Romy Formica and the Favolosi from Home Lines' S. S. Oceanic

Mr. Formica was the leader, played violin, of a music group called the Favolosi in the Italian Hall(forward lounge, I think I have the name of the lounge right) of the S. S. Oceanic of the Home Lines. They were Italian. Time was June of 1973. I bought a recording of theirs the last night before arrival in New York and often play it when I am in a nostalgic mood.

 

Anyone have any idea what has happened to them over the years?

We went on the Oceanic in 1975 and 1977. Can't remember the group, but one group played "Volare" EVERY NIGHT. Now, whenever I hear that song, I think of the Oceanic.

This may be the group! "Volare" was played/sung each time I heard them. And, if I remember correctly, every song sung was in Italian. I got the impression that their English was limited.

The Formica Band usually played in the Montmartre Lounge (late night night club) from 11pm-3am. One year they played in the forward lounge on Riviera Deck, the Italian Hall. That was one of the most beautiful lounges I've seen on any ship. The Formica Bank was fantastic, esp. their version of Na Na Na Na, Hey, Goodbye. The best, though, was the Donzelli Group with their hand hustle. There has never been a ship quite like the Oceanic with its family feeling and Italian spirit. The crew and staff were great. The ship really had a "soul" to it. While I still love cruising, nothing compares to the Oceanic and Home Lines. Remember the wonderful CD on the Oceanic, Everett E. Everett?

I sailed on the Oceanic 3 times in the sixties and seventies...It was the best of times...Though I have cruised many times since then, none of the ships since then have quite matched the "Oceanic".

Stevedan,

 

I have no idea of who the Cruise Director was when I sailed on Oceanic. For some reason the name Everett E. Everett does ring a bell, but it maybe because I have read something about that person somewhere.

The Italian Hall was beautiful......and the pizza in the nite club the best!

We went on the Oceanic in 1975 and 1977. Can't remember the group, but one group played "Volare" EVERY NIGHT. Now, whenever I hear that song, I think of the Oceanic.

Wow! Stumbled on this string today and can't believe there are others with the exact same memories. I also have "Volare" permanently linked to my July 1975 Oceanic cruise with my parents. I was 15 at the time and still remember that song vividly. They had an accordian, among other instruments. They used to play in the aft lounge - which had a lot of propeller vibration, I seem to recall.

 

Do you folks remember their other popular play, "Never Ending Love For You"?

The aft. lounge was the Europe Observation Lounge, and it did have a steady propeller vibration. It made you feel like you are truly on a ship, unlike the vessels of today.

I am an x crew member of the Oceanic as well of the Doric and the Atlantic.

I was a waiter for Home Lines from 1975 until 1982.

had a world of great time with all the passenger as well in any port of call.

Mr. Everett was the cruise director on the Oceanic at that time.:D

I have worked for Costa Cruise before and for Sitmar after but nothing was better than the Oceanic.

 

Piero:p :D :)

I think the "Zeilli" band or something very similar was in the Italian Hall, too. They played a lot of numbers that would get everyone on the floor whether you had a dance partner or not, line dance type things. We still use our collection of Limoges "thank you for sailing with us" plates, and I still have a little wallet they gave us. Does anyone remember sailing on the "Oceanic" WITHOUT a casino. I remember the first year we sailed on her after they added it (6 slot machines that were in what used to be the library or card room), I think.

Yes, I remember the Oceanic without a casino. It was first put in the small room to the aft of the Italian Hall where the photographer's shop was.

 

The Zeili Band played in the Italian Hall too. It had a good following but, in my opinion, were not as good as Donzelli. The Zeili Bank left Home Lines in 1973 and went to Holland America. One member of Zeili, Sergio, came back to Home Lines with his own bank for a few years.

Piero...

 

My husband also worked on the Oceanic and the Doric in 1979-1981. His name was Franco and he's from Asti. He was a waiter in the dining room. We met on the Doric in 1981 and got married a few years later.

 

Franco LOVED the Oceanic and although he worked on other cruise lines, including Cunard's QE2 the Oceanic was always his favorite.

I remembered them so much!! I always sang to my self a song that I know I got the wrong words to but it was something like.....OHhhhhh Oceanic ship , du te bella du te bella , la la la la la la la! LOL It was THE best ship ever and I have been on at least 20 cruises since then! I think maybe we were all younger then and more spirited!! I believe also that was one of the 1st ships to have a magradome over the pool area.

