Song of Norway RCCL

[bearing]

Song of Norway my my first RCCL cruise too. I loved that ship... who am I kidding I love all cruise ships - LOL, anyway here is a picture of me and my family on her in 1985.

[bearing]

Song of Norway my my first RCCL cruise too. I loved that ship... who am I kidding I love all cruise ships - LOL, anyway here is a picture of me and my family on her in 1985.

 

I just took a closer look at that picture, LOL LOL LOL! What were we all wearing! Well it was the height of the 80's! Gotta love the ruffles in my tux shirt. LOL :eek:

[Reason123]

Hey all

 

I was doing some investigation and come across this site asking where this cruiser had gone too..?

 

Im looking at it!

 

My office is located in Tilbury docks, England. The now named 'Ocean pearl' has been sitting in my eye line since September last year where is has sat waiting to be sold as the cruise operator went bust.

 

Anyway...just in case anyone was interested..

[Reason123]

[silvercruiser]

Song of Norway was my first cruise too and I can still remember what a thrill it was to actually be on a cruise ship to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.

I don't usually include my very long signature, but want you to see what that first cruise led to!

[can'tcatchup]

My first cruise was on the Song of Norway in 1977. That was before she was lengthened. Ports were San Juan, St. Thomas, & Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.

[sunshinegallery]

I don't know what happened to the SON but I sailed her in 1989 and we thought she was just beautiful with all the teak wood. It only had 1100 passengers. Wow, what a difference with today's mega ships!

[berwyn]

She is now The Ocean Pearl.I found this at ship parade.Also see post number 29

 

Ocean Pearl

Owner/Operator: International Shipping Partners / Happy Cruises

Year built: 1970

Rebuilt: 1978

Builder: Wärtsilä, Helsinki, Finland

Former names: Song of Norway, Sundream, Dream Princess, Dream, Clipper Pacific, Festival

Gross Tonnage 22,945

Length: 194.3 m (637.5 ft)

Beam: 24.0 m (78.8 ft)

Passengers (normal): 1,134

Passengers (maximum): 1,257

Crew: 423

Service speed: 21.0 kn

Sister Ships: Ocean Star Pacific

[sunshinegallery]

thank you very much for the information on the Song of Noway

[sunshinegallery]

Wow, a photo of the old "Song of Norway", that is really great! Thank you for sharing.,

[sunshinegallery]

Oh my goodness, you have been sailing! Very impressive!

[COMBOY]

I found this article in http://maritimematters.com/2012/04/ocean-pearl-sold-gemini-chartered/

 

Meanwhile, across the slip at Pier 31, the sleek, 1970-built OCEAN PEARL, was readying for a thirty night delivery voyage via Suez to Guangzhou, China, where the vessel will be converted for use as a five star casino ship. The OCEAN PEARL is the former SONG OF NORWAY, the first ship built for now mega-cruise line Royal Caribbean. The SONG OF NORWAY was not only of the first modern cruise ships, she was also one of the first to be “stretched” with the insertion of a mid-section in 1978 that increased her original tonnage from 18,418 to 23,005 and capacity from 724 to 1,196. (As of 4/9/12)

Edited April 19, 2012 by COMBOY

[sunshinegallery]

I found this article in http://maritimematters.com/2012/04/ocean-pearl-sold-gemini-chartered/

 

Meanwhile, across the slip at Pier 31, the sleek, 1970-built OCEAN PEARL, was readying for a thirty night delivery voyage via Suez to Guangzhou, China, where the vessel will be converted for use as a five star casino ship. The OCEAN PEARL is the former SONG OF NORWAY, the first ship built for now mega-cruise line Royal Caribbean. The SONG OF NORWAY was not only of the first modern cruise ships, she was also one of the first to be “stretched” with the insertion of a mid-section in 1978 that increased her original tonnage from 18,418 to 23,005 and capacity from 724 to 1,196. (As of 4/9/12)

I don't remember if I thanked you for this article. My friend and I were very interested to know what happened to the Song of Norway. We sailed her in 1989

[wscott52]

Just found this thread doing a Google search for Song of Norway. Coincidentally I also just joined the forum because my wife and I are cruising on Oasis of the Seas in February. Anyway, SON was my first cruise around 1974. My mother and father were just divorced and my mother wanted to take my brother and me on a cruise. I think it was over the summer so I had probably just turned 22 and he was 19. We went to St. Thomas and San Juan and probably Puerto Plata. My brother and I did the Bacardi rum tour in San Juan. They had a tent set up after the tour at the dock where the launch to the ship was docking serving daiquiris and mai-tais, one free to a customer. We each had one and then wanted to try the other. The bartender said he didn't care so we tried the othe flavor. We ended up staying to the last launch back to the and got pretty well toasted. She was a nice little ship with good food and service. Here's a pic taken by the ship photographer. I'm the one with the afro and yellow plaid sport coat. I don't miss the coat but I sure miss the waist line:

 

Edited August 5, 2012 by wscott52

[Mr Veendam06]

We were the first ones to go to Labedee on the Song iof Norway when it opened up !!

[Loeweb]

Christmas Cruise 1989 was our very first cruise, we had 2 inside rooms and were thrilled as we cruised around the caribbean st thomas, jamaica (duns river falls) labadee and aruba.. got us hooked on cruising and still cruising rccl to date!

