Saga Rose Greenland Voyager August 2007

[bcscot]

Does anyone have the itinerary for the cruise on which Ruby is currently on? I checked the Saga Cruises site, and that particular cruise seems to already have been removed from the list (or perhaps I didn't check too thoroughly).

 

Donald.

 

You are correct Donald, they seem to have removed it from their website already. I have it though, in the brochure:

 

Aug 6-Dover

Aug 8-Cobh

Aug 12-Qaqortoq, Greenland (try saying that one!)

Aug 14-cruise Disko Bay (can't imagine Ruby at the Disko!)

Aug 15- Nuuk, Greenland

Aug 16- Cape Farewell Passage

Aug 18- Reykjavik, Iceland

Aug 20- Torshavn, Faroe Islands

Aug 21-Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

Aug 23- Dover

 

Looks like Ruby gets to Greenland tomorrow. I hope she gets to see the Northern Lights.

 

Graham.

[Kapricorn]

Graham: My mistake - I was thinking of the Kungsholm of 1953-1965 (after which she was renamed Europa). The next Kungsholm was completed in March 1966 and had two funnels. However, the forward funnel was a dummy and used as a store room. The forward funnel must have been removed by P&O.

 

Donald.

[Kapricorn]

Thanks for the itinerary, Graham! I looked up Qaqortoq in Wikipedia:

Qaqortoq is a town in southwestern Greenland. With a population of 3,100, it is South Greenland's most populous town. The name is western Greenlandic and means "[the] white [one]". Qaqortoq is the seat of the Municipality of Qaqortoq which, apart from the town itself, includes three small settlements. Qaqortoq was founded by Norwegian trader Anders Olsen in 1775. Near Qaqortoq are the Hvalsey ruins, the most prominent Norse ruins in Greenland. It is also home to the only fountain in Greenland. A tourist attraction, the fountain depicts whales spouting water out of their blowholes.

 

 

Currently it is 49F/9C with light rain showers in Qaqortoq. No matter the weather, I'm sure that Ruby is enjoying everything, and I'm really looking forward to what she will tell us afterwards. She will certainly be gobsmacked to find out that this thread has proceeded several pages since she left!

 

 

Donald.

[bcscot]

Thank you Donald for that very professional, geographical & meteorological account of Qaqortoq. I could almost hear the perfect BBC English. I am still struggling to pronounce the name. My guess is 'KAKORTOK'.

I do hope however, that Ruby does not fulfil her wish to go cliff diving from an iceberg.

 

Graham.

[bcscot]

Yesterday we went down to Victoria (that is Victoria BC, Wayne, not your Victoria. We have a Sidney too, but different spelling. Our Canberra is called Ottawa though!) & during the evening we went down to the cruise ship dock to see who was in. It was Oosterdam & Star Princess.

Now the interesting thing about Victoria cruise ship dock is that the ships reverse in & you can stand really close up behind them. I was standing behind Oosterdam, just a few feet from her, behind a small barrier. I was just above the level of the screws, looking right up the stern of the ship, remembering when I stood up there on the promenade deck, watching the churning seas behind the propellers, just where I was standing now. It was a slightly unusual feeling & interesting to be so close to one of these monsters, while she slept.

Now, for modern cruise ships, the Vistas are not all that bad looking, infact when seen from a forward angle, they can be quite stylish. However, looking right up their 'backside' does not really do them much justice! I mused on the ugly nature of modern cruiseships' sterns. I understand that the reason is financial; a flat, ugly 'butt' is just a lot cheaper to make than the stylish sterns of yesteryear. It did make me appreciate the style of QM2, for a newish ship. All I can say though is, "thank goodness for bows"!

Now speaking of ugly, the Golden Princess is in a league of her own (bow or stern)! A 109,000 ton, behemoth indeed. 'Industrial', was the word that came to mind. The so called "spoiler" at the stern, was described by Douglas Ward as "not handsome". On this occasion Ross, I do not think that he went nearly far enough! I kept expecting them to launch a 'midget submarine' to search for 'Titanic'. Well, at least they would have had a good view of Victoria up there in 'Disko Bay'!

I could but long for the beauty, grace & style of the Saga Sisters & the 'ships of yore'.

 

Graham.

[dougnewmanatsea]

I know the old STOCKHOLM is still sailing but will probably not make the SOLAS cut this time.

