Just for fun...what was your first cruise???

[COMBOY]

My first cruise was 1980 on RCCL Song of Norway. My mom wanted to go on a cruise, but dad didn't so she took me. I was 19 yrs old at the time. I was so excited and we both had such a great time that we went the following year and this time took dad. I was hooked on cruising ever since. Cruising back then was simpler, elegant with gourmet dining with table side preparation for flaming desserts. They had midnight buffets each night with one grand buffet on one formal night. No big production shows; however, the entertainment was very good with solo acts. No casino except for slots in the foyer outside the restaurant and lounges. You actual had to walk up external stairs to get up to the Viking Crown Lounge. Dining room had fixed times and tables with open seating only for breakfast and lunch when the ship was in port. No Windjammer cafe; however, you could get hamburger and hot dogs up around the pool area for lunch. Formal nights meant formal with everyone dressing up. Those were the days.

[aaerobear]

Mine was in 1969 on some old italian tub based in Miami and sailing 4 day cruises to the bahamas. What a couple of rubes we were, had no money and no idea what we were getting into, but we got the cruise at an airline discount (employee) and paid all of 50 bucks a piece for a room with a small porthole.

 

We were suprised to see all the food and those late night buffets.

 

When we were informed that tips were expected, we panicked as we had almost no money. In desperation we left the steward a check and fled off the ship. The check was cashed before we made it back to Chicago two days later :-)

 

That was 40 years and 50+ cruises ago, how times have changed.

[5:00_Somewhere]

Fun thread.

 

Ours was the the Mexican Riviera (repo cruise, though we didn't know what that meant at the time) from LA to Acapulco on the Sun Princess in 2000. I was a little anxious about being the only gay couple on our first "straight" cruise, mostly because back then there was only "traditional dining" and I was afraid we would be seated at dinner with some bible thumpers from Oklahoma or something (no offense meant to Oklahomans.) ;)

 

Much to my surprise and relief, as soon as we walked up the gang plank to board the ship we were met by two obviously gay boys in Cruise Director Staff jackets who smiled knowingly at us and welcomed us aboard. We quickly became great friends with one of the guys (and remain friends to this day), and he took us under his wing and invited us to many crew-heavy festivities during the cruise (all "above deck", not in the crew areas, just to be clear.) Not surprisingly, there were lots of gay and gay friendly people among the staff and crew. :)

 

Shortly after boarding and settling into our cabin we ventured up on deck to aquaint ourselves with the ship and soon met a very fun group of 5 also obviously gay men, friends who were on their annual cruise vacation together (we soon dubbed them the "gaggle of gay boys"). We had a GREAT time with them throughout the cruise (though I think the 7 of us frightened the dickens out of some of the older straight passengers on one particular shore excursion. :D

 

Finally, we were seated at dinner with another couple from the American SouthWest and a nice older gentleman who was taking his granddaughter on the cruise as a thank you for caring for him after a recent heart attack. On about night #5 the SouthWestern couple decided to eat at another venue, and the older gentleman "came out" to us. Who knew there would be so many "family members" on a straight cruise? :eek: :p

 

And we've been hooked ever since. We just finished our 10th cruise with Princess, and have our 11th and 12th already booked. :D

[dad son team]

My first was in January of 1989 on the Carla Costa out of San Juan to the southern Caribbean. I was home on semester break from college and my mom always wanted to go on a cruise so we. I loved it and she hated it. I think she was expecting the grandness of cruising in the 1950's and instead got something less sophisticated and more commercial. She hasn't gone on another since although is talking of sailing to Hawaii because she can't fly anymore. I'm game.

[Rotterdam]

in her day was quite a good ship......oh the old Costa Line.....GOT TO LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My first was in January of 1989 on the Carla Costa out of San Juan to the southern Caribbean. I was home on semester break from college and my mom always wanted to go on a cruise so we. I loved it and she hated it. I think she was expecting the grandness of cruising in the 1950's and instead got something less sophisticated and more commercial. She hasn't gone on another since although is talking of sailing to Hawaii because she can't fly anymore. I'm game.

[RMS Olympic]

Just think...as the Princess Carla, she was the inspiration or the Love Boat ,,,the author must have had a really good time.....to start a novel idea that mushroomed into a television series that exploded the cruise industry. And people think the Pacific Princess was the start....

She may have started out as "the flounder" aka Flandre......but she truly left her mark. She also played a part in my life...but that story is only revived under the influence of some Verdicio (Fazio Bataglia).:o

[sfgoguy]

We sailed in 1976 (if memory serves me) to Bermuda from Charleston, SC on the Amerikanis (sp?), which was part of the Chandris line. I remember a big "X" on the smoke stack, so it may have been a precursor of what is now Celebrity. :eek:

[St Pete Cruiser]

Sailing to "No Where" out of Tampa in 1987, I decided to try a cruise for the first time. The Veracruz was advertised in the St Petersburg Times at $99 for a two night cruise, leaving Sat afternoon and returning very early Mon morning. It was exciting to board the "yacht like" white hulled ship, all of 10,000 tons, and sail out under the Skyway bridge into the open Gulf. Walking the decks was nice, but eating in the dining room with a coat and tie and ordering anything I wanted off a menu with no prices made me feel like I had arrived! They even had a show of sorts after dinner, apologizing for the lack of space in the tiny rooms (mine was upper & lower), the pool (not much bigger than a hot tub), and the lack of chandaliers as seen on the Love Boat. It was so much fun, four of us later booked the five night cruise to Cozumel.

