Evolution

[smilin jack]

4 hours ago, StanandJim said:

The Norway was the France.

The Isle De France was an older, much smaller ship.  

Your right....it was the SS France.....and all these years I thought it was the Ile de France. You learn something new every day! 🤩

[Earl Rosebery]

I'm not sure if it can be called a cruise. Age 21  1964 Karachi to Basrah.   British India's SS Dwarka

 

Deck class . (true in every sense of the word)  200 rupees for 12 day cruise with 1000 others in deck class and 40 in saloon class.

Bean curry for breakfast, fish curry for lunch and mutton curry for dinner.  The washrooms were so unpleasant, we would swing out over the ocean to get around the gate and sneak into the saloon class facilities 

Edited October 3, 2019 by Earl Rosebery

[wally_bushy]

First cruise in 1985 on PO Canberra. It had been used in the Falklands war and repaired and we were on its last cruise in Australia before heading to the UK (I think).

Small porthole which was difficult to see out, bunk beds (we were in our 20s 😢), shared bathroom down the hallway, set table and dining. Regardless, it was our first cruise and enjoyable.

The price was AUD $600 for 14 days and I still have a price list of drinks etc which make my kids jealous.

[Aloha 1]

On 10/2/2019 at 7:40 PM, ropomo said:

 

When was your cruise?  Our first cruise was on the original Star Princess in the early '90s, a far cry from the current incarnation.  If the original, I would be interested in hearing about the ship back then, etc.

We were on the Star in January, 1992 in the deep Caribbean out of San Juan. Champagne handed out on boarding and escorted to lunch in the MDR ( No Buffet open!). Had the seafood salad starter complete with baby octopus as a garnish. Set dining times and table and you dressed!. Main Formal night, we were served Osetra caviar with all the accoutrements, Maine Lobster and Prime Rib.  A wonderful 7 day cruise that got us hooked. At that time Princess was still independent and considered one of the best lines.

[StanandJim]

9 hours ago, Aloha 1 said:

At that time Princess was still independent and considered one of the best lines.

FWIW, Princess was never independant.

 

A very brief history: 

It began as a fully owned subsidiary of Peninsula and Oriental (P&O) and it sputtered along chartering second hand French and Italian Ocean liners, until it was touched by the magic wand of the Television Series in the mid 1970's.

 

All of that free publicity caused the subsidiary to outgrow the parent company as well as their ambitions in the American Cruise market.  

 

Princess was acquired by Carnival in the early months of this Century.

 

 

 

[Essiesmom]

6 hours ago, StanandJim said:

  

 

Princess was acquired by Carnival in the early months of this Century.

 

 

 

We were on the inaugural cruise of the Star Princess when the news came that it would be Carnival Corp., not Royal Caribbean who would take over Princess.  This was Feb/Mar. 2002.  EM

[ropomo]

Star Princess June 1992, Juneau, Alaska

 

[Aloha 1]

Stan and Jim, you are correct. I meant independent as in pre Carnival buyout. P&O pretty much let Princess run the show in the U.S. market and the buyout by Carnival was met with dismay by Princess fans and P & O investors alike as I recall.

Edited October 7, 2019 by Aloha 1

[bob brown]

15 hours ago, ropomo said:

Star Princess June 1992, Juneau, Alaska

 

That is the 1989 Star Princess, originally ordered by Sitmar Cruises, and delivered to Princess, that had acquired Sitmar.

Here's her story on wiki... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Columbus

The current Star Princess, was launched in 2001....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Princess

[Essiesmom]

10 hours ago, bob brown said:

That is the 1989 Star Princess, originally ordered by Sitmar Cruises, and delivered to Princess, that had acquired Sitmar.

Here's her story on wiki... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Columbus

The current Star Princess, was launched in 2001....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Princess

Note that it says of Star Princess (ll) that she was launched May 2001, but not completed until Feb. 2002.  Her inaugural cruise was in mid-Feb. 2002.  she had sailed empty from Italy to Singapore.  

 

[StanandJim]

2 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Note that it says of Star Princess (ll) that she was launched May 2001, but not completed until Feb. 2002.  Her inaugural cruise was in mid-Feb. 2002.  she had sailed empty from Italy to Singapore.  

 

My family followed the Fairsea and Fairwind over from Cunard and we remained loyal Sitmar cruisers until the bitter end which was in 1988/1989.  EVERYTHING was Princess from then on.  

[irisbax3]

2 hours ago, StanandJim said:

My family followed the Fairsea and Fairwind over from Cunard and we remained loyal Sitmar cruisers until the bitter end which was in 1988/1989.  EVERYTHING was Princess from then on.  

Hi StanandJim, it's great to hear that someone else is familiar with Sitmar.  My husband and I were also loyal Sitmar cruisers and started cruising with them in 1979.   We loved Sitmar and really miss them. We've since cruised on Princess several times and enjoy them as well.

 

[StanandJim]

6 hours ago, irisbax3 said:

My husband and I were also loyal Sitmar cruisers and started cruising with them in 1979

Absolute heaven!  Fantastic service and the Best Pizza that we have ever had outside of New York City.

We had 5 cabins on the FairMajesty inaugural, and loved that Sitmar "carried over" the decor and layout from their older "Ocean Liners", down to the duel Main Dining Rooms.  

just as Oceania kept the R ship vibe on their Marina & Riviera

In retrospect, it was because we felt that Oceania was reminiscent of the style and class of Sitmar that we jumped ship (from HAL) in 2005.

 

[smilin jack]

We were on the Rhapsody out of New Orleans in the early 80's....as I look back, I was glad to have sailed on a couple of old ships.

[AtA]

First cruise was Home Lines Oceanic back in 1981 with a friend in celebration of our knee surgeries healing.

We had a cabin the size of a closet with a porthole, beds attached on either side of the wall, and a bathroom the size of a small dining table. We had a handsome room steward who was only too happy to help us.

Dining was at a set time with the same 8 other people.

Good looking Italian waiters!

One day they had skeet shooting off the rear of the ship. At the time I was 5'3" and tiny and I wanted to do it. The officer in charge laughed, first tried to discourage me and then tried to correct me, especially when I held the rifle right handed but looked through the scope with my left eye (I'm right handed but almost blind in my right eye). We were allowed five pigeons. I shot 4 out of the 5 beating all the men who had gone before me. LOL.

It was also the first time I played slots.

Dancing late at night with the midnight buffet.

Cruise was to Bermuda and the Bahamas. Definitely was a fun cruise although I prefer the more luxurious cruises now.

[StanandJim]

12 hours ago, AtA said:

I prefer the more luxurious cruises now.

Oceanic may have been showing her age by the 80's 

-yet I assure you that there was no more elegant or luxurious ship than Oceanic in the 1960's.

First time that I ever saw a private veranda on a cruise ship