Could todays cruise lines learn something from how sitmar conducted their cruises

[The Fox]

Hi,

 

Heres a question for some of our older seasoned cruises.Do you think todays cruise lines could learn a few things from how Sitmar conducted their cruises?

 

I sailed on Fairstar 9 times and Fairsky once.From memory out of the 9 cruises on Fairstar only 2 or 3 were when P&O purchased it but the best and fondess memories was when it was owned by Sitmar.

 

Just like little things as the theme night menus when the waiters would dress to match theme menus ....like Italian night or french and Island night and that magical bell to announce the dinner will be served.Of course who can forget those magic words "ladies and gentlemen bon appetite".and the way the Fairstar band would signal a break...."Its whisky time.

Who could possiblly forget Nicki and Pasculino the 2 budgies onboard owned by the Purser.

 

I can remember wandering through the pursers area while at sea and the budgies fly and land on people.

 

I actually read somewhere that those budgies spoke 3 or 4 languges.

 

The other cruise line I really loved was Shaw Saville and this line leased 2 ships Ocean Monach and Northern star and the Director of the operations was Rubuen Grossens a now marine historian....a great line.

 

Cheers

 

Col:)

[rugbypopsie]

Oh Col, what a trip down memory lane I had forgotten some of those things! I remember (well at least some of it...they were far more liberal about alcohol policies and I was young and irresponsible LOL) the dining room stuff..I still have some signed menus...you got to keep them.

 

Funny I was just talking to someone about the dinner chimes this weekend. Passenger talent show was fun too..as were the dress up nights.

[Skyrules]

Hi,

 

Heres a question for some of our older seasoned cruises.Do you think todays cruise lines could learn a few things from how Sitmar conducted their cruises?

 

I sailed on Fairstar 9 times and Fairsky once.From memory out of the 9 cruises on Fairstar only 2 or 3 were when P&O purchased it but the best and fondess memories was when it was owned by Sitmar.

 

Just like little things as the theme night menus when the waiters would dress to match theme menus ....like Italian night or french and Island night and that magical bell to announce the dinner will be served.Of course who can forget those magic words "ladies and gentlemen bon appetite".

 

Col:)

 

Col, P&O continued on those traditions for a long time. Many of them were still there when I sailed first cruised on Pacific Sky in 2004, and for several cruises after that. Most of those traditions were lost with the switch to anytime dining, no more calls for first and second sitting dinner, no more themed dinners.

 

But you're right, it was a shame to see them go. While, theoretically, the theme nights still live on, they don't really have the same feel to them anymore, no where near as much fun or activity.

 

The most vivid memory I have of my first cruise on Pacific Sky was Maitre 'd Fabio Marcotti latin dancing his way through the construction of the Champagne Waterall - it took him nearly an hour to build it, and the party lasted well into the wee hours, out on the deck out the back of the Verandah lounge. I can't here Ricky Martin's 'Cup of Life' without thinking of that night. These days the waterfall is built, filled and dismantled in an average of an hour, and the Maitre 'd's make it look like a chore.

[qld cruiser]

Ahh yes, I remember those times too.

Bon Appetite...etc.

times have changed with price cutting no doubt.

I miss the waiters going around with the Bombe Alaska, and passengers waving their serviettes, and getting up to do the chicken dance.

 

Hi Kym, I remember Fabio too, he is now working with Princess, a real gentleman.. ( there was Max and Boris before him.)

 

kind regards, Lorraine:):)

[pacificlover]

More recently..........the Aussie theme on the last night. Still Call Australia Home, flags, little koala toys........made for a very festive last night on board. These days it feels really flat, with no party atmosphere. At least on my last few cruises. Not been on P&O Australia for a while, so they may still have it on the Pearl and Jewel??

[Bella cruiser]

I am a self confessed Sitmar tragic and miss them heaps. All those memories. Great times, great food, great service & Sailing at over 90% capacity all the time with a similar satisfaction rate, no wonder we loved them.

 

It's amazing to think that if P&O/Princess hadn't purchased Sitmar I think the whole business of Aussie cruising would have been completely different.