She will be perfectly fine with SOLAS. There is nothing at all left of the original ship except the hull; she was completely rebuilt in 1994 and as SOLAS has a "major conversion" clause, she is already required to comply with all the regulations for a ship built in 1994.

 

Does anyone know what happened to the Polish line. They were still doing regular crossings in the mid-1980s because JM-G mentions the fact in the above mentioned book.

Unfortunately the STEFAN BATORY, the ship used by Polish Ocean Lines at that time, was very elderly and, basically, worn-out, in addition to not meeting new safety regulations that came about at the time.

 

Sadly POL did not have the money to build or acquire a new vessel. I believe they wanted to buy the MARDI GRAS, ex EMPRESS OF CANADA from Carnival but of course that never came to be. Very sad as I am sure she would have made a great new ship for them and considering that she remained in service to 2004, should have taken POL into the 21st Century.

 

Everyone I know who sailed with POL absolutely loved it so it is a terrible shame that the company's Atlantic service did not survive (the company itself still exists).

[marconi]

Michael: Is this a list of ships or 'single malts'?!!

 

 

Wayne: Thank you for the info. You certainly made some historical trips on historical ships. The TSS Earnslaw is an almost 100 year old, lake steamer on Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand. She is a little gem & hopefully will be unaffected by SOLAS. See page 14 of this thread for a further discussion & pictures. Which are your favourite ships still sailing?

 

Frank: Great story. Thank you for sharing it with us. Do not be put off by the fact that English is your second language, it is mine too (Scots is my first) & I am also learning to type as I go! We are becoming quite the international band here now, which is great. You certainly add a bit of international flare: an Italian Australian based in Rochester, NY!

Any favourite ships still sailing?

 

Ross: Looking on the bright side, you used to have to pay a lot more to go on a cruise. Now they keep the price down to get you on, expecting you to spend lots when onboard. The 'savvy' Scot will find the best price to get onboard & then spend as little as possible once there! This allows us to take more cruises than otherwise. I suppose it depends what is more important to you. Some people regard this as 'cheap', I call it 'canny'! If the full service onboard is what makes the cruise for you, then go for it. I personally would prefer to watch my pennies on two cruises rather than splash out on one. Much as I like my single malts, rather than spend $12 for a small measure of Macallan (or should that be Strathallan Michael?!) on the ship, I would prefer to get a litre of it in the duty free for $45 & enjoy it at leisure at home.

My point is that given that most of us have finite resources, this way of doing things increases the choice that we have in prioritising how we use those resources, depending on our preferences & situation. I suppose that I make the current situation work for me. I think that the closest thing to the 'old days', would be the luxury cruises of today, which I would be on if I could afford it! That poses another interesting question; would there be any reasons not to sail on luxury cruise ships if you could afford it?

OK, so how about your favourite ships currently in service, Ross?

 

Graham.

 

Sorry graham,I now live in perth western australia just didnt change my login from a year or so ago.Just like to let you know that on a trip to italy our ship the marconi while transitting the suez canal with a pilot on board veered to starboard and it hit the bottom of the shallow side it veered to and was damaged under (hull plate i think)so we were in ''port said'' for 14 hours i recall while temporary repairs were done.The company compensated us $40 us dollars which was great at the time.On arrival to italy the damage was repaired in dry dock and the ship departed one week later than scheduled.I remembered this because we were playing table tennis at the time and the ship actually hove to and the captain made announcements tellig us what had happened and to stay calm because everything was under control.All the passengers moved to the starboard side to see what had happened and i thought to myself(laughing now)its going to tip over!!What great times adventue on the seas and onboard.Thanks, another story when i remember.

Regards Frank.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

OOPPPPSSS!!! SORRY...The KUNGSHOLM was from 1966. When I quote ship facts and figures I do it off the top of my head so you will have to excuse the inaccuracy...a sign of age...(I used to be like Host Doug...at the ready with the facts and figures...LOL.)

