It was my first (and strangest) cruise, back in November of 1978. The Princess was being touted by Cunard as "the newest cruise ship in the world". I sailed her out of Port Everglades to the E. Carib. When we arrived in our first port (San Juan), we learned that the ship was having an engine problem. We were delayed an extra day in Puerto Rico while repairs were made, and then we proceeded to St. Thomas. Our itinerary was then scheduled to take us to someplace in the Dominican Republic and, I believe, the Bahamas before returning to Florida.
As we left St. Thomas, however, we found out that the engine problem had returned. Instead of the D.R., we went to Tortola in the B.V.I. For those of you who have been there, try to imagine Tortola back in 1978.
It was a small town with a dirt road, and nothing much more. I suppose there were beaches somewhere on the island, but we never saw any of these as this was an "unscheduled stop". From Tortola, we were surprised to learn that we would now be visiting another port of call that wasn't on our itinerary ... St. Croix. We found it to be a nice place, similar in many regards to St. Thomas. No excursions were offered, but luckily I ran into a friend of mine who worked at the port there and he took me on an automobile tour of the island. Not bad.
Then we learned "the rest of the story", as the famed commentator would say. The ship was not returning to Port Everglades at that time. She was returning to San Juan for further engine repairs. As for the passengers ... we were to be flown back to Florida. Our cruise was over! Chartered American Airlines aircraft would fly us to Miami. Miami? Not Fort Lauderdale, but to Miami. They would then have those of us who had vehicles at Port Everglades bused to that location from Miami International Airport.
As we stood outside the Purser's office on the ship that last day, we spoke with an elderly gentleman who had driven to Port Everglades from Michigan in order to take this cruise. He had driven all that way because he was afraid to fly! And now he was being told that the only way he would get back to Florida was by air. The poor guy was devastated! But what could he do? I don't know if anybody else out there in CruiseCritics cyber-space was on that same voyage, but it was a cruise-to-remember, believe me.
And my first cruise at that. It was another 16 years before I ever stepped onto my second cruise ship.
Cunard Princess
in What Ever Happened To........???
Posted
It was my first (and strangest) cruise, back in November of 1978. The Princess was being touted by Cunard as "the newest cruise ship in the world". I sailed her out of Port Everglades to the E. Carib. When we arrived in our first port (San Juan), we learned that the ship was having an engine problem. We were delayed an extra day in Puerto Rico while repairs were made, and then we proceeded to St. Thomas. Our itinerary was then scheduled to take us to someplace in the Dominican Republic and, I believe, the Bahamas before returning to Florida.
As we left St. Thomas, however, we found out that the engine problem had returned. Instead of the D.R., we went to Tortola in the B.V.I. For those of you who have been there, try to imagine Tortola back in 1978.
It was a small town with a dirt road, and nothing much more. I suppose there were beaches somewhere on the island, but we never saw any of these as this was an "unscheduled stop". From Tortola, we were surprised to learn that we would now be visiting another port of call that wasn't on our itinerary ... St. Croix. We found it to be a nice place, similar in many regards to St. Thomas. No excursions were offered, but luckily I ran into a friend of mine who worked at the port there and he took me on an automobile tour of the island. Not bad.
Then we learned "the rest of the story", as the famed commentator would say. The ship was not returning to Port Everglades at that time. She was returning to San Juan for further engine repairs. As for the passengers ... we were to be flown back to Florida. Our cruise was over! Chartered American Airlines aircraft would fly us to Miami. Miami? Not Fort Lauderdale, but to Miami. They would then have those of us who had vehicles at Port Everglades bused to that location from Miami International Airport.
As we stood outside the Purser's office on the ship that last day, we spoke with an elderly gentleman who had driven to Port Everglades from Michigan in order to take this cruise. He had driven all that way because he was afraid to fly! And now he was being told that the only way he would get back to Florida was by air. The poor guy was devastated! But what could he do? I don't know if anybody else out there in CruiseCritics cyber-space was on that same voyage, but it was a cruise-to-remember, believe me.
And my first cruise at that. It was another 16 years before I ever stepped onto my second cruise ship.
Jack