Great Cruising Memories

[Lowiepete]

17 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

We did the regular Cairo/Giza tour from Alexandria. Three hour drive to Cairo, tour of the Museum, drive around the city, out to Giza and then 3 hrs back to the ship.

I did this trip in May 1966. This was a crew trip in 3 Land Rover jeeps, 2 crew sat in the front with none of the drivers speaking a word of English, 3 people were in the back. We started by visiting a wonderful mosque just before the early afternoon prayer. To hear the urgency of the calls to prayer from inside the complex was something special. 

 

The visit to the main museum was just mind-boggling; just so much gold on display! We then went for some lunch at a restaurant recommended by the shore tours staff. A few had brought packed-lunches, not intending to risk the local food. You could buy bottled Coca Cola everywhere, though we had no idea where it was bottled. I remember the gents loo had no sanitation beyond being able to pee(r) into the Nile way, way below the wooden box we were suspended in above. 

 

Then it was off to Gizeh for a camel ride and to await the dusk until they played the "Son et Lumiere". I still have the long-playing record of that event. The 3 hour trips to and fro were pretty hair-raising on what were basically dust roads at seemingly break-neck speeds. On the way back it was even scarier. Luckily, we weren't the lead vehicle in this little convoy, though the tailgating got a bit uncomfortable at times.

 

One or two of our number needed a P break, but getting our driver(s) to understand our (increasing) discomfort was quite a task. As we eventually got them to stop in the middle of nowhere, it seems that this problem had existed in all the jeeps. Exclamations of thanks to whomever it was who got them to stop, echoed everywhere. One was full of ladies and to find us all irrigating the desert together, with only the vehicle lights as background illumination was very strange. We got back to the ship at around 1am, exhausted from a long day, yet an immediate raid was carried out on a coffee pantry with hot buns coming up from the night-bakers.

 

One other trip was from Cape Town to the Rhodes Memorial, passing the 12 Apostles on the Eastern Cape. We visited this vast vineyard where we were taken around the caves with huge oak vats of wine. I was able to walk down the hill by myself, among the many rows of vines. It was then that I experienced something very eerie! It was "absolute silence" for what seemed an age. Not a sound of any kind, no wind, no rustling, no bird-song, nothing! I have never experienced this before, nor since.

 

Of course, on board ship there is nowhere that is silent, with constant generator whine in the background and air-con blowers all around. So, I imagine that I'd be susceptible to noticing the quiet. On deck there's the wind and water, although to be on a ship stopped at sea when a main generator fails is another quite eerie experience. This happened once on the Windsor Castle and again on the Caronia just 2 months or so later, both in darkness. The strange part about that being both ships were on an approach to Cape Town from the West. I went up onto the foredeck on both occasions. Looking back at a ship's superstructure I always thought was a privilege, especially as it was not open to the pax.

 

In Mexico, the hotel from where the dare-devil divers plunged over the cliff was of course a must. On the way back it was necessary to top-up the Bacardi Rum supplies for the end of cruise parties. The problem being that there was an embargo, in large letters, for us crew to not bring alcohol back to the ship. The sellers ashore knew this and would pack two litre bottles among the stuffing of a large rabbit toy. That toy would maybe do 3 or 4 trips ashore (crushed flat) and back to the ship with its contraband, with "a nod and a wink" as it passed gangway inspection. As an aside, in Rio de Janeiro, Bacardi Rum was cheaper than Coca Cola!

 

Regards,

Steve

Edited January 9, 2021 by Lowiepete

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Steve, I have the feeling that you are just getting started...keep going!  
 

Heidi’s story reminds me of  a stop in Grenada.  We hired a cab for the day and I told the driver to tell me about the Revolution and how they threw out the Cuban Communists.  He took us to all the hot spots while reciting a very exciting story how things unfolded.  I then asked him to avoid the usual tourist traps and take us for a ride in the country.  We ended up at his house out in the country.  He had built a roadside cabana next to his house.  He had an entire bar set up with big glass jugs above the bar.  The jugs were filled with his homemade rum.  We had 16 ounce cokes in the famous bottles with a big mug of rum.  Even after an hour there I could not finish the drink and had to take it with me.  We had a wonderful afternoon relaxing in this cabana and drinking island rum.  BTW...the drinks were $1.00 each!

