Your first cruise ship

[albanaich]

HAL's Statendam, July 2008, Vancouver to Alaska and back. Can't wait until we can afford another one......

[IheartHAL]

My first was a 12 day Eastern Mediterranean & Black Sea (Rome - Athens) itinerary on the Maasdam in 1997. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to cruising!

[mikefang]

Our first was in 1985 just after retiring from the Navy. My last ship was in Long Beach, CA, and we used to watch the Carnival Jubilee enter and leave Los Angeles/San Pedro at the other end of the breakwater. Diane suggested a cruise and I thought it was a bad idea but her wiser head prevailed and we signed up for the Mexican Riviera. Before we cleared the breakwater I, with a rum beverage in hand, conceded she was right-not for the first or last time. We have never looked back.

Mike

[Sundagger]

My first cruise was on the Carnival Inspiration, cruising from San Juan to the Southern Caribbean. I discovered that I really liked cruising, but wanted to look around for a line with a different atmosphere. It took 3 years, but I discovered HAL and have stuck with them ever since.

 

I had accidentally won a cruise on an auction site (uBid, which no longer sells travel). I was looking for electronic gear and stumbled across a cruise up for auction. I had never thought about a cruise before, but just tossed in a $200 bid for a 7 day S. Caribbean cruise for no good reason - not expecting to win with such a low bid. A couple of days later, I was notified that I HAD WON. Panic! Who would I ask to go along? I asked an old friend in Seattle if she would be interested in a free cruise (but she'd have to pay her airfare). She said yes, and we had to make Very Quick plans.

 

Not knowing anything about cruising, I set it up for us to fly in to San Juan the day of the cruise. Her from Seattle and me from Santa Fe. She made it fine, but I missed a connection in Dallas due to weather. Got on the next flight and was the last person to get on board the ship, running through the terminal with the staff urging me to go faster. Found my friend, who had been enjoying the bar all evening. I did learn not to fly in the day of the cruise.

[Sir PMP]

SIR PMP,

 

When are you going on the EURODAM?

 

JIM

 

You know the answer, never...

[Copper10-8]

Hey, great thread!

 

And five pages into it, I get to be the first person to mention Commodore Cruise Lines and the M.S. Caribe (not to be confused with the later Caribe I), as my first cruise in 1980.

 

It was the only cruise I've been on where the ship had it's own theme song, although all I can remember is the first two lines:

 

M.S. Caribe.......

The Happy Ship.....

 

I remember the CD & staff singing it during the week, but I don't remember any more than that. Although, now I can't get the little sing-song melody out of my head, lol.

 

As I recall, we sailed r/t from Miami to Freeport, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Puerto Plata.

 

Scott

 

 

Freeport (1968-present) built in 1968 for the Miami Terminal Transport Co (Freeport Cruise Line), running between Miami and Freeport (Bahamas). She was renamed Freeport I soon after delivery. In 1973, she was sold to Oy Birka Line Ab (Sweden). She reverted back to her orioginal name of Freeport for cruises between Stockholm-Helsinki. Later the same year, she was again sold again to Stockholms Rederi Ab for the Trave-Line service Helsingborg-Tuborg (Copenhagen)-Travemünde as Svea Star.

In 1976 Svea Star was sold to Bremer Schiffahrts for a summer car ferry service between Portland (USA) and Yarmouth (Canada). In winter she was chartered to Commodore Cruise Line for Caribbean cruises. She was used on 7-night, 4-island trips to Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Puerto Plata and Port-au-Prince, sailing every Saturday. In 1981 she was renamed Caribe Bremen and sold to Scandinavian World Cruises as the Scandinavian Sun for a Miami-Freeport service.

She was chartered to SeaEscape Cruises in 1985, followed by purchase in 1988. In 1992, she was sold to Belle Meade Shipping, and renamed Balanga Queen for the Corona Line between Karlskrona-Gdynia. In 1994 Balanga Queen was chartered to Hansatee, Tallinn (Estonia) and used on a Tallink route Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn-Travemünde. The same year, she returned to the Caribbean as Discovery Sun for Discovery Cruise Line. She is still operating for them on day cruises to the Bahamas out of Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale)

 

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[Copper10-8]

The first was the Leonardo da Vinci in 1972. A magnificent ocean liner with well appointed formal public rooms and a lot of music around the ship. This was a cruise, but the transatlantic nature of the ship was apparent.

