RanchoDeluxe

We sailed in November on the NCL Star for a 7-day. Everyday in the schedule (whatever they called it) were both Friends of Dorothy/GLBT and Friends of Bill W meetings. I had to explain to my 80 year old, traditional, southern mother named Dorothy what these were. Damn my DH thought that was funny. Whilst she is not religious, mom and I have some heated conversations about gay marriage. Different generations, that's for sure. (She had heard of AA.)

Anyhow, I wanted to point out that other cruise lines are also routinely organizing get togethers for GLBT cruisers, just like they do singles mixers.

And the question. I understand from the earlier comment that Dorothy refers to the Wizard of Oz Dorothy, but when did she become associated with homosexuality? Dorothy wasn't gay. Is she a popular drag persona? Was Judy Garland gay? My Mom and I are both curious.

And Oh dear lord, if I have used non PC language please forgive me. No flaming me. I'm just not up on the lingo. My mom is 80 and I'm no spring chicken.

1987 my first cruise on the StarShip Royale. August travel to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral. I do not htink they were linked with Disney yet. Tho several of us did work at The Mouse.

I would love to find a picture equivalent to our first cruise cabin – complete

with four bunk beds and one porthole. Two couples in their first years of marriage – what a hoot that cruise was!

I found this link with a Premiere Cruise Line History http://www.sealetter.com/Jan-01/prem.html and this link with ship pictures! http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PremierPCs.html#anchor79065 but no bunk bed cabin pictures.

I had actually forgotten the name of the cruise ship on which I took my second cruise.....poring through this thread "Whatever Happened To", it hit me. I also cruised on the Britanis in 1993, my husband's and my first cruise together, to Key West, Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel. At the time we booked it, our travel agent told us that it was the oldest cruise liner in service. She was old, but very well taken care of. It was the tiniest cabin ever - we had either a double or a queen sized bed, an inside cabin, and the bed took up most of the room! We were one of the lucky ones, our bathroom actually had been converted electrically so that I could blow dry my hair in it. Others on our deck had to go to a "group" room with the correct outlets. I remember having to iron my clothes there too.......! We had a wonderful time, the food was GREAT, the service great. It was my husband's first cruise - he was hooked! I wondered what happened to the ship. I also think it is fitting that she sank. Better that than taken apart and sold for scrap. :o

 

Groovymom

The Brittanis was also my first cruise and have been hooked ever since. We got the cheapest room we could get and ended up with no shower in our room.Ahhhhh......We had to use the shower room. It was fun times and great memories.

 

We sailed on the Britanis in 1991 on our second cruise. I loved that ship.

Like Groovymom, we also had a very inexpensive cabin - but we did splurge for a private bath. Our sleeping accommodations were like this: http://www.ssmaritime.com/britanis-2.htm Unlike many of you I do not have fond memories of THAT cabin.

But the remainder of the ship was one classy lady filled with brass and teak and leather. That era is now gone and I am delighted to be able to say that I experienced some small part of it. My post Chandris cruising is fun. I have a great time. But the sophistication, the stateliness of the Britanis is missing.

Imagine my shock when 4 years later we boarded Joe Farcus's Carnival Fantasy.

;)