Like most of you, if I got stuck on that old tug boat now, I'd be in shock. For a first time cruise, it was enough to get me, any many more, into cruising.

[robgvic]

My first was on the canberra from vancouver to port everglades in july 1968 ( i think). Glad i did travel on a passenger trip. A four birth shared cabin -$300 for 18 days. Never met the other men in the cabin. I was young and having too much fun

[JetJock_YHZ]

We lost our "1st-time-cruiser-virginity" on the Carnivore Victory. We lucked out and got upgraded to a nice aft cabin with a HUGE balcony. Since then, I have been hooked on cruising.

 

Carl

[Bramcruiser]

Great idea for a thread. Its nice to have some fun on these boards for a change. So......

 

Our first cruise was in 1994 and was a 4 day roundtrip from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas on Carnival's Fantasy. Actually, it was a result of my monumental reaching age of 30 bucket list. I wrote down a list of things I wanted to do by the time I reached 30 - a year earlier - and a cruise was the winner. We thought it be best that we start with a sampler cruise since neither one of us cruised before hence the 4 day sampler.

 

We enjoyed it enough but was not WOW'ed by the experience. We just found other land vacations to take up over the years and didn't return to cruising until 11 years later. In 2005, I finally got sea fever again after listening to the tales of my company's cruise-happy receptionist. Different line and different iteniary was tried out the second time and I came home with the infamous PCD (post-cruise depression). We were hooked and have been travelling the high seas ever since.

 

David

[Boytjie]

We sailed in 1976 (if memory serves me) to Bermuda from Charleston, SC on the Amerikanis (sp?), which was part of the Chandris line. I remember a big "X" on the smoke stack, so it may have been a precursor of what is now Celebrity. :eek:

 

From Wikipedia:

 

The SS Amerikanis was a passenger liner and later a cruise ship, launched in 1952 as the Kenya Castle for the Union-Castle Line. The Kenya Castle had two sister ships: The Rhodesia Castle and the Braemar Castle.

 

Cruising History

 

The Kenya Castle sailed the around Africa service for some years before being purchased by the Chandris shipping family (now Celebrity Cruises) in 1967. She was refitted and her passenger capacity was increased to approximately 920 (one class). She became somewhat famous for being the first passenger ship to have a television in every cabin. The Amerikanis sailed trans-Atlantic cruises for several years before moving to the Caribbean, Bermuda, New York routes. She was leased to Costa Cruises (ship was still owned by Chandris) from 1980-1984. After regaining the distinctive Chandris "X" on her funnel, she went on to serve for another 12 years.

 

Scrapped

 

In 1996 she was laid up in Greece which is where she sat while decisions were made about her future. Nothing materialized and she was sold for scrap in either 2000 or 2001. Sometime in 2001 the Amerikanis made her way to the Alang, India breakers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Amerikanis

 

 

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ChandrisAmerikanis.html

[toby324]

First cruise as a child in 1975 aboard the Royal Viking Sea to the Baltic (a beautiful Norwegian ship). First gay cruise in 2006 on Holland America's "Westerdam" -- an RSVP cruise to Panama and Costa Rica. My husband and I had the time of our lives!! We can't wait to go again... on RSVP or Atlantis!!

[lunalake]

Fun thread!

 

I'm Mike from Long Beach, California. This is my first time posting on this board.

 

Our first cruise was a three-night trip on the Carnival Ecstasy from Los Angeles to Ensenada in 2003. Jay (my DH) won the cruise for being employee of the year. I had a good time, but I didn't think I would want to do it again. Then the in-laws took the whole family on a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise on the Carnival Pride in 2007, and I was hooked. I always thought I would be bored to death on a ship for a week, but we had a blast!

 

We went on another Mexican Riviera cruise earlier this year, the Carnival Spirit out of San Diego visiting Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, and Manzanillo. Now we are ready for something different. We just booked a one-day on the NCL Star from Seattle to Vancouver followed by a seven-day repositioning cruise on the Golden Princess from Vancouver to Los Angeles in September. We were going to wait until next year to go on another cruise, but we found such a great deal we just had to do it. Or so I keep telling myself!

[diknjoe]

HMS Victory, I believe!! ;O)

[SuiteCruzin]

On my first cruise, I sailed on a Pied Piper cruise to nowhere on the QE2 in the late 1990's. I was solo and I couldn't have chosen a better initiation to ocean cruising :-0! Perfect liner and perfect group for the first of many voyages since.

I have so many memories....especially my single outside cabin and the Pied Piper gatherings. I was smart enough to take the Millineium cruise to nowhere, again with Pied Piper, and enjoy the 4th of July on the QE2 anchored off the Statue of Liberty to watch the flotilla.