 

SAL continued:

The Swedish ships were really beautiful and cozy-comfortable. As I have said...the cabins were built for long cruises...lots of closet space...and wonderful wood. Most of the bathrooms had full size tubs. The main dining rooms were really cozy...with banquets on the sides that faced out so You could sit and look at the other diners and the waiters could serve you face to face. One of the rooms I loved on the ex GRIPSHOLM was the Winter Garden...a big room running the entire width of the ship...just under the Bridge and looking out over the bow. This room was stunning...all green with tropical plants everywhere and decorated to perfection. What a pleasure to just sit and watch the sea or take afternoon tea...which was always formal...white gloves on the steards and proper dress required...even under Regency management. Another of my favorite rooms had been the First Class Library. It was built in blond oak and had wonderful sofas and chairs. Regency had a large screen TV placed there and played a lot of great movies...including a lot of classics. It was just like being in a friend's living room...it was so comfortable I often found people sleeping in chairs as they had fallen asleep while reading. Comfortable and cozy is the best way I can describe it...LOL. I also loved the wonderful Promenade Deck...with the movable wood and glass doors that could be adjusted for all climates. The GRIPSHOLM and KUNGSHOLM were wonderful ships and they were built to make sea travel a delight. We will never see that level of comfort on any of the new liners.

 

I HAVE HEARD FROM RUBY!!!

I actually received a post card from RUBY yesterday. She loves the SAGA ROSE and is having a fine time for herself. She tells me that they had a lecturer onboard who lectured on the TITANIC...and he was very good. It sounds like she will be devoted to SAGA forever...LOL!!!

 

ROSS

[bcscot]

It has been so long since you have been to join us Doug., that I was starting to get worried about you. I missed your intermittent appearances out of the 'ether' to inform & educate us. Why don't you try to get a 'guest lecturer' position with Saga Cruises, then you can come & lecture to us & be able to experience the ships without having to wait until you are 50?! (Or do they have an age limit on that too?) Welcome back.

 

Frank: I wonder what happened to make the Marconi hit the bottom, or was it a foreign object? When I was sailing up the Orinocho River, the navigable channel was very narrow & it was easy to go aground, but I imagine a canal to be fairly uniform. Was that before or after the canal was littered with the detritus of war?

 

Ross: Your accounts of sailing on the old ships helps to evoke a mental picture & sense of the atmosphere of what it must have been like to be on these historical old vessels. Please explain the movable wood & glass doors on the promenade deck.

Oh, for the beautiful old wood panelling & formal afternoon tea in the Winter Garden. One of the nice things about the Prinsendam is the lovely wood panelling. HAL also have maintained the tradition of the teak promenade deck. What they do not do well, is afternoon tea; it is terrible. I look forward to trying it on Cunard & Saga.

These old ships were heated but I wonder when air conditioning became standard? You hear stories of 'port out, starboard home' to avoid the sunshine & heat. I imagine that sailing on the 'ships of yore' was not always a pleasant experience if you were in a tropical climate with no air conditioning! Maybe that is why the Atlantic route was so fondly remembered.

That is great that you received a postcard from Ruby. I imagine that it must have been posted in Ireland. She will be in Greenland today, in the cold & the rain. Come to think of it the weather here is not very summerlike either!

 

Graham.

[dougnewmanatsea]

She tells me that they had a lecturer onboard who lectured on the TITANIC...

Really? I didn't know they had guest lecturers on the TITANIC! And to think, at this age, he is still lecturing, too! Even for Saga he must be old if he was old enough to give lectures in 1912...

 

(Sorry, couldn't resist ;) !)

 

It has been so long since you have been to join us Doug., that I was starting to get worried about you. I missed your intermittent appearances out of the 'ether' to inform & educate us.

Well I'm certainly glad to know I've been missed! I had been meaning to respond to this thread a while ago but didn't have the time...

 

Why don't you try to get a 'guest lecturer' position with Saga Cruises, then you can come & lecture to us & be able to experience the ships without having to wait until you are 50?!

Well, I've never given a lecture, ever - though I have been told that it is something I should try.

 

Lecturing on Saga could be fun but I wonder if they prefer lecturers who are more the passengers' own age?

[Druke I]

Reference air conditioning throughout the ship - it didn't become standard until about 1948. Prior to that, some public areas (lounges/dining rooms/etc) had air, but not throughout the ship.

 

I do remember P&O and Orient Lines both making "big deals" about their post WW2 newbuilds having air conditioning throughout the ships, when they actively started selling cruises (line voyages primarily) to the North American market.

 

Air conditioning did for the most part come before one class ships with en suite facilities for all. The 1st time I sailed on Oriana (1964), she was still very much a two class ship, and had those unique "convertible cabins".

 

Canberra also was a two class ship, and I think she also had convertible cabins.

[bcscot]

Really? I didn't know they had guest lecturers on the TITANIC! And to think, at this age, he is still lecturing, too! Even for Saga he must be old if he was old enough to give lectures in 1912...

