"Out to Sea" Movie filmed on Westerdam

[sfollenius]

Sure this is around in here somewhere, but I searched and couldn't find it. Just curious if they are talking about the MS Westerdam in this review?

 

You've got a number of stars in this comedy! Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon star as a pair of friends who go to sea as Gentlemen Escorts to find new romance. In essence they are free dance partners for the many single woman on board.

 

Jack promptly falls for Vivian (Gloria DeHaven) as a true romance, while Walter Matthau schemes to seduce a younger woman (Dyan Cannon) who appears wealthy and single. The ship is the Holland Westerdam, an actual luxury cruise ship. You get to see a lot of scenes on the ship - from the pool area, the restaurant, the ballroom and the deck.

 

I really loved the smaller parts played by Hal Linden and especially Brent Spiner. The "Data" from Star Trek really shines here as the commanding cruise director.

 

What makes the movie so special is that, in its release year of 1997, you had Lemmon being 71 years old, and Matthau being 77. The two men are still great actors. It gives you a great sense of how vibrant old age can be, if you keep your mind and body healthy. Sadly, both have since passed away, so this movie is a collector's item.

 

What was even more surprising to me is how young Dyan Cannon looks. I loved her in Deathtrap, and while I watched this movie I thought she was a great actress but way too young for the Matthau character. I kept thinking of him as a cradle robber. Actually, she was born in 1937 - so she was 50 in the movie! In comparison, Gloria was 72.

 

So in general, this was a cast with a lot of experience, that shows a great movie can be made without having to rely on teen starlets or the latest handsome face.

 

Highly recommended!

[cmdchiefthom]

They are talking about the MS Westerdam, but not the MS Westerdam currently in service with HAL. The current Westerdam went in to service with HAL in 2004. The previous Westerdam began as the MS Homeric, but when HAL aquired the ship, the company sent her to Meyer Werft, had her cut in half and added 100' of new ship to the old one. I did three great cruises on that Westerdam and have watched the movie Out to Sea many times just to catch a glimpse of parts of the real ship used in the movie.;)

[djhsolara]

I enjoyed watching that movie and seeing the former Westerdam.

 

 

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RetiredMustang]

They are talking about the MS Westerdam, but not the MS Westerdam currently in service with HAL. The current Westerdam went in to service with HAL in 2004. The previous Westerdam began as the MS Homeric, but when HAL aquired the ship, the company sent her to Meyer Werft, had her cut in half and added 100' of new ship to the old one. I did three great cruises on that Westerdam and have watched the movie Out to Sea many times just to catch a glimpse of parts of the real ship used in the movie.;)

 

She is still in service with Thomson line as the Thomson Dream. I spotted her in Barbados last month when I was aboard Maasdam.

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/showphoto.php?photo=23290#

Dave

[sail7seas]

That's a fun move. :)

The movie was made in 1997 and the current Westerdam was launched in 2004. So..... no, it was not filmed on the current ship in the fleet but on the Westerdam the preceded her.

 

[kakalina]

It's a really fun movie. I especially liked the way they portrayed the cruise director. We are looking forward to our first cruise on the Westerdam this fall.

[RMLincoln]

She is still in service with Thomson line as the Thomson Dream. I spotted her in Barbados last month when I was aboard Maasdam.

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/showphoto.php?photo=23290#

Dave

 

Thanks for the photo Dave.... but I"m confused. I sailled on Homes Lines Oceanic in 1972 and that's what she looked like, but the Homeric of that era looked very different. Was there a second Homeric? or could this Thompson Dream possibly be the old Oceanic? I'm confused but would like to understand.

 

And I too love the Out to Sea movie. But someone born in 1937 would have been 60 in 1997. Time does fly, even for movie stars! m--

[sail7seas]

When HAL bought it, they cut her straight down the middle and stretched Westerdam. It was amazing engineering they way they did it. HAL did not build that ship new.

 

Here is a link to explain:

 

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/HAL-Westerdam1985.html

[Typhoon1]

Is this the second or third incarnation of the Westerdam?

 

I have heard there were three, and heard there were two.

[sail7seas]

The current Westerdam is the third ship with that name for HAL.

 

[dot73]

My very first cruise was on that Westerdam to Alaska. There were all kinds of pictures on the ship showing the filming of the movie. That ship got me hooked on cruising and HAL.

[RMLincoln]

When HAL bought it, they cut her straight down the middle and stretched Westerdam. It was amazing engineering they way they did it. HAL did not build that ship new.

 

Here is a link to explain:

 

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/HAL-Westerdam1985.html

 

 

Thank you for this link. I clearly says "Homeric(2)" built for Home Lines in 1986... so that is not the older Homeric I was remembering. Very interesting article. m--

[ShipsAreTheBest]

Thanks for the photo Dave.... but I"m confused. I sailled on Homes Lines Oceanic in 1972 and that's what she looked like, but the Homeric of that era looked very different. Was there a second Homeric? or could this Thompson Dream possibly be the old Oceanic? I'm confused but would like to understand.

