Home Lines-Oceanic-cruisers

[spyro1952]

My 1st cruise was on the original Homeric in 1971. I went with my parents from NY and it was a 2 week cruise to the Caribbean. I remember our stateroom was really comparable to what would now be considered a mini-suite. I slept in a little sitting room that was separated from the rest of the cabin with a little half wall with wood dowels that went to the ceiling. It was the first time I had ever seen St. Thomas, Magen's Bay, St. Marten. It was a wonderful trip. My Dad (now deceasd) bought me a gold watch in St. Martien. I still have it. I also remember going to a costume party on the ship with a girl I met and we were dressed as a clothes line. Our table companions became really good friends with my parents until they all eventually passed away too. There was a very mysterious couple on our cruise - she (the Black Dalia) him - Col. Sanders. It was like a novel. We used to call the wine steward, the "friendly undertaker". He wasn't friendly and really scared the s--- out of me.

 

A few years later, we went on the Oceanic. My cousin and I shared a cabin. This was probably '74 or '75. My cousin became involved with one of the singers with the Donzelli band. He was a young guy and she was probably in her late 20's. I can't remember his name but she would go into NYC and see him when the ship came into port. She was screwing this guy - big time. I'm sure she was not the only one on his list. He also probably had a wife and a bunch of kids in Italy. I also remember one of our ports was San Juan and we went off with the crew one night to a soccer game. It was in the worst ghetto I have ever been in.

 

The food on the Homeric was great. We were on the ship for Thanksgiving and I can still remember having Brook Trout. I loved it so the waiter brought me 4 more. Every night at dinner he would have at least 4 glasses of milk lined up for me when I sat down. Yes, I was a big milk drinker.

 

The Homeric introduced me to cruisung and the Caribbean. The Caribbean was so pristine in those days. I still love cruising and now cruise at least twice a year. My Mom is now in her 80's and we still reminice about our Thanksgiving :) cruise on the Homeric.

[spyro1952]

The name of the singer that my cousin had the affair with was "Georgio".

[sstraveler]

I too loved the Oceanic. I was a child on her but we sailed all over the Caribbean on her. As a child my absolute favorite was the man at the ice cream counter. Anyone else remember him? He seemed like he was 10 feet tall and a big man and he did not speak all that much English. He was so nice to the people and so much fun to go and get ice cream every afternoon .... like we needed more food on that ship.

 

Also it was great fun as young children if our parents would let us stay up to get pizza late night in the lounges. It was great when they started passing the pizza before dinner in the cocktail lounges -- we did not have to beg our parents to let us stay up late.

 

Remember the midnight buffets? Everynight they put out so much food .. no ships do that anymore.

 

Also there was one Christmas where they decided to decorate the entire dining room over night so that when they opened the doors on Chirstmas morning there was a tree on top of each of the lamps around the tables, cotton hanging like snow from the ceiling ... it was wonderful!

 

Just last year I found someone selling some of the art works from the Oceanic and I bought two tiles that were once on the pilars in the dining room and proudly display them in my home today.

 

Would love to find more from the Oceanic for my collection ... may be even a Home Lines flag to fly over my house.

 

Long live the Oceanic!

[cruiseshipgurl]

I too, took my first cruise aboard Home Lines Oceanic. My mother took my two sisters and myself, we cruised to Bermuda and Nassau and Freeport, Bahamas. It was wonderful! We had the best time. They had the midnight buffets each and every night and we didn't miss one! I also remember rough seas when rounding Cape Hatteras - everyone onboard it seemed was sick. The Italian crew was most wonderful!

Didn't the Oceanic become "The Big Red Boat"? I don't know what happened to it.............

 

Marion

[sstraveler]

Marion:

 

The Oceanic after spending years in Florida as the Big Red Boat was thankfully saved and now cruises in Spain still called the Oceanic. You can find her on the web at http://www.pullmanturcruises.com.

 

Long may she sail!

[Mr Veendam06]

Hi what month did you do the Oceanic in 1981 .We did the july 4th cruise on the Oceanic ! Our first of 65 cruises !!

mr Veendam

[cruiseshipgurl]

Hi

I'm not sure of the exact date, but it was in July 1981.....I do know that it was not over the 4th. Close though!

 

Marion

[Mr Veendam06]

I can still remember it like it was yesterday !! I'm off in 2 weeks on the Empress of the seas doing an 11 day cruise out of san juan .Then in august we will be on the new Liberty of the seas !!

Mr veendam

[Dancer71]

Does anyone know how I can possibly find a crew member from the Oceanic?

