When did things change?

[Supplyman]

Remember Caesar salad at the table. Real flaming banana foster or cherry jubilee? Not now in the name of safety. What???

[SantaFeFan]

Old timers on this board will understand this, it's all Royals fault since the merger.

 

I would think that it would be the fault of Carnival Cruise Lines, which was established in 1972 to offer shorter, less expensive cruises. By reinventing cruising as a "discount store" type of cruise experience, the cruising world was forever changed to become a vacation for "everyman" instead of for just the well off.

[PoppyandNana]

On our first cruise on Carnival Festivale in 1978 they had TWO late night buffets each night...at midnight and 1:30am. And you could actually win on a regular basis in the casino:)

 

After the midnight buffet was eliminated some lines had waiters with horse ovaries circulating around the public spaces. That is gone as well.

 

I do remember fairly recently the Thursday night gala buffet extravaganza where everybody paraded around the carved watermelons and took pictures. Haven't seen this in quite some time.

[GUT2407]

I'm not sure about the changes.

 

But I would ask when did Cabins become staterooms.

 

My GG grandfather went to sea about 1820 as a Cabin Boy, Staterooms were originally only what we today call suites, For heads if State hence the name.

[fleckle]

Then there was "show time" at the end of dinner each evening when they used to bring out the desserts on a tray and describe them.

 

But I was in the minority who were glad when they stopped the practice of escorting all passengers to our cabins.

They would leave the doors to all the cabins propped open on embarkation day. I liked to take my time and walk along slowly, stopping to peer into the cabins along the way to see all the different types of accommodations.

 

Still miss the nice movie theaters in the M-class ships with tiered seating. They used to hold classes/presentations there too, and it was so much better and more comfortable than the new conference rooms.

 

Also miss the optional "sit down and be served" casual dinner section at the back of the buffet where they used to train the new waiters.

 

Edited August 12, 2015 by fleckle

[GUT2407]

Then there was "show time" at the end of dinner each evening when they used to bring out the desserts on a tray and describe them.

 

But I was in the minority who were glad when they stopped the practice of escorting all passengers to our cabins.

They would leave the doors to all the cabins propped open on embarkation day. I liked to take my time and walk along slowly, stopping to peer into into the cabins along the way to see all the different types of accommodations.

 

Still miss the nice move theaters in the M-class ships with tiered seating. They used to hold classes/presentations there too, and it was so much better and more comfortable than the new conference rooms.

 

Also miss the optional "sit down and be served" casual dinner section at the back of the buffet where they used to train the new waiters.

 

 

 

I thought it was special being escorted to my cabin.

[GUT2407]

Back in the days of sail the captain MAY have had a Stateroom.

 

It then became first class accommodation, so as I said perhaps a suite, anything else was at best a cabin.

 

However also please remember English is a "living language" and useage changes frequently.

[VK3DQ]

Hello Folks

 

Titanic did indeed have specialty .. nothing new in this concept

 

À la Carte restaurant and Café Parisien

Besides the first-class dining saloon, first-class passengers could dine in the elegant 140-seat À la Carte restaurant (nicknamed “The Ritz”) or the Café Parisien. These restaurants were next to each other on the Bridge (B) deck. Meals taken at these restaurants were not included in the price of a first-class ticket and had to be paid for out of pocket.

 

The Café Parisien served food from the same menu as the À la Carte. It offered diners large picture windows for viewing the ocean. Weather permitting, these windows could be rolled down so that passengers could dine in the open air.

 

Both restaurants were owned and managed as a private concession by Gaspare Antonio Pietro Gatti, better known as Luigi, an Italian immigrant to England and a well-regarded London restaurateur. Gatti had his own staff of chefs, waiters, and kitchen help whom he paid from his own pocket; they were not employees of the White Star Line. Most were Italian or French nationals. Gatti perished with the Titanic, as did all but three of his 66-member restaurant staff.

 

Regards

John

[GUT2407]

Hello Folks

 

Titanic did indeed have specialty .. nothing new in this concept

 

À la Carte restaurant and Café Parisien

Besides the first-class dining saloon, first-class passengers could dine in the elegant 140-seat À la Carte restaurant (nicknamed “The Ritz”) or the Café Parisien. These restaurants were next to each other on the Bridge (B) deck. Meals taken at these restaurants were not included in the price of a first-class ticket and had to be paid for out of pocket.

 

The Café Parisien served food from the same menu as the À la Carte. It offered diners large picture windows for viewing the ocean. Weather permitting, these windows could be rolled down so that passengers could dine in the open air.

 

Both restaurants were owned and managed as a private concession by Gaspare Antonio Pietro Gatti, better known as Luigi, an Italian immigrant to England and a well-regarded London restaurateur. Gatti had his own staff of chefs, waiters, and kitchen help whom he paid from his own pocket; they were not employees of the White Star Line. Most were Italian or French nationals. Gatti perished with the Titanic, as did all but three of his 66-member restaurant staff.

 

Regards

John

 

 

Prive concessions, now there's an old idea gaining new legs.

[perditax]

I'm never quite sure why the Titanic is held up as either a positive or negative example of anything. I know everyone loved the movie, but some perspective, please. It was over one hundred years ago. Are we sure a time when women weren't allowed to vote was really the "good old days"? And are we sure we want to melodramatically throw the term "steerage" around the way I see in so many threads when someone is offended that suites exist?