 

Consider, that when Mr Vlasov passed away, at the time of the sale they had four new builds under way. Fairmajesty (Now Pacific Pearl) was completed and ready to go in France. Two other ships were commenced at Fincantieri in Italy (Now Pacific Jewel & Pacific Dawn) and an identical sister to Fairmajesty (Pacific Pearl) in France who was ordered but hadn't been commenced (this order was subsequently cancelled).

 

Those in the know say that the Fairmajesty was to sail along side Fairsky (and we know this to be true as advance brochures for her first season had already been released.)

 

It was rumoured that the two Fincantieri new builds were to replace the aging ex Cunarders, Fairsea and Fairwind.

 

The most interesting part of this for us is that the fourth ship (Fairmajesty's cancelled twin) was said to be intended to come out to Australia and sail along side Fairstar (which was going gang busters) to replace the lost passenger capacity when the old Fairsky was lost years earlier.

 

If the company hadn't been sold at that time we would have had a new build cruise ship sailing out of Australia in the early 90's...I think this would have changed the P&O hand-me-down tradition. :rolleyes:

 

Oh well.... we now have all three of Sitmar's last ships and I am glad they are here.:)

[thied]

bring back old style of cruising any time. some of the old style only disapeard ,a few yrs ago, eg on P&O 5.30 pm the chime would sound and on the ships intercom would be some one saying "the boardou dinning room is now open and then say bonapertito". which was realy cool and so many people would say it with him.

 

 

sorry about the spelling.

[yatchet]

All those traditions and theme nights etc continued on Fair Princess and Pacific Sky until P&O was taken over by Carnival and that was the end of it all.:(

[rugbypopsie]

I am thinking what we are all missing from the "olden days" is the spirit of cruising. It was such an adventure...streamers and music playing as we sailed away etc. with more choice and more travel opportunities some people have become jaded and complaining..spoiling their holiday and others.

 

I am a hopeless cruise tragic...the excitement never left I still board with the same feelings albeit older and possibly wiser.

[sunshinegallery]

Hi,

 

Heres a question for some of our older seasoned cruises.Do you think todays cruise lines could learn a few things from how Sitmar conducted their cruises?

 

I sailed on Fairstar 9 times and Fairsky once.From memory out of the 9 cruises on Fairstar only 2 or 3 were when P&O purchased it but the best and fondess memories was when it was owned by Sitmar.

 

Just like little things as the theme night menus when the waiters would dress to match theme menus ....like Italian night or french and Island night and that magical bell to announce the dinner will be served.Of course who can forget those magic words "ladies and gentlemen bon appetite".and the way the Fairstar band would signal a break...."Its whisky time.

Who could possiblly forget Nicki and Pasculino the 2 budgies onboard owned by the Purser.

 

I can remember wandering through the pursers area while at sea and the budgies fly and land on people.

 

I actually read somewhere that those budgies spoke 3 or 4 languges.

 

The other cruise line I really loved was Shaw Saville and this line leased 2 ships Ocean Monach and Northern star and the Director of the operations was Rubuen Grossens a now marine historian....a great line.

 

Cheers

 

Col:)

Our Honeymoon Cruise was on the Sitmar "Fairwind", we sailed out of Florida to the Caribbean. Indeed, cruise lines should take a few pointers from Sitmar's elegrance and service. The Captain asked my husband if he could dance with me on our first cruise! We took three cruises right in a row and loved everyone more and more. I like how you recalled all those special things about the cruise. I love the bells too! We had midnight buffets almost everynight! Service was excellent.

At one point Sitmar was going to change it's symbot to a swan, I have some sketches from one of our cruises. The father died and the sons did not want the business, so it died with him. What a shame! We have memories of great cruises gone by.

[Cruise ship fan]

Consider, that when Mr Vlasov passed away, at the time of the sale they had four new builds under way. Fairmajesty (Now Pacific Pearl) was completed and ready to go in France. Two other ships were commenced at Fincantieri in Italy (Now Pacific Jewel & Pacific Dawn) and an identical sister to Fairmajesty (Pacific Pearl) in France who was ordered but hadn't been commenced (this order was subsequently cancelled).

