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Anybody Remember the Star Dancer?


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I sailed her in 2001 as the RCCL Viking Serenade. It has been the smallest of the ships I've sailed, yet 'd have to say this trip, although short, has been the most intimate. The service on a smaller ship is far superior to the big ships.

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We sailed on the Stardancer in 1988.

 

And until just recently, I didn't even realize that when we sailed on Viking Serenade in 1996, she was the same ship. (I really didn't pay attention to that type of info back then. To me...a ship was a ship was a ship.)

Edited by MszKitty
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I had two great cruises on Stardancer- a year to the day (almost) apart. Both went to Mexico and the first one was disrupted by Hurricane Roslyn. We had to tender in to Puerto Vallarta in the rain and missed Mazatlan and Cabo entirely. We did go into Ensenada, which hadn't been on the schedule, and we had a wonderful time. The seas were about 30 feet and the main rooms were pretty much empty, but the casino was hot. At Vallarta we took our excursion guide to Le Kliff and got him blotto on tequila-that was a terrific tour !

 

Because there were a bunch of people taking advantage of Stardancers vehicle ferry capabilities, a lot of people didn't get to take their vehicles off at Vallarta or Mazatlan. In those days you could book a trip to one or the other ports rather than the round trip. So- on a warm afternoon while we were enjoying the sun on deck the Captain announced all passengers would get a free cruise, which we did the following year . That time we hit all the ports but it wasn't half as much fun as the hurricane.

 

Those were the glory days of cruising and the Stardancer was a beautiful ship with a great international staff and glorious food.

Edited by HAWKSBY
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In 1986 I went on a cruise down the west coast of Mexico from L.A. on the Star Dancer. I never heard of the ship afterwards. Does anybody know what happened to it? I just got back from the second cruise of my life; the Sapphire Princess from Vancouver to Whitter, Alaska. The Star Dancer was a nice ship and I have very good memories. However, compared to modern ships like the Sapphire Princess I suppose the Start Dancer could not compete.

Reading this thread brings back memories...I was hired as the Security Officer in 1987 and saile d continiously till 1989 leaving as 2nd Officer. I still see several crew and run into former passengers here in Alaska where I retired as Master in 2007. The pub singer if not Charlie D. Was Pat Horine formerly of Kingston Trio. The big "45 degree list" was more like 15 and it was exiting Tracy Arm caused by a New Pilot that tried to take the dog leg turn at full speed . I was off the week of the murder but remember all the hub bub when I returned. I remember the baby born on board to a woman fro Guam. She named him Hugh Admiral xxxxxxxxx. The bartender in Haines was Arny at Hotel Hosignland and he passed away about five years ago. Anyone remember the guy in the eagle suit that met the ship in Haines each week? I played cribbage with him years later he lives in a home in Wrangell now. I was one of the American officers the others are all doing well and still in the industry except Jeff Hanson passed away a few years back. I see the Irishman quite often and I heard Kjeld retired to Gotburg. Capt Thomas W. was in Juneau and we spent a morning together with my infant daughter.The very pretty nurse BB is married in the south and Dr T I hear is retired amd doing well. So many great memories. It was a great crew. Kjeld Thomas Ingvar Kathy Donal Jeff BB Kurt ....Charly Dawson was one of the best and also the young singer that went on to be the voice of Areiel fo Disney...Anyone remember Bob Fransis the singer who brought down the house with Delila? I was happy to read the post on how great the crew was as that is what I remember. Alaska has changed since then certainly the ships have too. I found this blog surfing the web trying to remember certain facts on her construction. I was on another ship in Portland Or when a barge went by with her new bow pn it. I believe it was fitted in LA. I also had a year on Azure. What a classic ship. Even nicer than the Independendence where I was a cadet. Sorry for typos .. Old now and my memoty and hands shake.

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I also remember hitting the whale off Cabo. It stuck on the bulbus bow and we carried it across the sea of Cotez before discovering it stuck in the morning. I felt terrible. Anyone remember the swimming in Tracy Arm in survival suits? Oh the memories....my kids look at the photo books and can't even fathom the lifestyle......

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I also sailed on the M.V.Star Dancer (06/1988 - 06/1988) to Alaska. Our itinerary included Vancouver, Juneau, Skagway, Haines (the indian BBQ produced the best salmon I have ever tasted), Ketchikan, Tracy Arms glaciers, Misty Fjords, and back to Vancouver. This cruise was a jazz cruise featuring two traditional jazz bands . The High Sierra (still going strong) and The Fulton Street (also still playing with some personnel changes). What a great time on a great ship. Very interesting history followed.

