Sitmar Cruise Lines/Florence & Howard Gellman

[Curt Jerome Wild]

I was just going through some old boxes, and look what I found!

 

I'm sure I've got more items somewhere...

[bar_20]

My Sitmar cruise was my second cruise, Carinval's Festivale was my first. I remember our waiters name was Patricio and our room stewart was Kim. Both the best I have had. I remember one midnight buffet they made pasta sauce using different kinds of liquor, vodka, scotch, rum, etc. I won the trivia contest on the ship and won a silver money clip with the ships, The Fairwind, logo on the clip. I found it today, and since I don't use clips, it looks as new as the day I received it. Still looking for a cruise line that could match them.

[tvaud]

I, too, am trying to find a cruise line today like Sitmar. It is so true that Sitmar spoiled us for any other line. One of these years I am going to try Silverseas because it looks like it may be close, from what I've read.

So many people who cruise today and have only sailed on the mega ships, have no clue as to how great it really was once. No one can beat the Italians for service...and fun.;)

[cruiselover57]

My first Sitmar cruise was on the Fairsea - 14 days over Xmas/New Year's 1974 - was anyone on that ship during that time? Sure was a great line. I was also on the Fairstar out of Australia back in 1977, 1979 and 1980. The ship wasn't advertised in the US - it didn't quite meet the standards of cruising here but I knew someone working on the ship and just had to see those places! May not have been the greatest ship but I sure had the best time on there! Didn't get much sleep either! What great memories - I sure miss that line and their home-made pizza!

 

Laurie

[luckycruzer]

need to catch up here!!!...oh, what nostalgia I'm amidst!..As For me..the same goes for top of the line in service, food, et al...Some up dates of Staff...while watching "Shout" on a CCL stage one night, I was reading the credits on the movie screen..and lo'and behold..Roger Blums name was..the entertainment director. WOW, 30 some years ago, He was Jr Purser on Fairwind!..we all know the saga of Sitmar..well...I had already cruised CCL 3/4 times in '06, and had become familiar with Steve Cassell/CD.....He worked in Cal, w/Sitmar for several years, and of course knew Roger. I made Rogers acquaintance, via his mother Ethel's Book..I had it with me and he autographed it for his mom to me, that was circa '76-7-8 .I Googled his name when I got home, and found him w/CCL , already for several years.I sent CCL an email (Uncle Bob, at the time) and asked it to be fwd to Roger..

More story..this May CCL cruise, New CEO, Gerry Cahill and an enterage would be on board til 1st port. As I am pals with port check in gals they swore me to secrecy..I obliged. One of my fave waiters told me "they were on board", and I said yes, I know Roger Blum for years..and he was in my line of sight. I refused to interrupt. However, I happened to catch him on the stairs, We chatted, and I reminded him of the "book signing".."my God, I remember that"..he laughed!..from then on , we kept running in to each other. on Capt night, we chatted once more, and I sat down, as he waved g'bye..2 minutes later , he came back, and invited me to join the rest of the staff. I did get to meet "Uncle Gerry" Cahill. They asked me many Q's re:cruising, and had a pleasant 45 minutes with all.

I have been on Sitmar size, many times, which were mega for the time, larger, and mega..but none hold the candle to the good old days of that Ship..Now with age, and wisdom, I choose the Holiday for my monthly FIX, as it is 98 miles from my home, and is in size, so like my TSS Fairwind.

And so it goes, how I happened upon this site in fall '06, on a quiet Sat. night, I was wondering about the old crumudgeon CD, Allen Kent..Googled the name, and CC came up..and RonFelders name , on a "what ever happend to.....and the rest is history..been hooked on this site since

Oh, and for anyone looking for cruiseship memorabilia. there is a site called Nautique..the items come n go..but I'm keeping my 13 Glasses etc!

So a hello to new posters, and a special Hello to Ron Felder..lucky

[luckycruzer]

Has anyone got any photos of the Fairstar circa 1974 or of Captain Rodolfo Potenzoni? ahh nostalgia!!

 

married a gal, later in his career.a pax, prob...Roger Blum says he still sees some of the old timers from Sitmar, and there is one man who still works at the office in Miami.

[luckycruzer]

I remember just sticking my head out the door and calling my cabin steward's name and he'd answer. They were always close by to attend you. That went out the porthole along with so many other wonderful parts of cruising.

