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My first cruise was on the old Royal Viking Sea back in 1981 or so. Funnily enough, we will be in Mahe, Seychelles on Crystal Symphony on December 1 and the Albatross (the Sea's new name) will be there, as well. Will have to take a photo by the bow with the Albatross name behind.

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

Ship+Photo+ISLAND+ESCAPE.jpg

 

Carnival Victory, 10/9/17 - Miami to Key West to Cozumel and back to Miami. Yes indeed, I am hooked. Literally booked another cruise the week after I returned, on payday :')

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Royal Caribbean's Song of Norway in April of 1983 to Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Cozumel out of Miami. Hooked right away? Absolutely, although it took quite a few years to be able to actually do the next cruise. Now we do one annually. Ah the joys of finally being retired!!!

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My first cruise was a 2 week Alaska adventure on World Explorer Cruises' S.S. Universe in 1987 with my mom. The ship was a floating university except during summers when it from passengers to Alaska so no casino, no shops, but fantastic staff . Ship was very small, so we got into places in the Inland Passage most ships couldn't get near. We had 4 specialists on board to talk to us about wildlife we were seeing, the culture and history of each port,etc. Each night we were treated to fantastic entertainment, including a slide show of Eskimo life photographed by a bush pilot accompanied by the original songs presented by the teacher he flew from village to village. Towards the end of the cruise, Shirley Jones came aboard to entertain us. After a Q&A session, she spent time on deck talking to many of us. Have photo of her and my mom in my album! After this cruise, it's been hard adjusting to larger ships where you're just one of the crowd, but it definitely sparked an interest in cruising vacations. Now that I'm retired, hopefully I can indulge more often [emoji3]

 

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Shirley Jones was also on SS Norway either 85 or 86 ran into her on top deck and was able to talk to her a bit , she was with her son Shaun and his family, have taken about 50 cruises since

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Shirley Jones was also on SS Norway either 85 or 86 ran into her on top deck and was able to talk to her a bit , she was with her son Shaun and his family, have taken about 50 cruises since
My mom had purchased a tee-shirt in Juneau that had 4 pink rabbits and one gray, with caption "Oh no, not another gray hare!!!" She happened to wear it the day Shirley did her Q&A. Apparent it had caught Shirley's eye during that time as she sought my mom out that afternoon on deck and they chatted for almost 30 minutes! Luckily I had my camera with me when I came upon them and managed to get some shots of the two of them. If I remember correctly, Robert Merrill was the first artist for the last cruise in September.

 

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Carnival Celebration in the 90's! I was a kid and my first time visiting New Orleans! Loved it so much, I moved there when it came time for college. It was New Orleans, Tampa, Cayman, Cozumel.

 

I am a huge animal lover and for a kid this was a great cruise. Met Jack Hanna at Busch Gardens, swam with the stingrays and SCUBA in Cozumel. I completed my PADI to do this.

 

Every time I hear the song 'Celebration' I think about this cruise/ship! lol

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  • 2 weeks later...

Completely hooked from my first cruise in 1971 a two week cruise to the Pacific Islands from Melbourne Australia on Sitmar's Fairstar. Back then I bought a single ticket and there were another 3 girls (strangers) in my internal cabin for 4. I am up to over 30 cruises since with 3 more booked.

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  • 2 weeks later...

USS Norway circa 1998. My memories include a tiny inside stateroom with bunk beds and a bare chair and such horrible seasickness! I had also way overpacked and the heels I brought gave me feet blisters. It’s a wonder I ever cruised again! I’ve learned some things since then.

 

 

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The Oceanic, Home Lines, in summer of 1982. Sailed from NYC to Bermuda and Nassau. Was 19 at the time. My sister (18) and I had a separate room from my parents and we felt so grown up. I remember the room attendants laying out my nightgown (in a female shape) on the bed at turndown service. Had a boyfriend that insisted on calling ship to shore several times during the week. Ran up an enormous bill! Hooked on cruising from that voyage on!!

