Old time cruisers what is the farthest back you go

[Janet524]

Song of Norway in 1986 for our honeymoon. Just celebrated 30th anniversary on Allure. From one end of the spectrum to the other!

[WupperAV]

I'm sure someone will say Mayflower but my family had their own boat called Fancy Captained by William Every/Avery.

[jocap]

My husband's parents worked in Africa after the war, so his first sea journey was around 1948 with Union Castle ships... he says that this wasn't cruising, just transport. Nevertheless, it sounds as though all the children ate separately in an evening, with nannies in attendance, whilst the adults dressed for formal dinner. He was thrilled to be able to leave his siblings in the nursery, when he turned 15yrs, even though it meant that he had to wear a suit and eat in the adult dining room.

Crossing the equator was a big occasion, with all the children involved... it sounds to have been a very wet occasion. Again, when he was a teenager, he enjoyed being part of the ritual for his siblings who hadn't met Neptune before!

Now, when we cruise, he'll casually mention that, oh, yes, he'd been to Madeira before, but his only memories of these places are filthy docks covered with coal for the ships, and never the blue sea or golden sands....:rolleyes:

[XBGuy]

NCL MS Southward -- October 1976 -- for our honeymoon.

 

We are not as passionate as many, here on Cruise Critic, about cruising, but, since retirement, five years ago, we have picked it up a bit. A couple weeks ago we celebrated our 40th anniversary on the Ruby Princess.

 

I much prefer the flexibility in dining choices that the mainstream lines now offer over the old paradigm.

[hancock]

First cruise was on the Oceanic as a young adult, Easter of 1969 with my parents. We were in a small suite. I slept on the sofa. Had a small port hole that looked out on the deck. Bingo was cheap, not like it is now. Visited Nassau. Went over to Paradise Island. LOTS of sea urchins in the water at that time.

Did visit the SS United States before it sailed its Inaugural sailing. My great aunt and uncle were sailing on her. He was one of the naval architects that worked on her design. He over saw her being built in Newport News, VA. We don't build the cruise ships in the US any more!

Edited November 15, 2016 by hancock

[BTromboneFrack]

Our first cruise was the Carnival Festivale over NYE 1987/88. We were new to cruising and the ship was so new to us. We had done the resort hotel thing, but I was concerned about not being able to get our money's worth, but wow, what an eye opener.

 

The rooms were small and the amenities were sparse compared to today's ships, but I remember lots of great food, midnight buffets, booze and some pretty rowdy deck parties. The New Year's Eve party was hooked up by radio to the bridge, who did the countdown through Greenwich, England, time.

 

We boarded the ship in St. Maartin by going up steps on the side of the ship. I remember one lady had gotten so drunk she had to be carried up the steps for all to watch.

 

The next year, we went on the Holiday, and it was a huge improvement over the remodeled Festivale. We went to a meeting where they talked about the future of Carnival, and how they were soon going to build ships that could hold over 2000 passengers (the Fantasy Class)!!! We were all amazed.

 

My parents went on the Norway at that time, which was then the biggest cruise ship in the world (76,000 tons). They said it was so big they often got lost during their vacation.

 

While there are cutbacks, the new ships today are so much more user friendly.

[Nebr.cruiser]

Our first cruise was around 1974 on the Regina Magna of the Chandris Line. She was a grand old ship. It hooked us on cruising, although we only did one more cruise in the 70's, on the Bolero--life and raising kids got in the way. We started cruising again in the mid-90's and especially after 2000.

[maldenmusic]

I don't go very far back in cruising as my 1st was in 2009 on the Fantasy. I'm getting ready to take cruise #11.

[LocoLoco1]

CHANDRIS Lines 'Patris', 1972. Sailed from Perth Australia to Singapore. Very, very crazy trip beyond words. Hippies, Miss Australia contestants, Rich Oriental women with much younger boy-toys. Fire aboard ship. Int'l. scoundrels on the run.... Fun. LocoLoco1

[OCruisers]

1961 on SS Bahama Star:D

[loubetti]

A lot of familiar names I'm seeing here, but mine was in 1985 on Costa Riviera, the former Lloyd Triestino liner Marconi.

