itinerary? (if you remember;) ) Did it get you hooked?

Ours was Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's m/s Viking Serenade, a converted car ferry, back in NOV 1991, a 3-day L.A. - Catalina Island - Esenada, Mexico - L.A. cruise. Never forget our first impressions - we were hooked from that day on!

 

Viking Serenade (still sailing today as Island Escape)

 

oceanic twice,life got in the way after that

[WINEMANVISALIA]

https://plus.google.com/u/1/photos/116190315107492683472/albums/5427758313305800353

[ged1967]

My first cruise was waaaay back in 1992, on board Cunard Princess

 

Flew from UK in the November to Malaga and cruised round the Canary Islands with stops in Algeria, Gibraltar, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Madeira, some others too, retuning to Malaga.

 

I loved it soo much I have cruised three others times, with my partner and we are due to sail in around two months. Whoohoo :)

 

I think Cunard Princess is still on the go but with different cruise lines.

[Kamloops50]

First cruise in 1977 on the SS Ithaca. First cruise with DW was in 2006 on the Volendam thru the Panama Canal.

 

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Forums mobile app

[thcapeman]

Now Celebrity and still hooked

[milligold]

What was your first cruise ship? What cruise line, the year and the itinerary? (if you remember;) ) Did it get you hooked?

Ours was Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's m/s Viking Serenade, a converted car ferry, back in NOV 1991, a 3-day L.A. - Catalina Island - Esenada, Mexico - L.A. cruise. Never forget our first impressions - we were hooked from that day on!

 

Viking Serenade (still sailing today as Island Escape)

 

MS Victoria, Incres Lines - 1968 - I think the itinerary on that first cruise was NY to Nassau then to Bermuda and back to NY. I sailed with my parents and my best friend. I LOVED it and became hooked. I sailed on her four more times and managed to get friends of mine hooked, too. I sailed once in the tiniest room on the ship and once in the biggest suite (with someone I had met on an earlier cruise.) I still have lots of memorabilia from the ship, including brochures, menus, a beach bag, scarf and a solid gold charm with "MS Victoria" on the bottom. She was so small compared to todays ships. Miss her!

 

Carole (Just off the Star Princess - my how times have changed!)

[1Atlantis]

Our first cruise was on the SS Veracruz in 1983. It was our honeymoon. We left Tampa headed for Playa del Carmen in the rain and then stormy seas by evening. I did not feel well at dinner and had to leave our table of six that included two other honeymoon couples. Medicated patches were not available in the U.S at that time so Dramamine was the next best thing. I felt better the next day and enjoyed the beach. That evening it was my husband who was not feeling well, he was sunburned, so we never made it in to Cozumel to party with our table mates. Things did get better, but I was anxious to be off of the ship and I told my husband I would never cruise again. Needless to say we have been on 16 cruises since our honeymoon and looking forward to 3 cruises this year!

[Cruiser9914]

ss Kenya (1930-1970) Built in 1930 as ss Kenya by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland for the British India Company. She operated initially between Indian and African ports (the Bombay - Durban run), carrying passengers (mainly Indian emigrants) and general cargo. On 18 December 1931, she commenced her maiden voyage, heading for Bombay, India.

During the Second World War, she was transferred to the British Royal Navy and in 1941 became the troopship HMS Keren. She returned to the United Kingdom, via the Suez, to be converted to an armed infantry landing ship. Renamed HMS Hydra, then HMS Keren, she participated in several important landings including those of Madagascar, Sicily and North Africa.

After the war, British India Line did not require her services, so she was sold in 1946 to the British Ministry of Transport, and in 1948, laid up in Holy Loch, Scotland for three years. Early in 1949 the Vlasov Group commenced negotiations to purchase her. However, during these negotiations, on 19 February 1949, she broke loose from her moorings during a storm and was badly damaged. The Vlasov Group continued with the sale, taking her to Glasgow for repairs. During this time, the Vlasov Group passed into the ownership of the Alva Steamship Company of London, who towed her to Rothesay Bay where she was laid up again. Prior to her eventually being renamed Castel Felice she had numerous other name changes; Kenya, Keren, then Kenya again. In 1950 her registry changed to the Panamanian flag and she was renamed Fairstone, only to become Kenya and Keren once again.

