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Carla C who remembers her !!


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OMG :D I just found this thread and I'm singing.

This was my first cruise in the early 90's. It was called the Carla Costa then and was a great ship. I remember singing the song 'CCC Carla Costa...' and loved it. I remember the song was recorded and had a litle glich in it when it played. The crew was all Italian and friendly and flirted with us all the time and the pasta dishes every night--great. The CD and the ports were the best ever. It sailed out of San Juan across the pier from the Cunard Countess (my 2nd cruise). My best friend and I loved it. Since then, my DH and I cruise a few times each year. The song and the pasta hooked me!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 5 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
I took her in August of 1984...it was my 4th cruise, but first out of San Juan. I loved the cruise, not only because of the great ship, but the fun Italian flare, the song (c-c-c-cc-carla-c-ccc-la-la-la-la-la-la...later to be repeated on the Costa Riviera as c-c-c-ri.vi-e-ra-c, etc)

 

This song:eek: :( ..i've listened this fantastic song on Costa Classica in 1999....the cruise director was Franco Lo Faro...fantastic cruise director, i saw him for the last time on Atlantica in 2003...the song was: sisisisisisisisisisisisisi Costa Classica sì lalala la la la la laaa laaaaa...very similar to the old-song of Carla C and Costa Riviera, doesn'it?:)

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  • 11 months later...

I sailed the Carla C in May of 1980 with my college friend and travel companion. We were just 22 or 23 at the time and I loved the cruise so much that I convinced my mom to go the following year. One of the previous posts left out one other port that we visited. Caracas, Venezeula. I loved the fact that she sailed to South America.

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  • 3 months later...

Wow this is so neat I found this site! All these people talking about my beloved Carla C! I worked on the Carla from 1980 to 1983 and it is a time in my life I will never forget. I probably have met alot of the people who are posting on here. There was just something about the atmosphere on the Carla that was hard to find anywhere else. I eventually got married and after I had my daughter we took her on her first cruise on the Carla C when she was 6 months old. She got to sit at the Captain's table on his lap even! It was very upsetting to hear that the Carla after being sold caught on fire and was destroyed. They took her to the scrapyards on December 25, 1994.

 

I would love to hear from anyone who had cruised on the Carla C and if anyone is out there that used to work onboard please post a message!.:)

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Carla "C" was my second cruise on Costa. 1st was the Flavia. We went on a 7 day from San Juan August of 1988. I remember Grenada being one of our ports, and it was just after the US sent in troops. The people on Grenada were so grateful and we were treated "royally" at that port.

 

I joined the Costa C club at that time and still have the "passport book." I took it with me on the Atlantica in March of 2005 and had it stamped at the pursers desk.

 

I am going on the Mediterranea in March of 08 and will have my book stamped again. They say I am a Costa Club member, but it is hard to get info from them by email. Guess I will be using the telephone to get some info.

 

It was great reading everyone's memories of this ship and YES we still sing the CCC song!!

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I flew on Eastern, and on the flight back everyone was from the cruise, and we all started singing C, C, C, CC Carla C, CCC la, la, la, la, la, la, la......

 

My first and most favorite cruise ever. Booked with Singleworld...shared a cabin with 2 strangers...and had a blast. I still have my picture with Captain Nardini, as well as our waiter and Chef. Dinner (tables of 10) was a cross between French Service and Family Style. Waiters carried platters of food, and you could try anything they brought out, even if you didn't order it. There was a different theme every night and the waiters all dressed in the theme. There was also a display as you walked into the dining room. On Country Western night there were live baby chicks in the display.

 

I remember non-passengers were allowed on the ship until 11 pm before we left San Juan. It was their night out on the town(ship).

 

No towel animals back then, but every night you're bed was turned down, the night light was on. and there was always a special treat or souvenir on your pillow. No automatic doors, but bingo was cheap and had big payouts. payouts).

 

My kids laugh at the pictures and can't believe ships were that small. They want to know what we did for fun....Fun? :D We were on a cruise, what could be more fun than that.