[CPT Trips]

1982, QE II first sailing out of NYC after being used as a troop transport during the Falklands War/Guerra de las Malvinas (depending on your side). It was a cruise to nowhere to get back on their TA schedule. They were still in the process of removing the protective wall and floor coverings from some of the public areas.

[lysolqn]

The Norway, 1982.

[notentirelynormal]

My mother had several trans-Atlantic voyages on various ships, including the original Queen Mary, which she loved. She and my grandmother went to Europe and spent up to several months (both were teachers). Things were very formal on these crossings and while the "class system" wasn't as rigid, it still existed.

 

When the cruise industry started to take off in the early 1970s, we were right there. I started cruising at age 9 or 10 and took a number of cruises on Sitmar's Fairwind and Fairsea throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

 

As others have said, the dress was much more formal -- there were three categories: formal, semi-formal (dress/jacket & tie), or informal, which was usually just the first night aboard. No such thing as "casual" dress allowed.

 

People ate in the main dining room at fixed seating times -- there was no other choice. No specialty restaurants, no dedicated buffet (although there would be an occasional lunch buffet served poolside), no "as you like" open seating.

 

There were more courses served at meals, and much more individual attention as most waiters had only two tables or maybe three. Sides were served to you, salads were dressed at table, and there were table-side preparations of things like pasta or "flaming cherries jubilee."

 

Entertainment was fairly amateur, although you'd get the occasional "name" singer or comedian that people might recognize. Activities included things like horse racing, skeet shooting off the back of the ship, dancing lessons, and Bingo. There were very few "for pay" activities and no real spa.

 

Ships were small and these were the "pre-stabilizer" days, so I recall some pretty rough seas. I remember going down hallways where there were "barf bags" set up at regular intervals. I also remember that our table in the dining room had a lip around the edges that could be put in position to stop things sliding off the table! Fun times....:D

 

Cabins were also small. Very few balconies -- usually just for suites. You were lucky to have a porthole. Your room steward seemed to be constantly available. They brought any room service items (very limited) as well as cleaning your cabin and managing laundry.

 

I too recall getting a printed list of passengers onboard -- something that would never happen today. We also got a set of menus at the end of each cruise (menus were much more individualized...)

 

Even the ports were different. The Caribbean back then was very non-commercial. You'd have very few organized excursions; mostly it was a matter of getting off the ship, walking around the town a bit, or getting a taxi for a couple hours' tour of the island sites. I remember little kids would swim out to the ship and entreat passengers to toss coins, which they would dive for. No Margaritavilles, no Diamonds International....

 

This is much like we remember our first few. Our first cruise was in April '84 on Sitmar's Fairwind. My DD was 7. No children's facilities on those ships so they had to get creative. Bowling oranges in the restaurants with plastic glasses as the pins for example. Our next was Sitmar's Fairsky in April of 87. Those ships grew up to become Princess ships the Fairwind and Fairsky. CM42's experiences are much like I would have said. Since there were so few children cruising in that time period the crew loved them. Every night my DD was met at the dining room by the most gorgeous young Italian man. He stopped what he was doing, ran to the door, put out his arm and escorted her to her table. The women in the restaurant swooned in jealousy.

 

The deck crew were picking up suitcases on the last night and I hear a commotion. Out to the hallway and I see my DD "playing" with them. I her to leave them alone that they were working. No, she's fine they insist. Next I see them put her on a dolly and go running down the hallway with her and throw her on top of all the suitcases. They were laughing hysterically. Yes, folks, times have changed on how to entertain children on cruise ships. I would have turned her into the captain or cruise director but they were just as bad. Captain took her with him while her was doing formal pictures, speech and dance. After the captain the CD danced the next few dances with her.