 

 

s/s Leonardo da Vinci (1960-1982) Built as on ocean liner in 1960 for the Italian Line, also known as the Società di navigazione Italia, as a replacement for their s/s Andrea Doria that had been lost in 1956. She was initially used in transatlantic service and later primarily for cruising. She was laid up in 1976.

In 1977 the Leonardo da Vinci was brought back into service, this time for cruising under the banner of Italia Crociere (also known as Italian Line Cruises), a newly formed subsidiary of the Italian Line. The ship was used on one-night cruises from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, but proved too large and expensive to operate on the service. In 1978, she returned to La Spezia, Italy to be laid up.

Despite numerous rumors the ship never saw service again. After being laid up for two years, a fire started onboard on 4 July 1980. The ship burned for four days and eventually capsized. The burnt-out hulk was later righted and towed to the scrapyard at La Spezia where she was scrapped in 1982.

[Taxguy7]

What was your first cruise ship? What cruise line, the year and the itinerary? (if you remember;) ) Did it get you hooked?

 

Ours was Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's m/s Viking Serenade, a converted car ferry, back in NOV 1991, a 3-day L.A. - Catalina Island - Esenada, Mexico - L.A. cruise. Never forget our first impressions - we were hooked from that day on!Viking Serenade (still sailing today as Island Escape)

 

Catalina:confused: We went there for our senior ditch-day in Hi School. (Long Beach, we coldn't go out of the district!:p

My first as a married man, DW won a 4 day on NCL.:) She's very lucky!! We both loved it, and as soon as the kids started graduating college, we started cruising. 1st things 1st, but keep looking for a better time.

[Taxguy7]

As a child, I sailed on Empress of Britain in 1957 with my family from Montreal to Liverpool. This ship sailed as Topaz until this year.

 

My father bought one of the best suites on the ship and we were taught to use the First Class corridors which didn't seem fair. It was my first realization of the haves and have-nots and I didn't like it. It is so good to see that pompous era at a close, although the various dining rooms on Cunard are certainly a society divided into classes.

 

My parents were global travelers and generous enough to bring along us two girls on most of their jaunts. On the Empress of Britain, the cabin stewardess called us the Mucky Dears, a term which stuck to us like glue whenever our parents wanted us to behave.

 

I also enjoy land travel to soak up local environments and cultures but, when a luxury hotel sails you from exotic locales to exciting cities, it's a grand pleasure.

 

Ruby

From these threads it seems HAL is close to being a 2-class ship. I'm booked for my 1st cruise on HAL, am I wrong in this assessment?

[Taxguy7]

My husband and I had took our first cruise last year on the Disney Wonder as part of the Land & Sea Package. It was our honeymoon! So far it's been our only one, but we do plan on cruising again...when we can afford it!

 

Regarding the itinerary, we left out of Port Canaveral, Nassau and Castaway Cay. It was only 3 nights and 2 ports. I'd do it again in a heart beat!

Q.? What do they call an Aggie 5 years after graduation?:confused:

A. BOSS!:cool:

[Taxguy7]

Some things you can never forget! The old Noordam September, 2001, European capitals Copenhagen to Rome 14 days. A true "Grand Tour." Paris, Gibralter, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Provence, Tuscany. I was totally capitivated. My first cruise, first trip to Europe beyond London, first trip anywhere alone, and 9/11 happened 4 days out. It was very hard to be so far from home, but we became our own "ship family" listening to CNN all day and all night. There was even a huge storm with massive seas. HAL took good care of everyone and has never let me down since. I can't imagine a better way to see the world. Smooth sailing to all.

9/11 was an experience I would not like to have again.:( We were on the 1st day out on NCL Sun innaugural cruise. 2 or 3 days later, CNN had a line under the pic saying the bridge to our island was down with at least 8 dead! If not on the cruise, we would have had a car on the island and a car at home. Our ship docked in Boston instead of NY.

