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50 Years of Cruising on Royal -- Share Your Memories!

LauraS

By LauraS,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Oak Hill Cruisers

Oak Hill Cruisers

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About half of our 40 cruises have been with RCI. One of our best set of memories was sort of a B2B on the Brilliance OTS in 2013.

 

First leg was a Baltic cruise from/to Harwich, England. Second leg was a TA from Harwich to Boston. But wait, did we have to do a standard B2B? No. We took the second to last Baltic cruise of the season and then got off the ship for 11 days.

 

As the ship got ready to depart for its last Baltic cruise of the season, we took the train back to London. We then walked all 80 miles from London all the way back to Harwich on the Essex Way path. With a rest day in London and then a rest day in Harwich, we had 9 days to do this walk. It was a successful walk.

 

We re-boarded the Brilliance OTS for its return TA to Boston.

 

But what about our bags & cruise clothes during our walk? We had made arrangements with with a hotel in Harwich to hold our bags for us while we walked from London to Harwich. When we mentioned our baggage plans to our Diamond Concierge, he suggested that he could hold our bags for us until the next cruise. Great! I quickly gave him a 30 Euro tip and, voila!, our bags were waiting for us in our new stateroom upon re-boarding.

 

It was great to sandwich a walking holiday between two cruises -- great memories!

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Germancruiser Great Review Rare

Germancruiser

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Thank you lovelife- It was a look alike I just checked some pictures from that time!

I have such very fond memories of that, my very first cruise on baord a big ship,  on board the Grandeur in 1997. We were awe struck just walking through the ship- and thought - my thats what the passengers of the Titanic must have felt, when they first walked through the ship!

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cruiserone

cruiserone

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1989 on Song of America. Were greeted by the whole staff when you entered the ship. then escorted to your room.

 

in your room was a deck of cards, stationary with your name on it, a roster of every passengers name on board and where their hometown was.

 

Everyone ate in the dining room, one seating. Waiter pulled your chair out and pushed your chair in. Then got your salad and cut it up for you then brought the dressing tray for you to add to your salad.

 

It was our first cruise and we were amazed.

 

Things certainly have changed over the years seas.

IMG_0351.JPG

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sea-cruise

sea-cruise

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One of my favorite cruises was aboard the old Song of Norway in 1996, when we took our daughter and son in law on their first cruise.   Our daughter got a huge kick out of climbing the ladder on the outside deck, to get to the elevator that took us to the Crown Lounge.   She thought it was quite adventurous to climb in the wind.   We loved the old smaller ships, as we were able to port at small islands in those days.   I have many cards and invitations from Mr Fain in my cruising albums, as we sailed with Celebrity (and other cruise lines as well over the past 39 years).    Tons  of fond memories!  

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Germancruiser Great Review Rare

Germancruiser

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cruiserone - a picture tells more than a thousand words. Wonderful picture- dressed up to the nines- handshake with the captain... i remember that well - it was still that way back in 1997!

A cruise was something special back then-  and one dressed to the ocation!

That " Special" has long gone- but still- everytime i board a ship- wether it is RCCI, Cunard, HAL or X- that first moment crossing the gangway and entering the ship- is something special for me!

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MadamG2U

MadamG2U

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My very first cruise was in the late 80's.  I don't remember the name of the ship.  I'd just graduated from high school and my cousin convinced my parents to let me go.  It was a 7 day to Bermuda and we had an inside cabin.  My goodness when we drove up to the ship I'd never seen anything that big.  It had entertainment, food, a casino and someone to clean your room, who would have thought.  How does a ship have a pool and the room looking back I thought it was hugh!  Since then I've been on over 30 cruises, different lines, different rooms, but that very first one and the memories always makes me smile.

 

MadamG2U

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Host Jacquelyn

Host Jacquelyn

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Back in the late 90's, we had a group of Bermudians on our floor. This was back in the day where you could purchase alcohol in port and consume it in your room. These guys bought so much booze and were unable to take it back to Bermuda with them, so they set up a table in the hallway on the last night of the cruise and were offering free drinks to anyone who walked by! I think I still have a picture of their setup somewhere.

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travelplus

travelplus

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On 2/21/2019 at 5:54 AM, LauraS said:

Royal Caribbean is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and we'd like to hear from you!  Please share your favorite memories of cruising on Royal Caribbean International -- perhaps you were celebrating a milestone event, or you have special memories of your first sailing long ago! 

 

What made sailing on Royal Caribbean special for you?

 

OK, go!

 

My Father and I had this amazing Headwaiter who setup a lunch with a group and an Officer at The Chef's Table and then we ran into the same person again and he was now a Maitre D'.. He not only remembers us but came by nightly to chat with us and gave us the best treatment possible. We are on two cruises this year to celebrate the 50th year! 

 

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Germancruiser Great Review Rare

Germancruiser

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Oh I remember one waitress very well- Beata- I met her at least on three or four cruises. One cruise when the Headwaiter noticed we were familiar and even huged each other when running into another, he moved her to our table- so we spent great evenings in dinning room!

She was promoted Head waitress then.

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Pencruise

Pencruise

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On 2/26/2019 at 3:37 PM, jcc1025 said:

Probably right, just remember we were on the Nordic Prince and were next to Majesty in San Juan. 

We sailed Nordic Prince in October 1973, 2 weeks from Miami to Southern Caribbean plus Caracas- cruising was so different in those days but still fabulous.

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Tobyhilda

Tobyhilda

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Godmother here,,Am excited to cruise on 50th Anniversary of RCCL,,Yes I am going,,,booked. My very first cruise on RCCL,,,was Song of Norway,, and also Song of America,,I have a photo to prove Song of Norway,with a orange ring,with my husband,,,,says Song of Norway,,I have completed 39 cruises, with 295 nights,,Looking forward of meeting Ken Rush,,my all time favoriteCruise Director,,Please God,,,let me live to celebrate this celebration,,and my 87th birthday 

 

 

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Tobyhilda

Tobyhilda

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Just Remember,,having dinner with Captain 5 cruises,,You received. Signed Menue from Capt,,a free photo of Capt and entire table,,These we re outstanding experiences,,and never to be forgotten,,I will bring these photos to RCCL 50th Anniversary Bash,

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John&LaLa "Live from...." Rare

John&LaLa

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22 hours ago, Tobyhilda said:

Just Remember,,having dinner with Captain 5 cruises,,You received. Signed Menue from Capt,,a free photo of Capt and entire table,,These we re outstanding experiences,,and never to be forgotten,,I will bring these photos to RCCL 50th Anniversary Bash,

 

They still do that, not sure its signed.  I guess you could ask.

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