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Reading this thread brings back memories...I was hired as the Security Officer in 1987 and saile d continiously till 1989 leaving as 2nd Officer. I still see several crew and run into former passengers here in Alaska where I retired as Master in 2007. The pub singer if not Charlie D. Was Pat Horine formerly of Kingston Trio. The big "45 degree list" was more like 15 and it was exiting Tracy Arm caused by a New Pilot that tried to take the dog leg turn at full speed . I was off the week of the murder but remember all the hub bub when I returned. I remember the baby born on board to a woman fro Guam. She named him Hugh Admiral xxxxxxxxx. The bartender in Haines was Arny at Hotel Hosignland and he passed away about five years ago. Anyone remember the guy in the eagle suit that met the ship in Haines each week? I played cribbage with him years later he lives in a home in Wrangell now. I was one of the American officers the others are all doing well and still in the industry except Jeff Hanson passed away a few years back. I see the Irishman quite often and I heard Kjeld retired to Gotburg. Capt Thomas W. was in Juneau and we spent a morning together with my infant daughter.The very pretty nurse BB is married in the south and Dr T I hear is retired amd doing well. So many great memories. It was a great crew. Kjeld Thomas Ingvar Kathy Donal Jeff BB Kurt ....Charly Dawson was one of the best and also the young singer that went on to be the voice of Areiel fo Disney...Anyone remember Bob Fransis the singer who brought down the house with Delila? I was happy to read the post on how great the crew was as that is what I remember. Alaska has changed since then certainly the ships have too. I found this blog surfing the web trying to remember certain facts on her construction. I was on another ship in Portland Or when a barge went by with her new bow pn it. I believe it was fitted in LA. I also had a year on Azure. What a classic ship. Even nicer than the Independendence where I was a cadet. Sorry for typos .. Old now and my memoty and hands shake.

 

Hey, Iwastheir, I know you! I went on cruises on the Stardancer many many times during those years when my father would book the ship for his Christian cruises. You stuck me in a survival suit and we swam in Tracy Arm. Afterwards, someone on the ship made me a rather fancy certificate commemorating the event. Didn't you used to have some golf clubs you made?

 

I sure hope you see this.

 

Your old friend, Shannon from North Carolina.

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It is not Charlie, we were just trying to figure out who this is....maybe Mike.....I worked on the Stardancer in 1988...did we know each other?

 

I worked on the stardancer as radio officer from 9/1988 through 4/1989. Unfortunately i have lost contact with my than fellow crew/staff members. Does anyone know the name of that young american singer? She was extremely pretty and we became good friends. I know its a long time ago but would appreciate any response.:D

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On 12/23/2012 at 1:57 PM, Iwastheir said:

I also remember hitting the whale off Cabo. It stuck on the bulbus bow and we carried it across the sea of Cotez before discovering it stuck in the morning. I felt terrible. Anyone remember the swimming in Tracy Arm in survival suits? Oh the memories....my kids look at the photo books and can't even fathom the lifestyle......

Yes, I was on that cruise ... the officer on duty felt really bad ... I remember that we couldn't dock in PV and had to back out to sea so they could get the whale off the ship ... I must know you ...

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On 12/25/2008 at 12:51 PM, nauditor said:

Is that you, Charlie Dawson? Your act was the most enjoyable memory I have of Stardancer. You and I and the ship's doctor used to converse during your breaks. It was September 1987. I was misemployed as 'computer purser'. (I was a dBase programmer, and it turned out what they really wanted was a hardware technician. [story of my seagoing life for the ensuing nine years. Only time I gelled was when I was paired with a programmer.])

 

Remember that hotel in Haines whose bartender created a cocktail he named a 'Duck Fart'?

 

 

Tried to send you a message but I'm not doing very well navigating this system ... Yes, this is Charlie Dawson ...  Those were great days ... I live in Massachusetts as well .. :-)   Don't know if you'll ever get this, but here goes ...

 

 

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I had quite a few Duck Farts in Haines, those were great days!

Does anyone remember the name of the Security officer, perhaps the head of Security, who was on board around 1987-ish?  I think he was Irish.  Honestly, I'm not certain he was with security, but I do know he was an officer.  Any ideas?

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