Your first cruise ship

[Copper10-8]

3 hours ago, RetiredNow said:

Hi Copper!

Our first cruise was on the NCL Skyward on July 4-11, 1982.  We did a Mexico cruise that included Miami, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Cozumel and Great Stirrup Cay.  It was nice.

However, our first HAL cruise was July 3-10, 1986 on the Rotterdam V.  We did an Alaska that included Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier Bay, and Sitka.  The Captain was Conrad Menke and the Hotel Manager was Dirk Zeller.  THAT is the cruise that got us hooked!  We had the privilege to sail numerous times over the years with his son, Mark Zeller, too.  That cruise turned us into very loyal and frequent cruisers for Holland America Line.

 

 

NCL's Skyward from 1969, currently the casino ship Leisure World for New Century Cruise Line

Edited August 17, 2020 by Copper10-8

[blizzardboy]

4 hours ago, RetiredNow said:

Our first cruise was on the NCL Skyward on July 4-11, 1982.  We did a Mexico cruise that included Miami, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Cozumel and Great Stirrup Cay. 

You were aboard the Skyward three months before our honeymoon cruise, Oct 3-10, 1982. Between raising kids and becoming a golf addict, we spent the next 32 years at great resorts before rediscovering cruising. We've since reached 3-Star with HAL, but still spend a few weeks at our favorite resorts each winter.

 

[rkacruiser]

8 hours ago, YXU AC*SE said:

My first, a first, and my last in one pic. Ex-Westerdam II as Marella Dream alongside at Funchal, Madeira, with Nieuw Statendam on her inaugural cruise.   Sailed on NSDM again last fall, and hopefully will be on Rotterdam VII next fall -- if the COVID stars align.      Scott. 

 

 

 

I get kind of a thrill being on a ship and arriving at a port only to find another ship on which I have sailed is also present.  The original Royal Princess (now Artemis) and I keep "bumping" into each other.  She is the most frequent "oldie, but goodie".  

[vedettes1]

1952.  SS Lurline.  San Francisco to Honolulu.

[Yodalicious]

1994 Noordam to Alaska.! 
 

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, vedettes1 said:

1952.  SS Lurline.  San Francisco to Honolulu.

 

WOW!  You were on an "oldie, but goodie"!

 

I was never able to sail on a vessel under the Matson Line Flag, but I did sail on S. S. Monterey after Pacific Far East Lines acquired her from Matson.  Not knowing what the Matson ambiance must have been like aboard, PFEL totally fulfilled my expectations for a Hawaiian cruise.  

[Copper10-8]

6 hours ago, vedettes1 said:

1952.  SS Lurline.  San Francisco to Honolulu.

 

 

Matson Lines' ss Lurline (1932-1987)

[Copper10-8]

6 hours ago, Yodalicious said:

1994 Noordam to Alaska.! 
 

 

 

HAL's Noordam (1984-present*)

 

*the former Noordam's current name is "Mare," not a good omen since it's the type of name usually reserved as a final name prior to arriving at the breakers (her former "N"-class sister, Nieuw Amsterdam went to her end as "Mare S").

 

Mare was named Marella Celebration and operating for Marella Cruises (the former Thomson Cruises) before her current name change  

[shudie]

The SS Oriana from Sydney to Noumea, Vila, Vavau, Suva, Pago Pago & Nukalofa in 1983 - my dad was a musician and I was 12. No parental supervision and we pretty much hung out in the arcade, the cinema, and the pizza and ice cream bar!

 

Image via https://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/ships-orient/ 

Edited August 18, 2020 by shudie

[YXU AC*SE]

7 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

*the former Noordam's current name is "Mare," ...

 

Our third or fourth cruise was on the former Noordam. 14-day southern Caribbean itin out of Tampa.  We were young, in our early thirties, and easily among the youngest pax on this ship.  One evening Captain van Cœvorden (iirc) came by our table in the Piet Hein lounge, sat down, and said, 'I believe your travel agent booked you on the wrong ship!'  We insisted we were good -- and that was about 300 sailing days ago. Will be sad to see her upon the beach.    Scott.  

[trident]

DOH  FIRST SHIP WAS THE SS BRAZIL OF MOORE MCCORMICK AND OUR HONEYMOON SHIP  IN 1971 WAS SS HOMERIC OF HOME LINES

[Mimippsb]

On 9/13/2008 at 8:06 PM, Copper10-8 said:

What was your first cruise ship? What cruise line, the year and the itinerary? (if you remember;) ) Did it get you hooked?

 

Ours was Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's m/s Viking Serenade, a converted car ferry, back in NOV 1991, a 3-day L.A. - Catalina Island - Esenada, Mexico - L.A. cruise. Never forget our first impressions - we were hooked from that day on!