Edited January 9, 2021 by CGTNORMANDIE

[rkacruiser]

21 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

I can remember a wonderful day spent in Cartagena Columbia in 1988.  Yes there were soldiers with dogs and machine guns as we got off the ship...but we felt safe.

 

The first time that I witnessed such was in Caracas well before Chavez et al.  A bit "jarring" for this gringo, but I felt safe.  Also, the same for each visit to Cartagena since.  

 

The most disturbing of such armed presence of military was when I flew out of FFL soon after 9/11 and saw very young soldiers who had rifles that were almost as big as they were tall.  Truthfully, my thought was then--as it has been since January 6th--I live in a "banana republic".  

[Heidi13]

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

The first time that I witnessed such was in Caracas well before Chavez et al.  A bit "jarring" for this gringo, but I felt safe.  Also, the same for each visit to Cartagena since.  

 

The most disturbing of such armed presence of military was when I flew out of FFL soon after 9/11 and saw very young soldiers who had rifles that were almost as big as they were tall.  Truthfully, my thought was then--as it has been since January 6th--I live in a "banana republic".  

 

Your post brings back 2 memories.

 

My first ship was a cadet training ship with 50 cadets, who were the lowest form of human existence. It was 4-months of "Boot Camp". Our first port, after departure UK was Colon (Panama) where we stopped for bunkers, before going through the Canal. We were advised to go ashore in groups of at least 6.

 

Walking through the docks, on entering the town we saw 2 locals on a balcony. One was sharpening a knife and the other was loading a revolver. These tasks were concurrent with staring at us continuously. As the oldest, having turned 18 a few days ago, I suggested a 180 and retreat back to the ships was the best option.

 

After spending 9 months on a reefer ship, I flew into LHR and was met by Police in combat fatigues and armed to the teeth. OMG, the pilot got lost and landed in the wrong country. When I shipped out, our Police didn't even have pistols. These chaps had multiple guns, including machine guns.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

8 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Your post brings back 2 memories.

 

My first ship was a cadet training ship with 50 cadets, who were the lowest form of human existence. It was 4-months of "Boot Camp". Our first port, after departure UK was Colon (Panama) where we stopped for bunkers, before going through the Canal. We were advised to go ashore in groups of at least 6.

 

Walking through the docks, on entering the town we saw 2 locals on a balcony. One was sharpening a knife and the other was loading a revolver. These tasks were concurrent with staring at us continuously. As the oldest, having turned 18 a few days ago, I suggested a 180 and retreat back to the ships was the best option.

 

After spending 9 months on a reefer ship, I flew into LHR and was met by Police in combat fatigues and armed to the teeth. OMG, the pilot got lost and landed in the wrong country. When I shipped out, our Police didn't even have pistols. These chaps had multiple guns, including machine guns.

You must have been in Panama when it was ruled by Manuel Noriega who is now residing in a Federal prison.  Those were wild times.  
 

“Reefer ship”???  Could you explain that??  My definition would be relating to marijuana...LOL.  

[Heidi13]

6 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

You must have been in Panama when it was ruled by Manuel Noriega who is now residing in a Federal prison.  Those were wild times.  
 

“Reefer ship”???  Could you explain that??  My definition would be relating to marijuana...LOL.  

 

Haha! a reefer is a high speed refrigerated cargo ship for fruit - bananas/citrus, or frozen meat.

[shipgeeks]

Heidi,  Your post about Colon reminded me of our day there in 2005, while sailing on Zenith.  We knew nothing about the city, but watching our arrival from top deck, we thought it looked like South Beach Art Deco; very nice!  We went ashore as soon as we could.  The first couple of blocks were quiet, empty, and wealthy-looking.  Then small businesses appeared, along with dozens of people heading to Mass. We thought we'd blend in.  An armed, uniformed young man on a bicycle appeared, and slowly pedaled along beside us wherever we went.  When we got to an intersection, he stopped the traffic in all directions and motioned us across.  We thanked him; he said "Security".  Sure, we thought; he wants to offer his services as a guide.  But at some point, seeing things that were not church-goer activities, we became convinced that he really was security.  He accompanied us all the way back to the ship, where we learned that he was Port Police.  I think we were lucky to have had his company.