 

Oh what great memories.....

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  • 1 month later...

The Carla Costa was my first cruise too. I went as a solo and had a single inside cabin. Boy was it small! The bed was bordered by the wall on 3 sides and there was barely enough room for the closet, vanity and chair. I don't remember if there was a tv or even a radio. The bathroom was an ok size. I didn't know any better and thought it was heaven. I loved that ship. I had an absolutely fabulous time on that cruise. Everyone was so nice to me and concerned that I didn't spend any time alone. I still have the cruise VHS videos that they sold, although I don't have any way to view them anymore. One day I'll have them converted to DVDs. Is Costa still the same these day?

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  • 3 months later...

I just saw this post and had to provide my 2 cents. I sailed (1987?) a southern Caribbean itinerary with my (then) wife and my business partner and his wife. It was the first cruise for the three of them. I had previously sailed on the Starward of NCL. We departed in the evening from San Juan. When we arrived at the ship, there was a full blown party with live music, dancing, drinking. It was a wild scene, everyone was having a great time. Suddenly, the whistles start blowing, the PA comes on, announcing that the ship would be sailing soon. To our chagrin and ultimate sadness, everyone that was partying on the deck disembarked, leaving us with an entire ship filled with AARP retirees from New Jersey. We were easily the youngest people on board by at least 50 years.

 

The ship reeked of creosote, the seas were high, and my partner's wife spent most of her port time in the vain attempt to get another cruise liner to take us aboard. She felt that she had been bamboozled about the cruise. It would be many years before she trusted us to take her on another cruise.

 

The captain made mention of the burning sinking of the Carla C's sister ship, the Bianca C, in Grenada Harbour 20-some years earlier. It was a memorable cruise, and pointed out that one should never choose a cruise based on the strength of itinerary alone.

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  • 1 month later...

Reading these posts made me smile. My first, and until late July, my only cruise.

It was definitely a lot less luxurious than today. I had an inside stateroom with my then husband and the beds were attached to the side of the room, you had to step over the thresh hold going into the cabin and the electricity was constantly going out (usually before dinner when everyone tried to use their blowdryers). My biggest disappointment was that someone from the cruise left the shotguns for the skeet shooting on the deck befoe we sailed. There was a lot of free time.

We had a great itinerary, a port a day, which is why I booked the cruise; Puerto Rico, Curacao, Caracas, Grenada, Martinique, St Thomas.

In Venezuela we picked up the other half of our cruise mates; wow could they party! :) The toga party was something to behold, the Venezuelan ladies could do amazing things with a simple sheet.

The Italian food was great and our table mates ordered two bottles of "Asti" every night.

I'll never forget the end of the cruise. In the middle of the night, cruising back to San Juan, the engines ramped up and the seas were noticably rougher, the only time I ever felt queasy. We made it to port right before hurricane Hugo. I swear that I remember people sitting in the aisle of the packed flight back to Florida.

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My husband and I sailed on the Carla Costa in February, 1987. We did the southern Caribbean itinerary. Our inside cabin was tiny and had bunkbeds! I vividly remember one couple having a baby with them, and the toddler was the only child on board. The toga party was great, and I won $500 in the casino, too. We loved our cruise on the Carla C!

 

Linda

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Yep--we sailed her too back in the day. Late 1980's...My brother and I were geeky teens and rolled our eyes everyone broke out into the "C-C-C-Carla Costa CEEEEE" song.

 

We (DH, kids, and I) have sailed on Costa twice in recent times. Can't beat their Kids Sail Free deals. And, you'll be glad to know that the newer Costa ships are very modern, and comparable to Carnival. There's even a kids club!

 

This past April we were on the Costa Fortuna, and in the atrium of the ship there is a crazy display of all the Costa ships hung (upside down) from the ceiling of one of the side decks. My mother and I took great joy in finding the tiny, little Carla Costa tucked in among the other, larger ships in the Costa fleet. Puts it all into perspective.

