Sky Princess off to the Breakers

[bdjam]

For those of you who had the opportunity to sail on the last steam powered passenger ship built (for Sitmar and then transferred to Princess) the below article might be interesting. There is English translation imbedded in the article.

 

During the buidling of Fairsky, workers in the ship yard would break the work they had completed the previous day so that they could come back and fix it the next - because they knew this was the last of the steam powered ships to be built, they wanted to continue to hold jobs as long as possible.

 

While I never sailed her, I enjoyed a tour of her (when you used to be able to tour other Princess ships in port) one afternoon in Skagway. While definitely dated compared to Sun Princess (2) on which I was sailing, she was still a beautiful ship with wonderful passageways, a spectacular lido and the only two deck dedicated movie theater I've ever seen on a ship. She sailed for years the San Francisco/Alaska run and I remember fondly her steam whistle blowing to announce muster along the San Francisco Embarcadero.

 

It is somewhat unsettling that she is going to be broken up for scrap that will help to pay for the next Oasis Class ship for RCI.

 

Goodbye Sky Princess - may your memories live on.

 

 

http://www.passengerships.fr/1/post/2013/03/pullmantur-latlantic-star-quitte-marseille.html

[livtocruz]

For those of you who had the opportunity to sail on the last steam powered passenger ship built (for Sitmar and then transferred to Princess) the below article might be interesting. There is English translation imbedded in the article.

 

During the buidling of Fairsky, workers in the ship yard would break the work they had completed the previous day so that they could come back and fix it the next - because they knew this was the last of the steam powered ships to be built, they wanted to continue to hold jobs as long as possible.

 

While I never sailed her, I enjoyed a tour of her (when you used to be able to tour other Princess ships in port) one afternoon in Skagway. While definitely dated compared to Sun Princess (2) on which I was sailing, she was still a beautiful ship with wonderful passageways, a spectacular lido and the only two deck dedicated movie theater I've ever seen on a ship. She sailed for years the San Francisco/Alaska run and I remember fondly her steam whistle blowing to announce muster along the San Francisco Embarcadero.

 

It is somewhat unsettling that she is going to be broken up for scrap that will help to pay for the next Oasis Class ship for RCI.

 

Goodbye Sky Princess - may your memories live on.

 

 

http://www.passengerships.fr/1/post/2013/03/pullmantur-latlantic-star-quitte-marseille.html

 

 

This is so sad. We had a fantastic time on the Sky for the Millennium cruise. Double celebrations and a most memorable time, we will never forget.

[Cruisin' Grandma]

Darn, another great ship with tons of memories for DH and I. Sky Princess was our first cruise and she will always be special.

[Colo Cruiser]

Very sad.

[cruiseclues]

The classy Sitmar Fairsky was our first cruise, a 10-Day Mexican Riviera, and we really felt the luxury from the way the crew treated us. In the MDR I remember my wife asking the waiter if we could move the dining table over just a bit and he said yes and we (10-12 people) all got up and tried to move the round table. It was bolted to the floor, as the waiter knew, and we all laughed. We'll miss the Fairsky.

 

When Princess bought the Fairsky and named it the Sky Princess, we did one trip on it, also. When we embarked on the Sky Princess, we first went to the lounge at the top facing the bow, and found two ash trays on the middle windowsills of the lounge forward windows, which were piled about 8 inches high with cigarette ashes. Strange that someone had not cleaned that up before allowing passengers on board. We never saw anything like that on subsequent Princess cruises.

[bdjam]

When she was built as Fairsky, the owner of Sitmar had the interior stairwells all done in white so that would be a testiment to how clean the ship was. Ironic that you'd find filled ashtrays in the forward lounge (which was another brilliant space by the way).

Note that your Wikipedia link above is to the original Sitmar Fairsky that sailed until 1977. Sky Princess entered service for Sitmar in 1984.

[DeepWaterMariner]

Lots of memories on the Sky. We sailed her the first time in 1985 when she was the Sitmar's Fairsky, 12 days San Francisco to Alaska. Our daughters came with us so there were 4 of us in an inside cabin. Loved Sitmar, and we had an elderly lady at our dinning room table who had been to the "Hitler" Olympics in 1936. Our daughter's still talk about her. The next trip was in 1993, then the Sky Princess, Ft Lauderdale to LA via the Panama Canal for 15 days. It was our first Princess cruise. The last time was in 1996, 11 days Hawaii to Tahiti. Great trips all. We really loved the pizzaria, something that came with her from Sitmar.