When we got back to our cabin, there was a flyer advising guests to not venture beyond the terminal unless on an organized tour.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

4 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Haha! a reefer is a high speed refrigerated cargo ship for fruit - bananas/citrus, or frozen meat.

LOL...well...you know...Panama...reefer...

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Your post about Colon reminded me of our day there in 2005,

 

3 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

When we got back to our cabin, there was a flyer advising guests to not venture beyond the terminal unless on an organized tour.

 

I was aboard the Eurodam when we visited the port in January, 2020.  I don't recall the specifics of what we were told before we docked for awhile to retrieve shore excursion guests, but the message did not encourage a port visit.  

[marco]

It was more than 20 yrs ago....we were on the MSC "Melody".  I think that was their first cruise ship. sailing  out of the US.  It was the former Home lines "Atlantic".  We were supposed to go to the San Blas Islands.  The seas were too rough, so we docked at Colon.  A group of 6 or so of us went for a walk-about.  We were stopped by a couple of police on bicycles who said, "you shouldn't be here!" and they escorted us back to the ship.
 

[Heidi13]

17 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Heidi,  Your post about Colon reminded me of our day there in 2005, while sailing on Zenith.  We knew nothing about the city, but watching our arrival from top deck, we thought it looked like South Beach Art Deco; very nice!  We went ashore as soon as we could.  The first couple of blocks were quiet, empty, and wealthy-looking.  Then small businesses appeared, along with dozens of people heading to Mass. We thought we'd blend in.  An armed, uniformed young man on a bicycle appeared, and slowly pedaled along beside us wherever we went.  When we got to an intersection, he stopped the traffic in all directions and motioned us across.  We thanked him; he said "Security".  Sure, we thought; he wants to offer his services as a guide.  But at some point, seeing things that were not church-goer activities, we became convinced that he really was security.  He accompanied us all the way back to the ship, where we learned that he was Port Police.  I think we were lucky to have had his company.

When we got back to our cabin, there was a flyer advising guests to not venture beyond the terminal unless on an organized tour.

 

My first experience of Colon was 1975 and we were provided somewhat similar advice. In addition to not going ashore in group < 6, I recall being advised to walk down the centre of the streets, avoiding the sidewalks, especially the shadows.

 

We didn't even have to wear our uniforms ashore, which we did in all other ports.

[George C]

On 1/11/2021 at 7:00 AM, marco said:

It was more than 20 yrs ago....we were on the MSC "Melody".  I think that was their first cruise ship. sailing  out of the US.  It was the former Home lines "Atlantic".  We were supposed to go to the San Blas Islands.  The seas were too rough, so we docked at Colon.  A group of 6 or so of us went for a walk-about.  We were stopped by a couple of police on bicycles who said, "you shouldn't be here!" and they escorted us back to the ship.
 

We also cruised MSC Melody had also cruised Atlantic from home lines, was discussing Melody last year with the captain of MSC Seaside he was a officer on that ship and remembered a piano player who was excellent that we inquired about and said he was still with MSC. I also cruised to Grenada a few weeks before we invaded it, I think that was a Costa ship Carla C.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Another memory...

Standing in the Palm Court onboard TS Gallilao.  The room was very green,  wicker and palms with floor to ceiling windows...very Palm Beach.  I was the only person in the room as we slowly sailed through the Cape Cod Canal on the way to Newport,  Rhode Island.  The sun was just setting and the view was pure magic.  Just one of those rare moments that stay with you for a lifetime.  

[rkacruiser]

Another sight that I won't forget.  As the Volendam sailed into the Port of Nagasaki in 2002, we passed the shipyard where the new Diamond Princess was being outfitted.  A few days prior, a fire erupted on the ship and basically destroyed her superstructure including the Bridge.  My thought at the time was "this ship will never sail."  Well, it did.  The fire damaged parts were removed, the internals of the ship were somehow unharmed, her sister under construction which we saw, which was supposed to be Sapphire Princess became Diamond Princess and the damaged ship became Sapphire Princess.  

