norboy76

I only have a couple of souvenirs from *The Big Red Boat*. I have a spoon for the *Starship Majestic* and a nice porcelain model for the *Starship Atlantic* .

6 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

The doctor must have been a "pack rat".  Why would he take/save such items?  That's quite a haul you have acquired!  

I'm not sure, especially why a doctor would have items from repair and engineering, which is a little puzzling to me, but I'm happy to get these items. There are some items not listed as I don't know yet what they are as they were not listed, just listed as extra odds and ends, so should be interesting to see what they are.

13 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Norboy, That should provide many hours of interesting browsing time!

I'm in the midst of getting binders and sleeves for this collection. Once it arrives, I will happily be taking photos of the items for everyone to enjoy.

On 8/20/2021 at 4:10 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

Yesterday, I placed an order for a set of 10 First Class menus from a trans-Atlantic crossing on the S. S. America in August, 1954.  Two Gala Dinner menus, 4 Luncheon Menus, and 4 Breakfast Menus; price asked was reasonable.  The date of this crossing coincides with a Gala Dinner menu from the ship's previous crossing that was given to me by a distant relative who happened to find it in a thrift shop.  

I thought might get a kick out of this massive SS United States lot I got my hands on. There is over 156 items from the ship. The items are from an estate sale from a former doctor from the SS United States, so this lot contains both passenger and crew items. I wrote a list of the items I will be receiving and took a photo, but I will also write down some of the unique items.

Items From SS United States: (just some of the items, see total items in photo)

Chief Engineer Repair Form Pad (unsure how many unused repair sheets are on this pad)

Director J. Seaver Jones Cards (I believe these are greeting to passenger cards)

Paper sign for the Luggage Room

On Board Travel Office Paper Sign

Paper Meals Hours Sign

Empty Motion Sickness Packets from the medical bay

Unused Stateroom, Cabin and Tourist Luggage Tags (or stickers)

Repair Paint And Locksmith form tablet (from repair and engineering)

D.M. McCallum Compliments Cards (unsure who D.M. McCallum is)

*I Hope Can Read List In Photo

13 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

What a nifty dinner plate!  You certainly are good at finding nice things.

May I make a correction?  NS Savannah was the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, not a cruise ship.  She is currently moored in the Chesapeake.  We make it a point to look for her every time we sail out of Baltimore.

 

oh sorry, thank you for fixing that up, I wasn't sure cause of her carrying passengers. Is she still a museum you can tour, or can't tour her anymore?  I also have a really nice souvenir plate for HAL and every ship on this plate is gone, either sold of scrapped. This is the fleet on this nice plate:

MS Rotterdam: 1997 - sold in 2020

MS Veendam: 1995 - sold in 2020

MS Ryndam: 1994 - sold in 2015

MS Maasdam: 1993 - sold in 2020

MS Statendam: 1992 - sold in 2015

MS Westerdam: 1989 - sold in 2002 *Laid up, expected to be scrapped

MS Noordam: 1984 - sold in 2004 *Sold for scrap 2020

MS Nieuw Amsterdam: 1983 - sold in 2000 *Scrapped in 2018

On 8/20/2021 at 4:10 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

Yesterday, I placed an order for a set of 10 First Class menus from a trans-Atlantic crossing on the S. S. America in August, 1954.  Two Gala Dinner menus, 4 Luncheon Menus, and 4 Breakfast Menus; price asked was reasonable.  The date of this crossing coincides with a Gala Dinner menu from the ship's previous crossing that was given to me by a distant relative who happened to find it in a thrift shop.  

I do have one really nice dinner plate for a cruise ship that really didn't end up successful. The dining room dinner plate is for the 1960's Nuclear ship NS Savannah. It's all white with the name of the ship and the logo that was on the side of the hull, the nuclear pattern. If she had been a success, I wonder how long she could have lasted as a cruise ship that ran on a nuclear reactor?

6 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Yesterday, I placed an order for a set of 10 First Class menus from a trans-Atlantic crossing on the S. S. America in August, 1954.  Two Gala Dinner menus, 4 Luncheon Menus, and 4 Breakfast Menus; price asked was reasonable.  The date of this crossing coincides with a Gala Dinner menu from the ship's previous crossing that was given to me by a distant relative who happened to find it in a thrift shop.  

