Sea Escape

[knubs]

Seaescape is still around. They now depart, like before, only out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The ship just came out of dry dock and they have many events planned. Definitely a good deal to get away for a while.

[SINGLEWORLD]

I remember the Scandanavian Sun. I think it was in the spring of 1982 I worked on it as a DJ. It was a small ship with the inside hollow - to carry cars. You couldn't cross from the port side to the starboard side on the lower decks. We left out of Miami around 6:00AM went to Freeport and returned midnight to Miami. I used to have to make the evening announcements when we were leaving Freeport and since it was the same everyday (boring) I would have a different accent each day. The rest of the cruise staff couldn't figure out at first who was making the announcements. I was only on it for a couple of months but met alot of great people.

[momofmeg]

I remember sailing on SeaEscape's Scandinavian Saga in 1989. She ran 4 night Cruise from Tampa to Cozumel every 28 days. If your expectations were at the appropriate level you could have a good time. I think she was a converted ferry from Europe.

 

We ran into a cold front dipping South into the Gulf on the return trip in December 1989. It was quite a rough ride. I had not seen so many green people since they colorized the Munsters:D . The ship was decorated for Christmas and by the time we made it back to Tampa, most of the Christmas trees and other decorations had hit the deck. I would say overall it was fun trip. A nice and "cheap" getaway. I think the fare was $350 for two people if I remember correctly.

 

We wanted to do that cruise but it was booked up like a year ahead- and we did not have much money back then so Carnival was too expensive for us. so We took the Scandanavin Sun out of Ft. lauderdale in 1989 to Freeport and stayed in Freeport 2 or 3 days and then crusied back. Okay trip but it certainly did not hook us on crusing-we did not take areal cruise until 1998 on the Carnival Tropicale which went to Cozumel and key West-the ship considered the worst at it's time-but tons better the Seaescape!

 

Hey I don't even count that as a cruise-since it was ferry service to Freeport-nothing better. My first cruise was in 1998 not 1989.

[Trynnn]

The Scandinavian Star finally ended at Alang Beach in 2004.

 

SeaEscape owners still go unpunished for the 158 murders they commited on that ship!

[cruisin'since'75]

The Scandinavian Star finally ended at Alang Beach in 2004.

SeaEscape owners still go unpunished for the 158 murders they commited on that ship!

 

What murders? When? Where? Dear God, 158 murders!

[Dpeeps]

I definitely remember the Sea Escape!! That was the first ship that we sailed on back in August of 1990. We sailed out of Ft Lauderdale to Freeport Bahamas. Just spent the day on the ship. We spent a week in the Bahamas then sailed back. We got married while we were down there in the Bahamas!!! so I remember it well! :)

[posh08]

What murders? When? Where? Dear God' date=' 158 murders![/b']

 

I think this is about the fire on her and the loss of lives when she was back in ferry service. We did a trip on her out of Tampa back in 1987. Hve a boarding picture somewhere and a ship on a stick for skeet shooting prize. We had a good time. Food was very good and plenty of it.

[Burt mathews]

I worked on the scandinavian star sailing from Tampa in 1985. It was one of the most unsafe ships out there. We had to do a cruise to Cozumel once every month and we often thought we were not going to make it. It was moved over to europe where it set on fire and sank (no suprise) i actually was interviewed for a newspaper on the state of the ship

[cruisin'since'75]

Thanks Posh and Burt for your responses. I had no idea.

I sailed on an overnight cruise on one of the SeaEscape ships from Tampa to the Bahamas in the 80s. It was fine, as I recollect, but absolutely not memorable in anyway, good or bad. The one thing I actually remember about this cruise is that I purchased the BEST nightshirt from the one of the onboard shops (I think there was only one!) When I returned home I realized I hadn't packed my favorite shirt. I called customer service, explained the situation, was told they would contact the ship to locate my shirt and that I would be notified.

Notified I was. The following week I got home from work, went to the front door, found an overnight package on the steps, opened it up, there was my nightshirt, wrapped in blue tissue paper with a little note pinned onto it saying something like "Thanks for cruising with SeaEscape and we hope to see you again soon". I'm guessing they hadn't located my shirt, but sent me a new one instead. (One size fits all.)