My husband sang me some of the words of the Oceanic Song, which he believes is from the Fabulosi band. It went something like this...

 

Oh, Oceanic ship, tu si bella, bella, bella

Oh, Oceanic ship, never, never, never will I forget

Good-bye, farewell, au revior

Good-bye, farewell, arrivederci

Oceanic, bye bye!

 

Does anyone else remember this song?

Somewhere in our basement we still have the album from the Fabulosi band. (33 1/3 record)

 

Yes that ship had character...

 

We went on that ship about 5 times. My husband still remembers the order of the decks on that lovely ship: Sun, Lido, Belvedere, Riviera, Continental, Restaurant, Atlantic, Oceanic. He remembers it from the acronym that he memorized over the years: SLBRCRAO

Cricket,

 

I don't remember that specific song, but I do remember them singing Arrivederci Roma (which is on the record I have). I wonder if the song you remember was sung on the ship to the tune of Arrivederci Roma.

 

I wonder if we have the same record? The number of the album is DRC-12072.

Piero were you the friend of Paride? I was a friend from Rhode Island, 1976.

I still have the dunhill lighter! Mic. :rolleyes:

I am an x crew member of the Oceanic as well of the Doric and the Atlantic.

I was a waiter for Home Lines from 1975 until 1982.

had a world of great time with all the passenger as well in any port of call.

Mr. Everett was the cruise director on the Oceanic at that time.:D

I have worked for Costa Cruise before and for Sitmar after but nothing was better than the Oceanic.

 

Piero:p :D :)

mic][/b]

 

Piero,

Were you the friend of Paride? He spoke to me about Piero,

the waiter. If you are the one Paride spoke about you should

remember me, blonde hair :) . I was a friend from Rhode Island,

1976. I still have the dunhill lighter!

Mic.

I think we sailed on Home lines 20 or so times and 15 on the "Oceanic". Does anyone remember Angelo Valikous (sp)? He was a cheif engineer or something. We became very close friends and our familes visited his in Greece and his here. He passed away maybe 12-15 years ago.

I started crusing on the Oceanic in 1975. Home lines cruises about 40 times.

I'm very sorry I really do not remember Angelo Valikous.

Mic.

I think we sailed on Home lines 20 or so times and 15 on the "Oceanic". Does anyone remember Angelo Valikous (sp)? He was a cheif engineer or something. We became very close friends and our familes visited his in Greece and his here. He passed away maybe 12-15 years ago.

I'm sure that is not how it is spelled. It is pronoucned more like "Val-i-ot-kuss." When Home Lines "closed shop", he was on the "Homeric". He was on the "Oceanic" from early 70-s (maybe earlier) to at least '83-'84.

1975-1976 I had the pleasure of knowing some very great guys,

Paride, Tony & Gabriel from the Donzelli Band. I often wonder

how they are? Mic from Rhode Island

Do you remember Peppe Marino? Michele

I am an x crew member of the Oceanic as well of the Doric and the Atlantic.

I was a waiter for Home Lines from 1975 until 1982.

had a world of great time with all the passenger as well in any port of call.

Mr. Everett was the cruise director on the Oceanic at that time.:D

I have worked for Costa Cruise before and for Sitmar after but nothing was better than the Oceanic.

 

Piero:p :D :)

Do You remember? Please respond. Michele

I, too, had been on the Oceanic about 20 times from the mid-1970's to the mid 1980's!! Boy do I miss them! Who could forget Everett Everrett with his mustache and natty plaid dinner jackets! He was such a nice man. And Donzelli wasa the best! They had the Italian Hall rocking one night doing Greek dances of all things! And I cannot help but remember every time I hear Al Di La or Mala Femmina played!! It was always so romantic! And the disco was always great fun up top! It was one of the most beautiful bars I remember anywhere! The Oceanic had such gorgeous artwork everywhere! Does anyone know where one of the ship's engineers, Romano Secci is today? We had a fantastic waiter on the Atlantic, too - Franco! He was so professional but such a sweet person, too! We're going to try an MSC Italian Cruise next April. I hear they're the closest to Home Lines.:) :)