Nice, the biggest purchase I ever made was for my giant menu collection. There was a total of over 120 menus, I think maybe between 120 - 130 ranging from the 1950's to the 1970's

5 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Like it!  Are you buying these?  Or, is someone simply sending you this material?  On second thought, having just typed this, this is really not any of my business.  Perfectly OK to ignore my questions.  

 

 

Bought them, didn't pay a lot for them, only the graded ones go for big bucks.

On 7/31/2021 at 4:29 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

No.  Never have seen these before.  The portrayal of the Normandie is inaccurate.  Funnel colors are wrong; the bow was pointed toward the land not away from it.  

Got a really nice 1954 Topps if you remember me showing the various liner disaster ones I have? I just got a nice one in the mail, it's for the SS United States breaking the speed record. 

Came across a couple of drinking cups, one is plastic, the other one is a hurricane glass, both are for the defunct Discovery Cruises. Both ships on the glass are gone, one caught fire and the other was scrapped.

Discovery 1: 1986 - 1996 *destroyed by fire*

Discovery Sun; 1994 - 2011 *scrapped 2012*

3 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I have collected enough of this stuff that I do use them.  Some are more special than others to me and I keep them until I decide I want to use them. 

The Spanish one I keep in it's box as it's the only one I have and got it from a friend who passed, she was a travel agent in the 1950s and 1960s, so I keep the items she gave me in a safe condition and won't use the items. Was at a place called Habitat For Humanity as was looking for a couple of furniture pieces for my apartment, and found a hurricane glass for *Discovery Cruises* and the neat thing is, it also lists these both ships on the glass. I don't have a photo yet so I'll upload it to my next post.

Discovery I: 1986 - 1996 (Wrecked 1996 by fire)

Discovery Sun: 1994 - 2011 (Scrapped 2012)

Era of Hurricane Glass: Between 1994 - 1996, so this glass would have only been used for 2 yrs

On 2/7/2021 at 6:01 PM, Gary Hudson said:

My curiosity stems from the fact that I too was a waiter on both Sundancer AND Stardancer,

I did join the  MV Stardancer the following year in Oskarshamn

I thought you might like to see this nice souvenir spoon still in it's original box, it's for the Stardancer. It's 100% brass with gold tone electroplating on it. It's from between 1985 - 1986 as I think that's how long this ship sailed for Sundance Cruises if I'm right? Only 1 year with this line?

On 7/28/2021 at 2:51 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

I also usually take these little bottles of shampoo, etc.  That's becoming increasingly difficult to do because these small bottles are being replaced by larger dispensers of shampoo, etc.  When there are the small bar soaps available, I take those as well.  For years, I have used these at my kitchen sink; just perfect for washing hands.  Now, though, my supply is starting to run low.  

I have a couple of bars of soap, but I don't use them, I try to keep them in good condition and in their boxes. My oldest is for a Spanish line, this box and bar of soap I believe is from the 1950's and 1960's for a line called *Compania Trasmediterranea*. the bar has never been used and still has a slight scent still. I also have 4 reproduction small bars of the soap that was used on the RMS Titanic. I will post the photos of both soaps with their boxes. The Titanic ones I found at the giftshop at a Titanic Exhibit. I took a photo of all 4 Titanic Vinolia bars, but 2 are showing the front and 2 are showing the back of the boxes.

6 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Love those drink prices!  When I began cruising, a glass of draft Heineken was 10 cents.  

On my last Norwegian cruise, I was allowed to have a bar menu as a souvenir, that was in 2017 and these are how some of the prices compare to those 1984 prices on HAL's Veendam.