 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!:) :) :) :) :) !!!!

[bcscot]

...........during the evening we went down to the cruise ship dock to see who was in. It was Oosterdam & Star Princess.

Graham.

 

Meant to say 'Golden Princess', (sister ship- both ugly). There is a lot of 'oops' going on here lately!

 

Michael: Thank you for the AC info. It must have been hot & stuffy in those cabins sometimes.

 

Doug: All the crew & staff on Saga cannot be over 50! Get some experience under your belt & who knows!

 

Graham.

[Kapricorn]

Ross, I'm very pleased to hear that Ruby is enjoying herself on the Saga Rose. I have no doubt that this cruise will be among the highlights of her seafaring experience.

 

I don't like the designs of the new Princess megaships. There doesn't seem to be open decks anywhere at the forward of their superstructures from where passengers can observe the scenery. They must peer through the large windows of one of the lounges. This design appears to be deliberate, in forcing passengers inside to spend, spend and spend. Also, the sterns are increasingly given over to balconied cabins. This leaves passengers with midships topdeck as the only open-air space. Give me Topaz or Saga Rose anytime!

 

Donald.

[bcscot]

I have been risking life & limb over on the Cunard board, getting information for our proposed visit to the Queen Mary later this year. Actually they were very nice this time & very helpful. Talking about the Queen Mary brought some stories to mind; not that I ever sailed on her. All my classic ship stories are second hand, but may be interesting, none the less.

When I worked on the Ocean Islander in 1986, I met a man who was the leader of a party of tourists that came on for one of the cruises. Now this fellow had once been a purser on the Queen Mary, quite a number of years before, & had some interesting stories to tell. One of his most abiding memories of the old Queen was of a particularly rough North Atlantic crossing one winter's night, when the grand piano broke free from it's moorings & started careering wildly back & forth across the room with the movement of the ship, causing destruction as it went & threatening serious injury to anyone foolish enough to cross it's path. This apparently went on for quite a long time before the rampant musical instrument was finally pacified & secured by a large group of crew members.

Many years later this chap visited the Queen Mary in Long Beach. He was sitting having his lunch in the Promenade Cafe, when he observed that the cafe had been extended to include part of the deck previously uncovered. He recognised that the deck area close to where he was sitting was where they used to perform their burials at sea & consign the mortal remains to the deep. When the waiter, who was just a teenage boy, came to take the order, he was informed of the former use of the adjacent area of deck & how the story teller had stood through many a funeral service right there. The boy however remained decidedly unimpressed!

Another person on the Ocean Islander with memories of the Queen Mary, was an old lady whose husband had been a surgeon onboard the ship & had removed several appendices during North Atlantic crossings.

It is wonderful to meet people who have done interesting things in life & to hear their stories.

 

Graham.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Really? I didn't know they had guest lecturers on the TITANIC! And to think, at this age, he is still lecturing, too! Even for Saga he must be old if he was old enough to give lectures in 1912...

 

(Sorry, couldn't resist ;) !)

 

DOUGLAS..."Onboard"...SAGA ROSE (understood)..."Lectured on"...the subject of (understood) LOL. I suppose it is possible to literally lecture "on the Titanic"...but you would need a deep water submersible to do it!!! LOL!!!

[Druke I]

Your tale of the grand piano breaking loose on Queen Mary reminds me of our San Francisco/Los Angeles/Honolulu trip on the late great Constitution, 12-84.

 

It was a fairly rough (and very interesting) trip. Several nights they had to put the lips up on the tables in the dining room, and wet down the tablecloths, in a futile attempt to keep the dinner plates on the table.

 

One night the grand piano snapped the guy wires, rolled off the stage, across the room, and through the Casino doors, shattering them and scattering slot machines.

 

One night there was a "man overboard" call, they turned the ship and commenced searching while conducting a headcount. All were accounted for; official reason (as reported to passengers) was that a well meaning person, identity not disclosed, had made the "man overboard" report when he observed debris in the water. They had been dumping garbage and old mattresses just prior to the report (at sea dumping was still fairly common then).

 

While still 24hrs steaming time from Honolulu, there was a medical evacuation in the early AM. Two helicopters (one USAF and one USMC) and an Air Force C-123 tanker were circling the ship. First chopper was unable to get down on deck, as the ship was bouncing too much. 2nd chopper lowered paramedic and a stokes litter to deck, sick passenger was secured in the litter and hoisted to chopper. While hoisting paramedic, ship took bad bounce, he hit railings, and stunned him. They got him aboard chopper. They all left, ship's band playing martial music the whole time! We were later notified that patient arrived in Honolulu and had emergency surgery and was doing well.