[Heidi13]

5 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

Another sight that I won't forget.  As the Volendam sailed into the Port of Nagasaki in 2002, we passed the shipyard where the new Diamond Princess was being outfitted.  A few days prior, a fire erupted on the ship and basically destroyed her superstructure including the Bridge.  My thought at the time was "this ship will never sail."  Well, it did.  The fire damaged parts were removed, the internals of the ship were somehow unharmed, her sister under construction which we saw, which was supposed to be Sapphire Princess became Diamond Princess and the damaged ship became Sapphire Princess.  

 

Even after the fire, those 2 Japan built ships were by far the nicest and best built ships in the Princess fleet. Vastly superior to the Italian built ships and Coral/Island, which were built in France.

[rkacruiser]

20 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Even after the fire, those 2 Japan built ships were by far the nicest and best built ships in the Princess fleet. Vastly superior to the Italian built ships and Coral/Island, which were built in France.

 

Do you know how that fire started and was able to spread?  I recall reading somewhere that the fire suppressing system had not yet been activated.  

 

Regarding ship building quality, even as a guest, I noticed what I perceived to be poor workmanship and/or quality of materials used when I sailed on the 2 year old Veendam which was Italian built.

 

I am not faulting the Italian employees who built the ship.  I am faulting the "lowest bid" getting the construction contract.  One gets what one pays for.   

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Do you know how that fire started and was able to spread?  I recall reading somewhere that the fire suppressing system had not yet been activated.  

 

Regarding ship building quality, even as a guest, I noticed what I perceived to be poor workmanship and/or quality of materials used when I sailed on the 2 year old Veendam which was Italian built.

 

I am not faulting the Italian employees who built the ship.  I am faulting the "lowest bid" getting the construction contract.  One gets what one pays for.   

 

Unfortunately can't recall the details, although since I was managing a shipyard at the time, I was definitely interested.

 

From memory, it may have been a welding torch with inadequated heat monitoring in adjacent spaces. Affirmative, the Hi-Fog was not yet commissioned, as I recall it took > 18 hrs to extinguish the blaze. They must have have service hoses and pipes, etc through fire doors, or else the fire could have been contained by closing the doors..

[shipgeeks]

22 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Another memory...

Standing in the Palm Court onboard TS Gallilao.  The room was very green,  wicker and palms with floor to ceiling windows...very Palm Beach.  I was the only person in the room as we slowly sailed through the Cape Cod Canal on the way to Newport,  Rhode Island.  The sun was just setting and the view was pure magic.  Just one of those rare moments that stay with you for a lifetime.  

Thank you for mentioning the magic that we sometimes unexpectedly experience.  For me, it has occurred while on the highest outside deck, few or no other people around (perhaps due to a coming storm).  I see the vastness of the sea and the sky, and the word bliss comes to mind.

 

[CGTNORMANDIE]

5 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

Thank you for mentioning the magic that we sometimes unexpectedly experience.  For me, it has occurred while on the highest outside deck, few or no other people around (perhaps due to a coming storm).  I see the vastness of the sea and the sky, and the word bliss comes to mind.

 

I thought it was about time that we reminded ourselves of just why it is that we love to cruise.  We live our lives as if we are stuck on a treadmill...then we experience something that can best be described as Magic.  Some of us come to cruising by accident and others are attracted to the irresistible romance of the sea.  Then we experience one of those rare moments when the magic takes place.  
 

I have a picture that DW took.  I am walking in front of one of the giant funnels on the Norway, former SS France, in 1993.  I can look at that one picture and be transported back to that ship and be flooded with all those wonderful memories.  I really think we need those memories, at this time, as many of us might not be able to start cruising again in the near future.  We are coming through a plague of biblical proportions. A plague that has tipped our world and our personal plans out of balance.  It is a natural reaction to let our minds wander to better times past.  Hopefully some of my memories will bring back some of you to a better place in time.  We need to keep these memories alive.🙂

[rkacruiser]

10 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

I really think we need those memories, at this time, as many of us might not be able to start cruising again in the near future.  We are coming through a plague of biblical proportions. A plague that has tipped our world and our personal plans out of balance.  It is a natural reaction to let our minds wander to better times past.  Hopefully some of my memories will bring back some of you to a better place in time.  We need to keep these memories alive.🙂

 

Very well said!  