In October 1950 she was transferred to the Sitmar Line, renamed ss Castel Felice, and her registry was changed to Italy. On 15 October 1950, she was towed to Falmouth, England where initial rebuilding commenced. She departed under tow on 10 March 1951, heading for Antwerp, Belgium where further work was undertaken to transfer her back to a passenger ship. Finally, in August of that year, she headed under tow for Genoa, Italy, where she would receive the final “Italian touches” by her new owners. Both her profile and interiors saw many changes. Her funnel was shortened, a raked bow was fitted and her promenade deck was extended fully aft. Her main masts were removed while a new mast on top of her bridge and derrick posts were added. Her interiors were completely remodelled, with many new cabins added. Upon completion, she could accommodate 592 cabin class and 944 third class passengers.

 

With her bright new look, a gleaning white Castel Felice departed Genoa on 6 October 1952 on her maiden voyage to Australia, arriving in Fremantle (Perth) on 1 November. She then steamed to Melbourne on the 5th and to Sydney on the 7th of October. Following that voyage and upon her return to Genoa in January 1953, Castel Felice was transferred to the Genoa-Venezuela-Brazil-Argentina immigrant service for two years, and then pioneered the Bremerhaven-Quebec service, before returning to Australia on the Bremerhaven-Melbourne-Sydney route in October 1954

 

 

In 1954 she made several voyages to Canada and to the United States. Later that year she made her second voyage to Australia. As Castel Felice, she would become one of the most popular postwar immigrant ships in Australian service, carrying over 100,000 immigrants to Australia and New Zealand over 101 voyages between 1952 and 1970. At just 12,150 GRT, she might have been a relatively small ship, compared to other migrant ships, but she felt and looked bigger than she really was. Thousands of Italians, Dutch, Germans, and other nationalities sailed on her, heading for a new home in Australia.

 

In early 1955, air-conditioning was installed and her accommodations were changed to accommodate 28 First Class, and 1,173 Tourist class passengers. Upon completion, she departed Genoa on 26 February 1955 for her third Australian voyage, after which Sitmar returned her to their South American route

Late in 1957, Sitmar was able to obtain the lucrative contract to transport migrants from Great Britain to Australia. As a result, she was given another refit to make her ready for her new role. She departed Southampton on Thursday 6 March 1958 for Australia, arriving in Fremantle on 2 April 1958 and then in Melbourne on Monday, 7 April 1958. Castle Felice remained on the Australian (including some visits to New Zealand) service until 1970, when Sitmar lost the migrant contract to Greece-based Chandris Lines. At that time a decision was made by Sitmar to take her out of service by the end of the year.

On 15 August 1970, while berthed at Southampton, a fire broke out in part of her accommodations. Sitmar decided not to repair the damage and kept the involved cabins locked up. She was subsequently sold to Taiwanese shipbreakers. With a reduced number of passengers, Castel Felice departed on her last voyage to Australia, arriving in Sydney on 26 September 1970. She would remain there for eleven days. During this time all her crockery and linen was removed and forwarded to Italy, to be used on the recently purchased Cunard Liners, She departed Sydney on 7 October 1970 and headed for the breakers in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where she arrived on October 21 ready for demolition

Hi there,

 

I am currently doing some research on the Castel Felice and was hoping you may be able to help. Specifically I am looking to obtain information about the construction of the ship, materials used and conditions for passengers. I am also trying to find out if there is any documentation or individual recollection of asbestos used in the construction/maintenance or any other aspect of the ship. I would really appreciate any help you can offer.

 

Thank you in advance,

Cruiser9914

[Shadow205]

Our first cruise was on Dolphin Cruise Lines, Dolphin IV in the late 80's or early 90's. We went to Nassau & Blue Lagoon Island. I can honestly say it was one of best cruises ever. It was probably because it was our 1st but we really did enjoy her. If you could set her beside one of the mega ships today she would look like a little tug boat.

