Do you remember when??

[KevintheIrishDJ]

I did a couple cruises back in the 70's but I cannot remember where they originated. In any case, they were either the Bahamas and/or Caribbean, and NY to Bermuda. I recall being on the dock and seeing much larger ships docked. Always curious, I asked how was the foods on their ship. One replied "horrible, it's a Russian crew." And then said, never cruise with a Russian crew...only Italian is the best."

 

I also recall cruising out of Jamaica once. It was our embarkation port. I also recall cruising on a ship with a Greek registry and Greek crew out of Florida. What happened to these cruise lines?

 

Does anyone ever recall cruising from the East coast with a Russian crew and do you remember when there were ships with only Italian crews? For some reason I think they were cruises out of NYC.

 

My very first cruise was possibly 40+ years ago. It must have been a real cheapo cruise because I recall the interior walls were of the same material as the outside. White steel and the beds were built-in bunks. Of course I was just a young bride and hubby at the time had nothing to compare it to. I do recall half of the ship was over-run by a private high school graduation class from somewhere in the south. The girls wore their full length prom dresses with full length crinolines and looking ever so much like a Disney Princess.

 

My first cruise was on a Greek ship, the Queen Anna Maria. Not so good.

[Mackenzie1]

* One (and sometimes two) legal size, folded "newspapers" with news stories at our door every morning;

 

* feeling like we were still rocking two days after we disembarked from the ship because of no stabilizers;

 

* elaborate displays of desserts at the midnight buffet like a chocolate cake in the exact form of a typewriter with keys, a space bar, and return. It was so beautiful, it was hard to imagine even eating it;

 

* ship photos at the captain's dinner with each of us shaking the captain's hand.

Edited April 28, 2016 by Mackenzie1

[Woobstr112G]

We still use those whenever drinking champagne! :D Two of them were etched with the year (1989) which I think may have been one of the last years they were given to Circolo del Comandante (Captain's Circle) members but obviously my memory could be wrong. :p

 

I agree about the prices...the attached PDF copy of a 1977/1978 Princess brochure has prices that nearly 40 years later are similar to today's prices.

 

Our first Princess cruise was on Sitmar six months before merging with Princess...white glove service from silver platters was amazing! :D

 

Although the older ships' cabins were not as good as those we have today. Back then they built a ship & figured out where to put cabins (there were some really odd cabins) but now the cabins are modular and much nicer than what we had back then.

 

Frank, that pdf file was very cool to look at. Thanks for sharing.

 

Bob

[rockdoctor]

I miss the barbecue by the pool, the suchi and, most of all, the Death by Chocolate Buffet.

[nimiq]

We still use those whenever drinking champagne! :D Two of them were etched with the year (1989) which I think may have been one of the last years they were given to Circolo del Comandante (Captain's Circle) members but obviously my memory could be wrong. :p

 

 

 

I agree about the prices...the attached PDF copy of a 1977/1978 Princess brochure has prices that nearly 40 years later are similar to today's prices.

 

 

 

Our first Princess cruise was on Sitmar six months before merging with Princess...white glove service from silver platters was amazing! :D

 

 

 

Although the older ships' cabins were not as good as those we have today. Back then they built a ship & figured out where to put cabins (there were some really odd cabins) but now the cabins are modular and much nicer than what we had back then.

 

 

Love the brochure :-)

[nimiq]

I appreciate Putterdude's comments . Those old ships really were minnows compared to today's .

For me , a relatively recent cruiser , the changes are almost all to the good .

Specifically the restrictions on smoking and the bigger ships with much greater food and entertainment options .

Plus the amount of reasonably priced balcony options where once balconies were reserved almost entirely for suites .

 

Yes there are changes even reductions , some for cost savings and many for safety or environmental reasons .

 

Edited to say I didn't wish to rain on anyone's fond memories . I'm sure they were good times .

 

 

Hey, love the Expos logo you used :-)

 

Sea ya

Eric

[nimiq]

Hello all,

 

-How about getting all the pre-cruise documents and tickets mailed "not emailed"to you home address :-).

-Real cruise line luggage tags

-for me miss the midnight buffet.

-trays to carry your plates and silverware in the buffet area.

-handling over your passport to the cruise line.

-the surprise of seeing the inside the ship for the first time. ( Now to curious so we check it out on the net)

 

So many more I'm sure.

