CruznGal145

awesome!  I didn't know this!  Gonna go check it out now!

My first Sitmar cruise was when I was 10, in 1973 with my grandmother, on the Fairwind. My grandparents lived in Fort Lauderdale near the port, and enjoyed travel and cruising. Somehow my grandmother booked the two of us on a last-minute cruise.

 

I had the time of my life onboard, and must have raved about it so much that the next year my whole family went. I think that altogether I went on about 6 cruises on the Fairwind and 1 on the Fairsea (14-day SF to Alaska and back).

 

There were so few children on most sailings, but usually enough to get a small group going. I remember hanging out in the Soda A-Go-Go when we were a bit older. And yes, the oddly large cinema down in the bowels of the ship....

 

The waiters were always so attentive to my sister and me; they knew we didn't like the heavy, alcohol-laden Italian cakes, so they'd always stash one of the tiered trays of petit-fours and bon-bons for us. And the pizzeria -- best pizza at sea EVER!

 

I still have all my Circolo del Commandante glasses, and a photo of me, aged 11 or 12, with my hair up for the first time, shaking the captain's hand. (Potenzoni, maybe?). Every night we dressed up; there was no casual dining, and no dedicated buffet. Occasionally the crew would set up a lunch buffet out on the pool deck though.

 

About the time I went to college was the big changeover to Princess. It was a sad day -- I think my parents were onboard one of the ships, on a Panama Canal cruise, on the day the acquisition was announced.

 

I could go on and on but I won't ;). Great thread! I wonder if any of us met on any of those early cruises.....

When did you do Alaska? If it was 1982, I was there!!

oh my,my! Sitmar, simply the best!! and YES, I still have 6 Circolo glasses in my bar, my CIAO necklace, a scarf, and a Fairsea bracelet charm!! My Dad, Roger James, hired all the musicians aboard all three ships from 1980-1985. He took his 16-piece band on the Fairsea in 1982 for 3-months when they did a Big Band Summer. I was 16 years old and had the summer of my life!

The food! oh the Food! Baked Alaska, the parade was always so much fun even though the Strawberry cheesecake was my favorite dessert! The pizza, oh my, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!! If ANYONE has the Spaghetti Carbonara recipe from the book they used to sell onboard, PLEASE let me know. I have a long time friend looking for it!

That summer had so many great performers! Della Reese, Vic Damone, Rose Marie, Helen Forrest, Rita Moreno, the list goes on and on! The Dolphin Lounge (aka: the disco) on the Fairsea was my haven! Since it was the summer, even though we were doing 2 week trips to Alaska, there were plenty of teenagers to hang with. I'm actually still in touch with a few of them.

My Dad went on to work for Holland America after Sitmar and although that line was nice, I still loved Sitmar, its staff and crew the BEST! I was so blessed to take over 30 cruises as my Dad's "guest" over the 12 years he was in the cruise industry. In fact, I JUST booked a quick 5-day trip on Princess in March. Its the first cruise I have ever had to PAY for! LOL, but I miss cruising and its been 11 years since my last trip! Can hardly wait!! Once a cruiser, ALWAYS a cruiser! Thanks for the memories Sitmar, they were the BEST!

Thanks for the info! So what im getting from this, is book an excursion to get off the ship at a decent time! My husband and I are divers so we were going to book our own trip but now I'm not going to. Princess offers a 2-tank dive trip, so I think we will go with that just to get off the ship quickly. Glad I read your review!

My First ship was the TSS Fairsea on Sitmar Cruises. Went to Mexico and sailed her many times! I was 14 at the time! Sitmar was bought out by Princess, but then I switched to Holland America.

Haven't been on a cruise since 2007.....I'm WAY overdue and booked on HAL next March on the Veendam....can hardly WAIT!!

Back in the 80s there was an Italian based cruise line named Sitmar. It was eventually bought out by Princess.

The chefs made Spaghetti Carbonara and they shared the recipe at the Midnight Buffet and in the Sitmar Cookbook.

If anyone has this, please let me know. I have a friend that has tried to duplicate the recipe for years, but has fallen short. If I can find it, that would be awesome!!

thanks!

Have to agree with you 100% Sitmar Pizza was the BEST!!