 

 

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USS Norway circa 1998. My memories include a tiny inside stateroom with bunk beds and a bare chair and such horrible seasickness! I had also way overpacked and the heels I brought gave me feet blisters. It’s a wonder I ever cruised again! I’ve learned some things since then.

 

 

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Over packing for first(all) cruises seems to be a common theme. As you said you live and learn.:D

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Over packing for first(all) cruises seems to be a common theme. As you said you live and learn.:D

Definitely! On my first cruise, I packed a whole suitcase full of shoes! Lol! Now, I am wearing a pair of sneaks on the plane (have plantar fasciitis and for any extended walking I need these with inserts) and sandals for pool area and sundresses for dinner. That’s all. We STILL end up with a suitcase each for hubby and me because although it will all fit in one large, it’s too heavy for the airlines. If we drove, we would only have one suitcase and one carry on.

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My first cruise was in March of 1984, the fourth sailing of Premier Cruise Lines. The ship was the (Starship) Royale, cabin Main 22. It was a five night cruise in an inside cabin with Upper and lower bunk beds. After more than 50 cruises, in everything from that cabin to Queen Mary 2 suites, that cruise is the one that I can remember almost minute by minute. The midnight buffet, the burgundy and gold dining room, the private island with hammocks and snorkeling and watching the helicopter circling around taking pictures for the first brochure. We wound up two slightly larger than specks in the cover of a travel magazine.

The Royale was eventually sold to Dolphin and became the Oceanbreeze.

Later she was being towed to a new home when she rolled over and sank off the coast of Virginia.

I've sailed on the best ships and a couple of the worst, but Royale has a permanent place in my heart.

 

 

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December 2013. The Disney Dream a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas . It stopped in Nassau and Castaway Cay. Got hooked and spoiled so much . Cruised a 2nd one on the Disney Wonder in Jan 2015. It was a 5 day. Then got priced out of DCL so I tried the Carnival Sensation this year ( October 2017)

 

I am planning cruise #4 ( my first solo) for the NCL Bliss ( Jan 2019)

 

I would definitely say I am sooo addicted to cruising.

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Song of America, Labadee, San Juan, St Thomas in October 1987 for honeymoon, as well as 99 other couples. Only one family with children on cruise. Memorable things besides honeymoon, having a drink in the bar on the coning tower, you could hit golf balls off the stern, only time I won BINGO. and i will always remember, "Dinner is now being served in the Ma'dame Butterfly room".

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  • 3 weeks later...

Song of America, RCCL, April 1986, honeymoon -- Western Caribbean. Specifically remember climbing the falls at Ochos Rios, Jamaica, the tortoises @ Grand Cayman, beach @ Cozumel,& snorkeling at Labadee. Also the midnight chocolate buffet!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Our first cruise was for our 25th wedding anniversary.

We sailed on the Ocean Princess in Feb/2000. It was the 5th cruise after she went into service.

We did a Southern Caribbean itinerary starting in San Juan with 6 ports in 7 days.

It definitely hooked us on cruising.

The Ocean Princess now sails out of the UK as the P&O Oceana.

Wouldn't mind going on her again.

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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)

 

 

That was my first ship as well only it was still the Stardancer, Admiral Cruise Lines. Loved it so much I got a job with them as a purser on the Emerald Seas.

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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!

 

Ship+Photo+VIKING+SERENADE.jpg

 

Viking Serenade (still sailing today as Island Escape)

 

Ship+Photo+ISLAND+ESCAPE.jpg

 

Carnival Mardi Gras ... 1982 ... I thought it was June but I googled cruises for that time frame and it had to be the August 28th sailing. I was 19 years old. Boston to Bermuda ... $500! I had worked 2 jobs to buy a car and had JUST saved $1000 ... a friend from work said "do you want to go on a cruise with 20+ people?" "It's only $500!" I said "yeah!". And there went my $1000 .... $500 to pay for cruise and $500 to spend. And I did ... spend it all.

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