Any Old Trip Reports/Memories/Photos on SS NORWAY ?

[F27TW]

I so wish this beautiful ship were around still ... i would love to read and see some reports on her. I am kicking myself for not sailing her before her removal from service and scrapping.

Does anyone have any thing they care to post here about their trips on her?

[mali06]

This was on our bucket list so we DID get to sail on her. First, we got upgraded (a real one) from an oceanview cabin to a junior suite! Very nice! Then there were some public spaces that were absolutely gorgeous, still carrying the look of being original to the ship such as the main dining room (where you made a grand entrance down an elegant flight of stairs) and the lounge (where they played games and had the original huge dark wood bar)! Finally, we were priveleged to eat lunch at the Captain's Table in the MDR and one of the elderly ladies at the table had actually sailed on her when it was the France, on her maiden voyage. That was amazing! The only thing we noticed at the time was that the majority of the passengers were quite elderly. But we have fun everywhere and with everybody so made no difference really! And now some young people think WE are the elderly (63)! LOL :D I have pictures but I am technologically illiterate and have no idea how to post them. Sorry! :(

Edited November 16, 2012 by mali06

[Shelli]

I was on the Norway twice-- once in 1987, which was my 1st cruise, and again in 1989. Oh, cruising was soooo much different than it is today! The biggest difference, I think, is that everyone got dressed up for dinner every night. Not as fancy as the formal nights, when people REALLY got dressed up, but certainly dressier than these days. I think I wore a slacks outfit one night, and dresses every other night.

 

For dinner, there was one option, and one option only: the MDR. No buffet. No specialty restaurants (at least, back in the 80s). There may have been room service, but I vaguely recall that it cost extra-- not sure about that. Two seatings-- early and late. And no one was allowed to be in any public area in shorts or bathing suits after 6 p.m. Amazing!

 

They had a fabulous theater and performed real Broadway shows. On my first cruise, it was "Barnum," but I don't recall what it was the 2nd cruise. There were other production shows, with singers and dancers, as well. And each cruise had a "name" act onboard who performed once or twice. On our first cruise, it was Red Buttons (people knew him back in the day!), and Phyllis Diller had been on the week before our cruise. By our 2nd Norway cruise, they no longer had that. (And the lottery ticket-selling had begun!)

 

I've been on many cruises since then, but no ship has ever compared to the beautiful S.S. Norway!

[DMH15]

I so wish this beautiful ship were around still ... i would love to read and see some reports on her. I am kicking myself for not sailing her before her removal from service and scrapping.

Does anyone have any thing they care to post here about their trips on her?

 

Norway was my intro to cruising. It was July 1986. I was still young and wore bikinis to the pool. Ah, those were the days. I travelled with a group and we all dressed up at night for pictures. It was so fun.

 

I was paired up with a lady I only met a month before the cruise. We chose an inside. Who knew otherwise. It truly felt like a broom closet. Teensy bunk beds.

 

I now cruise in NCL suites. But I fondly remember the Norway. And the one that started it all.

[Moondawgie]

1984 and 88 for me. I remember the upscale shops - they actually had furs in one. I loved the whole International Deck. It was a magical experience to sail the Norway. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it were available.

 

I also remember meeting real celebrities on board and those fabulous shows.

 

I have so many fond memories of the S.S. Norway.

[oklaviking]

Very good memories cruising with the family on the S.S. Norway. Here are just a few photos from a wonderful time.

[SMSACE6]

Im so glad you started this thread! My very first cruise was on the Norway in October 1999! It was the cruise that got me hooked on cruising! I was by then already over 40, ( just barely:D), and while I had travelled on ships before, never had been on a "cruise" or cruiseship.

 

I was strolling through a neighborhood mall one day, and saw an excellent deal for a 7 day cruise on this ship out of Miami, I asked my Mom if she wanted to go and she said yes, and so the TA said, a third person could go for 99.00, so we got my Dad to go too. My parents had both cruised before.

 

Long story short. We had an awesome vacation. Even back in 1999, I went on the internet and knew what to expect, ie older ship, and I researched the history. I was not disappointed.

 

Stateroom for three was the largest I have ever seen on a ship. All the beds were lower, so no one had to crawl up a ladder. We had two porthole windows. I absolutely loved the International lounge and the "band" who played there. Classy, classy classy! Mom and I went there first evening for a gin and tonic before dinner. I loved the promenades too. and the ice cream parlor, which was very near our stateroom.

 

Still set time dining then, so we went to dinner and met three lovely ladies at our dining table, and they from Arizona. We from Canada, and we got along very nicely. Dining room waiters were excellent, and the food too. I had the best ever vegetable curry of my life in that dining room!

 

First day at sea, the ship was obviously still going by the Bahamas, and we were getting very close to one island, with the most azure blue waters clearest I have ever seen. It was Little San Salvador, and there was a medical evacuation. The ill passenger was taken ashore by boat and later airlifted back to Miami. The captian made an anouncement about what was happening, and the next day, he also announced that the passenger was doing well back in Miami.