His name is Giancarlo (Gianni, Johnny) Magrini. He was there from approx. 1971 to ?. His wife's name is Fran and

she came from NYC. they were married in Aug. 1978. It would be great to get in touch with them again after all these years.

I appreciate any and all info. Thanks for the help.:):confused:

I mention Gianni in my post. Do you have any news about him ? I worked with him on Oceanic in 69 and again in 74-75. I would love to know any news. Dancer71. Any of the performers that you might have news of? Gianni did the sound and lighting on our shows as well as the ships tv and films.

[Dancer71]

I mention Gianni in my post. Do you have any news about him ? I worked with him on Oceanic in 69 and again in 74-75. I would love to know any news. Dancer71. Any of the performers that you might have news of that were on board that year? Gianni did the sound and lighting on our shows as well as the ships tv and films. A good friend.

:)

[Gustavas]

Reading over these Oceanic memories stirred up my own personal memories. Indeed my very first cruise was with Home Lines onboard the S/S Oceanic from New York to Nassau in the summer of 1976. My father had just died the previous Christmas so my mother decided to take me on this trip the following summer when school was out. I was only 14 at the time but my mental pictures are as clear as yesterday.

 

My mother worked as an entertainer with the Italian Line for many years and sailed the world with various other lines but not Home Lines. My father was naturally a frequent cruiser with her when I was a child but I was not allowed to sail with them. As a child I got car sick and they thought I would inevitably get sea sick.

 

The Oceanic started it all for me. That summer is well remembered. I can remember in those days you could pay something like $5.00 I think to get aboard while the ship was in port to go look around or join a Bon Voyage party. I think I toured it twice before I actually sailed her. How excited I was; never been on an oceanliner or cruise ship.

 

An inside cabin, (Unthinkable nowadays for me) I remember how strange I felt when after a few hours inside after departure, I went up and looked. A cloudy departure around 5:00 PM or so, the ship was no longer at the dock. I can still remember that glassed in promenade. I could see nothing other than the vastness of gray water. I was amazed. Remember the dinner gongs and the announcer wishing you "Bon Appetito" over the PA system ?

 

I do remember Everette E. Everette and the long breadsticks and our waiter's name Benito. I remember the little chapel with bronze work and the pool and the well known familiar Italian tunes. I remember the distinguished diningroom Captain comming around to our table each night with that accent saying "How are you both tonight?" I especially remember the wonderful food, the ice tea with lemon and the menus. You could buy those menus in a pack at the end of the voyage. Very few tiny gift shops, nothing like today.

 

No cell phones or lap tops then huh ? I don't even think we had TV's in the cabin. I still have the onboard ship photos from that era with me looking very much like the kid I was....all dressed up (or so I thought then) with my newly widowed mom on my first cruise. Always a great crowd. A unique mix of old school elegant ladies and gentlemen, people from New York, New Jersey and elsewhere.

 

A real steam ship too. I even got a tour of the bridge which, from memory, seemed small to me. In those days there was respect and no nonsence at sea. They simply didn't tollerate it. Formal meant formal. Old traditions still reigned. Not like some lines today. So much has changed since those days in cruising to be certain. Those days are gone forever.

 

Since then I sailed it several times afterwards, including when it was sold to Premier Cruises and became the Big Red Boat. Not the same. I do cherish those memories and I do remember. Hard to believe it's been that long ago. She is, of course, no longer in service to anyone. I saw a photo of her being taken apart somewhere in the world. It was a sad sight but all things must end one day.

 

I have now sailed with almost all the cruise lines in over 57 (cruise and crossing) voyages. Oceanic started it all for me. This June I'm sailing the Atlantic Canadian Provinces from Montreal aboard Holland America's Maasdam. However, usually nowadays, its Celebrity Cruises for me.

Definately currently my favorite. They consistantly maintain high service, excellent food, well maintained vessels, the old school European elegance and decency.

 

Only reason for the Maasdam is because of the destinations that my wife wanted to see at the time of year that Celebrity is not going there.

Oceanic ?? Thanks for the memories guys.

[jefarl]

we took our first cruise on the Oceanic in 1981 from NY. Got sick going and coming back... that ship did rock in the Atlantic. Had a great time!

 

The deck had that roll over cover for the pool deck so maybe that is what the other poster was remembering about an indoor pool...

 

Have not kept in touch with some friends we made after about 5 years and am sorry.. we had great memories and laughed all trip.

 

What ever happened to that service? Remember when you had a deckhand assigned for your deck chairs.. each day he put our your chair where you liked it, gave you towels, etc. Not like now, having to get up early just to beat those passengers who leave books and towels at the crack of dawn for themselves and 18 "friends" on the chairs...