 

I too have my Circolo booklet. I brought it with me when I sailed on the Crown Princess last October...and wore my Circolo pin at the Captain's Club party. So many people, mostly crew, came over to see it. They had heard so much about them and wanted to see the book especially for themselves. I got lots of positive feedback.

 

I love, and still use, many of the things I "lifted" off of my Sitmar ships over the years. They always make me smile.

 

Did anyone else "collect" any Sitmar items when you sailed? Still have the items? :D

 

and ashtray.ill-begotton, and 13 glasses,still in the gray felt cover, and silver box, with the band, crew(workmans) tee shirt, 2 velvet "Emilio Pucci" wallets, gifts from purser.drink stirrers.and my highly prized scarf from an officer also, only the staff wore them..they had the entwined rope logo, but was on board when the logo transitioned to the princess profile..and we wondered "what tha???..menues (changed daily..for free those days)somewhere in a box..ash tray, from Circolo, and the Passport Booklet with visitor stamps also.and several albums..if memory serves, sail-a-way drinks were free, with the confetti, and Radetskys March!...I did get to play the dinner chimes one night to call for 2nd seating! always dressed to the 9's, even 10's...ahh..those were the days my friend...lucky

[cruisebermuda]

I worked on Sitmar in the Teen and Youth Centers in 1985 and 1986. It was a wonderful cruise line with superb service. I mostly sailed out of San Pedro doing the Mexico route but did a few Alaska, Caribbean and Panama Canal Cruises, too. I would love to hear from any passengers or staffers about your memories. Has anyone ever run into any Sitmar staff on Princess or any other line?

 

My sister and I were in the teen program on the Fairsky to Alaska in 86...many fond memories! I saw a Sitmar youth counselor on a HGTV show called Smart Solutions doing a packing segment...I have to think of her name, but the second I saw her, I knew exactly who she was!

[compguy]

What a classic group of sailers above. My first cruise ever (I was all of 1 years old) was on Sitmar's Fairsea, to Alaska. I don't remember I thing but my folks (who retired from Travel industry) always spoke highly of it. I have since sailed w/ P&O twice, Costa twice, Delta, Pearl, NCL's Norway, Commador, Cunard's QE2, and HAL.

[roberto1966]

I worked on Sitmar in the Teen and Youth Centers in 1985 and 1986. It was a wonderful cruise line with superb service. I mostly sailed out of San Pedro doing the Mexico route but did a few Alaska, Caribbean and Panama Canal Cruises, too. I would love to hear from any passengers or staffers about your memories. Has anyone ever run into any Sitmar staff on Princess or any other line?

 

 

Hi lindaandjeff , My name is Roberto Camia and worked on fairwind and faiwsea during 85/86

On fairwind i was ass. cabinsteward on Orion Deck

and i was 19 at that time ...!!!

Life was hard...but thanks for that experice i learned alot and saved money which today i can thank for.

Well if somebody remember me, would be nice to speak with .

ciao a tutti

Roberto

[pmp223]

We sailed the Fairwind for our Honeymoon in 1979. We also met a wonderful couple from PA at the time that we kept in touch with for many years. What I do remember is that we were the youngest couple on that particular cruise (won the youngest couple award) as they had a Shriner convention on board with 600 Shriners, average age at the time was 50, we were 23 (where did the years go?). We had a small interior cabin as it was our first cruise and didn't really know much about cruising, but had an absolutely wonderful time ..... Have since cruised many lines. Just got off RCLL on Monday ... cruising has certainly changed over the years and I too miss the Chimes for dinner......:( :(

[tvaud]

Is there any cruise line out there today that is comparable to our beloved Sitmar?

[genoa]

1st cruise) tss Fairwind, October 1979, 14 day Caribbean. have several ashtrays, (clear & white ) and entire set of menu's. sailed with the Fairsea and Fairsky also. have set of six circolo glasses, in their boxes, the lapel pin, a crew t-shirt, key chain, and of course, the passenger list book. ( they don't do that anymore ) the night owl pin from the disco and lots of great memories. we too were some of the youngest onboard ( mid-twenties ). those were the days of SEA-LEGS, which pretty much disappeared with stabiliziers (Fairsky). I remember standing in a store on Barbados and hangin' on to the counter. I believe the cruising speed was daytime 3 knots and nights 10-12 knots.

the Italian crew was the best.

here's one for you new cruisers, you actually used cash onboard!!! the casino had three tables and the fitness room had one of those vibrating belts from the vic-tanny day's.

but the service and food set our standard of comparision forever, and haven't found it yet. close, but...

we've heard Crystal or maybe Silver Seas would be comprable today. but the Italians made it, and maybe COSTA would be the experience.