Mai Tai (HAL 1984) - 2.50

Mai Tai (NCL 2017) - 8.95 (add $6 for souvenir tiki cup)

Beefeater Gin (HAL 1984) - 1.50

Beefeater Gin (NCL 2017) - 8.50 / Bottle $99

Rum Bacardi Gold (HAL 1984) - 1.50

Rum Bacardi Gold (NCL 2017) - 9.50 / $109 Bottle

Johnny Walker Black Label (HAL 1984) - 1.80

Johnny Walker Black Label (NCL 2017) - 9.50 / Bottle $109

Jameson (HAL 1984) - 1.50

Soft Drinks (HAL 1984) - 0.50

Soft Drinks (NCL 2017) - 2.95

Jameson Caskmates (NCL 2017) - 16.95 / Bottle $139

Remy Martin (HAL 1984) - 2.40

Remy Martin  VSOP (NCL 2017) - 16.95 / Bottle $139

Budweiser (HAL 1984) - 0.80

Budweiser (NCL 2017) - 6.95

Heineken (HAL 1984) - 1.00

Heineken (NCL 2017) - 6.50

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

As a collector, I'll bet that was the best $3 you ever spent for those binoculars!  

 

Were you able to discuss with the woman why she had collected such an amount of material from her cruise?  Ads for the shops, even!  In my early collection of "stuff" I may have that kind of material.  But, in my later cruises:  No.  

 

Oh, those menu captions are a sight for sore eyes!  The menus of "those days" were so much superior in comparison to what HAL's menus have recently been.  Dutch Dinner was always a special highlight.  Haven't seen a specific menu for Dutch Dinner in a long time.  

It's been soo long since I got these items, that I don't totally remember, but I believe a lot of the items were part of the folder in the cabin. The Weather sheets, the info booklet, the number for the table, and welcome aboard and such I think she said were in the folder. The weather sheets you filled out each day of the cruise I believe, and the rest was during the cruise, maybe she wanted as much from her cruise as possible. The ship left HAL in May of 1984 and this collection is dated January 1984. A couple of funny things, the menu, listed among the drinks on the menu for hot drinks along with coffee and tea is *Sanka*. I also have the 1984 cocktail menu the the prices compared to what you pay now on ships.

Example of prices on the 1984 Veendam Bar Menu and Each Section:

Cocktails: (not listing all the drinks)

Daquiri - 1.70

Martini - 1.80

Manhattan - 1.80

Rusty Nail - 2.00

Gins/Vodkas/Other: 1 1/2 oz. glass

Beefeater Dry Gin - 1.50

Smirnoff - 1.50

Rum Bacardi Gold - 1.50

Whiskies: 1 1/2 oz. glass

J&B - 1.50

Johnny Walker Black Label- 1.80

Jameson - 1.50

Jack Daniels: 1.80

Beer: bottle

Budweiser: 0.80

Heineken: 1.00

Miller: 0.80

Molson: 1.00

Special Drinks:

Pina Colada: 2.50

Mai Tai - 2.50

Champagne Cocktail - 3.00

Singapore Sling: 2.00

Liqueurs / Brandies: 1 1/2 oz. glass

Amaretto - 1.80

Calvados - 2.40

Irish Cream - 1.80

Remy Martin - 2.40

Martell Cordon Blue - 3.60 (Most Expensive Drink On Bar Menu)

Soft Drinks: 

All - 0.50

Perrier - 0.90

Fruit Juice per glass - 0.60

22 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

So, someone sold them to you not knowing what they are worth?  

 

This is what worries me with the stuff that I have collected.  I have repeatedly, and I mean repeatedly, told my Estate's Executor that if he orders a dumpster and starts throwing out all of my artifacts that I have collected, he is throwing money away that will benefit my Estate and his inheritance.  It is going to take some "effort and time" on his part to realize whatever value my stuff has.  But, what can I do?  

Gotta love Flea Markets lol, never know what you'll find. Was at a flea market years ago and bought a pair of SS Veendam binoculars (formerly the SS Argentina for Moore McCormack) for only $3 and then the following week the same lady was there and gave me all the rest of her Veendam items for Free. The items are from just before HAL sold the Veendam in 1984. I got the entire cabin package folder (Weather sheets, ship facts, ship deck plan, menus, bar menu, ads for the shops on board, the numbers for the table her and her husband sat at, a theater program, the folder to hold everything, fire drill info sheet, shore excursion price sheet, welcome aboard sheet and ship history booklet and 1 room service menu). See Photos of all the items I listed. (the first 2 photos are what I got for Free because I spent $3 on these binoculars. Same with the ship Topps cards, the person was just cleaning out their house and was just getting rid of things they no longer wanted.