 

--

 

The Homeric in the era of your trip on the Oceanic was not the same one. The Homeric that became the Westerdam (II) was built in 1986 (in fact, to replace the Oceanic).

[Copper10-8]

Homeric (1986-present) Built by Jos. L. Meyer GmbH shipyard, Papenburg, (then) West Germany and delivered in 1986 as "Homeric" for Italian-based Home Lines for New York to Bermuda cruising in the summer and Caribbean cruising in the winter months. Homeric was planned during the first half of the 1980s as a replacement for the ageing ss Oceanic in the Home Lines' fleet. The ship was named in honor of the company's earlier ss Homeric, a popular ship for the line that had been destroyed by a fire in 1973.

 

 

She left Emden, West Germany on 12 May 1986 for New York. She then departed on her maiden voyage from New York City to Hamilton, Bermuda on 31 May 1986.

In March 1988, Home Lines (Homeric and Atlantic) was purchased by Holland America Line. Following their final season in Bermuda. HAL sold Atlantic to Premier Cruise Line and moved Homeric into a drydock and refit at the Norshipco yard in Norfolk, Va. Homeric was renamed Westerdam II on 2 November 1988 and departed Ft.Lauderdale, FL on her first HAL cruise, an alternating seven-day run to the Eastern, followed by a seven-day run to the Western Caribbean on 16 November 1988. Westerdam's arrival expanded the HAL fleet to four ships and signaled the beginning of a new era of growth for Holland America that continues today

 

She was the second ship in Holland America Line history to receive the name Westerdam. The first Westerdam sailed for Holland America Line from 1946 to 1965. She was a combination cargo-passenger ship with accommodations for 143 first-class passengers. While being constructed during World War II, Westerdam I was sunk three times: On 27 August 1942, she was bombed and sunk by Allied aircraft while in the shipyard in Rotterdam. The German occupiers raised the ship in September 1944, but she was quickly sunk again, this time by Dutch resistance fighters. After being raised a second time, the resistance again sank her on 17 January 1945. After the Netherlands were liberated in May, 1945, Westerdam I was raised a third time and finally completed. She would go on to be a regular on the transatlantic run, making two eight-day crossings each month between Rotterdam and New York. Her name translates to one of the four directions of the compass in the Dutch language; wester meaning, well, westerly.

 

In the winter of 1989, Westerdam II was sent back to her place of birth, Jos. L. Meyer GmbH, Papenburg, West Germany for lengthening, emerging in 1990 with a new overall length of 243 meters (originally 204 meters) and a new passenger capacity of 1,476 souls (originally 1,132). She was primarily assigned to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl cruising the Caribbean in the winter and to Vancouver, BC for Alaska cruising in the summer months.

 

In 1997, the romantic commedy "Out to Sea" starring Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Rue McClanahan, Dyan Cannon, Gloria DeHaven and Brent Spiner was partially filmed onboard Westerdam II. Compulsive gambler Charlie Gordon (Matthau), hiding out from his various bookies and loan-sharks, cons his brother-in-law Herb Sullivan (Lemmon) into an all expenses-paid luxury cruise in search of rich, lonely ladies to fleece. The catch, which Charlie does not reveal to Herb until the ship has left port, is that they are required to be dance hosts and must sleep in a cramped cabin in the bowels of the ship.

 

 

 

Ruled over by tyrannical, control-freak Cruise Director Gil Godwin, "a song and dance man raised on a military base" (Spiner), they do their best, despite Charlie's not actually being able to dance. They each meet a lady of interest. One is the luscious heiress Liz LaBreche (Cannon), whose wealth attracts Charlie every bit as much as the rest of her does. The other is lovely widow Vivian (DeHaven), who is under the impression that Herb is a doctor, not a dancer. By the time Charlie literally drags ship owner Mrs. Carruthers (McClanahan) across the dance floor, the boys aren't sure if they will find true love or need to abandon ship.

 

 

 

In March 2002, After 643 cruises spanning over 13 years with Holland America, she was internally transferred within the Carnival Group to Italy-based Costa Crociere/Costa Cruise Lines. After a drydock in Genoa, Italy, she was christened Costa Europa and in April 2002 commenced cruising for the Italian company.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

 

 

In July 2009, Carnival Corporation announced that Costa Europa will join British tour operator Thomson Cruises under a 10-year bareboat charter beginning in April 2010. Under the agreement, Thomson has an option to purchase the ship after five years. She was renamed Thomson Dream and is currently operating for the British company

 

 

[sfollenius]

Wow, so interesting, I will definitely have to check the movie out, it's 1.99 on amazon.