 

Well even with the service decline we love criuising...

 

ps- we paid around $2300 for two from NY (no air) in 1981. We haven't paid that much, even without inflation, since!....

 

leaving in 3 weeks for greece, egypt and turkey 12 day NCL cruise...

[joewelcome]

my father was on the maiden voyage of the Oceanic after spending years on the Homeric. he left the Home Lines in '69. his name is Umberto and he was a wine steward and captain.

 

i have a Homeric LP around here somewhere.... and he didn't have that, i happened upon that in my own travels. we also have a huge framed lithograph of the Oceanic. i will take a picture of that and post it eventually.

[marco]

I think we've done 20 or so cruises on the HOme lines and 10 or so on the "Oceanic". Wasn't it a beautiful ship!?!?!?!?!?! And it looked like a ship, not a floating box. Beautiful enclosed promenade, the first to have a dome over the pool. I remember the first cruises on her with no casinos, all meals in the dining room other than the one "buffet Magnifique", Men NOT allowed in ANY public room after 6PM with out a jacket and tie (and enforced) The dinners with all entres brought on sliver trays and served (not pre-plated dinners) Table side preparation, off the menu ordering common and encouraged. Elegant dressing, cocktails for under a buck, horse racing with the staff moving those little wooden horses, the Zilli (maybe) band. Home lines standards were something any cruise line could only hope to meet! Remember Everett E. Everett, the cruise director, and the hostess, I've forgotten her name, but she remembered you by name everytiime you sailed! Those were the days of cruising!!!!!!

[Marge106]

The name of the hostess was Luciana. When you saw her, it always seemed as though she was gliding instead of walking. She really was so elegant. The captain at the time was Alberto Marossa, his son is now a captain for Costa Cruise Lines. The last time I sailed with Costa, 4 years ago, he was a Staff Captain. We had lunch together with another friend, and not to date myself, I remembered him as a toddler spending summers in Bermuda with his mother and the rest of the family. How times have changed.

I guess somehow we all grow up, whether we want to or not!

[sfwriter]

The Oceanic was my first ship -- during the Big Red Boat era. Maybe I should get over to the Med and see what she's up to now. I miss that ship.

[shell03]

My parents honeymooned on the Oceanic. I remember a photo, long gone, of the ladies participating in some type of game, with balloons stuffed in their clothing. What a hoot!

[TampaMike]

Hi yes Home lines was a great cruise line ! Our first of 62 cruises was on the Oceanic july 4th 1981 to Bermuda & Nassau .We also did the Doric the same year and the Alandtic and the New Homeric . The Homeric cruise we did was on the Liberty weekend cruise 1986 out of NYC to Bermuda .The Homeric was in the Praide of ships for Liberty weekend !!

 

Dose any body here remember Dan Gable or Rick Spath ? Dan was the C D and Rick worked for him on the Oceanic !

Yes i remember the mats by the pool !! walking around the deck at night in the moonlight .Dosen't anybody remember waiting in the stairway before the bells rang for dinner !! .And yes you had to get dress up every night ! The service was great nothing like today !We also did the StarShip Oceanic 2 times when our boy's were youger !!

She's still sailing today for a Spanish cruise line .We miss the old Home Lines .One thing you may have not known ,Is that the first 2 ships for Celberty was going to be the 2 new Home lines ships .After Home Lines sold out to HAL .They sold the plans for there next 2 ships witch be came the Zenith & Horizon .Celberty took out the Magow dooms .Otherwise the ship was the same .Build at the same yord as the Homeric.

:cool: Mr Veendam

 

Crown Princess 8/25/06

Carnival Elation 4/9/07

Liberty of the sess 8/25/07

Regal Empress 8/2/07

 

)))Home Lines Sunway Cruises(((

 

Mr Veendam,

 

Rick Spath was at Holland America for many years and after a short time at Disney Cruises he moved on to Crystal Cruises.

 

The Horizon & Zenith designs were intended to be larger sisters to Royal Cruise Line's Crown Odyssey (also built in Papenburg). Royal Cruise Line decided the ships were too large for the intimate product they chose to offer and the plans were offered to Michael Chandris, who was in planning to launch Celebrity Cruises.

 

The Horizon / Zenith twins were very similar to the Crown Odyssey, and even the cabins were nearly identical.

