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Sitmar Fairsky


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Actually, I think he meant the M.V. Fairsky which was used as transport for migrants in the 50's and 60's. I sailed on her in 1963, but I'm not sure what happened to her. I do have a feeling that she was eventually sold for scrap though.

 

I cruised on Fairsky (1941-1979) as a kid and remember her very well, the last time I saw her she was named Philipine Tourist. It was when I was on the Fairstar in November 1978 in Manila, we berthed on the other side of the terminal to her, some of the passengers and crew went on board for a look around but were only allowed to go on the main deck containing the public rooms. Some said that thought that she had never been fully repaired after her previous accident.

 

This is what I know about her history.

 

Fairsky hit a submerged wreck leaving Jakarta Harbour in June 1977 and was holed. Her quick thinking Captain ran her aground on a sandbank to prevent her from sinking and the passengers were dissembarked via the tenders like a tender port.

 

She was patched and taken to Singapore where Sitmar decided that she was uneconomical to repair. She was subsequently sold to the Philipines as a floating Casino and renamed "Philipine Tourist". She remained there until November 1979 when sadly, she had a serious fire on board, she was then towed to Hong Kong and broken up.

 

Regards

Jenny

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  • 1 month later...

I worked on Sitmar in the Teen and Youth Centers in 1985 and 1986. It was a wonderful cruise line with superb service. I mostly sailed out of San Pedro doing the Mexico route but did a few Alaska, Caribbean and Panama Canal Cruises, too. I would love to hear from any passengers or staffers about your memories. Has anyone ever run into any Sitmar staff on Princess or any other line?

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I worked on Sitmar in the Teen and Youth Centers in 1985 and 1986.

 

That's very strange because at this post you said you were a "a 19 yr old from Louisville, KY"

 

My mental arithmetic is somewhat flawed but, by my reckoning, that would mean that you worked on Sitmar six years before you were born. Had any luck finding a lady in Dubai yet?

 

J

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I worked on Sitmar in the Teen and Youth Centers in 1985 and 1986. It was a wonderful cruise line with superb service. I mostly sailed out of San Pedro doing the Mexico route but did a few Alaska, Caribbean and Panama Canal Cruises, too. I would love to hear from any passengers or staffers about your memories. Has anyone ever run into any Sitmar staff on Princess or any other line?

 

 

cruzed many times.. Sr. Tringale is w/ CCL, in Miami, Roger blum, fmr bartender/Jr P

urser, is now..Head of entertainment w/ CCL. In Miami. He was absorbed w/Princess, I guess..then Carnival. Interesting note..this this week I cruzed on the Elation. I read the new Book in the cabin w/ ship facts. It has a pic/bio of him only "appearing-ly" working for CCL, forever..they just left out that he started w/ Sitmar, and NOT Carnival. I re-met him 2 urs ago, he had signed his moms self written travel/cruise guide..in the late 70's..I still have it, and he remembered it. Also was traveling w/ CEO Gerry Cahill

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  • 1 year later...
LindaandJeff

 

I remember Captain Potenzoni very well.

The first time we sailed with him was in September 1980 on the Fairwind.

It was a 14 day Caribbean/Panama Canal cruise. We were on a bridge tour, shortly before noon, when I asked Captain Potenzoni where the ship's whistle was. I told him that it was my birthday, which was true, and I always wanted to blow the whistle. He walked me over to a glass covered button, opened the cover and said that he would let me do so at 12 noon, which was a few minutes away. At 12 noon sharp, I blew the whistle, and my name was entered into the ship's log.

Somehow the word got around, and ladies old and young wanted to know how I accomplished that.

We became good friends with Captain Potenzoni, and sailed with him many times. He always invited us to his VIP cocktail parties in his quarters, and danced with me in the lounge at night. He dined with his officers when he ate in the dining room, and didn't entertain passsengers at the Captain's table.

Captain Potenzoni had never married, he said shipboard life was not conducive to marriage (how true).

Our last cruise with him was in February of 1989, and he mentioned that he was planning to retire and move to Genua, Italy, his home town.

What a charming and delightful man! We have many photos with him, and also met many interesting celebrities at his various parties.

It was good to reminisce a bit.

Ginnie

Gini

Can you post a photo of the Captain?

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  • 3 years later...
What became of the Sitmar Fairsky?