[DRS/NC]

1967 on NCL Sunward, Friday to Monday from Miami to Bahamas.

 

Loved it, but we were young & wanted more "exotic" land trips for a few years, then had our DD.

 

In 1974 we discovered Sitmar's Fairsea (Mexican coast), their wonderful children's program (bare bones by today's standards). I realized that there was a way for us to have a family vacation in which I could actually have "mama's down time". DD was 2 1/2 & LOVED every minute of being Bella Bambini!

 

The rest is in my cruise history!

[john watson]

As I recall May 1964, Queen Elizabeth transatlantic to get to the New York world fair. This was followed closely by returning home on SS France. I was about seven at the time and the French Line dining stewards seemed to think it strange that my mother thought I should not have any wine with my dinner.

 

Regards John

[jgallagh1944]

Premier Cruise Lines Big Red Boat (Disney Cruise Line) in 1987 out of Port Canaveral. It didn't compare in any way to the modern ships of today. They had some Disney characters on board. It was a place to eat while being transported to a destination. Today's ships are destinations in themselves.

 

 

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[kelmac]

My first cruise was on NCL's Starward in 1978. Every cruise since then has been much better than my first one, but I was still hooked. To show you how long ago that was -- our last stop was Port a Prince, Haiti and our first stop was Port Antonio, Jamaica.

 

My first cruise with my wife was in 1993 on Celebrity's Horizon. Celebrity is still our favorite line. Last Xmas, onboard the Equinox, we completed our Celebrity Grand Slam -- as we have sailed every Celebrity ship built for the company. (14 total) Some ships we've cruised multiple times.

 

Last year we rediscovered NCL, and by adding the UDP and the UBP, the experience is up there with Celebrity (I know, hard to believe:eek:)

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[LocoLoco1]

CHANDRIS Lines 'Patris', 1972. Sailed from Perth Australia to Singapore. Very, very crazy trip beyond words. Hippies, Miss Australia contestants, Rich Oriental women with much younger boy-toys. Fire aboard ship. Int'l. scoundrels on the run.... Fun. LocoLoco1

Forgot to add: Singapore immigration measured each Male passengers hair length, 1" inch from collar or no getting on shore. LocoLoco1

[CarrieAP]

Chandris Amerikanis for our honeymoon in 1986. Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. It was an old, well-worn ship that had top-notch service. Our cabin was huge but didn't know at the time how unusual this was. Large double bed, 2 port holes, full dresser and spacious bathroom with full size tub/shower.

 

Our first experience with multi course dinners with elaborate silverware set up. One night I somehow ran out of spoons by dessert and our waiter being a hoot brought over large soup ladle. Quite a contrast however to outdoor lunch buffet that used paper plates lol.

 

Loved those classic midnight buffets with the hours of preparation carving intricate fruit displays and ice sculptures. Simply spectacular.

 

I recall the lounge being multipurpose, with a hodgepodge of mismatched chairs; so different from today. But what it lacked in style it made up for in cozy intimacy with lots of audience participation in games and such.

 

This was a port intense cruise, up close and personal with the smaller ship size. The excursions were the best we've ever been on and more than made up for what the ship lacked in style.

 

All in all this first cruise was a huge contrast to our second in the early 90's aboard the Carnival Fantasy. That was over the top glitz on a ship that was massive in comparison. Still awes me how the cruise industry has exploded and evolved in the years since.

 

 

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[JAYRAY1259]

My husband did several trans-Atlantic crossing on HAL and the Home lines back in the 1950's.

 

He talks about the segregated deck system for the various class passengers and how he and other "cabin" class kids would sneak into the First Class deck areas until they were caught by the crew and sent back down to where they belong. He said the crew seemed to expect the shenanigans and would leave them alone until a First Class passenger appeared and then would send them back down with a smile.