Edited January 18, 2013 by Loeweb
add photo

[stonebinge2001]

...buy the Song of Norway, in spite of her age, I would! Like many people, my first cruise was aboard her in February of 1982. Oh, what a magnificant ship she was! Yes, there was skeet shooting off the stern, dancing in the Viking Lounge, aerobics on a bouncing deck and best of all...two portholes in my cabin that actually opened. My friend and I had bunks in our little cabin and I really felt like I was on a ship. I was 22 years of age and somewhat disdainful of cruising as I felt it was an "older person" type of vacation. What a fool I was! I am now 52 years old and have been on 20 cruises--thanks to the Song of Norway and my mom (who takes me on all HER cruises). I will never forget the Song off Norway...

Edited January 18, 2013 by stonebinge2001

[Debitoo]

T-Bone: I honeymooned out of San Juan in 89 and I'm sure St Thomas was on the list and maybe Antigua was too.

You are correct. I too sailed her out of Puerto Rico on my first cruise with my mom in 1988ish. (I can't remember the exact year, darn it). There was a group of musicians called the Harmonicats on board. Does anyone remember sailing when they were there? I recently sailed on the AOS to revisit the ports that we sailed back then. The only ones that the AOS didn't go to was Martinique and St Thomas. I LOVED the SON. I still have pictures of that gigantic buffet. WOW!

[mzloolue]

My husband and I took our first cruise on Song of Norway in 1982.

 

I have looked for photos from our trip, but have not been able to find any.:(

 

I remember people eating fin and haddie for breakfast.

 

And the wonderful service on board.

 

I am glad I got to have one cruise that seemed to be in another era.

 

We sailed from Miami and visited Puerto Plata :eek:, San Juan, and St Thomas.

 

I was thinking about Song of Norway because I just saw a David Bowie video called Where Are We Now and in the video he is wearing a MS Song of Norway tshirt.

The song seems to have a multitude of meanings, so I am sure the shirt has some significance that I don't understand.

Edited March 27, 2013 by mzloolue

[berwyn]

We did the same cruise back in 1980. I agree about Puerto Plata. What a dump.

[sunshinegallery]

My husband and I took our first cruise on Song of Norway in 1982.

 

I have looked for photos from our trip, but have not been able to find any.:(

 

I remember people eating fin and haddie for breakfast.

 

And the wonderful service on board.

 

I am glad I got to have one cruise that seemed to be in another era.

 

We sailed from Miami and visited Puerto Plata :eek:, San Juan, and St Thomas.

 

I was thinking about Song of Norway because I just saw a David Bowie video called Where Are We Now and in the video he is wearing a MS Song of Norway tshirt.

The song seems to have a multitude of meanings, so I am sure the shirt has some significance that I don't understand.

My husband and I and our neighbors took that same cruise in the 80's. Cruising was so different in that era.....exclusive, non-crowded, elegant....not the cattle herding that the cruise lines of nowadays. I'll have to listen for the video.

[sunshinegallery]

...buy the Song of Norway, in spite of her age, I would! Like many people, my first cruise was aboard her in February of 1982. Oh, what a magnificant ship she was! Yes, there was skeet shooting off the stern, dancing in the Viking Lounge, aerobics on a bouncing deck and best of all...two portholes in my cabin that actually opened. My friend and I had bunks in our little cabin and I really felt like I was on a ship. I was 22 years of age and somewhat disdainful of cruising as I felt it was an "older person" type of vacation. What a fool I was! I am now 52 years old and have been on 20 cruises--thanks to the Song of Norway and my mom (who takes me on all HER cruises). I will never forget the Song off Norway...

You are so right, it was a beautiful and elegant way to travel. My first cruise in 1975 was monumental because I talked about it to so many people that everyone of my friends became cruisers at some stage of their lives....I remember the "older" passengers would always say, what are you doing on this old people's cruise, you're the youngest one on this ship! Or....what are you doing sitting at this table, you should be with some younger people....so they found me a table with 7 other people somewhat my age and we had a great time. Of course, everyone practically knew everyone else on board...LOL

[can'tcatchup]

My husband and I took our first cruise on Song of Norway in 1982.

.........

We sailed from Miami and visited Puerto Plata :eek:, San Juan, and St Thomas.

 

Same ports of call in 1977 or 78 when I sailed on SON! My first cruise & I loved it. Wish today's cruises were like that! :)

[Smitty_1965]

My parents took me with them on the Song of Norway for my graduation present in 1985. It was my first and only cruise. It was a very memorable vacation! Recently I'd been looking for the latest information on the ship. I'd like to know if anyone can clarify what I've found out. In 2007, she apparently developed a 10 degrees list. 4 of the crew were detained because it was believed that they intentionally made it list. Is there anyone here that confirm this? I just can't believe that anyone would want to do something like this to such a beautiful ship

[EMBFlyer]

My parents took me with them on the Song of Norway for my graduation present in 1985. It was my first and only cruise. It was a very memorable vacation! Recently I'd been looking for the latest information on the ship. I'd like to know if anyone can clarify what I've found out. In 2007, she apparently developed a 10 degrees list. 4 of the crew were detained because it was believed that they intentionally made it list. Is there anyone here that confirm this? I just can't believe that anyone would want to do something like this to such a beautiful ship

 

Unfortunately, it appears she was broken up for scrap last year. Her sister, Nordic Prince was also broken up in February. I believe Sun Viking is still sailing, but can't confirm.