Imagine that? All that from some line that most folks discounted as not being fit for the sea or its customers. No matter what ship or company you sail with these days, you'll never get this kind of good, pratical customer service.

However, it's unlikely that 157 people would die in an on-board fire, either.

Changing times...

[PURPLEGIRLY]

I am curious too. I took the one day cruise in 87(I found out I was pregnant with my first child that morning). I have fond memories of that day. I was looking at pictures of that cruise last night as a matter of fact.

[Sibelius]

As requested earlier in the thread, here is the history for the SeaEscape vessels below:

 

Scandinavian Sea (1980-84) built 1970 as Blenheim for Fred Olsen for service between Norway and the UK. With a summer service to the Canaries. Later sailed as Discovery I for Discovery Cruises. Scrapped in India in 1987.

 

Scandinavian Star (1984-90) built 1971 as Massalia for Marseilles to Malaga service. A fire onboard in 1990 cost 158 lives. Scrapped in India in 2004.

 

Scandinavian Sky (1985-90) built 1971 as Svea Regina for Silja line service between Finland and Sweden. Scrapped in India in 2005.

 

Scandinavian Sun (1985-92) built in 1968 as the Freeport for service between Miami and Freeport as Freeport. Currently the casino vessel Discovery Sun.

 

Scandinavian Saga (1988-91) built in 1974 as Castalia for service between Italy and Greece. Currently the casino vessel Casino Royale.

 

Scandinavian Song (1990-91) built in 1966 as Sunward for UK to Gibraltar service, however used as NCL's first ever vessel from Miami. May have been scrapped in 2005 as Empress.

 

Scandinavian Dawn (1990-92) built in 1968 as St George for service between England and The Netherlands. Sailed as the Island Dawn for New SeaEscape. Currently the casino vessel Texas Treasure.

 

My apologies if there are any errors or omissions.

[posh08]

As requested earlier in the thread, here is the history for the SeaEscape vessels below:

 

Scandinavian Sea (1980-84) built 1970 as Blenheim for Fred Olsen for service between Norway and the UK. With a summer service to the Canaries. Later sailed as Discovery I for Discovery Cruises. Scrapped in India in 1987.

 

Scandinavian Star (1984-90) built 1971 as Massalia for Marseilles to Malaga service. A fire onboard in 1990 cost 158 lives. Scrapped in India in 2004.

 

Scandinavian Sky (1985-90) built 1971 as Svea Regina for Silja line service between Finland and Sweden. Scrapped in India in 2005.

 

Scandinavian Sun (1985-92) built in 1968 as the Freeport for service between Miami and Freeport as Freeport. Currently the casino vessel Discovery Sun.

 

Scandinavian Saga (1988-91) built in 1974 as Castalia for service between Italy and Greece. Currently the casino vessel Casino Royale.

 

Scandinavian Song (1990-91) built in 1966 as Sunward for UK to Gibraltar service, however used as NCL's first ever vessel from Miami. May have been scrapped in 2005 as Empress.

 

Scandinavian Dawn (1990-92) built in 1968 as St George for service between England and The Netherlands. Sailed as the Island Dawn for New SeaEscape. Currently the casino vessel Texas Treasure.

 

My apologies if there are any errors or omissions.

 

Thanks for the info.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Scandinavian Sun (1985-92) built in 1968 as the Freeport for service between Miami and Freeport as Freeport. Currently the casino vessel Discovery Sun.

 

I would like to clarify that Discovery Sun is more than a casino vessel, which implies day cruises to nowhere so that people can go gambling. In reality, Discovery Sun operates daily service from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island (Freeport), leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. A lot of Bahamians use it as a ferry and it carries a lot of cargo to Freeport. It is possible to do it as a day trip although you only get 3 hours in the Bahamas. More information at http://www.discoverycruiseline.com When I took this "cruise" with a group from my office two years ago, we were surprised about how much fun it was. The entertainment was decent and the buffet meals well-beyond our expectations.

 

BobK/Orlando

[tigeringa]

I think this is the ship everyone is asking about in this thread:

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-1016seaescape,0,2518058.story

 

This was my first cruise as well, did a week long cruise and stay package to Freeport. Great memories.