[wilsonqbc]

There are quite a few shots of the actual crew not actors also in the movie,

I remember an older Man, Willim has since passed, was controller I think, what a Nice person,

There is a scene where they are running though the galley, and you see the executive chef, with his Chefs hat on. Copper was wondering if you remember his name by any chance, He's probably retired and in Fiji by now. I just cant remember it anymore

He also worked on Amsterdam or Rotterdam world cruises I recall.

Yeah way back in the 90's starting to feel old:eek:

Oh and yes she was Haunted, according to many crew, but in a good way!!

[Himself]

 

 

In July 2009, Carnival Corporation announced that Costa Europa will join British tour operator Thomson Cruises under a 10-year bareboat charter beginning in April 2010. Under the agreement, Thomson has an option to purchase the ship after five years. She was renamed Thomson Dream and is currently operating for the British company

 

 

 

Once again John you are a polethera of information. I was once--and only once--Catholic Chaplain on this ship. In late April of 1998 to early May, I sailed on her from Ft. Lauderdale to Vancouver, BC Canada. I have many thoughts on her. She was not a ship designed by HAL and there were certain differences I choose not to go into here other than to say she was my least favorite HAL ship. I was once on the current Westerdam and she is a much nicer ship.

 

A couple of the dance hosts in the movie were actually real dance hosts and I saw one of them on the cruise I took. I even saw that movie on the Westerdam.

 

Thank you for your enlightening information. I knew she was no longer with Costa but I had not remembered what happened to her. Thank you for enlightening me.

[RMLincoln]

This is great. Not only a wealth of information but first hand experiences. Precious. Thank you all for taking the time to share with us. m--

[WriterOnDeck]

That Westerdam was my intro to cruising -- my first cruise! I also sailed on her second-to-last cruise for HAL. She holds a special place for me.:)

[Himself]

There are quite a few shots of the actual crew not actors also in the movie,

I remember an older Man, Willim has since passed, was controller I think, what a Nice person,

There is a scene where they are running though the galley, and you see the executive chef, with his Chefs hat on. Copper was wondering if you remember his name by any chance, He's probably retired and in Fiji by now. I just cant remember it anymore

He also worked on Amsterdam or Rotterdam world cruises I recall.

Yeah way back in the 90's starting to feel old:eek:

Oh and yes she was Haunted, according to many crew, but in a good way!!

 

I had not heard she was haunted. It was the only HAL ship I was on where the priest chaplain had a window in his room. I was down on the "B" deck and actually had a port hole.

 

Now the movie theatre was up where the Crows Nest is on most HAL ships. We held morning Mass in there and one day some lady is coming up the stairs. She said "Father, this is so high I feel like I am heaven." I said "Mam, my room is on "B" deck, but please do not draw any conclusions." She smiled!

[Copper10-8]

I had not heard she was haunted. It was the only HAL ship I was on where the priest chaplain had a window in his room. I was down on the "B" deck and actually had a port hole.

 

Now the movie theatre was up where the Crows Nest is on most HAL ships. We held morning Mass in there and one day some lady is coming up the stairs. She said "Father, this is so high I feel like I am heaven." I said "Mam, my room is on "B" deck, but please do not draw any conclusions." She smiled!

 

Maasdam's current hotel manager worked on Westerdam II as a clerk in the Admin. Section ;) I had heard the "haunted" stories also, but he (MADM's HM) has never seen any para-normal activity. Like Dave (Retired Mustang) stated, one can see her (Thomson Dream) frequently in Bridgetown, Barbados

[bob brown]

 

 

In July 2009, Carnival Corporation announced that Costa Europa will join British tour operator Thomson Cruises under a 10-year bareboat charter beginning in April 2010. Under the agreement, Thomson has an option to purchase the ship after five years. She was renamed Thomson Dream and is currently operating for the British company

 

 

Thanks so much for all the history. Just love that stuff!

Do you know if they are going to excercise their option to purchase it?

And IIRC, aren't there some other old HAL ships (old NA and Noordam?), that are in a similar situation....still owned but leased out by HAL?

[Copper10-8]

Thanks so much for all the history. Just love that stuff!

Do you know if they are going to excercise their option to purchase it?

And IIRC, aren't there some other old HAL ships (old NA and Noordam?), that are in a similar situation....still owned but leased out by HAL?

 

Sorry Bob. can't tell you about Thomson's plans for Thomson Dream, ex-Westerdam II;)

Yes, Thomsom currently also operates two other former HAL vessels, the two "N" class sisters Nieuw Amsterdam III, now Thomson Spirit and Noordam III, now Thomson Celebration

 

Nieuw Amsterdam III returned officially under the umbrella of the Carnival Corp in 2002 after United States Lines (who had purchased her as Patriot) went belly-up. Cyprus-based Louis Cruises acquired her on a 10-yr bare-back charter but almost immediately sub-leased her to Thomson Cruises. She is still owned by HAL

 

Noordam III, in Nov 2004, was also acquired by Louis Cruises and also sub-leased to Thomson

[wilsonqbc]

Thanks for the reply Copper, much appreciated!