 

 

Viking Serenade (still sailing today as Island Escape)

 

Our first cruise was on America Hawaii Cruise Lines on the Constitution in July of 1990 to the Hawaiian Islands. We thought it was great, but others thought it was not as glamorous as others. For us it was perfect for our first cruise as we wait for our 42 next year.

[Cruise Suzy]

January 1993 - a Royal Caribbean ship, ocean view - with square dance club - round trip from San Juan to Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. John and St. Thomas (DH wasn't impressed at all)

 

May 2008 - Sapphire Princess, mini-suite - Whittier to Vancouver including College Fjord, Glacier Bay, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan (scenery and flexible dining made this one more appealing to DH)

 

February 2019 - Koningsdam, verandah - round trip from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Maarten, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay (DH finally enjoyed himself!)

 

It still took a February 2020 rental for him to realize a cruise was far more relaxing than staying at a seaside condo. Hope we can cruise for all our February getaways going forward. Have one booked on Eurodam for 2021.

 

 

 

 

[amyr]

This is a fun thread, especially the old pictures.  This is my mother and me boarding the Ryndam in 1966 for my first cruise.  Rotterdam to Halifax in a first class cabin when that was still a thing.  From my (extremely vague) recollection, a first class cabin in 1966 couldn't hold a candle to a standard balcony cabin today. 

Edited August 18, 2020 by amyr
To add photo of lounge

[MAVIP]

ss Independence, American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines, early sixties, Mediterranean. I will never forget the butler knocking at my door at the night of Captains Dinner: "Miss, can I help you with your zipper?" I still use that sentence once in a while as I often need that kind of help of my DH nowadays. 🙂 

 

 

[VMax1700]

3 hours ago, MAVIP said:

"Miss, can I help you with your zipper?"

How times have changed.  Now the butler would be arrested for saying that! 🙄

[echoshipmate]

Saturnia from the Italian line, 1960, NY to Naples. Long, long time ago, btw, I was 8. Maybe that experience had something to do with my cruising addiction.

[LouChamp]

1971. Olympia. Greek Line. Over 50 more since then.


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[KismetzMom]

Sovereign of the Seas 1997... so sad to see her go to scrap!!!!

[Cailey53]

January 1975 on the Statendam for our honeymoon. We’ve been fortunate to be on a number of the “Dam” ships since then, and so hoping we will be on the new Rotterdam for it’s inaugural sailing for 21 days next August. 🙏🙏

[rkacruiser]

16 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

HAL's Noordam (1984-present*)

 

An Inside Passage Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver in 1990; the cruise itself provided good memories.  But, one of those memories is bittersweet.  It was my Mother's last cruise.  

[DFD1]

Great pictures. Wonderful stories. Thanks for bringing this super thread back to life.

 

Sailed first in 1965 or 6 from Miami to Nassau on a three or four day cruise. Don't remember the ship.

Later on the Emerald Seas from Eastern Steamship line,  again to the Bahamas. Then came early Carnival ships and NCL and Royal Caribbean. Special memories from the magnificent Norway.....Great Ship.

 

Discovered HAL later with the first HAL sailing on the older Noordam. Worked our way up to four star and pretty much left the others behind. We really like HAL, but worry about what she might become in the future.

 

[Copper10-8]

3 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

An Inside Passage Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver in 1990; the cruise itself provided good memories.  But, one of those memories is bittersweet.  It was my Mother's last cruise.  

 

Noordam III at Vancouver's Ballantyne Pier (not Canada Place) in 1984. Note the HAL house markings of that time on her funnel. Three swaths of aqua and white, soon known as the "three slugs" This is prior to the "Henry Hudson's Halve Maen and Nieuw Amsterdam III" logo

 

[81Zoomie]

1972 Sitmar Fairwind.  Such fond teen memories of theme nights, pool games, and costume contests. In those days you could join friends on board before the ships sailed. “All ashore going ashore.”  My brother and I could name every ship by its silhouette on the water.  It was a hazard of growing up in Ft Lauderdale! 

[cccole]

9 hours ago, amyr said:

This is a fun thread, especially the old pictures.  This is my mother and me boarding the Ryndam in 1966 for my first cruise.  Rotterdam to Halifax in a first class cabin when that was still a thing.  From my (extremely vague) recollection, a first class cabin in 1966 couldn't hold a candle to a standard balcony cabin today. 

This has to be one of my favorite posts.  What fabulous photos of what must have been a fun adventure with your mom.  My first cruise was on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland in 1955.  Not quite so elegant!!!  But not much has changed, including the jokes.   Cherie

Edited August 18, 2020 by cccole