Here I am, a land locked cruiser and sail on at least 2 cruises a year. All because of my jump into the best for the best experience. Tom

[Rotterdam]

Its great to read of some of these great ships & cruises once again......

 

Actually now when peole are curious as to who will be on board this will show a good representation.....

[sfgoguy]

From Wikipedia:

The SS Amerikanis was a passenger liner and later a cruise ship, launched in 1952 as the Kenya Castle for the Union-Castle Line. The Kenya Castle had two sister ships: The Rhodesia Castle and the Braemar Castle.

 

Cruising History

 

The Kenya Castle sailed the around Africa service for some years before being purchased by the Chandris shipping family (now Celebrity Cruises) in 1967. She was refitted and her passenger capacity was increased to approximately 920 (one class). She became somewhat famous for being the first passenger ship to have a television in every cabin. The Amerikanis sailed trans-Atlantic cruises for several years before moving to the Caribbean, Bermuda, New York routes. She was leased to Costa Cruises (ship was still owned by Chandris) from 1980-1984. After regaining the distinctive Chandris "X" on her funnel, she went on to serve for another 12 years.

 

Scrapped

 

In 1996 she was laid up in Greece which is where she sat while decisions were made about her future. Nothing materialized and she was sold for scrap in either 2000 or 2001. Sometime in 2001 the Amerikanis made her way to the Alang, India breakers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Amerikanis

 

 

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ChandrisAmerikanis.html

 

Peter, "thanks for the memories"! I expect all first cruises are magical for many reasons.

 

Happy crusing, everyone! :p

[karenh007]

A cruise to the Western Caribbean in September 2002 on the Grand Princess. I was hooked after that.

[PROCRUISE]

My partner and I decided to try a cruise(Carnival Paradise)in March,2004.On December 3rd, this year, we'll be on Carnival Dream for our 14th cruise. Have cruised everywhere with Carnival, HAL and NCL. Once you get started on cruise ships there is no turning back.:)

[Willem Ruys]

I was already a ship nut by age 5 (almost 6) when I sailed in Italian Line's grand VULCANIA of 1928 and since then have sailed in 102 different ships and worked in 14 - I don't work in them anymore - I don't like how the business has changed and my favorite time working was in the old Chandris Liner ELLINIS on a migrant voyage to Australia and some inexpensive cruises from Philadelphia and Boston. I was purser in 8 ships, quality control in three and special projects in 6 ships and have lectured in 14 ships in all - about SHIPS, of course - and have 7 books about ships in print and am working on finishing another 12 - but not in a hurry because there's not enough of a market to get my investment back. I'm really a lucky one because just over 20 years ago while on a crossing in the VISTAFJORD I met Chris, also known as Xtopher to those who know us. He's also a ship lover and his first ship was the MATSONIA which he sailed in in 1963 when he was five. DAMN! We're OLD :-) We spend most of each year at sea and since we stopped reviewing cruise ships a few years ago pretty much limit ourselves to Holland America (we've sailed them all except the EURODAM - don't you just HATE that name?), like the MAASDAM best - and if not with HAL we like the QUEEN MARY 2...We stick with HAL, it's where our friends are and we don't want to be the new gay kids on the block...

[fojnh]

1986 on the Cunard Countess. We had a cabin with one porthole in the very front of the ship on a low deck. When we were at sea the waves crashed over the porthole and the room went dark. So much fun!! Upper and lower berths. Two people could NOT get ready at the same time. No TV. Drinks were $1.95. Midnight buffets every night. You won a prize if you turned in your daily quiz the quickest. The entertainment act from the night before was likely directing a tour group the next day or taking your picture. And that entertainment might have been a puppeteer or a torch singer direct from the "West End stage." But it was great and we were hooked. I agree those were the days. To recapture that spirit I hang out in a deck chair on the promenade decks of today's megaliners. That spot on most ships is universal and for me it still works to recapture the golden age!!

[VibeGuy]

*peers at Willem Ruys and thinks he looks familiar from a crossing in 1999 on Norway*

[legalmaze]

VibeGuy,

 

What a great topic.

 

Hey, we're on the 09/26 Sapphire Princess together!

 

Anyway, my first cruise was Costa Flavia (06/1971). I was with my parents and two brothers. It was a four day Bahama trip out of Miami.

 

One of the best times of my life!!!! Hooked me on cruising!

 

Rick

[Willem Ruys]

*peers at Willem Ruys and thinks he looks familiar from a crossing in 1999 on Norway*

I was onboard from Florida to Barcelona - lectured in English, Dutch and French. The Dutch thought I was German, the French thought I was Canadian and the rest knew I'm AMERICAN! And I did it all on my own dime! That was a particularly fun crossing - I think we were at LEAST 35 HGPs (homosexual gay people - my own phrase and abbreviation for us) - and we had a dinner or two for any HGPS who wanted to join us in the Bistro and a couple of gay nights in Dazzles. FUN!