rman738

A group of us are cruising next week with Grand Cayman as a full day stop. I haven't been there is several years, so there was a kiosk where the tenders dock that had a bunch of private - off ship vendors selling tours. Is that still there?

Though we never sailed on the Amerikanis, our group of 8 did sail on the Brittanis, leaving from Miami on Halloween Day in 1993 for a 5 night cruise. We had such a great time, as it was the first (or 2nd cruise) for most of us. The rooms were small and different in layout, although we all paid the same fare.

On another note, the Chandris lines did own the Australis for several years. This was the ship that was originally the SS America for the United States Lines. The America was the predecessor to the SS United States. Both were designed by William F. Gibbs. She also was named the Italis after returning to Chandris from another line. The only reason I know all this information was that during World War II, my father sailed on the USS West Point, which was the SS America. She was, as were almost all Ocean Liners, during the war, converted into a troop ship. He was one of seveal thousand Marines transported either to or from the Pacific theatre during the war. He couldn't believe when I was able to show him pictures of her during her "glory days." I believe she was still under Chandris control when she grounded on some reef/rocks outside of the Canary Islands in 2004. A sad ending for such a great ship.

Just a bit off the topic, but there is a documentary re: the SS United States that is scheduled to be shown on PBS next week. In Orlando, FL, it is scheduled to be on next Thursday evening, May 29th at 9 PM on PBS. You may wish to check your local listing if you are interested. You can always find PBS in your area and check the time frame. I also have seen the ship in its current condition parked just below the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia. What a sad site for such a great ship. It has been out of service for over 38 years now.

Rich M

I remember the free Pizza at midnight aboard the Home Lines "Doric" each evening. It was similar to cooked cardboard, but we thought it was so great.

Rich M

Here's the fate of one of Chandris Lines' ships, the ex-SS America/Australis:

 

http://www.flare.net/users/e9ee52a/Fuerteventura_Jan2006_031.jpg

The SS America (aka: Australis) was the predessor to the SS United States. The SS America was launch around 1940, 12 years prior to the SS United States. Francis Gibbs designed both ships. The SS America also saw service in WW II as a troop ship. She was re-named the USS West Point at that time. I only know this, as my father (85 years old), told me that was the ship that took him to the war against Japan. What a sorry fate the SS America had, being wrecked off Africa. I hope the SS United States, that now sits below the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia, has a much better fate.

A group of 8 of us cruised on the Britanis in late Oct., 1993. I hadn't been on a ship in over 12 years. I don't remember a lot of details about the ship except that on one deck in the aft section of the ship they had wicker furniture set up and I never saw other people there. However, there was a large glass "hatch" which you could see into the bowels of the ship. That really amazed me. We went to Key West (bad weather, could not get in), Playa del Carmen (prior to being built up), and I believe Montego Bay. When we returned, the Captain got us into Key West so we didn't miss that port. As with every cruise that I've been on, I had more positive memories, far outweighing any negative memories. My wife and I love to cruise. We have been doing about 2 to 3 cruises per year for the past few years.

Rich M

A group of 8 of us went out on the "Regal Empress" (formerly "Caribe") in March of 1995 and Jan. of 1996. We did the same itinerary both times and loved it. I remember Vic Serra was the cruise director and Rowena was one of our hostesses. We were very involved in the ships daily activities including the talent show. When we came back the 2nd year, Rowena remembered some of our names from the prior year. However, this was the only ship that I got seasick on. The morning we were supposed to arrive in Port Manatee, FL (just below Tampa) the captain had us sitting on the outskirts of a big storm that was hanging near the port. I guess we spent about 4 hours (it seemed like an eternity) waiting for the weather to clear some before heading in. Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves so much we went as part of larger groups for the next several cruises. The Regal Empress really "hooked" us into cruising as you may note.

Rich M

We sailed on the Doric from NYC to Bermuda on June 6, 1981, our first cruise! I still have the "passenger list" from that cruise. The captain was Alberto Marossa and the cruise director was Stanley Kayne. What strikes me today is the list of passengers. So many were single passengers. The ship at the time seemed enormous. Our favorite times were sitting on the promenade deck and having drinks, which I remember were so inexpensive at the time - about $1 for a mixed drink or beer! I'm not sure if there were any outside public areas, as I don't remember sitting outside at all. I remember our group of 10 dancing each night in some large ballroom. At midnight the staff would come out and announce "its pizza time." They brought around small rectangular slices of a really terrible cardboard like pizza that we really enjoyed!!!! The wait staff was so dignified compared to today's wait and bus staff. Anyway, my wife and I are going back to Bermuda June 4, 2005, one week from today, and 24 years almost to the day from our first cruise there. We're on the Celebrity Horizon out of Norfolk.

Rich M