[cruiseclues]

When she was built as Fairsky, the owner of Sitmar had the interior stairwells all done in white so that would be a testiment to how clean the ship was. Ironic that you'd find filled ashtrays in the forward lounge (which was another brilliant space by the way).

Note that your Wikipedia link above is to the original Sitmar Fairsky that sailed until 1977. Sky Princess entered service for Sitmar in 1984.

 

Thanks, I definitely was sleeping on that one. The Sitmar FairSky was the link I should have provided. We cruised on that ship October 3, 1984. It was January 29, 1989 we cruised on the Sky Princess. :):)

[calbabe]

When she was built as Fairsky, the owner of Sitmar had the interior stairwells all done in white so that would be a testiment to how clean the ship was. Ironic that you'd find filled ashtrays in the forward lounge (which was another brilliant space by the way).

 

Note that your Wikipedia link above is to the original Sitmar Fairsky that sailed until 1977. Sky Princess entered service for Sitmar in 1984.

And, we sailed to Acapulco New Years 1985 on this classy lady!

 

New Year's Eve in Acapulco, fireworks, music, the antics of the Sky's entertainers and crew. So much fun! A celebration to remember! She holds a special place in my heart.

[MTJSR]

I am now officially feeling old :D I have an album filled with pictures of all areas of Fairsky while in San Francisco late 70's early 80's?, having sailed on Fairsea to Alaska, I was allowed to tour Fairsky while in port. As I type this I don't remember food and/or attacking anything edible being the focus of boarding passengers. The bar may of had dry roasted peanuts but that was it that I remember. Such great memories of Sitmar, they set the bar so high, I can only describe every cruise I go on now as a good but different cruise experience.

[cheznandy]

We have also cruised on this ship, but as "Pacific Sky" when she came to Australia under the P&O brand. My husband asked me to marry him on this cruise, so very special to us:) She is also well loved by us Aussies, as she replaced our much loved Sitmar (then P&O) Fairstar, and seemd so luxurious.

I loved the forward lounge and also remember the Pizzeria.

 

Chez

xx

[NJ Fred]

If ever I could restore the past vis-a-vis cruising, I would bring back the true "steamship companies" such as Sitmar and Home Lines.

 

DW and I honeymooned on Sitmar's Fairsea. We sailed her again - this time with our son and my parents - when she was Princess' Fair Princess. We had the same waiter and were reacquainted with many of the Italian crew members. Working on a cruise vessel was a career in those days.

 

I well recall Sitmar's Captain Francisco D'Agnino showing us photos of the sparkling new Fairsky. Ships were simpler then. Designed to be relaxing; free of MUTS, pay-per-bite dining venues, etc.

 

Call me a geezer, but I miss that genre of cruising. The old steamship lines were mostly owned by families - and they policed quality of service because they took it personally. Try explaining that concept to today's bean-counters - - lots of luck!

 

RIP, Fairsky. You gave a lot of passengers a lot of pleasant memories.

[cheznandy]

Well, i must have sailed on the Fairsea as well, as I sailed on the Fair Princess when she was in Australia, so Fairstar, Fairsky and Fairsea......I have had the pleasure to cruise on... I just love the history and stories of these ships.

[Pia1913]

I just looked back at my Princess cruise history and they say we sailed her in 1984. While I don't remember the overall ship itself, one thing I do recall is that the buffet was outdoors and there was no place to eat other than if you took your food indoors into a lounge. One day it rained. What a mess!

[WindrunnerII]

If ever I could restore the past vis-a-vis cruising, I would bring back the true "steamship companies" such as Sitmar and Home Lines.

 

DW and I honeymooned on Sitmar's Fairsea. We sailed her again - this time with our son and my parents - when she was Princess' Fair Princess. We had the same waiter and were reacquainted with many of the Italian crew members. Working on a cruise vessel was a career in those days.

 

I well recall Sitmar's Captain Francisco D'Agnino showing us photos of the sparkling new Fairsky. Ships were simpler then. Designed to be relaxing; free of MUTS, pay-per-bite dining venues, etc.