 

thanks for bringing this up.

[luckycruzer]

As I dont cruze in Jun/July..I needed a nostalgia fix!..What better way!...In Nov this year I shall become a CCL Milestones cruzer..all 25 on Holiday....as it is small, and quaint..it reminds me some..sigggghhhhh. I started back cruzing in Sept '06..then found this board...have made great M&G peeps on all of them..Now.. I have kind of assisted a poster in a rather personal quest...and there is a book coming...I'm off to spain and Portugal in 21 days. Teaching English, and a land-cation/tour of the north. Keep feeding our Sitmar addiction.

[Deloresgardella]

I remember Sitmar very well, my first and second cruises were on the Fairsea out of San Pedro. She use to come in to San Francisco during the summer and I would to go meet her just to see it. At those times you could go on board and have a drink with at friend or someone that was sailing. She use to make trips to Alaska in the summer. I have a set of menus, a scarf, a circolo cup and some key chains. I sailed in "82 and '83.

Delores

[FritzG]

There were several former Sitmar people on the Ruby in April when we took the TA. My waiter Francesco from the Fairwind in 1975 or 1976 was on the Ruby! I remembered his name, and as the cruise went on I remembered more about him. It was great to see him again. It was a great memory because I lost my best friend and cruise buddy to cancer several years ago. She, too, was a big Sitmar fan.

[toeknee]

:D Why on earth did I not think of looking up Sitmar on here before now. Those were heady days for cruising, the best of the best. My wife Dorothy and I sailed 6 cruises with Sitmar, two each on the Wind Sea and the Sky. We have all our glasses, our cabin key chain from our last cruise with them in 1987. Mark Iannazzo was a great cruise director and I was always impressed with the way he would greet us by name when we stepped aboard. We sailed with him twice on Princess too, then he left to open his own restaurant in California. We travelled with our two young daughters, Yvette and Jolene who were always spoiled rotten by everyone. I'm told that Mark is working as a C.D. once again, but I'm not absolutely sure about that.

 

I also remember Susan Woods she too was on the CD staff and we ran into her again as C.D. on a couple of HAL cruises 5 and 6 years ago. There was also a guy named Roger, we met him as an assistant to Mark and again as C.D. he was a Ronald McDonald in commercials prior to his life at sea.

 

 

 

 

There was also Jackie and Jamie McVicar, a lovely couple from the UK who were dance instructors, our daughter Jolene spent a summer holiday with them back in the 80's.

 

One of the Kids center staff who always seemed to be aboard when we sailed was Lucia, from SanFrancisco, she married one of the wait staff and left Sitmar in the 80's.

 

Wow this is bringing back such great memories, Do any of you ladies remember the drink named "Lampadina" I believe, the Italian officers used to enjoy plying the ladies with these up in the disco, I'm told that it made the ladies VERY friendly, well actually I know it did because my wife was often plied with them by these charmers, and I would reap the reward.

 

I'm sitting here looking at my Circolo del Comandante passport with all the stamps in it, we were able to provide Princess with this info, to become Elite Captains Circle members.

 

I shall go back to read all the previous posts, thank you all for the memories. Oh I just read back and saw Janet Edwards and Frank Castiglioni too, I'mm sure I'll come across a few more names too.

 

Ladies and gentlemen we wish you buon appetito.

 

Tony :D

[toeknee]

Hi, Pegasus47, If you talk to Mark, please remember us to him, we would really appreciate it.

 

Tony and Dorothy Llewellyn

Calgary Alberta

[Deloresgardella]

Roberto Camia Did you ever know Giovanni. I can't remember his last name, he was radio officer on the Fairsea in 82 when I sailed her. A Very nice man, that was my first cruise and he use to come and dance with us. He sent me post cards from all over.