5 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I most certainly would not pay those kind of prices for something like those cards!

I didn't, I paid $7 for all 3 cards, so about $2.33 per card. I am eventually getting the card that was made for the SS United States made about it's speed record. 

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

You make good points about the Lusitania card.  The illustration of the Morro Castle is one that I have never observed in the pictures that I have seen of that tragedy.  

 

Why were these cards even made?  Wasn't this the Company that made cards that were included in packs of bubble gum for children?  I'd suggest these three cards are worthless. 

Actually they are highly collectible, as far as I know these were specialty cards, there were planes and cars too in this series. I was told they are sough after to the point that PSA grades these cards and if you're lucky to find a PSA graded card of these, they can go for a lot of money

Example: - These prices found on PSA's  Own Website (these are what they had sold for)

PSA Grade 7 - 9, 1954 Topps Morro Castle: $234 - $420

PSA Grade 6, 1954 Topps Lusitania: $249.95

PSA Grade 8 - 9, 1954 Topps Normandie Capsizes: $112.50 - $1,540.15

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

No.  Never have seen these before.  The portrayal of the Normandie is inaccurate.  Funnel colors are wrong; the bow was pointed toward the land not away from it.  

Mhm the SS Normandie funnels were solid red with a black top, not red white and blue, I wonder why they made that mistake when making the card for her. Also if you look at the Lusitania one, it is all wrong too. She is shown engulfed in flames around the funnels and has the top deck engulfed in flames too. Whoever at Topps made these cards, did not know what had happened to these liners, but they still make for interesting and possible rare collectibles.

5 minutes ago, Catnip said:

I would have loved that!   Mine is solid black with the gold QE 2 embroidered on the left side ( I think) chest area.  I thought I had a photo of it, but I can't find it now.    Oh, I just remembered that I also have a red fleece pullover (crew neck) with embroidered Queen Elizabeth 2 across the chest.  It's really nice.

Nice. Oh check out the thread on do you collect cruise ship memorabilia and check out these 3 weird 1954 Topps cards I found, never seen these before. I have 2 baseball caps for the Queen Mary (3) as I sometimes call the one that's sailing.

Came across something unique and weird which I have never seen before. I found 3 1954 Topps Cards, the company that makes sports cards, but these are for 3 Famous liner disasters. The Lusitania, The Normandie Capsizing and the burning of the SS Morro Castle. Has anyone else ever seen these Topps cards before?

14 minutes ago, Catnip said:

What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Mine is next to new, I think I've only worn it about 3-4 times.

Nice. My jacket was for the QE2 and was a reversible, black water proof on one side and when reversed, it was red and sorta fuzzy.

17 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

We sailed on the penultimate voyage of Caronia.  In the shop I noticed umbrellas with Caronia printed on them.  I bought one for us and one for our good friend/travel agent/fellow shipgeek.  Ours has served us well on many a rainy day, mostly while traveling for a cruise.

Which Caronia? 

Caronia: 1948 - 1968

or

Caronia: 1999 - 2004

23 hours ago, Catnip said:

I got a black QE 2 windbreaker.  

 

I had a nice Cunard windbreaker too, but it finally wore out to the point it wasn't repairable, so I decided to salvage the name and patch on the jacket at least, cause the jacket was too shredded to save. The patch, I framed it to protect it

5 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

Thanks - I sailed on SS Oriana, SS Canberra, SS Uganda (BI funnel), MV Spirit of London (Sun Princess) and MV Island Princess.

 

Was scheduled to fly out to Sydney to take SS Arcadia to the breakers, but got cancelled at the last minute.

I have either items or postcards for all of those ships in my collection. The first photo is of my SS Uganda postcard with BI, before P&O got her. Some nice Canberra souvenirs including a bell and an ad introducing the new Canberra. A couple of Spirit Of London postcards, sorry for the lines, when I scanned them, the wavy lines showed up. And a nice little Island Princess souvenir pin.