 

Call me a geezer, but I miss that genre of cruising. The old steamship lines were mostly owned by families - and they policed quality of service because they took it personally. Try explaining that concept to today's bean-counters - - lots of luck!

 

RIP, Fairsky. You gave a lot of passengers a lot of pleasant memories.

 

NJ Fred, how true! However, I guess you also have to consider how much less expensive it is to cruise today.

 

In 1983, a 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Pacific Princess, was $1840 pp in a standard outside on Fiesta Deck - @ $260 pp/day. When adjusted for inflation, that's $4289 in today’s dollars or $612 pp/day.

 

A 14-day Panama Canal in the Island Princess, in a Promenade Deck suite was $6258 pp, a whopping $447 pp/day! Adjusted for inflation, that’s a little over $1,000 pp/day.

 

In 1987, a 7-day Caribbean cruise on Home Lines' Homeric in a standard outside would set you back $1825 per person. That was $260 per day in 1987 with no balcony, no alternative dining options.

 

Considering that cruises today are the same price or less expensive and today's ships have many more options and amenities, I don't see the progress as a bad thing.

 

No one forces anyone to MUTS or to pay to dine in a specialty restaurant. But if you still want that same "old fashioned", "simple life" cruise, lines like Oceania, Azamara and a few others still offer that style of experience. Heck, even Princess still has a few smaller ships and Holland has the Prinsendam. Yes, you'll pay more than you would on Princess or NCL, but then again, you do get what you pay for. Like "pay-per-bite" dining, it's your choice to pull the wallet out or not.

 

Cheers!

[fanoforion]

Hi, I first sailed on her,as Pacific Sky ,in December 2000.

many cruises later (22 in all), I said goodbye when she was sold .

so sad she has gone to the wreckers.

I will never forget her.

 

My favourite P&O Ship now is Pacific Dawn (the old Regal Princess), cruised Canada and Alaska in 1998, and I still love her.

 

kind regards, Lorraine:):)

[Infi]

Very sad to see another one of the Sitmar ships go. They were in a class of their own and nothing today can compare to that experience.

[calbabe]

Very sad to see another one of the Sitmar ships go. They were in a class of their own and nothing today can compare to that experience.

 

Ah memories....upon boarding, being met and escorted to your cabin by white gloved waiters; the personal welcome by cruise staff who you remember, and they remember you!; wearing costumes on Mardi Gras night; and, dinner chimes followed by...."Ladies and Gentlemen....We Wish You a Bon Appetito!"

[DeepWaterMariner]

I just looked back at my Princess cruise history and they say we sailed her in 1984. While I don't remember the overall ship itself, one thing I do recall is that the buffet was outdoors and there was no place to eat other than if you took your food indoors into a lounge. One day it rained. What a mess!

 

I'd take the Princess cruise history for a Sitmar ship with a grain of salt. Sitmar didn't keep the best records on passenger's sailing history. When our records went from Sitmar to Princess we ended up with more days than we had actually sailed (a bonus for us). I remember the outside buffet on the Sky and trying to find a shady place to eat as we crossed the Equator. I also remember that the casino was tucked away near the forward observation lounge so it took some exploring to find it.

[JudithLynne]

This makes me very sad, but it is nice to hear all of you remember her fondly. We sailed on her in 1999 to Alaska for our 15th anniversary. It was our 8th cruise (We have just completed #33.) We were upgraded 5 categories from a standard OVcabin to a minisuite. We were assigned a table for 6 and the Captain was at our table, I don’t mean a one night event, it was his regular table. Needless to say it was a wonderful cruise. Older ships have a personality of their own. I feel like someone close has died………..Judith

[DGSFlorida]

I just looked back at my Princess cruise history and they say we sailed her in 1984. While I don't remember the overall ship itself, one thing I do recall is that the buffet was outdoors and there was no place to eat other than if you took your food indoors into a lounge. One day it rained. What a mess!

 

Sounds like a Sitmar cruise if it was 1984. Sitmar still owned the ship unil being acquired by P&O in 1988.