 

Sea ya

 

Eric

[GUT2407]

I miss the barbecue by the pool, the suchi and, most of all, the Death by Chocolate Buffet.

 

Our last cruise they had a BBQ by the pool, but Princess needs some lessons in how to do a BBQ.

 

Suchi, do you mean Sushi. If so they have that on most ships don't they Kai Sushi, in 34 days never saw one person in there.

[tonyweir]

You used to be able to drive golf balls, made of fish food, off the back deck. You used to be able to shoot skeet off the back as well.

[GUT2407]

You used to be able to drive golf balls, made of fish food, off the back deck. You used to be able to shoot skeet off the back as well.

 

Two things I'd love to see return.

 

Doubt they ever will.

[iceleven]

Could have been Chandris, former parent of Chandris Celebrity and Chandris Fantasy cruises. Greek-owned, very Greek officer and hotel corps, and sold to Royal Caribbean in 1996. Fantasy had died somewhat before that, to my mind

 

 

 

Not from the east coast, but my early cruises with Sitmar were very, very Italian in staff and crew.

 

Thank you for clearing that up for me. Yes, Chandris does ring a bell. I think we sailed from Jamaica and went to the San Blas Islands, Cartagena, and Aruba.

 

I believe it was Home Lines that went to Bermuda from NYC that had the Italian crew.

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Being able to totally relax,

 

no internet,

 

no mobile phones,

 

no tvs,

 

even in port no newspapers

 

if something did happen Captain would make an announcement,

 

passengers more interested in the ports, their culture their food,

 

or how about being announced as you entered the dining room on formal night,

 

being invite by crew to explore the ship,

 

have a drink in crew bar,

 

attend a crew party,

 

yours Shogun

[Bemidji Ty]

The "Bonk" that said you were back home.

Edited April 28, 2016 by Bemidji Ty
wording

[Cruise Raider]

OMG -- I forgot all about the trays in the buffet area.

Also, just loved those BBQs on deck. Norwegian knew how to do it ... it was daily.

Also, the party on the deck at night was the place to be. You would no sooner be done eating dinner and it was time to go get some snacks up at the party on the pool deck.

 

I even remember that there used to be a topless optional sun bathing area in the front of the ship.

 

And who could forget those twin beds on the old Sky Princess? Not sure if it was in every room but they were mounted to the floor so no pushing them together and there was only one small nightstand between them that was to be shared. I remember that the room was 121 sq ft. The breakfast was cooked and served out on the back deck of the ship. Now, that is a happy memory. I think the ship only held 1200 passengers ...maybe less. Fun memories!

 

4cats4me - the cruise I was referring to was also in 1992 -- Sept of 1992, actually. Maybe we were on the same cruise?? We sailed on the Carnival Celebration, I think.

[Astro Flyer]

Frank, that pdf file was very cool to look at. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Bob

 

 

Love the brochure :-)

 

At those 1977 prices it wasn't affordable for me & I kept the brochure when it was posted in a thread.

 

When dinner was only assigned dining times I think they played chimes (or bells) before making an announcement that dinner was being served.

[Corinda]

Yes the Chimes!!

 

Ladies and Gentlemen Buon Apetito

 

Good Times

[Rockwife]

I'm not a dancer, but I loved watching the older couples dance their fancy moves to a live big band. The music was wonderful and watching them was so much fun.

 

I can't really fault the cruise lines for getting rid of many of the live music performers, though. There was less and less attendance as the years went by. Of course they're going to cut corners there.

[The Wilkies]

 

When dinner was only assigned dining times I think they played chimes (or bells) before making an announcement that dinner was being served.

 

We used to call it "tinker bell"

 

Our first cabin was interior with bunk beds and a wash basin

Progressed to interior with a staggered window pane so that we could look out down the corridor to a porthole and daylight!

Then a porthole but still bunk beds

Progressed from a porthole to a window

And finally a balcony.

 

Oh happy days, even if you did have to wander down the corridor to the shower and toilet. Cruises were for the few and you felt a bit special, it was more an adventure. Nowadays with all the luxury and facilities it somehow doesn't feel quite so special. Or is it just me!

[Corinda]

It's a different kind of "Feeling Special" :)

[Astro Flyer]

We used to call it "tinker bell"

 

Our first cabin was interior with bunk beds and a wash basin

Progressed to interior with a staggered window pane so that we could look out down the corridor to a porthole and daylight!

