ekerr19

This was hilarious. :)

Thanks so much for making my morning. :cool:

Hi Laura!!! Good to see you!!! I love this thread! Soooo many laughs!!!:D

Those were the days, weren't they??? Gosh I miss them!!!

My friends want to go on the Ladies Only cruise next April, I'll be emailing you - you may remember a few of them from the first Ladies Only - and I might let Katie go with them, so keep an eye on her for me, will you? We'll be on the Oosterdam for our Anniversary and my b-day....

I miss you!

HUGS!

This is always good for laughs! Thanks for thinking of it, Jim! :D

It reminds us all WHY we post here!

We have booked it three times and loved it. It is well worth the money in our opinion. :)

A quiet one. :cool:

Just kidding! We had some great ones over the years. Personally, I liked Jason Venner and we like Savannah Rye.

I apologize if this has already been discussed but there is so much good info in this thread I am having a difficult time keeping it all clear in my head! Has anyone been on this ship as Noordam AND Thompson Celebration? Does it still have the same style and luxury? Or maybe improvements were made? Just curious.

I always wanted to do this - I was on the Maiden U.S. voyage of Noordam III, and the final sailing in 2004... we know there were extensive renovations done to the ship by Thomson. They told us on the final voyage that Thomson planned to remove the Hornpipe Club and expand the casino and create a "kids area".

I wonder if she still has all the A/C & plumbing problems she became infamous for, lol. We loved her none the less. :)

On Facebook, there is a group of fans of old Noordam III - alot of crew, staff, officers who've posted great photos - and shared some stories... :eek:

I apologize if this has already been discussed but there is so much good info in this thread I am having a difficult time keeping it all clear in my head! Has anyone been on this ship as Noordam AND Thompson Celebration? Does it still have the same style and luxury? Or maybe improvements were made? Just curious.

I always wanted to do this - I was on the Maiden U.S. voyage of Noordam III, and the final sailing in 2004... we know there were extensive renovations done to the ship by Thomson. They told us on the final voyage that Thomson planned to remove the Hornpipe Club and expand the casino and create a "kids area".

I wonder if she still has all the A/C & plumbing problems she became infamous for, lol. We loved her none the less. :)

On Facebook, there is a group of fans of old Noordam III - alot of crew, staff, officers who've posted great photos - and shared some stories... :eek:

Did you see this?

 

 

s/s Flandre (1952-1994) Delivered as Flandre in 1952 to the French Line or Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (CGT). Originally designed for Caribbean service, she was modified during construction for services between le Havre and New York instead. In 1963, her hull was painted white and she switched to the West Indies service for which she was designed. Her last voyage was in January 1968 as she had been sold in 1967 to Costa Cruises who renamed her Carla C.

 

After a major rebuilt, she was handed over to Costa in November 1968 but was immediately chartered to Princess

Cruises. Marketed as Princess Carla and entering service from Los Angeles, her official name remained Carla C throughout this charter. The charter was cancelled in 1970 and she finally appeared in her Costa colors operating Caribbean cruises until 1974 when she developed engine problems. After repairs, she returned to Caribbean cruises. She received another major refit in 1984, but was sold Epirotiki Line (Greece) in 1992 and renamed Pallas Atherna. In 1994 a fire broke out onboard which caused her superstructure and funnel to cave in on themselves. She arrived at the Aliaga Company scrapyards in Turkey in December of that year and was broken up.

 

 

 

 

 

Oops, my bad!!! Thanks John! You rock. :)

Did you see this?

 

 

s/s Flandre (1952-1994) Delivered as Flandre in 1952 to the French Line or Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (CGT). Originally designed for Caribbean service, she was modified during construction for services between le Havre and New York instead. In 1963, her hull was painted white and she switched to the West Indies service for which she was designed. Her last voyage was in January 1968 as she had been sold in 1967 to Costa Cruises who renamed her Carla C.

 

After a major rebuilt, she was handed over to Costa in November 1968 but was immediately chartered to Princess

Cruises. Marketed as Princess Carla and entering service from Los Angeles, her official name remained Carla C throughout this charter. The charter was cancelled in 1970 and she finally appeared in her Costa colors operating Caribbean cruises until 1974 when she developed engine problems. After repairs, she returned to Caribbean cruises. She received another major refit in 1984, but was sold Epirotiki Line (Greece) in 1992 and renamed Pallas Atherna. In 1994 a fire broke out onboard which caused her superstructure and funnel to cave in on themselves. She arrived at the Aliaga Company scrapyards in Turkey in December of that year and was broken up.

 

 

 

 

 

Oops, my bad!!! Thanks John! You rock. :)

Ok, I found my own Princess Carla.... :confused:

Ok, I found my own Princess Carla.... :confused:

Hey John... you think you can pull a Princess Carla out of your hat? I think Princess chartered her in the 70's or something, but that was my Mom's favorite ship. That and the Cunard Countess (I think it was called the Countess)... they also did a couple Sitmar cruises, but I'm drawing a blank on names.

Thanks SO much for the amazing memories and fabulous photos.