 

Oh - and first night they caught a stowaway, and took him off in handcuffs in Los Angeles. Truth be known, he probably was a drunk who did not get off the ship in San Francisco after a bon voyage party, which was still common in those days before the Achille Lauro affair and 9-11 put an end to such events.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

HI GANG!!! HI GRAHAM!!!

 

I will have to look at a deck plan to see exactly how the movable doors worked. I do know they were good in any kind of weather...they would be closed in the cold and opened in the tropics.

 

YES...air conditioning was a big deal. I can remember my 1965 crossing on the original QUEEN ELIZABETH. Our drum and bugle corps went down to NY on a bus the night before and it was a very warm July night in NY City. We went aboard the QE around 11:00 PM and it was warm inside the ship...and all the outside doors were opened and you could feel the air moving thru the ship. We slept onboard that night and when we got to our cabins...deep down on D Deck, the first thing we noticed was the giant air nozzle pumping cool fresh air into the cabin...and the cabin fan was blowing it around. Some of us were hot and took showers...did not help much as all the water was warm. The next morning we went to the First Class Dining Room for breakfast and we noticed all the side doors opened on the side of the ship. By the time we sailed at 11:00 we noticed how hot things were getting...but the moment we sailed out into NY Harbor things started to cool down. By the time we had cleared the Verezano Bridge everything was comfortable. All we needed in the cabins was that fresh air and we were very cool as you could adjust the nozzle to suit yourself. I loved the inside cabin as I could sleep without interruption. Everything was clean and crisp as the linens were changed everyday. Our steward was a former Royal Marine and he kept everything as sharp as possible. We had a 1/2 bath and the shower and tubs were just across the passageway. We were using the indoor pool everyday so we showered there most days. I don't think it even crossed my mind that we did not have a full bath "en suite"...LOL...at the age of 16, I was just happy to be there...LOL. We really came to love those inside cabins down on D deck...and our steward. Since we were a drum corps we had to go to breakfast at 8:00 each morning and then report for rehearsal at 9:00 AM. Our steward would take one of the brass fire nozzles and blow the British equivalent of Reveille at 7:00 AM...LOL. There was an older gentleman who ran the elevator...we named him Boris...he looked just like Boris Karloff. He was wonderful...he would wait for us and make sure there were no stragglers before he closed the doors...neat and orderly and never a problem. We all got together and gave him a great tip at the end of the voyage and he was just "bowled over" with our generosity and good cheer towards him. Great memories!!!

 

ROSS

[bcscot]

Great stories. That is quite an image Michael, the piano smashing through into the casino. Someone must have thought that they had won a mighty big jackpot!

I too remember them dumping at sea from the Ocean Islander in 1986. Very common in those days I imagine.

Those are fantastic memories to have of the old QE, Ross.

 

Inspired by our discussions, last night I got out that old recorded series of the 'Liners' & watched an episode. It was the episode covering the QM & the Normandie. It was great. I watched old film of the launch of the QM, her maiden voyage & that of the Normandie, including her maiden arrival in New York. They also showed the tragic & unnecessary loss of the Normandie, with film of the great ship lying on her side in New York harbour.

The series was advised by, & included, eight maritime historians from the US, Britain & Germany, including John Maxtone- Graham & another chap from New York, I think his name was Frank Miller.

They talked about the QM carrying 8,000 US troops from Boston to Sydney, Australia, & how the two Queens carried one & a quarter million men during the war, Churchill considering that these two ships alone, reduced the length of the war by two years.

Talking about air conditioning, one crew member on the Aquitania said that when she was sailing as a troop ship in the Far East, it was impossible to sleep in the ship due to the heat & anyone that could, always slept on deck.

 

I hope that Conte gets his computer problems fixed soon so he can rejoin us with his stories & input.

 

Graham.

[Druke I]

I think you are referring to Bill Miller, of the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society. He often lectures on ships, and is author of many books on liners, etc. He is interesting and quite knowledgeable, although I prefer Maxtone-Graham's presentation.

[bcscot]

I think you are referring to Bill Miller, of the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society. He often lectures on ships, and is author of many books on liners, etc. He is interesting and quite knowledgeable, although I prefer Maxtone-Graham's presentation.

