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  • 2 weeks later...
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December 1980 - I was 10 - on the Sitmar's TSS Fairsea. My sister and her friend told me that TSS stood for Titanic Sister Ship. We cruised the Mexican Riviera. I fell in love with both Mexico and cruising on that trip.

 

The Fairsea became a Princess ship, either the Fair Princess or the Sea Princess, I can't remember, but it's long since retired.

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December 1980 - I was 10 - on the Sitmar's TSS Fairsea. My sister and her friend told me that TSS stood for Titanic Sister Ship. We cruised the Mexican Riviera. I fell in love with both Mexico and cruising on that trip.

 

The Fairsea became a Princess ship, either the Fair Princess or the Sea Princess, I can't remember, but it's long since retired.

 

"TSS" actually stands for "twin screw steamship".

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Turbine Steam Ship.

 

While this is also an alternative for the ship prefix TSS, given when the Fairsea was even built (RMS Carinthia in 1955) and certainly when she gained the name Fairsea (1971) all steamships were turbines. Some of the last reciprocating steam engines were in the Liberty ships of early WWII vintage.

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Reading through quite a few of these, it's interesting to note that a lot of the first cruise ships that people sailed on were old ocean liners being used as a makeshift cruise ship. :)

 

My first "voyage" was a seven night transatlantic on the newish ocean liner QM2. It was in 2014 and yes, it got me hooked to crossing and excited for taking a cruise someday very soon hopefully.

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NCL Norway 1998. We booked an inside stateroom that had bunk beds and was in the bowels of the ship. I walked in and said, 'This is like Motel 6 shrunk down 6 times!' I WAY overpacked and brought new uncomfortable heels. Day 2 found me green and seasick, lying on my bunk, surrounded by piles of clothes I didn't get to wear. On day 5, my friends forced sea sick pills into me and then I felt great! But the cruise was nearly over. I hobbled to dinner in those heels and carried the shoes in my hand on the way back to the room. 20 cruises later, the Norway is a n ocean reef and I have learned how to cruise!

 

 

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Cunard Sea Goddess I or II, I have forgotten, now Sea Dream Yacht Club, in the late 80's, I think. Spoiled us. About 100 passengers. Copenhagen-Copenhagen, mostly Norway and a bit of Sweden.

 

Just a piano bar in the evening, as I recall. Peaceful, quiet, with interesting fellow travelers.

 

We still wear the sweaters we bought when the ship's doctor, a Bergen native, escorted us to the artisanal shop where his sister and mother bought their sweaters. This is after I mentioned at dinner I always tried to find the locals' favorite places, and avoid the tourist-focused shops.

 

My husband was out on the pool deck on a sea day, chatting with another Philly native, talking about hot pretzels and how they missed them. About 45 minutes later, a waiter appeared with a plate of hot fresh-made large pretzels, a pot of mustard, and two cold beers.

 

 

 

 

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First cruise 1975, MS Southward, Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Freeport (I think we skipped this stop). I was 20 years old and went with 3 girlfriends. We were the youngest on the ship by 30+ years I think! Spent our time with the band and the crew. Was a great time but never cruised again until NOW. Husband and I have cruised in 2014, 2016, 2017 and have one planned for 2018!!

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I may have y'all beat, in that our first cruise was some 20 years ago, on the NCL's Leeward, a converted ferry boat, IIRC. Three night cruise to Nassau and back, out of Miami. Definitely didn't hook us.

2nd cruise will be this August, Inside Passage on the Nieuw Amsterdam. I think that's a step up.

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Our first was on Carnival Fantasy, for our honeymoon 25 years ago-1992. 4 day Bahama cruise. We are going on our anniversary cruise on a sister ship next month....the secret to a happy marriage? Lots of cruises, of course!

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My first cruise was 1982, I was 19 yrs. old and it was on Carnival from Boston to Bermuda. I had worked 2 jobs to save money to buy a used car. Friends at my job asked me if I wanted to go on the cruise with them. Off we went and I managed to spend all the money I had saved for the car on that trip I have LOVED cruising ever since.

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First cruise was with my parents, around 1980. Carnival's Mardi Gras, '27,250 tons of fun' :D 7 days out of Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St Croix. Ended up doing a second week plus a handful of 4 day cruises on that ship.

 

 

Before the DH and I were married we sailed on the Mardi Gras in 1985 out of Miami to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. We were saving money to go to Europe then a drunk driver hit my husband 2 months before we were to fly overseas. He spent 5 weeks in the hospital and we decided to go on a vacation where they took us to the fun. Carnival Cruise Lines was our choice and the Mardi Gras was our boat. It was such a beautiful ship with all that wood! DH hobbled around on crutches through the Mayan Ruins, he was a trooper!

 

As it turns out Mardi Gras was Carnival's first ship, our first cruise and we were on the Vista in March for Carnival's 45th anniversary and it was our 30th anniversary!

 

 

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I forgot to mention, we ended up spending our honeymoon on Grand Cayman after visiting there. We got certified for scuba and spent the whole time scuba diving with our instructor from the states.

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Very interesting thread. Our first cruise was also a three night on the Viking Serenade out of LA. We had a stop in Ensenada and were supposed to stop at Catalina but the wind was too strong. We just cruised around for the day. I remember a unique ship with many narrow hallways and steep stairs and lots of little nooks and cranes.

The food was FANTASTIC!! The wait staff had a third person that kept everyone's beverage glasses full, and when the salad came, brought around the giant pepper mile and cheese grater The midnight buffet was MAGNIFICANT, with many giant butter, ice and chocolate sculptures. In addition, cheese platters, and amazing desserts were present. The buffet was opened early so the guests could walk through and take pictures.

 

It was a great adventure.

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