 

He also talks about one crossing where there was a hurricane in the Atlantic and the bow of the ship was going up and crashing down with the waves washing across the front of the ship. He was eight and loved it. His mother, however, was as sick as a dog and stayed in the cabin for two days.

 

We started cruising together in 1976 on the Chandris Britanis. We rented the deck chairs at a minimal fee for the week. The chairs were labeled with our names and were placed in each day was our preferred location that we has specified on the first day.

 

Every night was formal and the dinner service was white glove French style. It was great. One could pick the cut of meat from the rolling trolley and select whatever sides that were wanted from the trays that the waiters carried around. Dinner was a social time to relax and enjoy your table companions.

 

Besides the nightly entertainment in the lounges, all the ships were sailed on through the mid-80's always had a dedicated space for movies and showed a different current movie each night. Because my husband and I were too busy with our jobs and other obligations at home, we used to look forward to our cruises to catch up on the recent films.

 

The dress for the evening slowly changed over the years from nightly formal (long dresses for women) to include several semi-formal nights (semi-formal short dresses for the women that many would now consider to be overdressing for formal nights).

 

Cruising was a time when one could totally disconnect from home and relax. While there was ship to shore radio, a passenger would only have access in an emergency. Cabins didn't have radios or TV. In the 80's radios appeared that gave you access to different channels broadcasted by the ship. These would be channels that played different kinds of music on a loop (i.e.; classical. pop) or gave ship updates.

 

There was no such thing as towel animals. The cabin steward had turn down with locate your night clothes and nightgowns and PJs would be displayed on the bed with pleating and draping by the steward. I make sure to bring my better nightwear on the cruises for th nightly display.

this is what I was looking for memories of the old days, people who sailed back then as they say, thank you.

[JAYRAY1259]

My wife and I just celebrated our 50th Anniversary with our whole family on the Allure, June 26th to July 3rd. We had a wonderful time.

[pris993]

My dh who is in his 80s cruise on the old SS France, among other ships in Europe before we started cruising together... first cruise was on the Song of America, RCCL, 7 day in l983 I think, it news then. Been cruising ever since...

[JAYRAY1259]

I really enjoy reading everyone's responses to this post, thanks for your input. Most cruisers enjoy talking about their experiences, I know I do. I love being at seas. I even enjoy rough seas. I spent three years in the Navy. Navy ships for the most part did not run away from rough seas unless the ocean was capable of capsizing ships, lol. I saw some large waves to say the least, but never got sea sick. I must have a cast iron stomach, lol. Those Navy ship did not have stabilizers on them. Did run into a few rough cruises though, once on the Carnival Celebration (Our first cruise) 1992 (no stabilizers} and 2009 on the Freedom of the Seas Hurricane Ida, caught the tail end of that one. I loved it, the wife not so much. Neither one was really all that bad though, No furniture flying across the decks, etc. lol. In any event it's nice to get all these response. Would certainly like to hear more. The older the stories go back, the better.

[BeagleOne]

1982, QE II first sailing out of NYC after being used as a troop transport during the Falklands War/Guerra de las Malvinas (depending on your side). It was a cruise to nowhere to get back on their TA schedule. They were still in the process of removing the protective wall and floor coverings from some of the public areas.

 

I was on the first westbound crossing after that war in 1982, so just before your cruise. Got the full fireboat reception in New York harbor. The trip was written up in People magazine, I still have a copy of it somewhere. That was back in the day when you could buy a one-way TA on the QE2 and fly home free, or for an extra $500, go on Concorde.

 

I was scheduled to sail to England for a summer college program, and fly back to NYC on Concorde. But the Falklands war stopped that, so I ended up flying over on Concorde and back on the QE2.

 

My first "ship trip" was a Great Lakes cruise on the Stella Maris in 1974. Then an eastbound TA on the QE2 in 1975, to Cherbourg. I remember crew throwing black garbage bags of trash overboard...things have changed for the better! We just missed being able to sail on the France before she became the Norway.