[SeaSharp]

We've been hooked on cruising ever since our honeymoon in 1973 on the Emerald Seas. It was the start of the oil crisis, and serious fuel shortages, so she only went to Nassau, where she stayed in port, tied to the dock, for three solid nights. From there, we graduated to Norweigan and sailed the Skyward, Seaward, Starward; and in 1998, the SS Norway. Also in 1998, we discovered Holland America. We went cheap that year, and only booked an inside on the Westerdam. We thought we had died and gone to heaven, compared to the others. Since then, we've tried Princess and Royal Caribbean, but always come back to HAL, which has never EVER disappointed us. On our last cruise, Veendam, we received our 100 day medallion. Yep, we're hooked!!!!!!

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was when I was four in 1956. My Mom, Dad, Brother and I sailed on the SS Ocean Monarch on a two week cruise to the Carribean. That was my first introduction to cruising. I don't know if I was hooked then, but I KNOW I was hooked in 1962 when I sailed on my first HAL cruise on the SS Rotterdam. Adele

 

 

 

t/s/s Ocean Monarch (1951-1981) Built in 1951 for Furness, Withy & Co., she was based at New York and was used on the New York - Bermuda service by Furness Bermuda Line, carrying passengers and fresh water supplies to the island's hotels. (Bermuda has no fresh water supply). In 1966 following the ending of sea passenger services to Bermuda, she was laid up in the River Fal, Cornwall for disposal. In 1967 she was sold to Balkantourist (Bulgaria) and renamed Varna to earn foreign currency by cruising.

 

In 1970, she was laid up at Perama, Greece. In 1979, she was refurbished and renamed Venus and then Riviera A and operated by Trans-Tirreno Express. In 1981, she was renamed Reina Del Mar but still laid up awaiting finance. She was chartered to SUR-Seereisen (Germany) for summer cruises and overhauled. In 1981 while at Ambelaki, Greece, engine running trials led to an engine room fire which gutted the ship. The burning vessel was towed out to sea, but the tow parted and she went ashore on Salamina Island. Towed off, she again burst into flames and was scuttled at Kynosaura, Perama Bay where she fell onto her side and became a total loss.

[law3609]

Sovereign of the Seas - 3 night Bahamas trip April 05. She had just come out of a major overhaul. Okay for a first cruise but I wouldn'y do it again.

 

[Copper10-8]

My first was the Canada Star sometime in the 1980's - it was a family vacation and my brother and I were very young. We loved it. The best memories: getting to 'dance' with the staff in the dining room (I think we were the only small children on the ship, it was during the school year), our waiter bringing dessert even when our parents said no, and chocolate on your pillow at night! We also loved dressing up for the dinners each night. The only info I found on the ship in a quick search:

Built for Moore McCormack. Launched 16/12/1957. Last in service as Universe Explorer, in late 2004 was discovered to have structural problems and her refit was cancelled. The ship would not be repaired and she arrived at Alang for breaking up in December 2004. Name sequence: Brasil, Volendam, Monarch Sun, Volendam, Island Sun, Liberte, Canada Star, Queen of Bermuda, Enchanted Seas, Universe Explorer."

 

Josh's first was the Carnival Tropicale, not sure when that one took place. From all reports, he loved it too. I think the Tropicale is a Costa ship now.

 

Our first cruise together was our honeymoon in 2005 on the Carnival Valor. Of course we loved it... no surprise there. My favorite part of the Valor was the enormous "Rosie the Riveter" wall in Rosie's Restaurant. Just the coolest thing - I told Josh I wanted to make something similar in our kitchen. :D

 

 

Brasil (1958-2004) Delivered to Moore-McCormack as Brasil in 1958. Sailed for that company until 1969. Acquired by Holland America Line as m/s Volendam II in 1972. Sailed with HAL from 1972 until 1975 and for a second tour from 1978 until 1984. In between, she sailed as Monarch Sun for Monarch Cruise LInes from 1975 until 1978.