 

We went to St Thomas, where we did a ship's tour to neighboring St John. One of the most beautiful islands I have ever seen. So glad we had the chance to do this. Also went to St Maarten. had to tender in to both ports because of the ship being unable to dock in these places.

 

Coming back on the tenders to the ship, I just had always marvel at the beauty of that blue beauty. That was one awesome ship, and Im so glad that I did my first cruise on her.

 

For many reasons, I have not been back on NCL since. I know of the many changes since, ie freestyle for one, yet have always wanted to go back on NCL. Now Im booked on the Epic for next November! Cant wait!:)

Edited November 18, 2012 by SMSACE6

[oldguysandgalls]

What can we add to what has already been said? We sailed on the SS Norway in 2000. Our memories of her are timeless treasures forever captured within our hearts.

 

We especially remember the evening when they presented the "President's Dinner". Each course on the menu was a favourite dish of (past and present) Presidents of America and the first Lady.

[Sandyshore]

DH and I sailed on the Norway back in 1993, only our 2nd cruise. We had a tiny inside cabin with bunk beds - not the highlight of our trip! I remember the Broadway show performed that cruise was "Meet Me in St. Louis" with full, period costumes, just beautiful. We were told in advance of theme nights in the dining room, and we packed suitable clothes - even bought a few things to match the theme. There was 60's night, so we dressed like flower children; a Caribbean night; and one other theme I can't remember but for some strange reason DH wore his Star Trek uniform shirt :D:rolleyes:.

 

Our dining table mates were some of the nicest people we've ever been seated with - a family of 3 from Texas and another family of 3 from Pittsburgh. It says something about the fun we had that I can still remember everyone's name.

 

We loved the ice cream shop! Swenson's? Not like the soft serve stations in today's buffets, but an old-style ice cream counter where we would go every day for hard-packed cones. Sigh.....

 

Our CD's name was Bruce. He led a staff presentation of "If I were not upon the sea" that left us laughing till we cried. Very fond memories of that ship. I'll see if I can scan some of the old photos and post them. Probably won't get to it til after Thanksgiving tho.

Edited November 20, 2012 by Sandyshore

[OCruisers]

I was on the Norway twice-- once in 1987, which was my 1st cruise, and again in 1989. Oh, cruising was soooo much different than it is today! The biggest difference, I think, is that everyone got dressed up for dinner every night. Not as fancy as the formal nights, when people REALLY got dressed up, but certainly dressier than these days. I think I wore a slacks outfit one night, and dresses every other night.

 

For dinner, there was one option, and one option only: the MDR. No buffet. No specialty restaurants (at least, back in the 80s). There may have been room service, but I vaguely recall that it cost extra-- not sure about that. Two seatings-- early and late. And no one was allowed to be in any public area in shorts or bathing suits after 6 p.m. Amazing!

 

They had a fabulous theater and performed real Broadway shows. On my first cruise, it was "Barnum," but I don't recall what it was the 2nd cruise. There were other production shows, with singers and dancers, as well. And each cruise had a "name" act onboard who performed once or twice. On our first cruise, it was Red Buttons (people knew him back in the day!), and Phyllis Diller had been on the week before our cruise. !

 

Agree! It was a real cruise experience to have been on SS Norway in the early 80's before she began to have seen better days which I found sad.

 

DH took his tux, a suit, and a sports coat. Some of the best entertainment we've ever seen on any other cruise ship. Fond memories!

 

