Cunard Countess

[calee]

Back in the 80's we sailed the Cunard Countess 4 times through the southern Caribbean. The cruise director was a Brit named John Butt and he was terrfic. On our last cruise on the Countess was also his last,as he was retiring to live in Barbados, a place that he had grown to love over the years. Does anyone remember him and the Countess? I really miss the ships of that size 17,000- 25,000 tons, I enjoyed them much better than the new mega ships.

[dougnewmanatsea]

Cunard sold COUNTESS in 1997 to Royal Olympic Cruises who renamed her OLYMPIC COUNTESS and then OLYMPIA COUNTESS.

 

ROC went under last year and the ship was sold to another Greek operator, Majestic International Cruises, who have renamed her OCEAN COUNTESS.

 

She is chartered to various European tour operators.

[DFD1]

One night many years ago I sailed from Norfolk to Hamilton Bermuda on board the Countess. It was the roughest night I have ever spent on board a ship. The weather was howling and the ship was going ever which way except straight. I was sure the Bermuda Triangle was about to take another ship....and me with it.

 

I will never forget that ship or that night.

[Leonemanc]

Hi Calee

Yes I remember John Butt from the days of the Countess. He was actually a friend of a family member and an absolute scream! I was aboard CC many times when they were in Port (I was a teenager then) in St.Thomas and San Juan.

 

I actually later went on to work as a Purser on Cunard Princess which is a different story!

 

Happy cruising

 

L

[WillK]

Leonemac-

 

I know it's "off topic" but I'd love to hear about your experiences as a Purser at Cunard.

 

Cheers

[haggis]

The Countess was the first cruise ship my wife and I ever sailed on in 1993. Between 1993 and 1995 we cruised three times on her and although she wasnt the prettiest ship in the Caribbean she certainly was in a class of her own. The entertainment was outstanding, the rum punch parties were unforgetable and the food superb. There is no doubt that the then Cruise Director, John Butt, had a hand in making our cruises so unforgettable and I am eternally grateful to him for this. No other ship we have been on had Ska bands in their indoor/outdoor centres partying every night of the week like that ship.

It was a great ship and if she were still cruising with Cunard, we would still be cruising with her. It broke our hearts when Cunard sold her. It would be interesting to know where John is now. Happy days. Jimmy and Mary :cool:

[Leonemanc]

WillK - I wouldn't know where to start with telling you about life onboard as a Purser suffice to say that it can be rather 'colourful' at times! Haggis,the last I heard, John had retired and was living the high life in the south of England. I'm sure he's also a regular traveller.

Best wishes,

L

[haggis]

Thanks for the info about John Butt. My wife and I now sail P&O/Princess now visiting, in the main, the same islands that the Countess frequented. Still dont get tired of the Caribbean but really miss the happy ship that was the Countess. These sailaways John arranged with the rum punch, mainly rum of course, was something else. I've crossed paths with some of the crew from Cunard whilst on Princess ships but they were mainly from the Crown Jewell. We never have seen a face we knew from the Countess. Thanks once again,

Jimmy

[Bean2]

I sailed on the Cunard Countess in 1983 -- the summer I turned 13. We departed from San Juan, went to Venezuela and Grenada, and then spent a week in Barbados before returning to the ship on its next cruise and finishing the itinerary, which went to St. Thomas, and St. Lucia. I remember having so much fun with the kids I met on board that I did not want to leave the ship, and my parents let me hang out in the arcade while they took shore excursions. The other thing I remember about the ship was that the sheets in the beds smelled so awful, I would have to spray perfume on my pillow before going to sleep at night. Times are a little different now. I remember Vegas-style shows, and good food, but it was definitely a different experience than cruising today!

[Tony & Trevor]

We travelled on the Countess in September 1994. Very fond memories of Mr Butt and do you remember Beverley Martinez social hostess-or something!

The Captain was Ron Warwick who was excellent.

We even had Bobby Crush -renowed international piano virtuoso on board who went down very well.

Others

The Styliners

John Simons showband

Clive Julian-played the piano

Maitre D' Bruno Bovo

The ship, food and service excellent

 

Kind regards

Tony

[cruiserking]

Here's the lovely Cunard Countess in St. Thomas one of the Caribbean ports she often frequented.

 

http://www.faktaomfartyg.com/cunard_countess_1975_b_1.htm

 

The Countess has just joined Holiday Cruises of Germany and has once again been reborn as the Lili Marleen, where she will sail her first voyage on December 27.

 

The link below shows the countess through her various guises over the years.

 

http://www.schiffspost.com/flotte_olympic_countess.htm

 

Cruiserking

[blackbird71]

The Countess is still my all time favorite. It was the first cruise I was on and I did her before and after the Falklands.

 

 

Largest Lobster tails of any cruiseline. :)

 

 

I loved their two itineraries of the Southern Caribbean, we did a B2B on her.