 

That will be him right enough. I am pretty bad when it comes to names, I am afraid.

I thought that he looked a bit like Michael Douglas (not married to Catherine Zeta-Jones though)!

 

Thank you Mitchell....eh eh...Michael, sorry!!!:)

 

Graham.

[bcscot]

Doug: I've mailed my subscription to The Ocean Liner Society and am looking forward to your article about the Victoria in their publication! You didn't answer my question as to why you chose that ship to write about. When I sailed on her in 1972, I had no idea that whe was a pre-eminent cruise liner.

 

Donald.

 

Donald or Doug: Were you talking about the Chandris Victoria, ex-Dunnottar Castle, last of the Union Castle Line, 1930s ship only recently scrapped? If so, I had my eye on that ship as a classic to be experienced sometime but alas I never came anywhere close.

The original Dunnottar Castle (castle not ship) is in the North East of Scotland, the area from whence I come. It is a fascinating old ruin, sticking out into the sea.

 

 

Speaking of classic ships, has anyone experienced the Regal Empress? I saw her in Fort Lauderdale & thought that she had beautiful classic lines. I would have liked to have gone on her but have not had the chance & am not too keen to have to endure the 'party ship' scene inorder so to do. A nice looking ship though, & another classic whose days are numbered.

 

I noticed someone on one of the other boards had been on the 'Britanis', previously the 'Monterey', which I believe to have been a stalwart of Pacific travel. Does anyone have any experience of this ship?

 

Donald, you said that one of the ships you would have liked to try was the 'pre- iceberg Titanic'. Is there any reason that you would have chosen the Titanic over the Olympic? Apart from a cruise on the Titanic being a very short one, I would have thought that any differences between them would have been minor. Certainly the Olympic was around for a lot longer. I wonder if sailing on her in the 1920s would have been very different to the pre-WWI period.

Did you notice that there was a nice picture of the Mercury on the CC home page? That must bring back a few very recent memories.

 

Ross: I read last night that they have just finished filming a new version of Brideshead Revisited, also filmed at Castle Howard. JM-G in 'Liners to the Sun', says that they made a historical gaffe in the original by showing the first class outdoor swimming pool on the QE2. He says the only 30s liner to have one was the Normandie. As a film maker, you just can't win!

 

Graham.

[Kapricorn]

Graham: Yes, the Victoria which we were talking about was the Dunottar Castle.

 

I've noticed the photograph of the Mercury on the CC home page. Indeed, it brought back recent memories.

 

There were only minor differences in external appearance between the Titanic and the Olympic. While the Olympic had two First Class promenade decks (on Decks A & B), the Titanic's on Deck B was filled in with staterooms. A question: there were lots of chamber pots in the wreckage field of the Titanic. Would chamber pots have continued to be used on the Olympic during the 1920s and 1930s?

 

Donald.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

HI GRAHAM!!!

HOW COULD THEY??? How could they improve upon Brideshead??? It was perfect the way it was. Let's hope they are just mastering the old one...LOL.

 

HI DONALD!!!

I doubt you would have found a lot of chamber pots on the OLYMPIC in the 20's and 30's. I think a lot of those pots came from the steerage section of TITANIC. The steerage had been torn out of the OLYMPIC after WW I. The Immigration Act of 1922 also changed everything. The Steerage had changed to 3rd Class...with running water and associated facilities.

 

THE VICTORIA:

I went down to the docks to see her when she would visit Boston in the 1970's. Her 1950's conversion by Incres Line had transformed her into a beautiful cruise ship with a big pool deck that swept back and made her look glamorous. Everyone I knew who sailed on her fell in love with her. Again...the Italian service made her famous. I have many menus, programs, deckplans etc. from the VICTORIA. She was very special and everything a cruise ship was supposed to be.

 

ROSS

[Kapricorn]

Ross: Ah, so the chamber pots were from the steerage quarters! Thanks for the explanation. I've noticed on deck plans of some of the early 20th Century liners that there were not many bathroom facilities for 2,000 steerage passengers. They had to ascend several decks to facilities in the bow or stern. Chamber pots would take care of emergencies.

 

I fondly recall the Italian service on the Victoria. Speaking of it, I remember that among the staff at the pool area was a quite handsome blond with blue eyes. Thinking that he might be Scandinavian, I asked him where he is from. "Italy," he replied. "No!" I exclaimed. He explained that he came from the north of Italy, at the foot of the Alps.

 

Donald.