[momofmeg]

I would like to clarify that Discovery Sun is more than a casino vessel, which implies day cruises to nowhere so that people can go gambling. In reality, Discovery Sun operates daily service from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island (Freeport), leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. A lot of Bahamians use it as a ferry and it carries a lot of cargo to Freeport. It is possible to do it as a day trip although you only get 3 hours in the Bahamas. More information at http://www.discoverycruiseline.com When I took this "cruise" with a group from my office two years ago, we were surprised about how much fun it was. The entertainment was decent and the buffet meals well-beyond our expectations.

 

BobK/Orlando

 

Wehn we were on Carnival Miracle back in 2004, we sailed to Freeport from Jacksonville and we saw this ship docked-it looked like a rusty dump. Heck, the abandoned "ghost" Premier cruiseline ships left at the dock looked better-and safer-for that matter-and you KNOW those ships had been sitting there since 2000.

[Norwaylin]

I remember the Scandanavian Sun. I think it was in the spring of 1982 I worked on it as a DJ. It was a small ship with the inside hollow - to carry cars. You couldn't cross from the port side to the starboard side on the lower decks. We left out of Miami around 6:00AM went to Freeport and returned midnight to Miami. I used to have to make the evening announcements when we were leaving Freeport and since it was the same everyday (boring) I would have a different accent each day. The rest of the cruise staff couldn't figure out at first who was making the announcements. I was only on it for a couple of months but met alot of great people.

 

Did you work for Singleworld? I took two cruises with them -- 1984 on the NCL Starward and 1985 on the Bermuda Star. That was a fun group. Wish they were still around.

[deputyfl]

In the 90s they sold the Scandinavian Dawn to Discovery Cruises. At that time both SeaEscape and Discovery were both doing "cruises to nowhere" and trips to the Bahamas. Then in the late 90s i think, the SeaEscape went to only doing cruises to nowhere and Discovery went to only doing the trips to Bahamas.

SeaEscape shut down just a few months ago. They were losing too much money after the Seminole casinos started offering table games.

[Infi]

We remember the Scandinavian Dawn here...when it was first introduced, we were invited to see it and go on a complimentary day cruise aboard her. (That was the only time we sailed on SeaEscape; we usually stuck to Discovery's day cruises when relatives visited us.) Refreshed and newly remodeled, she looked quite presentable for her age. I have distinct memories of neon and a huge spiral staircase - oh, the 90s! Didn't realize the demise of the original SeaEscape came shortly after they introduced her...thought it was the same company all this time.

 

Back in the summer, we were at the state park that lines the channel at Port Everglades, and we saw the new SeaEscape's Island Adventure returning. She looked terrible! Rust all over, a skeleton crew and passengers on the decks, she was more limping than sailing. As a ship lover, it was painful to see one in such disarray.

Sure enough, a few weeks later it came out in the Sun-Sentinel that the company was months behind on their bills, dock fees, and was going bellyup. No wonder they couldn't take care of their ship! Just couldn't compete with the land based casinos, kind of sad. They auctioned her off a few months later, where she fetched a fair amount and the new owner said they'd probably move her to Tampa or another market with less land casino competition.

 

Attached are some photos taken of her that day.

[deputyfl]

We remember the Scandinavian Dawn here...when it was first introduced, we were invited to see it and go on a complimentary day cruise aboard her. (That was the only time we sailed on SeaEscape; we usually stuck to Discovery's day cruises when relatives visited us.)

 

Do you still go on the Discovery?? I shure would like to buy some casino chips from that boat if anyone ever goes on it. I have chips from Discovery but i dont know anyone whos been on it in years so i bet they have new chips on there that i need for my collection!!

[Infi]

Do you still go on the Discovery?? I shure would like to buy some casino chips from that boat if anyone ever goes on it. I have chips from Discovery but i dont know anyone whos been on it in years so i bet they have new chips on there that i need for my collection!!