 

My all time favorite steward was on her. He was British and would show up at our cabin every morning as the ship was pulling into port and check if we had any questions about the island we were seeing that day. I can remember some cruises what I did not talk to the room attendant.

 

 

[johnmik1]

Hi Calee

Yes I remember John Butt from the days of the Countess. He was actually a friend of a family member and an absolute scream! I was aboard CC many times when they were in Port (I was a teenager then) in St.Thomas and San Juan.

 

I actually later went on to work as a Purser on Cunard Princess which is a different story!

 

Happy cruising

 

L

My wife and I sailed on Cunard Princess in '83,'84 & '85.John Butt was our first CD.We met a purser named Andy McKenna and always wondered what happened to him.Any info is appreciated.

[koolforkatz]

My wife and I sailed on Cunard Princess in '83,'84 & '85.John Butt was our first CD.We met a purser named Andy McKenna and always wondered what happened to him.Any info is appreciated.

 

I joined the Princess to work in the purser's office about the same time Andy left. He went to the QE2 but that was quite some time ago. Where he is now, I have no idea.

[dougnewmanatsea]

Just FYI, OCEAN COUNTESS has been chartered by her owners to the German operator Holiday Kreuzfahrten and has been renamed LILI MARLEEN.

[Bollinge]

I used to work on the Countess as a photographer.

 

John is an old friend and is well and living happily with wife Esme in East Grinstead, Sussex, near London Gatwick Airport.

 

He still goes to sea on an ad-hoc basis as C.D. with Fred Olsen Cruises.

[cusyl]

We were on the Cunard Countess twice and the Cunard Princess twice back in the 1970s. On one of those voyages we took advantage of their stay and sail program. Cunard owned the La Toc hotel in St. Lucia, and we spent a week there until the ship came back for us. Those were good times!

[johnmik1]

We were on the Cunard Countess twice and the Cunard Princess twice back in the 1970s. On one of those voyages we took advantage of their stay and sail program. Cunard owned the La Toc hotel in St. Lucia, and we spent a week there until the ship came back for us. Those were good times!

We did the sail and stay at Cunards Paradise Beach Resort on Barbados.When we were there in Feburary,I inquired about the resort and was told that it was torn down.Is LaToc still open on St Lucia?

[COUNTESSFAN]

We were on the Countess in 1993 and 1996. We have cruised many times since on P&O, Airtours, Thomson, Island and Princess, but have never found anything to match the Countess. Has anyone else found a ship with an atmosphere that comes anywhere close?

[cusyl]

We loved the Countess too, Celebrity & Hal have ships that are similar. We love the QM2, but have been sail mostly Princess lately to get the perks of the free internet.

[RSGS315]

We did the sail and stay at Cunards Paradise Beach Resort on Barbados.When we were there in Feburary,I inquired about the resort and was told that it was torn down.Is LaToc still open on St Lucia?

 

The former LaToc in St. Lucia is now the Sandals Regency St. Lucia Golf Resort & Spa. It's an all inclusive couples only resort.

Ginnie

[cusyl]

This was on Cunard's Stay and Sail program. The Countess dropped us off and picked us up the following week. It was delightful.:D

[Sailaway Girl]

The Cunard Countess was my 2nd cruise . I saw the ship in port as I boarded the Carla Costa and knew I wanted on. I booked her the next year. That was the early 90's. I also remember people getting off at some port to spend a week on shore to be picked up the following week.

The Countess was a beautiful ship and went to great ports. The service was top notch and the food good. We had a tiny little porthole, one twin bed and a second bed that lowered from the wall. Quite different from the Princess CB we recently sailed on and the Crown Princess we sail out on NY on in September.

Those were the days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[Mr Veendam06]

Hi By do i remember the Countess .It was the first time we did back to back cruises . Do you remember the 2nd week was only $200 per person .A great deal !! Or you could stay at one of the islands for the week . in between the cruise .We loved the Countess .Had a great time .

:cool: Mr Veendam

 

Crown Princess 8/25/06

Carnival Elation 4/9/07

Liberty of the seas 8/25/07

Regal Empress 8/2/07

[fojnh]

My first three cruises were on the Countess in the mid 80s and they set the stage for 14 more (so far). What makes me smile is how everyone did double duty back then. One night our entertainment was Judy Abbott ("direct from the West End Stage") and the next day she was huffin' and puffin', escorting us off the ship to our shore tours. Another group was Roy and Jackie Toaduff. Not sure what they did exactly - but who can forget the names!! I also remember Beverly which someone already mentioned. They danced. They sang. They were puppeteers. Oh well - those days are gone I guess - along with the $1.75 duty free cocktail. Life was simpler then I guess - cruising could be done without having an ice rink on the ship. :>)