 

The most interesting part of this for us is that the fourth ship (Fairmajesty's cancelled twin) was said to be intended to come out to Australia and sail along side Fairstar (which was going gang busters) to replace the lost passenger capacity when the old Fairsky was lost years earlier.

 

If the company hadn't been sold at that time we would have had a new build cruise ship sailing out of Australia in the early 90's...I think this would have changed the P&O hand-me-down tradition. :rolleyes:

 

Oh well.... we now have all three of Sitmar's last ships and I am glad they are here.:)

 

When you think about it this is all kind of ironic. With all three ships on order becoming the only three ships of P&O. As well as the Pacific Pearl being based in Australia (if the planned sister ship was going to be based in Australia.)

[Royalty X]

I am a self confessed Sitmar tragic and miss them heaps. All those memories. Great times, great food, great service & Sailing at over 90% capacity all the time with a similar satisfaction rate, no wonder we loved them.

 

It's amazing to think that if P&O/Princess hadn't purchased Sitmar I think the whole business of Aussie cruising would have been completely different.

 

Consider, that when Mr Vlasov passed away, at the time of the sale they had four new builds under way. Fairmajesty (Now Pacific Pearl) was completed and ready to go in France. Two other ships were commenced at Fincantieri in Italy (Now Pacific Jewel & Pacific Dawn) and an identical sister to Fairmajesty (Pacific Pearl) in France who was ordered but hadn't been commenced (this order was subsequently cancelled).

 

Those in the know say that the Fairmajesty was to sail along side Fairsky (and we know this to be true as advance brochures for her first season had already been released.)

 

It was rumoured that the two Fincantieri new builds were to replace the aging ex Cunarders, Fairsea and Fairwind.

 

The most interesting part of this for us is that the fourth ship (Fairmajesty's cancelled twin) was said to be intended to come out to Australia and sail along side Fairstar (which was going gang busters) to replace the lost passenger capacity when the old Fairsky was lost years earlier.

 

If the company hadn't been sold at that time we would have had a new build cruise ship sailing out of Australia in the early 90's...I think this would have changed the P&O hand-me-down tradition. :rolleyes:

 

Oh well.... we now have all three of Sitmar's last ships and I am glad they are here.:)

I read somewhere else (can't remember where though), that this is why the Pearl has a similar layout to the Dawn and Jewel, despite being different on the outside. Does anyone else think P&O Australia considered this and delibrately pursued the Pearl and the Jewel (at the time, they were OV and OV2) to sail alongside the Dawn here in Australia? Or was it all purely a coincidence?

[subaru94]

Yes we sailed with Fairstar with our 2 children when they were 5 and 4, had a fantastic holiday. I miss the bon apetita, the theme nights where the waiters dressed the part, they also had separate meal times for the children. I am a cruise addict and love cruising but miss theme nights.

[Bella cruiser]

I read somewhere else (can't remember where though), that this is why the Pearl has a similar layout to the Dawn and Jewel, despite being different on the outside. Does anyone else think P&O Australia considered this and delibrately pursued the Pearl and the Jewel (at the time, they were OV and OV2) to sail alongside the Dawn here in Australia? Or was it all purely a coincidence?

 

I've managed to get hold of an early release Sitmar 1989 brochure for FairMajesty (Pacific Pearl) which has a set of deck plans showing her original configuration. She is not significantly different apart from the two level Cinema being replaced with the Casino and the tacked on piece of superstructure which became the Kids HQ on the refit to become Pacific Pearl. If anyone is interested I will try to scan them and post.

 

I think she shows the progression of Sitmar designed ships, particularly between Fairsky (Pacific Sky) with her funnel placement and some of her layout and her dome and atrium are like the Sitmar newbuilds which became Pacific Jewel and Pacific Dawn.

 

It would make sense for the Jewel and Dawn to be together as they are Fincanteiri built sisters, but I am not sure about Pacific Pearl which is quite different. I think it might just be a coincidence that she became available with the demise of OV.