CharlieCruiser

I have been cruising since 1982. Here is a list of the ships I have cruised on and where they are today:

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Fascination - still cruising

Carnival Legend - still cruising

Carnival Spirit - still cruising

Carnival Triumph - still cruising

Carnival Paradise - still cruising

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Solstice - still cruising

Celebrity Summit - still cruising

Cunard Line

Queen Mary II - still cruising

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Wonder - still cruising

Dolphin Cruise Line

Dolphin IV - was sold to Cape Canaveral Cruise Line (Dolphin) and later scraped

OceanBreeze - merged into Premier Cruises, sold to Imperial Majesty Cruise Line and later scraped

SeaBreeze I - Sunk in the Atlantic Ocean

Epirotiki Lines

Hermes - last I saw, was still docked in bad shape in Piraeus, Greece

Odysseus - joined Royal Olympic Cruises and later scraped

Holland America Line

Amsterdam III - still cruising

Zuiderdam - still cruising

Imperial Majesty Cruise Line

Regal Empress - scraped

Majesty Cruise Line

Royal Majesty - sold to Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian Majesty), then Louis Cruises (Louis Majesty), now cruising for Thomson Cruises (Thomson Majesty)

MSC Cruises

MSC Divina - still cruising

Norwegian Cruise Line

Leeward - sold to Louis Cruises (Louis Cristal)

Norway - caught fire & scraped

Norwegian Breakaway - still cruising

Norwegian Dawn - still cruising

Norwegian Epic - still cruising

Norwegian Majesty sold to Louis Cruises (Louis Majesty), now cruising for Thomson Cruises (Thomson Majesty)

Norwegian Spirit - still cruising

Norwegian Sun - still cruising

Pride of Hawai'i - still cruising but now as the Norwegian Jade

Oceania Cruises

Marina - still cruising

Nautica - still cruising

Riviera - still cruising

Paquet French Cruises

Rhapsody - sold to Regency Cruises (Regent Star) and later scraped

Princess Cruises

Ocean Princess - transferred to P&O Cruises (Oceana)

Royal Caribbean International

Allure of the Seas - still cruising

Enchantment of the Seas - still cruising

Explorer of the Seas - still cruising

Radiance of the Seas - still cruising

Voyager of the Seas - still cruising

Silversea Cruises

Silver Whisper - still cruising

I look forward to adding more more ships and cruise lines to my cruising adventures.

Looking back, I would have to say I most enjoyed my time with Majesty Cruise Lines. Simply elegant.

I have to agree! Majesty Cruise Line was a unique product that offered elegance, fine cuisine, excellent service, and all at an exceptional value. It left too soon.

I read that you were the ex-safety officer aboard Paquet's Rhapsody. I work for the cruise line in the Miami offices from 1982 through 1985 and sailed on the Rhapsody a few times. Plus, I worked at the cruise terminal during the same time when the ship sailed from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. What is your name?

I used to work for Paquet French Cruises and later Dolphin Cruise Line so we may have known each other. My name is Carlos Ortega and I worked shoreside in the Reservations/Group department for Paquet and later was in charge of Reservations/Groups, etc. We may know many of the same people.

Hi There! I was an entertainer with Paquet Cruiselines and performed on the Rhapsody 1985 -1986. It was a Virgin Island cruise out of Port Everglades, FL. A great, fun time!

Hi I was always at the pier on Sundays for embarkation and met many of the ship's staff, including the entertainers. My name is Carlos Ortega. What is your's if you don't mind sharing it?

I loved the Rhapsody! She was a true beauty in her hey days.

As a matter of fact, I worked for Paquet French Cruises from 1982 through 1985 when the owners decided to close their US operations and later sell off the ships.

During the time I worked there we had the following ships: Rhapsody (ex-Stantendam), Mermoz (ex-Jean Mermoz), Dolphin IV (marketed as Paquet Ulysses Cruises) and the Azur. In the US office, we sold mostly the Rhapsody and Dolphin IV cruises. We also sold a small inventory of the Mermoz cruises. The Azur was marketed primarily to the French and European market.

We did have a ship that ran aground in Grand Cayman (right off the Seven Mile Beach area) for a total of 72 days. It was the Rhapsody and it occured during the Summer of 2004. I have a picture taken by a friend who was vacationing in Grand Cayman that shows the ship grounded right near the beach. I must say it was a stressful 72 days for all employees. Especially the day when we had to work 36 to 40 hours straight while we were bringing back the guests from the stranded ship.

