Your first cruise ship

[jmps]

Sailed Nordic Prince in September/October 1994 from Vancouver to L.A. The captain was Norwegian Ole-Johan Gronhaug. After her Royal Caribbean service, she sailed as Carousel, Aquamarine, Arielle, Ocean Star Pacific, Pacific and Pacific Victory. She has not had a good career since 2010 and she was broken up in 2015 at Alang, India

 

In October 1987 we had Capt. Andreasen. I can still remember his voice from the noon announcements. :-) We have called our good times together "Life aboard the Nordic Prince" ever since. I did see her later in her life in the harbor in Barcelona while on a business trip sans Viking Crown Lounge. This was removed as part of the agreement when she left RCCL.

[Copper10-8]

Sky Princess, July 1992. We've been cruising ever since.

 

 

Princess Cruises' Sky Princess; the former FairSky (Sitmar Cruises), Pacific Sky (P&O Australia), Sky Wonder (Pullmantur), Atlantic Star and Antic. She was broken up at Aliaga, Turkey in 2013

[Copper10-8]

First true cruise - just for vacation fun trip (plus sightseeing), Princess "Love Boat", in the late 1970s. To Alaska.

 

First what I call a cruise - 1963 - Matsonia (Matson lines). Others would point out that it was actually a partial Trans-Pacific trip on a ship - Hawaii to LA on a ship. Point was to get to the mainland, but they had activities, GREAT MEALS, entertainment, parties, etc. No ports - just moving along across the Pacific. This is the trip that hooked my on cruising.

 

 

Matson Line's ss Matsonia, as ss Monterey. A ship with a looong history. Built in 1932 as Monterey, the third of four ships of Matson Line's "White Fleet", which also included ss Malolo, ss Mariposa and ss Lurline.

 

After Matsonia, she became Lurline, Britanis (Chandris Line) and, as Belofin-1, under tow to the breakers at Alang, India, capsized and sank some 50 nautical miles south of Cape Town, South Africa on 21 October 2000.

[Copper10-8]

For us, our first cruise was on the Carnival Breeze in July/Aug 2012. We did a Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona to Venice passing by Dubrovnik and back to Barcelona. It was an amazing trip with friends. The food, the service and the ship were all fantastic as were the ports. My second trip with Princess to Alaska was a bit of a let down compared to the trip on the Breeze. I hope our upcoming trip on the Nieuw Amsterdam is just as fantastic.

 

 

Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Breeze

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was on the Carnival Triumph. This was years before it became infamous as the "Poop Cruise".

 

It was a pleasant cruise but we never got back on a Carnival ship again.

 

We have sailed many times on NCL, Princess, HAL and Azamara.

 

 

Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Triumph

[Copper10-8]

For about 5 years a group of friends had tried to convinced us to join them on the annual January cruise but we were die hard all inclusive island vacationers. We broke down at the last minute and joined the gang on Mariner of the Seas in 2004, think it was her 6th time out. We were completely WOWED...and my affinity for black jack started at the same time! Cruising at least once a year since. Ships with the open center promenade are still my favorite design.

 

 

RCI's Mariner of the Seas

[Copper10-8]

We too sailed on the Atlas out of Santa Domingo in 1985. It was 8 ports in 7 days and we had a blast for about $700 incl flight and taxes. The ship was a rust bucket but who cared. We got a flavour of the Caribbean and cruising in general. Those were the days my friend. You never forget your first cruise.

 

 

Epirotiki Line's tss Atlas, originally Ryndam II for Holland America Line, then Waterman, back to Ryndam, gambling ship Pride of Mississippi (Pride Cruise Line), Pride of Galveston and Copa Casino. She sank under tow to the breakers at Alang, India off the coast of the Dominican Republic on March 16, 2003.

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was on NCL out of Miami going to the Western Carribean on the STAR.

 

 

NCL's Norwegian Star, originally named SuperStar Libra for Malaysia-based Star Cruises and part-owner of NCL, before being transferred to NCL

[j0el]

I was in the NAVY so it wasn't my first cruise, but it was my first pleasure cruise. Fran and I were on our honeymoon (Feb '71) and we had little money, but wanted to cruise. We went from Miami to Nassau to Freeport and back to Miami. We had the cheapest cabin available and believe me, it was nothing like todays ships.

 

We had a minuscule cabin with a small porthole so I guess it was an outside cabin (could not really see through the porthole). Two bunk beds, but every night we put the mattresses on the floor :). The bathroom was so small that you could be on the pot and open the door. The food was good, the entertainment was ok and we had a blast.

 

Now we usually have a suite on Princess but have taken some luxury cruises too. The difference is day and night in terms of accommodations, entertainment and everything else I can think of except the crew back then was as friendly and helpful as the crews are today. We just book a Panama Canal cruise for our anniversary this year and every time we board we reminisce about our honeymoon and laugh and are so thankful that we still are married to each other and still enjoy cruising!

[Copper10-8]

I was in the NAVY so it wasn't my first cruise, but it was my first pleasure cruise. Fran and I were on our honeymoon (Feb '71) and we had little money, but wanted to cruise. We went from Miami to Nassau to Freeport and back to Miami. We had the cheapest cabin available and believe me, it was nothing like todays ships.