 

No, oh gosh - haven't been on it in years! I think we last took a trip on it back in 1999 or so...like I said, only a "trip" for when relatives were in town, give them the "cruise" experience, lol. I do wonder what it and its cruises are like today, though. Sorry I can't help you out with your collection - maybe it's time for a Discovery cruise for you? :)

[deputyfl]

No, oh gosh - haven't been on it in years! I think we last took a trip on it back in 1999 or so...like I said, only a "trip" for when relatives were in town, give them the "cruise" experience, lol. I do wonder what it and its cruises are like today, though. Sorry I can't help you out with your collection - maybe it's time for a Discovery cruise for you? :)

 

 

I may try to one day, but the drive from St Augustine to south Florida is a killer:)

[PianistfromOldSeaEscape]

Hey all,

 

Thought I'd post a memory or two about my stint on a Sea Escape cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL (late 1985 into early 1986).

 

First off I remember this British guy (I think he was British) as the Cruise Director. Very nice, but he had the typical style of loose shirt unbuttoned, hairy chest, and a couple of gold chains hanging from his neck. Now, I could be wrong but I don't think there was a theme to how to dress that day - I remember he always dressed like that. :p

 

I played piano in a quintet and had a ball! The ship was not big and didn't seem particularly clean, but it was still a great experience. We would have daily passengers from 10am to 10pm, Monday through Thursday and would anchor out about 2 miles (?) off shore for the passengers to enjoy a couple of shows, gamble, etc. Thursdays at Midnight we would take on new passengers and sail down to Freeport, and return I think on Sunday.

 

During my short time on board (maybe 6 weeks), I was fortunate enough to play with some players I had gone to school with at the College-Conservatory of Music, Univ. of Cincinnati (I was actually on board during an extended Christmas break). One week I played with a drummer friend, then a sax player friend came on board for a week, then one left, then the other, then me (something like that). Anyway, we played behind a curtain while the singers/dancers were on the small stage area in front of us. We did Broadway medleys, etc. and one (maybe "Memories" from 'Cats'?) involved a smoke machine. The sax player didn't know about it and when it started to blow smoke he jumped off his stool yelling "Fire!" It was so funny we kept playing but laughing too! I remember the drummer almost couldn't play for a bit!

 

For what it was, it was such a great experience and I'll never forget it. One of my favorite things to do, when we would return from the daily cruises, would run up to the top deck and enjoy the wind and the sunset as we returned to shore.

 

Well that's my story and I'm stickin' to it - All the best and a safe and prosperous New Year for us all! :)

Edited December 29, 2008 by PianistfromOldSeaEscape

[frankhouse]

I can't believe I stumbled upon this SeaEscape thing! It was my first cruise too when I was younger. I went on it two or three times because we used to live in Florida for the winter. I still have a hurricane glass that I won playing some game....hehe. They were sometimes parked near another defunct company called Dolphin cruises and I remember thinking how big they were when in reality they were like like little cabin cruisers compared to the mega ships of today. Okay I'm done being nostalgic I'm too young to be acting like this.

 

I used to live in Tampa, Fl and they had a ship called the Sea Escape that went on one day cruises back in the early 90s. I took my mom on it when she came to visit, it was great. It was small compared to the ships of now-a-days but was still pretty big, I would say about 500' long or so. And if we're being nostalgic, I also cruised on the Dolphin II out of Miami on a 4 day to the Bahamas. It was great! It was just as good as the cruises I took on NCL around the same time.:D

[momofmeg]

Wehn we were on Carnival Miracle back in 2004, we sailed to Freeport from Jacksonville and we saw this ship docked-it looked like a rusty dump. Heck, the abandoned "ghost" Premier cruiseline ships left at the dock looked better-and safer-for that matter-and you KNOW those ships had been sitting there since 2000.

 

I also want to add, Discovery lines, like Seaescape is pretty much a ferry from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport and back. It also has a casino.

[kdinkus1]

Our first experience with a 'cruise' ship was with the Sea Escape and we had a great time! My husband took me and my sister for the day cruise and we had a blast. The only thing I wish we had have done differently was to pay extra for a room to rest in during the heat of the day! I don't enjoy sittiing in the sun for hours on end so a cabin would have been nice. But other than that, we had so much fun that we have taken several more cruises and will continue to do so until we can't any longer!:D