 

In 1984, she was renamed Island Sun and from 1985 until 1986 she sailed as Liberte for American Hawaii Cruises and in 1987 as Canada Star. She was Queen of Bermuda between 1988 and 1990 and Enchanted Seas for Commodore Cruise Lines between 1990 and 1996. In 1996 she started sailing as Universe Explorer until meeting her demise at the infamous breakers at Alang, India in 2004.

 

[Copper10-8]

Love seeing the old ship photos! In 1985 we took our 2 teenage sons with us on American Hawaii's Independence flew to Hawaii and cruised the islands. The ship had a lot of history from its transAtlantic days and association with the Grace Kelly wedding. I will never forget the first morning, the ship sailed around the island of Kauii and you could see all the beautiful waterfalls not visible from land. So sorry there is no more American Hawaii line, a fatality of Sept 11th.

 

Prior to that I did a 3 day Rhine Cruise in conjunction with a TWA vacation...my mom accompanied me. the ship was the Duetchland, as I recall, now owned by Pieter Dielman cruises. My husband and I lived in Germany for 3 years.

Karen

 

 

SS Independence (1951- present) Deleivered in 1951 as an ocean liner to American Export Lines. In 1959 she was rebuilt as a cruise ship but was laid up between 1969 and 1974. Between 1974 and 1976 she sailed as ss Oceanic Independence for Atlantic Far East Lines only to be laid up again between 1976 and 1980. In 1980, she was purchased by American Hawaii Cruises for inter-island cruising and reverted back to her original name. After the bankrupcy of American Global Line, the owners of American Hawaii Cruises, became the property of the U.S. Maritime Administration and sailed from Honolulu to San Francisco, arriving on November 8, 2001.Since 2006 the ship has been named ss Oceanic.

 

In February 2003, Independence was sold at auction for US $4 million to Norwegian Cruise Line, which also acquired ss United States. In July 2007, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that Oceanic had been sold with later reports claiming the ship had been purchased by an American company. On February 8, 2008 after being mothballed for 7 years, she left San Francisco initially for Singapore but that was changed to Dubai where she is currently laid up awaiting her fate.

Karen, Peter Deilman has a "Deutschland" but that's their only cruise ship. They have several river cruise boats however none of them are named Deutschland

[cruisinjudy]

Thaks, Copper, I must say the SS Independence sure looks bad!

[Boytjie]

 

SS Independence (1951- present) Deleivered in 1951 as an ocean liner to American Export Lines. In 1959 she was rebuilt as a cruise ship but was laid up between 1969 and 1974. Between 1974 and 1976 she sailed as ss Oceanic Independence for Atlantic Far East Lines only to be laid up again between 1976 and 1980. In 1980, she was purchased by American Hawaii Cruises for inter-island cruising and reverted back to her original name. After the bankrupcy of American Global Line, the owners of American Hawaii Cruises, became the property of the U.S. Maritime Administration and sailed from Honolulu to San Francisco, arriving on November 8, 2001.Since 2006 the ship has been named ss Oceanic.

 

In February 2003, Independence was sold at auction for US $4 million to Norwegian Cruise Line, which also acquired ss United States. In July 2007, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that Oceanic had been sold with later reports claiming the ship had been purchased by an American company. On February 8, 2008 after being mothballed for 7 years, she left San Francisco initially for Singapore but that was changed to Dubai where she is currently laid up awaiting her fate.

 

Karen, Peter Deilman has a "Deutschland" but that's their only cruise ship. They have several river cruise boats however none of them are named Deutschland

 

I am sorry, but that is one ugly ship! :eek::D:eek:

[Copper10-8]

Mine was USS Ruchamkin, APD (later LPR) 89, June '66 to November 20, '69. For some reason, they wouldn't let me off! The ship was sold to the Columbian Navy, and I beleive it still exists somewhere as a floating museum!

 

Our first real cruise was on the Fairsea from LA to Mexico, November '78 - and we were officially hooked!! We'll keep crusiing as long as we're able!