 

This ship sailed under the following names and lines:

Fairsky - Sitmar: 1984-1988

Sky Princess - Princess Cruises: 1988-2001

Pacific Sky - P&O Cruises Australia: 2001-

Sky Wonder - Pullmantur: 2006-

[Pia1913]

Sounds like a Sitmar cruise if it was 1984. Sitmar still owned the ship unil being acquired by P&O in 1988.

 

This ship sailed under the following names and lines:

Fairsky - Sitmar: 1984-1988

Sky Princess - Princess Cruises: 1988-2001

Pacific Sky - P&O Cruises Australia: 2001-

Sky Wonder - Pullmantur: 2006-

 

Probably was Fairsky.

[RWC Lady]

My husband and I sailed three times on the Sky Princess. First was in 1998 for 19 days from Vancouver to China. Second trip was 11 days in 1999 round trip from San Francisco to Alaska. Final trip was in 2000 on the repositioning cruise from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia. We really like this ship. It had big closets and drawers in cupboards for clothes. So much better than storing clothing on shelves. Farewell Sky Princess.

[NJ Fred]

NJ Fred, how true! However, I guess you also have to consider how much less expensive it is to cruise today.

 

In 1983, a 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Pacific Princess, was $1840 pp in a standard outside on Fiesta Deck - @ $260 pp/day. When adjusted for inflation, that's $4289 in today’s dollars or $612 pp/day.

 

A 14-day Panama Canal in the Island Princess, in a Promenade Deck suite was $6258 pp, a whopping $447 pp/day! Adjusted for inflation, that’s a little over $1,000 pp/day.

 

In 1987, a 7-day Caribbean cruise on Home Lines' Homeric in a standard outside would set you back $1825 per person. That was $260 per day in 1987 with no balcony, no alternative dining options.

 

Considering that cruises today are the same price or less expensive and today's ships have many more options and amenities, I don't see the progress as a bad thing.

 

No one forces anyone to MUTS or to pay to dine in a specialty restaurant. But if you still want that same "old fashioned", "simple life" cruise, lines like Oceania, Azamara and a few others still offer that style of experience. Heck, even Princess still has a few smaller ships and Holland has the Prinsendam. Yes, you'll pay more than you would on Princess or NCL, but then again, you do get what you pay for. Like "pay-per-bite" dining, it's your choice to pull the wallet out or not.

 

Cheers!

 

While what you have opined has merit, there are two sides to the coin. In the "good old days," service was more attentive and pride in delivering it abounded. Sadly, much (not all) of that is but a memory.

 

I read Cruise Critic reviews with great interest. Much of what is discussed is subjective fodder. One's pleasure can be another's poison.

 

Thar said, there is great consistency-of-opinion that service, quality and such has gone somewhat south. "Pay per bite" dining, as I fondly label it, in extra cost venues is sheer rubbish. Why, then, would passengers go to their wallets when they have already paid the asking price for room and board?

 

Dining room personnel have had their workloads increased as have room stewards. I am a retired businessman and understand the concept of margins, etc. Nevertheless, I would rather shell out a few more dollars and enjoy epicurean delights (hey, bring back theme-night dining) in the MDR than have to venture to an additional cost facility.

 

What drives passengers to these extra cost venues? To some degree it is the alleged uniqueness. And to another degree it is an effort to dine with the ambiance and food quality that was once standard fare.

 

Sure, no one is putting a gun to my head. However, I do not like the direction of the concept. There was a time when the only extra cost items on a voyage were tips, liquor, gambling, tours, etc. on all cruise vessels. And while time marches on, so, too, does the well-planned cornucopia of marketing strategies to extract all possible revenue from customers. That is what imagery and the like are all about. Create the proper image and you can sell shares in a lifeboat with a hole in its side.

 

WTH, there IS one born every minute - - and if Princess doesn't get his/her money, some other company will.

 

And so it goes . . .

[bdjam]

Thanks, I definitely was sleeping on that one. The Sitmar FairSky was the link I should have provided. We cruised on that ship October 3, 1984. It was January 29, 1989 we cruised on the Sky Princess. :):)

 

Thanks for the re-direct. Nice little read about the ship, unfortunately ending with her leaving for the breakers in Turkey on April 13. :(

 

Additional nice photos can be found here (including some interiors):

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ - search for FairSky or Sky Princess.