 

with the age of the op,Iwouldguess you know the Fairsky was broken up,in Turkey.My mother and I sailed on hertoAlaska via the inside passage,in1985on her dime..The ship was beautiful,the food was good, and the service was impeccable.The Erie thing was the complete lack of vibration when the ship was underway.We had what they called amino-suite.No balcony,but a huge salsealedpicture window and a nice seating area.We were seated at dinner with a nice doctor and his wife.A couple of times ,we had them up to the room after dinner for drinks and snacks.My mother and Iwere both fond ofJohnnie Walker Black scotch at the time.It turned out the Doctorand hist wifeliked the stuf too,so they appreciated us sharing a bottle with them

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with the age of the op,Iwouldguess you know the Fairsky was broken up,in Turkey.My mother and I sailed on hertoAlaska via the inside passage,in1985on her dime..The ship was beautiful,the food was good, and the service was impeccable.The Erie thing was the complete lack of vibration when the ship was underway.We had what they called amino-suite.No balcony,but a huge salsealedpicture window and a nice seating area.We were seated at dinner with a nice doctor and his wife.A couple of times ,we had them up to the room after dinner for drinks and snacks.My mother and Iwere both fond ofJohnnie Walker Black scotch at the time.It turned out the Doctorand hist wifeliked the stuf too,so they appreciated us sharing a bottle with them

 

NO! I did not know Faisky was broken up in Turkey. I heard she was sold to Princess. Thanks for your reply - and for jogging my memory of long ago sails. We sailed Australia New Zealand on her in 1975.

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after more research,it appears she is not gone yet,but the clock,is ticking.I know they all wear out,but it will be a sad day when they finally cut her up.We had such a good time,my mother took my brother through the Pama,a Canal on her.Glad I could bring back memories although I am not sure we are talking about the same ship Take care.Google"Sky Wonder"to see Sitmars Fairsky.

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WE did 3 cruises on Sitmar Fairwind & Fairsea - al1 10 days - one Mexican out of LA & 2 Carib...all were fantastic - The Italian crew were the best, most fun & oh so delicious.....I loved those ships.....we would be up all night long dancing & then have the best pizza outside of Italy.. several nights we were still in our tuxes when the sun was coming up.

 

Of course everyone knows SITMAR is an acronym for Sex Is Too Much After Ravioli.

 

Whoever was lucky enough to sail in those ships experienced the best & certainly would blow away Seabourn & Crystal today!

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WE did 3 cruises on Sitmar Fairwind & Fairsea - al1 10 days - one Mexican out of LA & 2 Carib...all were fantastic - The Italian crew were the best, most fun & oh so delicious.....I loved those ships.....we would be up all night long dancing & then have the best pizza outside of Italy.. several nights we were still in our tuxes when the sun was coming up.

 

Of course everyone knows SITMAR is an acronym for Sex Is Too Much After Ravioli.

 

Whoever was lucky enough to sail in those ships experienced the best & certainly would blow away Seabourn & Crystal today!

We also sailed both of these ships, but right after Princess bought the line of the sexy ravioli, so we actually sailed on the Dawn Princess and the Fair Princess. The first was a 10 day Canal from San Juan to Acapulco and the second a 10 day LA-Puerto Vallarta-Acapulco-Zijuatanejo-Mazatlan-Cabo-LA.

 

Both were memorable, probably enhanced memories because they were when we started cruising, with terrific pizza, no in room TV, actual round portholes for windows, very congenial Italian and Portuguese staff, superb pasta starters at dinner, etc. On the Mexico trip, we also got to meet Janet Edwards, the first female Cruise Director on a major cruise line. Her job was made very difficult because the ship sailed out of LA on January 16, 1991. That was the day before the start of Desert Storm on January 17, 1991.

 

The only TV's on board were in a public area and the communications staff was having a heck of a time keeping the CNN stream working. Janet did a great job with an ad hoc rescheduling of all on board activities, including enlisting the Chaplain to say a group prayer for our troops at the designated time for the invasion.

 

The only negative recollection was that the walls between cabins were paper thin and there was really bad sound transfer, especially from a cabin with 4 teen age girls who were really enjoying themselves.

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  • 1 year later...

Fairsky what a wonderful ship. It was the last steamship in the princess line that sailed in the US. She had a huge fireplace in the horizon lounge however due to Coast Guard regulations we could never fire it up. I sailed on her when she before she was unfortunately sold princess. Excellent English crew and officers and even better Italian staff in the dining room, oh my the food in the main dining room was out of this world hands down the best cruise food ever eaten.

 

 

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  • 5 months later...

The Fairsky became the Skyprincess in 1989 i believe. The Fairsea, Fairwind and along with what was the Fairsky were all scraped back in the 90s. The Fairsky though still on decent shape was filmed because of it being powered by steam turbines. Very expensive to run and maintain. I sailed on all three when Sitmar owned them. Loved the apps and cruise line. I don't think any ship or cruise line can compare to it today.

 

 

 

 

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