 

We had a minuscule cabin with a small porthole so I guess it was an outside cabin (could not really see through the porthole). Two bunk beds, but every night we put the mattresses on the floor :). The bathroom was so small that you could be on the pot and open the door. The food was good, the entertainment was ok and we had a blast.

 

Now we usually have a suite on Princess but have taken some luxury cruises too. The difference is day and night in terms of accommodations, entertainment and everything else I can think of except the crew back then was as friendly and helpful as the crews are today. We just book a Panama Canal cruise for our anniversary this year and every time we board we reminisce about our honeymoon and laugh and are so thankful that we still are married to each other and still enjoy cruising!

 

 

Eastern Steamship Line's New Bahama Star. Thanks for your service and taking Marines to the fight ;)

[Copper10-8]

NCL Southward Dec. 1993 3 night Catalina, Ensenada cruise. I'm hooked.

 

 

NCL's Southward sailed for Norwegian Cruise Line from 1971 through 1994, then became Seawing (Sun Cruises), Perla (Louis Cruises), Aegean Pearl (Golden Sun Cruises), Rio (Rio Cruises) and Venus (Venus Cruise Lines). She was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey in 2013

[St Pete Cruiser]

In the 1990's some friends and I went to Miami to sail the Norway. We knew it was the former French Line's France ocean liner converted to be NCL's super cruise ship. She was impressive: descending staircase into the main dining room, promenade indoors with black tile and white columns connecting the public rooms, and tenders the size of small ships.

This print greets me every morning at home, a David Brackman work.

[scapel]

I was in the NAVY so it wasn't my first cruise, but it was my first pleasure cruise. Fran and I were on our honeymoon (Feb '71) and we had little money, but wanted to cruise. We went from Miami to Nassau to Freeport and back to Miami. We had the cheapest cabin available and believe me, it was nothing like todays ships.

 

We had a minuscule cabin with a small porthole so I guess it was an outside cabin (could not really see through the porthole). Two bunk beds, but every night we put the mattresses on the floor :). The bathroom was so small that you could be on the pot and open the door. The food was good, the entertainment was ok and we had a blast.

 

Now we usually have a suite on Princess but have taken some luxury cruises too. The difference is day and night in terms of accommodations, entertainment and everything else I can think of except the crew back then was as friendly and helpful as the crews are today. We just book a Panama Canal cruise for our anniversary this year and every time we board we reminisce about our honeymoon and laugh and are so thankful that we still are married to each other and still enjoy cruising!

 

What a pleasant story. Be sure to read Path Between the Seas before going on the Panama Canal cruise. Also see if this link works.

[broberts]

Copper10-8, It seems that a fair number of ships being towed to the breakers never make it.

[Copper10-8]

Copper10-8, It seems that a fair number of ships being towed to the breakers never make it.

 

Sure looks that way from those last posts, doesn't it? Actually, the vast majority make it there to be made into razor blades, among other things, than the few that have developed 'difficulties' under tow for various reasons

[Himself]

Since you are posting pictures could you post one of my first ship which was The Enchanted Isle.

[serendipity1499]

NCL Southward Dec. 1993 3 night Catalina, Ensenada cruise. I'm hooked.

 

Susie NCL's Southward was the first cruise ship my DH & I took together with our good Friends in 1983..I had cruised once before in the Greek Islands & loved it..

 

Our Friends & I all worked for Airlines & we could all fly free to most any place or get a good discount on our carriers & other carriers..DH & our Friends could not understand why I wanted to PAY :eek: for a cruise..But I talked about cruising till I was blue in the face & they finally gave in to keep me quiet! LOL ;) We sailed on the Southward for 7days.. Found the picture of our ship which Copper 10-8 posted of our first cruise together & framed it for our Friends..

 

Like you, my DH & our Friends were all hooked & we all have taken many more cruises..

 

This October I'm thrilled that we are once again sailing together on the Zeiderdam, when we will celebrate our 40th Anniversary & my Friend & her DH will celebrate her Birthday.. I'm starting to get very excited about this cruise & printing up everything I can to give to them..This will be our third cruise together.. Tomorrow we all make final payment..:D

 

We too are hooked!!:)

 

P.S. Thank you Copper 10-8 for all your hard work on this thread.. You are a wonder at finding pics of all these old ships.. :D

[Copper10-8]

Since you are posting pictures could you post one of my first ship which was The Enchanted Isle.

 

 

Commodore Line's Enchanted Isle; originally built in 1958 as ss Argentina for Moore-McCormack; then Veendam III for Holland America Line, Monarch Star (Monarch Cruise Line), Veendam again and Bermuda Star (Bermuda Star Line); She was scrapped at Alang, India in 2004 under the name New Orleans.