[Mr Veendam06]

Hi Rick Spath was just starting out back in 1981 on the Oceanic .It was our first cruise .We then cruised with him on Sitmars Fairseas out of LA back 1984 and meny times on HAL we also cruise with hime on Disney Magic in 99 !! Are you sure about the Zenith & Horizon . I know someone who worked for Fantacy cruises witch was a part of Celeberity cruises .Then she worked in the main offist of Celberty cruise .She told me when HAL got Home lines . Celberty got the planes for the 2 ships new ships that was for Home lines !! The Homeric was also built in the same place .Celberty was more or less the new Home Lines back then .We did both the Horizon and Zith when they was brand new !! Celberty is just not the same as it us to be .Haven"t been on a Celerbrity that even come close to what it was when they were brand new!! The RCCI take over wasn"t good for Celberity .The food and sevice has gone down hill ! I still can"t understand Celberity getting an 125.000 class of ships !!! It just dosn"t work for them !!

Mr Veendam

[TampaMike]

I worked with Rick on the Rotterdam V. We also had mutual friends at Premier where I was prior to HAL.

 

Yes, the Horizon & Zenith were designed for Pericles Panagopoulos of Royal Cruise Line. He deferred thses larger designs of Crown Odyssey and Michael Chandris took the options. I was at Celebrity when the fleet consisted of the Meridian, Horizon & Zenith. At that time, Celebrity was an exceptional product.

[cruisin'since'75]

I worked with Rick on the Rotterdam V. We also had mutual friends at Premier where I was prior to HAL.

 

Yes, the Horizon & Zenith were designed for Pericles Panagopoulos of Royal Cruise Line. He deferred thses larger designs of Crown Odyssey and Michael Chandris took the options. I was at Celebrity when the fleet consisted of the Meridian, Horizon & Zenith. At that time, Celebrity was an exceptional product.

 

Hi Everyone strolling down memory lane...I haven't been to this site in months and months and decided to take a look see after browsing sites on Carnival vs. RCCL, etc.,etc. The comparisons never stop. None of these folks, however, knew Home Lines like we did, or even what Celebrity was like when first they set sail. I was on one of the first season's sailings of the Meridien, in the late spring, and then found a way to sail again in the early fall, we had such a memorable cruise to Bermuda, docking at King's Wharf.

 

Celebrity certainly was an exceptional product, and followed through quite nicely with the Horizon and the Zenith. I guess all those past Home Liners at that time kinda knew that those two ships were supposed to be part of Home Lines - before all their problems - and so just kind of automatically fell in love with the ships and the lines. Our loyalties were not misplaced and the early Celebrity Cruises certainly lived up to all our hopes and dreams. And then that too changed. It was too good to be true, a second Home Lines was not meant to be; and I guess could never be.

[Mr Veendam06]

Hi yes your right Celberity was like Home Lines when they first started out .Great food back then .Lone live the old Home lines!!

Mr Veendam

[SueseaQ]

Hi Rich, "Trainman" I sailed with you and the Mrs. on Crown Princess in the summer of 2006. I remember our discussions about the Home Lines back then.

 

My first cruise, also, was on the Home Lines on the Atlantic in 1982, I repeated the cruise the following year, and then sailed on the Homeric in 1987. It was really great to read all these postings, because in my humble opinion, you have to had sailed on Home Lines to "get it". Other people just don't. No other lines I have sailed on can compare to the dear Home Lines. The service, food, ambience, the crew were the best! I remember feeling like quite the elegant young lady, getting dressed up every evening for dinner, which was heralded by the "chimes" and the greeting "...and as always, ladies and gentlemen, "Buon appetito". How I miss those days! I remember waiters, Tony, Sergio, Giorgio, Carlo and a very handsome officer named Claudio. I remember going to Horseshoe Bay Beach and Disco 40 with some of them. They really did become like family. Does any body remember Mario, the deck steward on the Atlantic. He looked very much like Barry Manilow and was reminded of that many times during the day. Oh yes, those wonerful REAL wooden deck chairs that you had to reserve. We also enjoyed the mats that you could lie on at poolside. It's so sad to think that those are by-gone days of cruising that will never be able to be duplicated. These days when I am able to cruise I have found Princess to be about the best - but still never to compare to the Home Lines and dancing to "Paloma Blanca" in the Bermuda Lounge.......If there really ever is a Home Lines reunion, I would love to go....Please post details......Ciao Ciao, Susan :)

[Mr Veendam06]

Hi i couldn"t have put it any better .There was just something about Home lines !!

))))))))))))))))))))SUN WAY CRUISES ((((((((((((((((((((((

[Pug Mom]

For us it's also like a first love. Our first sailing was on the Atlantic to Bermuda in 1987. Up until then all I knew about cruising was the "Love Boat", we were in for a wonderful surprise! The dining room on Home Lines set a precedent that has not been matched over the years and our cruise this year was on the QM2. We now look forward to exploring different ships and just being at sea!