[bobbisailsolo]

My first cruise was four days to the Bahamas on the Big Red boat. I cruised with just my two boys who were 3 and 8 at the time. Best time ever. I think it was the Oceanic and it was August 1988!

[bobbisailsolo]

Mine was on the Big Red Boat (anyone remember who owned that line? was it Premier?). The itinerary was Bahamas, and the date - this is where it gets sketchy for me ;-) I believe was around May of 1994

 

Loved that cruise - I've been hopelessly addicted since then! :-D

 

Cathy

 

Yes, that's it! Premier. I had forgotten that! i went on both the Oceanic and the Atlantic, preferring the Oceanic...it was like a real ship, not like these floating hotels they have now.

[wishIweretravelling]

My first cruise was in 1992 on a HAL ship in Alaska. I don't remember which ship. We always just referred to it as The Floating Prison.

 

The first cruise I enjoyed was in 1997 on the Song of Flower, a 190-passenger ship in what was then the Radisson Seven Seas (now Regent Seven Seas). It was an Istanbul to Athens itinerary, and was magical. I sailed her two more times after that, including her final sailing under that name in 2003. She was sold to a French line, and sailed thereafter as Le Diamante

 

I'm eternally grateful to the TA who convinced me that, notwithstanding my floating prison experience, the best way to see the Greek islands was by cruise. I'm hooked now.

[Melady]

Our first cruise was the Costa Riviera for Christmas 1989. We had a wonderful time, we went to Nassau, St. Croix and can't remember where else. Had to take a plane from LaGuardia Airport in NYC to Port Canaveral. I remember there was an actual brand new car in the lobby that you could win if you won a jackpot in the casino. We were pampered through and through. I remember Armando our waiter. He was a gem! Main dining room for dinner every night, baked alaska and bananas foster for dessert, lobster tail, filet mignon, two kinds of pasta with both marinara and alfredo sauces. What a wonderful start to our life of cruising. Now, 12+ cruises later, we are booked for a 9-night on EOTS in September. Next year, for our 30th anniversary, we are hoping to cruise Alaska :)

[Vivere LaDolceVita]

Funny to see this thread keep going for 6 years, with everyone so enthusiastic to chime in. I guess our 1st cruises were memorable ones.

 

Mine was on Celebrity Zenith, NY >> Bermuda, 1999. Family trip with my sister and parents while I was in college. I loved it but, of course, with 5 more years of school (including graduate) ahead of me, I couldn't afford to take more trips on my own. So I had an 8 year hiatus before getting back into the swing of it and then another break until I began dating someone with a similar zeal for cruising. This November will be our 4th cruise together. We are definitely hooked! :D

[clogaltocruise]

My husband & I took our cruise of a lifetime to Alaska in 1994 aboard HAL'S previous Westerdam. We had to beg, borrow and (almost) steal to do it. We tried to experience EVERYTHING as it was our one & only. Well, in September we'll be taking our 18th. :-) Good news is we are still cruising - Bad news is I can't retire!

[Vivere LaDolceVita]

My husband & I took our cruise of a lifetime to Alaska in 1994 aboard HAL'S previous Westerdam. We had to beg, borrow and (almost) steal to do it. We tried to experience EVERYTHING as it was our one & only. Well, in September we'll be taking our 18th. :-) Good news is we are still cruising - Bad news is I can't retire!

 

If you enjoy life as you live it, no reason to retire! My parents just retired at 68, probably could have retired at 60 if they never took a vacation. But they always taught us that tomorrow isn't promised and you have to enjoy the time that's given to you. We always went away for at least a month in the summer, usually to Europe (family), but sometimes just to the Jersey shore or Florida.

 

I have a long way to go before I retire (if I ever can), but I'm not postponing the fun until then. Viva la vida! :D

[clogaltocruise]

Very wise words.

[momofmeg]

My husband & I took our cruise of a lifetime to Alaska in 1994 aboard HAL'S previous Westerdam. We had to beg, borrow and (almost) steal to do it. We tried to experience EVERYTHING as it was our one & only. Well, in September we'll be taking our 18th. :-) Good news is we are still cruising - Bad news is I can't retire!