[cinnamon123]

my first cruise was on the homeric owned by home lines. left new york for bermuda. it was in 1986. we docked in town which was so convenient.

the ship was new & so beautiful.

thanks copper for bringing back those wonderful memories.

have done many cruises since.

cinnamon123:)

[Copper10-8]

my first cruise was on the homeric owned by home lines. left new york for bermuda. it was in 1986. we docked in town which was so convenient.

the ship was new & so beautiful.

thanks copper for bringing back those wonderful memories.

have done many cruises since.

cinnamon123:)

Hi Cinnamon;

 

 

Home Line's Homeric (II); then Westerdam III, Costa Europa and currently, Thomson Dream

[Copper10-8]

Wow Mem test

ok give it a try

First was RCI Grandeur of the Seas think 1999 or there abouts

Think the kids were son 5 , daughter 8 they loved the kids program kept waking us up at 6ish am to go too it .

I remember well that the CDN dollar was like today around 80 cents to the US lol was not a cheap holiday.

The crew was Awsome with the kids as they met new friends the dinning room set up a large table for them to have there own and alow the parents to sit at a large table all to our selves beside each other , the Crew told us not to worry that they would be well taken care of and they sure did , none of the parents ever had to move from our table was a wonderful thing to do .

I remember a convo with my daughter in Labadee as we walked up a path , you could look up and see the local people lining a barb wired fence , and My daughter asking why , not one of my fav places but was a good chance to explain and teach.

I remember our room stewart she so very much missed her son and daughter and fell totally in love with ours , she treated them so very well even bent the rules a bit .

We were hooked but moved to Hal as the kids got older beenthere ever since .

 

 

RCI's Grandeur of the Seas

[Copper10-8]

The SS Independence, American Hawaii Cruises, 1996? 7-day Hawaiian Island Cruise. DW and 2 kids, 8 and 12. Small cabin, basically just wall to wall bed! What fun we had, first time to Hawaii, all the different islands. We had a lot of fun on the ship, the crew was super friendly, the kids met other kids and had a blast. No gambling because it was an American flagged ship. I was fine with that (I'm a lousy gambler). It was something really special, it seemed very small, not a ton of people on board, and real personal, like you knew everybody, the people where real friendly. Great time!

 

 

ss Independence in the colors of American Export Lines

Edited August 4, 2016 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

First cruise was 2006 Sapphire Princess Mexican Rivera after that I was hooked. Later that year my first Hal cruise was Ms Ryndam out of Vancouver for a 7 day Alaska Glacier Discovery.

 

Rick

 

 

Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on the M/V Atalante:

 

It was July 8 to July 15/1989.

 

 

 

Mediterranean Sun Line's mv Atalante

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise ship was the Ithaca. She started out as the Zion built in 1956, and went through many changes in her lifetime. She finally ended her life as scrap!

 

Our cruise was two weeks in July 1977 on our postponed honeymoon. I was 6 months pregnant by then, but there were no issues with flying (18 hours) or cruising in those days.

 

The ship was part of the Ulysses Line, chartered by Strand Cruises. It was Greek crew, and we were in heaven! We embarked in Palermo Sicily, with stops in Malta, Rhodes, Athens, Mykonos, 2 days in Piraeus Israel (overnight), Kusadasi Turkey, Crete, and disembarking back in Palermo.

 

The food was amazing. We had 4 couples at a table, then our steward brought a huge platter for each course (7-8 every night!), and served us all with his two spoons in one hand. There was always a bit left over, and he kept trying to give it to me "cause I was eating for two"!!!! Boy did I have to be strong so as not to become a blimp. :)

 

Looking back on our pictures, our cabin was very small and basic with a tiny porthole, but we remember it as the height of luxury.

 

Quoits, pool games, golf driving off the aft of the Lido deck, a casino, and so much more made life on board as much fun as the ports of call.

 

Our biggest chuckle was with the crew last night at dinner. To set the scene, one must understand that my husband turns another shade darker any time he LOOKS at the sun. So the Meditteranean in July is a sure bet that he was very dark. Wherever we went, they thought he was native. The Turks thought he was Turkish, Greeks thought he was Greek, Israelies thought he was Palestinian. The last night we noticed all the Diningroom Stewards kept whispering together and looking at our table. It became more intense as the meal progressed. Finally, at the end of the meal, our steward came over to us while all the others huddled together with baited breath. He turned to Ken and said they had a betting pool going as to his heritage, so did he mind telling them what it was. As they all held their breath in great anticipation of the answer (we think there was a lot of money riding on this by now), my husband smiled and said ------ Scottish! With a very confused look he asked my hubby to repeat it, and when he again said "Scottish", he shook his head and slowly shuffled away. We watched him repeat the answer to all the other Stewards who were anxiously waiting to see who one the bet. We all laughed and laughed as we watched every one of them react in the exact same way. Confusion, then totally crestfallen. But once it set in, they all came by the table to shake my husband's hand. From what we could tell, no one won, but they certainly appreciated playing the game. Such a great memory from one of our most memorable cruises.

 

And yes, we were hooked on cruising from the moment we set foot on board. We were pampered and treated like Royalty. A very special experience for two newlyweds. Needless to say, we still cruise as often as we can.

 

 

Ulysses Line's Ithaca