 

CeleBrat

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Aha! Just found that picture of the upside-down ship models on the Fortuna. The Carla Costa is the tiny one sandwiched between the two larger ships in the center of the picture. And, you can see in the background the largest ships of the fleet.

 

She was soooooo small!

 

CeleBrat

 

DSCF5703.jpg

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I wonder just how many people got their introduction to cruising onboard the Carla C. She was our first cruise in 1980 and before we boarded her, I was sure that it would be our first and ONLY cruise. When they first sang the Carla C song, I too rolled my eyes, but by the end of the cruise was singing it as lustily as everyone else and even bought an 8 track (remember them?) that had it as one of the selections. By the time we got off the ship, we were already convinced that it would not be our only cruise and now, twenty eight years later we have been on some fifty or more cruises. Reading this thread brings back many fond memories of that cruise when the phrase "no problem" was the response to any request even those that we might have thought a bit outrageous. A different midnight buffet every evening and we made all of them as evidenced by my gaining 10 pounds in seven days.

Carla C opened up a whole new world of travel possibilities for us and I will always have a special place in my heart for her. I dread to think what my reaction might be if I boarded such a ship today, but at that time she was luxurious and our inside room seemed to get more commodious every day.

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Wow.....what great memories this thread brings back! Like many of the others this my first cruise as well.......7 wonderful days in the Caribbean out of San Juan. Sailed with my best friend in college during break back in 19(ouch)77. She is still the most majestic ship I have ever cruised on! Actually forgot about the song until reading all the posts.....now I'll be humming it all night.

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  • 3 weeks later...

This was my first cruse in the summer of 1980. It was a graduation cruise. Our entire high school graduating class from St. Johns School San Juan, PR and a few shaperions went on the ship.

 

We had the greatest time. I rember the crew being really wonderful. The food was really outstanding too.

 

I slept for about 15 hours after getting home after the cruise.

:D :D :D :D :D

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  • 3 weeks later...

Found this photo of the Carla C on the web

 

320px-Carla_C.jpg

 

 

 

C-C SEE CARLA C !!! We cruised on her back in july 1982 out of San Juan . We had so much fun on the Carla C her name latter became Carla Costa . Have you cruised on her >

Mr Veendam

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  • 3 months later...

:confused:Actually, it was almost 18 years ago, we had bunk beds in our inside cabin, our shower overflowed into the room, and we missed the Captains dinner, which I was told was a big thing. I for some reason do not remember the Carla C song. We met so many lovey people. We enjoyed ourselves on all of our Ports of call, with Grenada being the poorest but also the most beautiful. In less than two weeks we are going on an 11-day Western Caribbean Cruise on the Constellaion with a deluxe room with a veranda. So, I hope this will be much nicer than bunk beds. We did like flying into San Juan and leaving at 11 that night sailling. On the last night, which was Toga night, we played bingo as they were calling until they had a cover all winner. My man won $1,100.00 and was so embarassed as he had to go up to the front in a sheet. I have pictures to prove it. But all in all, we had a wonderful time and I really don't know why it has taken us 18 years to do it again. I'll let you know how this one goes.;);)

Edited by corkywest
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  • 2 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Did you work on her the week of the 4th 0f July 1982 ? We were on her then .Was Mr Wair was the CD remember him? We have cruise with him alot of times with him and his son on our 70 cruises .I liker Costa better back then then now .Now they are more like Carnival !!

 

 

Mr Veendam

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  • 1 month later...

Some History I found in the Internet about the Carla C

 

SS Flandre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Flandre, also known as Carla C, Carla Costa, and Pallas Athena, was an ocean liner and cruise ship that took passengers on transatlantic voyages and on Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises from 1952 to 1994. She was operated by the French Line, Costa Cruises, and the Epirotiki Line.