Especially brings a tear to my eye to see my old favorite, Noordam III. :)

Hey John... you think you can pull a Princess Carla out of your hat? I think Princess chartered her in the 70's or something, but that was my Mom's favorite ship. That and the Cunard Countess (I think it was called the Countess)... they also did a couple Sitmar cruises, but I'm drawing a blank on names.

Thanks SO much for the amazing memories and fabulous photos.

Especially brings a tear to my eye to see my old favorite, Noordam III. :)

I have a few sets of menus too but I think the oldest one is from 1999. I hated the first cruise I took in 1984. Couldn't wait to get off. I wonder if it didn't have something to do with meeting my now ex husband a few months before and missing him terribly. Fast forward to 1999 and divorced :D I took my next cruise. I was hooked at the point and have never looked back.

Sorry to hear it wasn't good... I got hooked back then but never got the opportunity again until 1999. I finally talked my husband into going, and he loved it - he was resistant because he thought he'd be bored, lol...

I have a few sets of menus too but I think the oldest one is from 1999. I hated the first cruise I took in 1984. Couldn't wait to get off. I wonder if it didn't have something to do with meeting my now ex husband a few months before and missing him terribly. Fast forward to 1999 and divorced :D I took my next cruise. I was hooked at the point and have never looked back.

Sorry to hear it wasn't good... I got hooked back then but never got the opportunity again until 1999. I finally talked my husband into going, and he loved it - he was resistant because he thought he'd be bored, lol...

I'd love to see that brochure. That's great:) !

It's pretty 80's lol!!! I had it signed by many of the officers & staff on the final voyage of Noordam III in 2004. They couldn't believe I still had it after all those years... I still have the full menu set too. :)

I'd love to see that brochure. That's great:) !

It's pretty 80's lol!!! I had it signed by many of the officers & staff on the final voyage of Noordam III in 2004. They couldn't believe I still had it after all those years... I still have the full menu set too. :)

We had an interesting experience in Alaska.

 

We were on Sitmar's Fairsky in 1984 and the Nieuw Amsterdam was docked next to us. We discovered that if you showed your Fairsky cabin key, they let you board and visit Nieuw Amsterdam. So we went aboard and enjoyed walking around on her.

 

.....never would happen today...

Back in the 80's we were allowed to visit the ships... saw the Nieuw Amsterdam and visited the Noordam III in LA a copule times after I sailed her. We also got to socialize with crew & officers (hey, I was only 23!!!! and having a good time...) and got all kinds of behind the scenes tours and access to areas we never would be allowed to see today. :)

We had an interesting experience in Alaska.

 

We were on Sitmar's Fairsky in 1984 and the Nieuw Amsterdam was docked next to us. We discovered that if you showed your Fairsky cabin key, they let you board and visit Nieuw Amsterdam. So we went aboard and enjoyed walking around on her.

 

.....never would happen today...

Back in the 80's we were allowed to visit the ships... saw the Nieuw Amsterdam and visited the Noordam III in LA a copule times after I sailed her. We also got to socialize with crew & officers (hey, I was only 23!!!! and having a good time...) and got all kinds of behind the scenes tours and access to areas we never would be allowed to see today. :)

My first cruise was also on the Noordam in 1984. I think that was the inaugural year for that Noordam.

I was also on Noordam III in 1984!!!! That was my first cruise. I still have the brochure. It was touted as "maiden voyage" but it technically wasn't.

My first cruise was also on the Noordam in 1984. I think that was the inaugural year for that Noordam.

I was also on Noordam III in 1984!!!! That was my first cruise. I still have the brochure. It was touted as "maiden voyage" but it technically wasn't.

Thanks for your update on AYWD. Sounds like you made reservations for a later seating, did you have a chance to witness what the waits if any were like at earlier times like between 6:30 and 7:30? What comments do you observe from other AYWD participants on your cruise?:confused:

Terry -

We did not witness any wait times... though in all honesty, we weren't hanging out by the D/R entrance either.

We did not hear any negative comments about it and what we did hear was that those wishing earlier accomodations were seated promptly.

I was so afraid it was going to be a nightmare - in the end (last two cruises) it has been a non-issue for us. :)

I was so against the concept - initially. Then we ended up with it on the Noordam, and you know what? It wasn't bad at all.

We prefer to avoid the hassle of being on a wailist or anything else like that, so we normally just go with the flow and take what's available. The best option at this point is lower level 8:30pm. Even though it's pretty late (even for us) we've adapted to it and now quite enjoy it. :)

We've found the service is terrific because it's not so crowded and it doesn't get so hot in the D/R (a real plus for DH) and we can take our time... a nice plus when we have great tablemates like we did on the Oosterdam in March.

If we are assigned AYW in the future, well - that's okay too. :)

I sure as hell would not want to meet that couple who are suing for Gay and Lesbian Group - of course they are ignorant - that is discrimination of the worst...

Wow - I'm surprised by this... the couple seemed really grounded to me. I think the story itself alludes to much, (much) more happening on board than what was shown/revealed.

I probably wouldn't want to be on board with exhibitionists and cross dressers either, sorry - it has NOTHING to do with discrimination, just personal preference. It should have been disclosed to the other pax ahead of time, in my opinion.

Hi Laura!!! Good to see you too :) I'm around but just don't post as much LOL Guess I should huh LOL:D

Yes you should! We miss you! :)