 

I am thankful that I kept journals of my cruises.  Today, one year ago, I embarked the Eurodam for her 11 day partial Panama Cruise, sailing with very good friends from  Toronto.  2008 on this date, I was aboard the Amsterdam en route to Nuku Hiva on my Grand World Voyage.  Reading those journal entries, viewing the photos that I have:  it's a blessing.

 

And, learning of others special cruise moments and being able to share some of mine have made these bleak months during 2020--and I fear still to be for awhile--bearable.  And, honestly, something for which I look forward to reading.  And, maybe be able to respond.  

[rkacruiser]

22 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

From memory, it may have been a welding torch with inadequated heat monitoring in adjacent spaces.

 

Just what led to the loss of Normandie.  

[CGTNORMANDIE]

8 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Very well said!  

 

I am thankful that I kept journals of my cruises.  Today, one year ago, I embarked the Eurodam for her 11 day partial Panama Cruise, sailing with very good friends from  Toronto.  2008 on this date, I was aboard the Amsterdam en route to Nuku Hiva on my Grand World Voyage.  Reading those journal entries, viewing the photos that I have:  it's a blessing.

 

And, learning of others special cruise moments and being able to share some of mine have made these bleak months during 2020--and I fear still to be for awhile--bearable.  And, honestly, something for which I look forward to reading.  And, maybe be able to respond.  

Thanks RK...I hope folks on this site will enthrall us with some of their cruise memories. DW and I have photo albums going all the way back to our first cruise together in 1971.  We can look back at those photos remembering the good times and that goes a long way in these difficult times.  The Eurodam to the canal sounds heavenly.  We went to the Canal in 1988 when the new treaty was just taking affect.  Our cruise on Gatun Lake was wonderful.  The details of the Canal construction were fascinating.  I read David McCullough’s “The Path Between The Seas”...a great book to read before entering the Panama Canal.  

[CGTNORMANDIE]

12 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Thanks RK...I hope folks on this site will enthrall us with some of their cruise memories. DW and I have photo albums going all the way back to our first cruise together in 1971.  We can look back at those photos remembering the good times and that goes a long way in these difficult times.  The Eurodam to the canal sounds heavenly.  We went to the Canal in 1988 when the new treaty was just “taking affect”.  Our cruise on Gatun Lake was wonderful.  The details of the Canal construction were fascinating.  I read David McCullough’s “The Path Between The Seas”...a great book to read before entering the Panama Canal.  

Sorry...I meant to say...”taking effect”.  Don’t we all wish that auto spell would work the way we would like it to work...LOL.  

[shipgeeks]

How about a couple of quirky memories?

A year ago, we were on an Italian ship (Seaside), docked in Jamaica.  As we sat out on our balcony, we suddenly heard "I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (hometown composer!)

 

That evening, I looked across the dance floor, and saw an Indian man in a turban, an American man in

a Vet ballcap and loud Hawaiian shirt, and an Asian young lady in an immaculate ensemble (think "Crazy Rich Asians" movie), all having a conversation together.

 

On that cruise we met people from Italy, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, India, Philipines, Tunisia, Turkey, and more.  I love that!

[CGTNORMANDIE]

43 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

How about a couple of quirky memories?

A year ago, we were on an Italian ship (Seaside), docked in Jamaica.  As we sat out on our balcony, we suddenly heard "I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (hometown composer!)

 

That evening, I looked across the dance floor, and saw an Indian man in a turban, an American man in

a Vet ballcap and loud Hawaiian shirt, and an Asian young lady in an immaculate ensemble (think "Crazy Rich Asians" movie), all having a conversation together.

 

On that cruise we met people from Italy, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, India, Philipines, Tunisia, Turkey, and more.  I love that!

MSC scores another thumbs up.  We love the European presence on MSC.  I’m not quite sure who was singing Jeanie??