[luckycruzer]

Lampadinas..yes yes yes....Roger...if it was Roger Blum, a cute skinny dark haired young man..(jewish) it could have been (Ethels boy) He is now a big muckety muck with Carnival.. I met up with him last year April on the Holiday. He was a Jr Purser, bar tender, etc, then..He is now a higher up, after quite a stint as entertainment director and producer of shows..I forget his newest title..you can Google him..there is a nice article. He signed his moms book for me..and he remembered that..we had several chats. There is also a former emp..who has been the hotel director for many of my past 8/10 cruzes..he always sends wine to me. Alot of them are still around ..scatter-ed (as a band use to pronounce, in "The Way We Were".) to the fourwinds of cruzing....yesss those were the daze.. I still have 13 rock glasses in the box and bag, with black band..and a Circolo ashtray from pg party, coin purses, scarves and pix.. ashtray, from Moby dicks, and assorted stuff...my heart still bleeds SITMAR

[toeknee]

:D Hi luckycruzer, We were so fortunate to experience Sitmar, and as someone already said, no one comes close to emulating them. I just had a peek into our drawer, and found 10 Sitmar highball glasses complete with ribbon and 6 Princess champaigne flutes, plus I still have my Sitmar tie.

 

those were the days my friend.

[Sadebud]

My very first cruise was in July 1973 (I was all of 6 years old), on the FairSea. 14 day RT San Fransico to Alaska. We, too, had an "outside" cabin...1 porthole, on the Monte Carlo deck! I remember my father opening the porthole...and the cabin steward, Mario, came running "no, no, no signore" "we canna not do that"! Rosa was his partner cabin stewardess. They took us to the bowels of the ship to show us the galleys, etc. I lost my first tooth...Rosa gave me extra chocolate. Our waiter (early seating) was Johnny. He took us to a soccer game in Sitka, I believe. My younger brother and I won 3rd place in the costume contest....we were King and Queen. Altho I don't remember the captain's name, my parents later sailed with him on a Renaissance Tahitian cruise...in 1999...they sat at his table one night for dinner. It was a fabulous trip!!!

 

Sailed the FairWind in 1978 for a Christmas Cruise to Southern Carribean, 14 days...Venezuela, Curacao, Aruba, and the Islands. Again, Monte Carlo deck. Was so cool...Santa arrived via lifeboat while we were at Sea! Remeber the tableside Ceasar salad preps...AND Steak Dianne prepared by the Maitre D'. Spent lots of time in the Kids room...Gladys was the leaders name. She was awesome! Also, had my first "onboard romance" on this trip. I was 11, so it was quite innocent (although I seem to remember a kiss on my cheek). Sadly, this was my last Sitmar cruise.

 

I have since sailed NCL, Princess, and Odyssey. None of them have compared. Will be my first X cruise (Equinox TA in November), and while I am looking forward to it, I doubt it will compare to the glorious days of Sitmar!

[Sadebud]

I forgot to add that I "rescued" several Circolo highball glasses from my Mother's garage sale many years ago. Still have them, although the writing is somewhat faded. Also have one of the little Alaska State flags toothpicks that they put on the butter, I think...or maybe it was on the Baked Alaska...

[Heikar]

My wife and I went on our first cruise in October 1983. We were the young folks on the cruise (late twenties) but loved every minute of it. We sailed with Sitmar and got spoiled. We were on the Fairwind (according to she who must be obeyed) and the interesting trivia is that it was late October 1983. We were out on deck looking around and couldn't figure out why we were surrounded by U.S. destroyers and battleships. The invasion of Grenada happened the next morning, fortunately that wasn't one of our stops. We are back to cruising with 3 more under our belts with Holland America and another booked next year with HAL as well. HAL is great, and even our teenaged boys enjoyed it but Sitmar was just a couple of rungs higher on the ladder.

A couple of posts early in the thread indicated you could transfer your previous cruise days with Sitmar over to Holland America and when I checked with HAL, they said no way.

Heikki

[toeknee]

A couple of posts early in the thread indicated you could transfer your previous cruise days with Sitmar over to Holland America and when I checked with HAL, they said no way.

Heikki

 

Hi Heikki, If it was my post referring to transferring Sitmar cruise days, I did say it was Princess, not HAL. They did it for me, and for anyone if you have your Circolo del Comandante passports with all the stamps in, or some other proof.

 

Tony:)