 

We take our 23rd in November, but I have to say I am not excited as I used to be. Maybe because it is back to the Caribbean and that has become a "Been there, done that," for me. I wish I had both more money and better health so I could enjoy cruises in other areas of the world more often.

[Vivere LaDolceVita]

We take our 23rd in November, but I have to say I am not excited as I used to be. Maybe because it is back to the Caribbean and that has become a "Been there, done that," for me. I wish I had both more money and better health so I could enjoy cruises in other areas of the world more often.

 

The up side is that you know what to expect, so you can choose to stay onboard and relax if you know a port is not that interesting, and you know how to use your time wisely in ports that are more interesting.

 

I've been to San Juan over a dozen times, and each time I love it. On the other hand, I've only been to Labadee twice and that was 2x too many. Now I stay onboard. That wouldn't stop me from going on a cruise that featured either -- or both -- of these ports, and enjoying every minute!

[anthonyw1980]

First Cruise Ship: Adventures of the Seas

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Year: September 17th, 2006

Itenirary: Souther Caribbean - San Juan, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, St Maarten and St Thomas.

 

That was my first and only cruise so far. I do have one booked for next year and I can't wait!!!

Edited July 24, 2014 by anthonyw1980
Included wrong sentence

[Kentchikan]

The up side is that you know what to expect, so you can choose to stay onboard and relax if you know a port is not that interesting, and you know how to use your time wisely in ports that are more interesting.

 

I've been to San Juan over a dozen times, and each time I love it. On the other hand, I've only been to Labadee twice and that was 2x too many. Now I stay onboard. That wouldn't stop me from going on a cruise that featured either -- or both -- of these ports, and enjoying every minute!

 

I've been to some ports multiple times and always find something new. Never the same place twice.

[momofmeg]

The up side is that you know what to expect, so you can choose to stay onboard and relax if you know a port is not that interesting, and you know how to use your time wisely in ports that are more interesting.

 

I've been to San Juan over a dozen times, and each time I love it. On the other hand, I've only been to Labadee twice and that was 2x too many. Now I stay onboard. That wouldn't stop me from going on a cruise that featured either -- or both -- of these ports, and enjoying every minute!

 

I may do that for St. Marteen.

[momofmeg]

I've been to some ports multiple times and always find something new. Never the same place twice.

 

I don't know about that. Nassau and Cozumel both I am sick of and I have done a lot in both places. I am happy to stay onboard for those ports.

 

Now Key west I never tire of going there. I would love if just once we drove down to the Keys ans stayed there a week instead of doing a cruise.

 

I would love to head over to your coast again though. Maybe we can and next time to a cruise of Mexico from LA.

[Kentchikan]

I don't know about that. Nassau and Cozumel both I am sick of and I have done a lot in both places. I am happy to stay onboard for those ports.

 

Now Key west I never tire of going there. I would love if just once we drove down to the Keys ans stayed there a week instead of doing a cruise.

 

I would love to head over to your coast again though. Maybe we can and next time to a cruise of Mexico from LA.

 

I've only been to Nassau a couple of times and it was years ago. I've never been to Cozumel. I'm not wild about Cabo (L.A. South) but we always find some unique little corner to explore. Cabo used to be fun when it was a sleepy village. We look for parts that are more authentic than touristy. It's hard to do some places.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Kentskie

[ncovert]

What was your first cruise ship? What cruise line, the year and the itinerary? (if you remember;) ) Did it get you hooked?

Ours was Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's m/s Viking Serenade, a converted car ferry, back in NOV 1991, a 3-day L.A. - Catalina Island - Esenada, Mexico - L.A. cruise. Never forget our first impressions - we were hooked from that day on!

 

Viking Serenade (still sailing today as Island Escape)

 

Carnival Pride to the Mexican Rivera in Nov. 2005 ... had no idea what cruising was but my FIL gave it to us for our honeymoon and I have been hooked ever since.:D

Edited July 24, 2014 by ncovert