 

French Line

 

The Flandre was the French Line's first new ocean liner following World War II. Her maiden voyage was considered a complete disaster, as she experienced mechanical difficulties throughout the voyage. The first sign of trouble was when her fuel line filters became clogged, due to impurities in the oil that she was carrying. This caused her to become essentially "dead in the water" for four hours while her fuel filters were cleaned out, and her boilers restored to normal operation. This was repeated later in the voyage, after which the Flandre's captain elected to reduce speed for the remainder of the voyage. Upon arrival at the Quarantine Station at New York, she experienced a short circuit in her main electrical switchboard, causing a near-complete loss of power. Nearly three hours later, she had sufficient power restored to raise the port anchor. An additional three hours were required to raise the starboard anchor to allow her to continue.

 

Unlike most ocean liners' maiden arrivals, where they receive the traditional fireboat welcome while sailing under their own power, the Flandre arrived in New York Harbor and received the traditional welcome while under tow by four Moran tugs, while also running one propeller of her own. Her funnel put out thick clouds of smoke, seeming to almost be straining as it was doing so. She was initially blowing her whistle as she arrived under tow, but after the whistle failed due to her limited power, the ship's siren was substituted.

 

Flandres return voyage was delayed to allow engineers to repair her engines. Following her return to France, all of her 1952 sailings were cancelled, and she returned to her builders for thorough repairs. Repairs would take six months, and she returned for the 1953 sailing season.

 

During her French Line career, her passenger configuration changed several times, with the Flandre running on the transatlantic route for nine months out of the year, and three months cruising with her near-sister Antilles. In 1967, she would be withdrawn completely, and was sold to the Italian firm Costa Cruises, who renamed her the Carla C.

 

Costa Cruises

 

The first assignment for the newly-refitted Carla C was a charter for Princess Cruises, which marketed her as the "Princess Carla" (the ship was not renamed).

 

The ship proved problematic at first, after problems were detected with the boilers. In 1974 and 1975, Costa replaced the boilers with Stork-Werkspor diesel engines and Carla C was returned to service around the Caribbean, where she served until 1992. In 1984, the ship underwent another major refit, to ensure safe travel for its passengers for many years to come. In 1986, the Carla C was renamed the Carla Costa. No other changes occurred with the name change.

 

Carla Costa was a common sight on the San Juan ship dock on Saturdays and Sundays during that era, and she travelled to Miami, the Bahamas, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the United States Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and many other Caribbean destinations.

 

Epirotiki Line

 

In 1992, the Carla Costa was sold to the Greek Epirotiki Line, and was renamed Pallas Athena, after the Greek goddess Pallas Athene. For the Epirotiki Line, she ran seven-day cruises from Athens to the Aegean Islands and Turkey. On 23 March 1994, Pallas Athena was destroyed by fire, which caused the superstructure and funnel to cave in on themselves. She arrived at the Aliaga Company scrapyards on 25 December 1994, one of only two surviving French Line ocean liners.

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  • 3 months later...

I only wish we could hop a jet down to san Juan to get on the Carl C .We had a great time on her .better then the new ships of today .There was more great feeling on the Carl C .Costa is just not the same anymor .

 

Mr veendam

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  • 1 year later...
Wow this is so neat I found this site! All these people talking about my beloved Carla C! I worked on the Carla from 1980 to 1983 and it is a time in my life I will never forget. I probably have met alot of the people who are posting on here. There was just something about the atmosphere on the Carla that was hard to find anywhere else. I eventually got married and after I had my daughter we took her on her first cruise on the Carla C when she was 6 months old. She got to sit at the Captain's table on his lap even! It was very upsetting to hear that the Carla after being sold caught on fire and was destroyed. They took her to the scrapyards on December 25, 1994.

 

I would love to hear from anyone who had cruised on the Carla C and if anyone is out there that used to work onboard please post a message!.:)

 

Hi,

I was on Carla C IN 1982 AND 1985 , are you on Facebook ?

I have a few pictures taken on that period.

Lookout for me Stani Visciano on Facebook.

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