What type of information would you like to know about Paquet French Cruises? Maybe I can help you out.

Keep cruising...it's the ONLY way to vacation!

Hi, I was a former employee (Constanna Shipping) and what a wonderful time I had as well. My stint with Dolphin started as a summer job during college and soon became a means to pay my weekends onboard the vessel. I'll never forget some of the greatest people like Capt. Avdelas, the port captain who was one of the nicest people to work for. Those were great days when Bulgarides owned and operated the ship. I have such great memories. I remember looking at the passenger manifest on a Friday morning. If there were cabins available, I would drive home during lunch to pack, and hop onboard for the weekend! I remember that funny hair drying room! They actually had a room to dry your hair since you couldn't do it in your cabin for lack of electrical plugs. And all you needed was a pink slip of paper to get back onboard.

 

I would volunteer to work the purser's office when the Chief Purser was short on staff just to get to Paradise Beach in Nassau and soak up the sun. Everyone was like family. Of course, I was 20 years old and carefree. I remember sailing with Capt. Ben Haas among other great captains. What a pistol that Captain Ben! He was so funny and great to be around. He was always happy! Always! I never felt like it was work and they spoiled me to no end onboard. Everyone from the Captain, the Engine staff, the Purser's office and the Port office were so friendly and fun. Sure the ship was packed with older people, but I didn't care! I had the beach and the pool deck to myself. It has been over twenty years since then, and although I'm not in the industry, my husband and I cruise once or twice a year, mainly on RCCL.

 

I have to admit, cruising is different, but still lots of fun. The Dolphin was a great little ship and I have great memories of her as well.

Hi! We must know each other as I worked with the Dolphin IV since it's Paquet/Constanna/Florida Nautica days. I'm Carlos Ortega and you have brought back may fond memories by mentioning all of our ex-colleagues.

I am sure the Chief Purser you used to replace was Maria Torreiro.

Tell me who you are. I am trying to get a reunion of ex-Dolphin employees together and would love to include you.

You can either reply to this message or send me an email to COrtega777 at aol dot com.

Hi Mic:

Glad to see your posting. I am also an ex-DCL/MCL employee. I worked shoreside as the Director of Passenger Traffic. I apologize for not remembering you, but I do remember Tom Dentino, Chris Cribbs and also your wife, Luz. I have been trying to find as many ex-DCL/MCL employees as possible as I am trying to gather another reunion this upcoming fall. I have planned two other reunions in the past five years.

My email address is COrtega777 at AOL dot com. If you would like to be included in any future reunions, please drop me a line at the provided email with your contact information and I will add you to the list.

It is always great to hear from others that had the opportunity to experience the "Dolphin Difference". I have fond memories that will last a long time.

Hope to hear from you soon!

One of the previous part owners of Dolphin Cruise Line, Capt. Paris Katsoufis, opened a company (KYMAS Shipping) that owns two ships (Topaz and Mona Lisa...soon to be the ScholarShip) and operates them for cruise lines that charter them. It is not the same as the Dolphin ships as basically their agreement is to do the marine operations and the cruise charters run the rest.

I hope this answers your question.

I see that several of the people on here used to work on the Dolphin IV. Does anyone know what became of Captain Kostas Galiatsatos? He and my family became friends but we lost touch with him. I read on a website that a captain with his name passed away at sea in 2004. If anyone knows, please post a reply.:confused:

Hi I am also a former Dolphin (& Majesty) Cruise Line employee and LOVED the wonderful time I spent there. I have many fond memories of the times I spent at the office and onboard our beautiful ships...Dolphin IV, SeaBreeze I, OceanBreeze and Royal Majesty. (We also had the IslandBreeze which I never had the pleasure to sail on). I actually was one of the employees that named the SeaBreeze.

Anyway to answer your question...I am sorry to report that Captain Galiatsatos did pass away back in 2004 while he was the Master (Captain) of the Topaz (owned by one of the previous owners of Dolphin). I heard he suffered a massive heart attack and died onboard. We were all saddened to hear his passing.

If anyone on this board is a past DCL/MCL employee, please let me know. I am still involved in the industry. I am now with Oceania Cruises in charge of the Reservations Department.

I LOVE CRUISING!!!