Edited August 12, 2015 by perditax

[VK3DQ]

Gulp! Showing my age. I still call Customer Relations the Pursers Desk! :o .. :D

 

In the early 50's, my grandmother use to "Book Passage for a Sailing". :)

 

LuLu

 

Hi Lulu

 

but I still recall the days when the purser was called the "Supercargo"

 

I think I must be getting very old ! :D

 

regards

John

[VK3DQ]

I'm never quite sure why the Titanic is held up as either a positive or negative example of anything. I know everyone loved the movie, but some perspective, please. It was over one hundred years ago. Are we sure a time when women weren't allowed to vote was really the "good old days"? And are we sure we want to melodramatically throw the term "steerage" around the way I see in so many threads when someone is offended that suites exist?

 

Hi Folks

 

The problem with the "Titanic" is that we have lost track of the truth of the matter over time, the BEST history / explanation must still be Walter Lords book " A Night to Remember"

 

No "Hollywood " make believe just the true story as told by the survivors.

 

Regards

John

[GUT2407]

I'm never quite sure why the Titanic is held up as either a positive or negative example of anything. I know everyone loved the movie, but some perspective, please. It was over one hundred years ago. Are we sure a time when women weren't allowed to vote was really the "good old days"? And are we sure we want to melodramatically throw the term "steerage" around the way I see in so many threads when someone is offended that suites exist?

 

Yep:p

[VK3DQ]

Hi Folks

 

And I remember when they were LINERS .... you remember Ships making regular LINE VOYAGES...

 

Liners.. !!!

 

 

Hmmm I must be the Ancient Mariner :p

 

regards

John

[DallasTXCruiser]

I'm over a half century old, but have only been cruising for ten years and I have no problem with the vernacular or the accommodations/amenities we are all so lucky to enjoy. Most of all air conditioning ;-)

[VK3DQ]

I'm over a half century old, but have only been cruising for ten years and I have no problem with the vernacular or the accommodations/amenities we are all so lucky to enjoy. Most of all air conditioning ;-)

 

 

Hi Folks

 

Ahh but we all loved the "Thermotank" system ... and of course the Punkah louvre

 

 

You can read all about this here https://archive.org/details/PunkahLouvreSystemHeatingAndVentilationForBuildingsShipsAndRailroads

 

regards

 

john

[artlovr]

The first time I was on a cruise ship was when I was VERY young. My parents sailed out of NY on the QE2 in 1969. Their room was very large and came with a bottle of champagne and an enormous fruit basket. The menus they brought home were hand painted and the pictures of the costume parties looked epic. The pictures of the islands showed completely empty, beautiful beaches with my mother holding a papaya she had picked off a tree.

BUT it was a once in a lifetime experience. I can cruise several times over for the amount they spent. We create our own islands of luxury and appreciate the experience as much as they did theirs. It's different, not worse.

[Pipo]

The worst term in the cruise industry ever!

 

 

"Boat..." That is what passengers (guests) use when the ship, cruise, ocean liner, is sinking.

[ChucktownSteve]

Gulp! Showing my age. I still call Customer Relations the Pursers Desk! :o .. :D

 

In the early 50's, my grandmother use to "Book Passage for a Sailing". :)

 

LuLu

 

And you thought Gopher was real? :D

[CanadianDee]

The first time I was on a cruise ship was when I was VERY young. My parents sailed out of NY on the QE2 in 1969. Their room was very large and came with a bottle of champagne and an enormous fruit basket. The menus they brought home were hand painted and the pictures of the costume parties looked epic. The pictures of the islands showed completely empty, beautiful beaches with my mother holding a papaya she had picked off a tree.

BUT it was a once in a lifetime experience. I can cruise several times over for the amount they spent. We create our own islands of luxury and appreciate the experience as much as they did theirs. It's different, not worse.

 

So true.

 

Our first cruise was 16 years ago and I recall a few of the things mentioned on this thread, but I'm very much enjoying the anecdotal cruise ship history lesson from those who can remember further back! :)

[ChucktownSteve]

I'm never quite sure why the Titanic is held up as either a positive or negative example of anything. I know everyone loved the movie, but some perspective, please. It was over one hundred years ago. Are we sure a time when women weren't allowed to vote was really the "good old days"? And are we sure we want to melodramatically throw the term "steerage" around the way I see in so many threads when someone is offended that suites exist?

 

YES. :rolleyes:

[monicajay]

My first cruise was Transatlantic in early August of 1960 departing from Montreal to Southampton. I learned to walk on the ship.......maybe this is why I love being on the ocean still to this day. According to the stories, I ate my weight in ice cream during the week. My parents routinely put me to bed in our cabin and tipped the steward to check on my occasionally. I was not the only child left alone in the cabin while the parents wined and dined.

 

When did things change?

 

 

 

.

[VK3DQ]

So true.

 

Our first cruise was 16 years ago and I recall a few of the things mentioned on this thread, but I'm very much enjoying the anecdotal cruise ship history lesson from those who can remember further back! :)

 

 

hello Folks

 

You may like to read "Tramps and Ladies"

https://archive.org/stream/trampsandladies006561mbp#page/n17/mode/2up

 

By Sir James Bisset who was a former commodore of the Cunard line and participated in the rescue of the Titanic passengers whilst serving on board the Carpathia

 

 

Some very nice detail in his book

 

regards

John

Edited August 13, 2015 by VK3DQ

[MizDemeanor]

There is no skeet shooter like an old skeet shooter....

 

And guess what, that's not about clay kilns and arts and crafts groups.

[CanadianDee]

hello Folks

 

You may like to read "Tramps and Ladies"

https://archive.org/stream/trampsandladies006561mbp#page/n17/mode/2up

 

By Sir James Bisset who was a former commodore of the Cunard line and participated in the rescue of the Titanic passengers whilst serving on board the Carpathia

 

 

Some very nice detail in his book

 

regards

John

 

Thanks for the recommendations, John. I'm also putting "A Night to Remember" on my must-read list.