 

 

Carinthia (1956-2005) Built as Carinthia for Cunard Cruise Line in 1956 and placed on the Liverpool, St Lawrence route to Quebec City, and Montreal, Canada. Then, during the winter months, she was rerouted to the Liverpool, Cobh, Halifax to New York service operating as such until 1968. Carinthia's transatlantic career was all too quickly overtaken by jet air travel, which led to her sale to Sitmar Lines, or Societa Italiana Transporti Maritime, in 1968 and renamed Fairland. It was intended to place her on the Australia, New Zealand migrant run but when this did not pan out, she was laid up in Southampton until 1970.

 

She arrived in Trieste, Italy on 21 February, 1970 at the Arsenale Triestino San Marco shipyard to be completely remodelled as cruise ships, essentially for the US market. Renamed Fairsea in 1971, she became a very popular Sitmar cruise ship, serving the company until 1988. In that year P & O purchased Sitmar Lines and renamed her Fair Princess within the Princess Cruises fleet with which she served until 1997. In 1995, P&O Princess Cruises decided to sell her to Regency Cruises with which she was to be become Regent Isle. However, Regency went bankrupt at the same time so Fair Princess remained with Princess Cruises. She was laid up for almost one year in Los Angeles and several months in Mazatlan, Mexico. It was then decided that she would serve the Australian market for P & O Australia, replacing the Fairstar which was scrapped in 1997. Fair Princess was in turn replaced by Sky Princess in 2001 and became the China Sea Discovery for casino cruising in Hong Kong until broken up by Indian scrappers in 2005.

[Copper10-8]

Thaks, Copper, I must say the SS Independence sure looks bad!

 

I am sorry, but that is one ugly ship! :eek::D:eek:

 

 

Agreed, but that pic is showing her being towed after having been laid up for seven years! In her prime, she was a classic!

 

[airlink diva]

My very first cruise was a three day Bahama cruise on the Fascination. I was going with a small group of close friends. There were three of us that were new to cruising and were really hype by the ones that had cruise before. The veterans wanted to take a seven day cruise, but the newbies wanted a shorter one just in case we didn't like it. We were set to fly in on September 13 and spend the night in Miami.

On September 11, 2001 everything changed. Our travel agent contacted us on September 12th and imformed us that Carnival would refund our money and we could book at a later date or sail and receive a OBC for keeping our sail date. Everyone got together and decided to drive instead.

I can still recall when we first arrived into the port area and I saw the ship. It was huge!! I was just like :eek: after boarding and walking around. I took a ton of pictures!

Due to most of the people cancelling, we set sail with under half of the normal passengers. It was so low that everyone was placed under one dining time.

I still end up having a wonderful time in that three short days. My favorite day was our sea day. My friends and I managed to grab some chairs near the pool and for the rest of the day we swam, ate,nap, gossip, drank alot of foo foo drinks (our OBC was almost equal to what we paid and we all had quite a bit left) and watch the ocean.

I was hook after that!

Now it's 2008 and thanks to the Fascination getting me hooked on cruising, I'm setting sail on a 14 day cruise within a month. It's all thanks to that 3 day cruise!!

Happy sailing!!

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was on NCL'S SOUTHWARD doing the CARIBBEAN in 1979.

 

JIM

 

 

m/s Southward (1971-present) Southward entered service with Norwegian Cruise Line in 1971, and operated with them (including service from California) until sold to Airtours/My Travel in 1994. She was renamed Seawing at that time and was operated by Sun Cruises. Purchased in 2004 by Louis Hellenic Cruises, she was renamed Perla and served under than name until 2008. She is currently sailing for Golden Sun Cruises under the temporary name of Aegean Pearl.

 

 

[chasetf]

I am sorry, but that is one ugly ship! :eek::D:eek:

Maybe so..... But, .......It wasn't in it's day......;)

[Boytjie]

Agreed, but that pic is showing her being towed after having been laid up for seven years! In her prime, she was a classic!

 

 

OK, that's a little better. ;)

[cruisencrazy]

My first cruise was an 11 day Caribbean on the Norwegian Sky. We had a porthole and could not believe how tiny the room was. However, we were hooked and have continued to prefer cruise vacations.

By the way, we went from a port hole on the first cruise to the Owner's Suite of Norway on the second cruise. Our first cabin was the size of the bathroom on the second cabin. I think I enjoyed the first one more. Maybe because it was my honeymoon:)