LuLu

~~~~

[drsb]

:( We were booked to sail on her, unfortunately she met her untimely demise before we were able to go. I was so disappointed. So nice to hear the stories. Thanks!

[Luanne]

We were on the SS Norway the week before the explosion. We really felt like we were back in the days of the ocean liners when we were sailing. Even though she showed wear and old-fashioned cabins, the ship itself in the public areas was beautiful. It was really sad to hear about the explosion. When we are in Great Stirrup Cay, we relive using the tenders to get to the various ports. It's nice that the tenders are still in use.

[cruitenn]

The Norway was our family's favorite cruise ship. We loved her so much, we enjoyed her 13 times. Our kids literally grew up on her, we cruised on her mostly during Easter and Christmas holidays. Our sons started enjoying the kids program when the older one was 5 and the younger one was almost 3years old. They loved Trolland, the Kids Program Coordinator had a picture with my kids on her desk. My older son is now 29 and my younger son just turned 27 and they still cruise with :) or without us.:rolleyes:

 

The nightly entertainment was the best at sea, there were full productions of Meet me in St. Louis, Gypsy Rose, 42nd Street, Country and jazz singers and band cruise and the best comedians. We also had several Sports themed cruises, one with Super Bowl players (Tim Brown was there), one with Ski champions and a very special a Sports Illustrated cruise, where there were two famous players from various sports, Ozzie Smith and Steve Carlton - baseball, Clyde Frazier and James Worthy - Basketball, Harry Carson and Carl Banks (not sure) - football, Matt Biondi - swimming and other sports.

 

There were those dress up nights, where women wore gowns and the men were in tuxes. Our two boys wore suits and tuxes when they were in high school. We continue to love cruising and enjoy the new ships but we still miss the Norway. She was a very classy lady.

[CoasterBill]

Our trip was about a year before the ships last cruise. This ship was in sad shape in many areas but at the same time you could enjoy the step back in time that it provided. Many things on the ship seemed to be from it's begining days. The food was very good as I remember and service was great. We had an inside stateroom that was very small and very worn but that really did not matter. Its the ship that I am most pleased (Looking Back) that I can say I was on. So glad we did it before it was to late.

 

I remember the rate was $299.00 what a deal. The ship had just been brought back in to service after it had had its last so cruise a few months before. We were told it was brought back due to the 9/11 disaster. The ship had someone that did a 3 class event that talked about the ships history in detail. I remember really enjoying that class.

[Stilles]

I know im bumping an old thread but I fondly remember the S.S. Norway was on her during a Christmas cruise back in the year of 92, 93, or 94 was 12-14 respectively and I met a girl from Canada or was it Vermont? on that cruise she was my first kiss I still remember the pretty red dress she wore and the boys 2 men cassette tape she gave me.

 

We spoke on the phone afterwards a few times she even mailed me a letter with a necklace in it but someone stole it out of the envelope. I hope shes doing well and better off than the place we met. R.I.P S.S. Norway and thanks for the fond memories!

Edited July 9, 2013 by Stilles

[time2cruise1]

The best travel blog from the Norway during 9/11.

 

http://www.thewaywewent.com/nor_1.html

[callmebetty]

We got engaged on the Norway, it was a surprise cruise! I remember the pull out bed over our bed and the giant picture(it took up the whole wall!) hanging outside of the teeny tiny bathroom. I left my camera in the casino the last night and lost all of my pictures.

What a great ship. I too remember the President's dinner and how nostalgic looking the menus were.

What a great ship (I have to say it again...)

[Cruzinnana47]

Always so pleased to see a thread start up again on the SS Norway! We were very fortunate to have sailed on her twice in 1995 and 2001 and in the same cabin both times.

 

Yes, the ship was a little dated, but we never have had another similar cruising experience on any other ship - small or large. Truly a throwback to a much more elegant mode of cruising. The grand staircase into the dining room, wonderful shows, the ice cream shop, fantastic midnight buffet, and the "hidden" room under one of the pools were just some of the highlights for us. Glad the tenders "little Norway 1 and 2" are still in use.

 

The Norway was definitely our favorite ship and we are glad to have our memories of her. Too bad she came to such a sad ending.

[asubaru]

What a terrific thread! Thank you for the photos.

 

Norway was my first and second cruise (1997 and 1998). The first was with my sis and an oldies theme cruise which included: the original Little Anthony and the Imperials, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Gary Puckett and others I can't recall right now.

 

The second was with my mom and was a Big Band theme cruise. Both included lots of theme related music, movies and activities. I think they discontinued them shortly after and I never understood why; they were very popular.

 

Due to the themes and the Norway, they are my favorite cruises. If she was still around, I'd book in a heart beat. Not the modern glitz or amenities of today, but it oozed glamour and class!

 

I have taken a long break from cruising due to kids and life, in general, getting in the way.

 

I have booked a cruise on the Epic this winter and am looking forward to getting back to the seas!

[digitaldan1]

My wife and I had just started cruising in May 2002 aboard the Norwegian Sea. During the cruise we booked our next trip for December 2003 on the Norway. Sadly, the boiler explosion took place about six months before our cruise date.

 

We were so disappointed. We'd really wanted to sail on her and have always been saddened at missing the opportunity.

[intrepid_guy]

Loved the Norway (see my avatar, still!). Sailed her 4 times and had the best cruises I can remember. So sad that she is gone. I bet we would still be sailing on the Blue Lady if she was still in service.

 

BTW, someone could not remember the name of the ice cream parlor (starboard, forward, International Deck), it was Sven's.

 

~Intrepid <--Join me for a martini in Club I?

[kylenyc]

The Today Show's week long cruise aboard the SS Norway 1986

Edited July 10, 2013 by kylenyc

[Demonyte]

The Today Show's week long cruise aboard the SS Norway 1986

 

17 different flavours of ice cream! :D (In part 3)

[SnootieTootie]

Room #V248. Twin Lower, Twin Upper, the air conditioning didn't work (someone even wrote on the thermostat "doesn't work"). Just down the hall from the disco, insured being wakened several times nightly,

 

Years later, we still laugh about the room. Make the best of your vacation, no matter the situation. :)

[kylenyc]

17 different flavours of ice cream! :D (In part 3)

I was surprised they had back then satellite navigation and collision detection... but my favorite was the machines that cracks a crate of eggs and scrambles them, and dough machine that spits out a whole trays of dough balls :p

 

I can see why some of you are nostalgic... Must be the aerobics classes, skeet shooting, and hitting golf balls off the sides of the ship :D:D