Then a porthole but still bunk beds

Progressed from a porthole to a window

And finally a balcony.

 

Oh happy days, even if you did have to wander down the corridor to the shower and toilet. Cruises were for the few and you felt a bit special, it was more an adventure. Nowadays with all the luxury and facilities it somehow doesn't feel quite so special. Or is it just me!

That was better than my first cruise ship that I could afford in the early 70s...an inside 3 bunk high berthing space & standing in line 30 minutes to eat off metal trays seated on picnic tables on an aircraft carrier with 4,500 of my buddies. :p

[Thrak]

I kind of like the way things are now since I'm not stuck below decks in "Third Class".

 

I can understand that cruising used to be much more elegant but, if you were a Third Class passenger, you were barred from the nice parts of the ship. You ate the Third Class menu in the Third Class dining room, etc.

 

I seem to recall reading that most of those who survived the sinking of the Titanic were from First Class and that some stewards were accused of actually barring passageways so that the Third Class folks couldn't get to the lifeboats. Had to make sure the First Class folks got first shot at them you know. Save the rich folks and all that...

 

It's much more egalitarian these days. In some ways I'm sure it used to be much nicer but, in other ways, things are better today for most folks. There are still "rich folks" cruise lines but I'm glad there are now "regular folks" cruise lines as well.

[Myrtle Ave. Mayhem]

Glad that you enjoyed it & for me it puts things in perspective when comparing cruising back then to today's cruises. ;)

 

To get the food & service we enjoyed on Sitmar & our first Princess cruise in 1989 we'd have to probably sail more upscale cruise lines such as Oceania or even a luxury cruise line such as Crystal. Of course with those higher prices we couldn't afford to cruise as often so instead we enjoy many more days sailing on Princess which still provides us with the best overall cruise experience for what we're paying today. :)

 

Very well said Astro Flyer. I just returned last week from a wonderful Crown Princess cruise that I enjoyed very much..... but it certainly wasn't the Sitmar/Princess of 1989.

 

Cruise documents from the brick & mortar travel agency that had paper tickets, luggage tags, shore excursion info, complete passengers services booklet

 

Dressing UP for embarkation day

 

Yes, the white gloved stewards and ships officers standing in line to greet us.Cabin steward taking the handbags and escorting us to the cabin

 

Bon Voyage with streamers, confetti, & a classy jazz band

 

Stunningly handsome Italian & Portuguese crew from Sitmar. Witty British crew aboard Princess

 

Salt water aft terraced pools on Sitmar. Beautiful Scandinavian Modern light filled public rooms with floor to ceiling windows on Pacific/Island Princess

 

Being addressed by my last name

 

Table side food preparation & flambe (as mentioned)

 

Vegetables served separately (as mentioned)

 

Dinner chimes

 

Ships orchestra played the music for the production shows

 

Social staff were the production singers and dancers on Pacific/Island Princess

 

The sea witch was blue AND green, longer

 

Padded deck chairs on the promenade (as mentioned)

 

NO RAP/REGGATON MUSIC ! NO MOVIE SCREENS POOLSIDE !

 

The genuine focus of the crew and cruise line on gracious service and food, not endless revenue production "gimmicks".

 

This thread is giving me goosebumps and bringing a tear to my eyes. I could go on. Thanks everyone for regaling me with your memories !

[Astro Flyer]

Very well said Astro Flyer. I just returned last week from a wonderful Crown Princess cruise that I enjoyed very much..... but it certainly wasn't the Sitmar/Princess of 1989.

Thanks & we also enjoyed the same cruise on the Crown last week & while it certainly wasn't Sitmar we're looking forward to another cruise soon. :)

 

Our wonderful waiter Paolo was on the cover of the last Sitmar brochure & we joked with him enough to get him to autograph it. :D

[markf]

In the late 50s , you actually reserved your deck chairs, where you wanted to sit , and the chair was yours. Blankets were supplied if needed.

[tonyweir]

I remember vacationing in Puerto Vallarta in the 70s and seeing the cruise ships anchored off the pier. We used to go to the pier and get on a tender, any tender and go out to check out a ship. We would stay for lunch and then take a tender back. There was no checking, no ID, nothing. I guess they assumed we were American so we belonged.

 

We checked out Sitmar, Princess and others I can't remember.