Ever sail the Skyward?

[cndycruiser]

I smile thinking about The Southward...my first cruise in 1974. I was ten years old. I remember boarding the ship and thinking there was no way we could float. That trip began my passion for cruising 18 and just booked #19!:D

 

My first cruise was in March of 1974!! On the Skyward! I was 15! We went to Haiti, (and I do NOT mean a private beach there! haha) Port Au Prince (sp), San Juan and St. Thomas! Swam at Coki Beach which was practically deserted! Have cruised about 17 since then! My first cruise with my husband was on the Sunward II which was all of 465 feet! I would LOVE to sail on a small ship again!!

[Jo in AZ]

Sailed on the Southward on May 24, 1986. We also had two portholes which we always left uncovered and one night (early morning actually) there was a pounding on our cabin door and when we answered he asked us to please put down the covers. I guess we were in a storm but to this day we haven't figured out how the staff knew our covers were not down -- anyone?????

 

May 20, 1989 we sailed on the Skyward. We also loved the bar on the highest deck of the ship.

 

These two sailings were out of Miami and San Juan.

 

Later we sailed the Southward in Sept. 1993 and May 1994 when they were doing 3 and 4 night sailings out of LA.

 

We just loved the smallness of these ships and that's why after sailing Princess many times (even tho' we love the Dawn Princess) we are anxious to go back to what actually gave us the "cruise bug"!

 

Spirit here we come.:D

[tennisfanusa]

While I don't have the history that you all have, being a history buff I love reading these memories.

 

Thanks :)

[cndycruiser]

You know you're old, when your past is now considered history!! Just kidding!! I enjoyed reading these posts too!!

[Ontime Departure]

On the Skyward Sept. 11 1988 on our honeymoon. 10 day southern Caribbean. 2nd day out crossed 500 miles behind Hurricane Gilbert and man did that ship move around! Smooth sailing after that. There is something to be said for todays mega ships but I still loved the intimacy of the smaller ships. To this day that cruise remains my most favorite!

We were on the Skyward again in 1990 for a 7 day cruise. Both times we had exceptional crews

[psantho]

The Skyward was also the first cruise for my husband and me; we were married in St. Thomas 30 years ago while on this cruise, so of course it will always hold a special place in our hearts. We still keep in touch with one of our "bridesmaids"---(we asked the women at our dinner table if they would be our witnesses, since we didn't have any family with us.)

 

Does anyone remember the "casino"....well, I don't think it was really called that, but there were about 5-6 slot machines behind a curtain.

 

I remember dancing all night to the "Italian Singers" and getting special treatment because we were newly married. It started our love affair with cruising. Now, having just gotten back from cruise #30, we are looking at another NCL cruise in November. Thanks for starting this thread---it's bringing back some great memories! I need to bring out my "wedding" pictures :-)

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

Our Honeymoon in 1992 was my first cruise on the Westward. Great ship!

[CAROLG903]

This would be our 5th cruise with NCL however Our Lattitude Status doesn't give us credit for this very first cruise. Despite phone calls and correspondence to the cruise line we have had no response. Has anyone else encountered this problem?

My 1986 Honeymoon cruise aboard the Southward? Skyward? We are leaving Sunday on the NCL Pearl for the first cruise of the Alaskan season. When I booked the cruise the TA asked if I had ever sailed NCL. I provided her with pictures of my 1986 boarding pass, luggage tags, and an traditional embarkation photo of me and hubby with the name of the ship displayed. I got my latitudes credit!

The Southward (yep, I think that's it) left Miami for Puerto Plata, DR; St. Thomas USVI; Nassau, Bahamas; and San Juan Puerto Rico. I only remember that Puerta Plata was first and not very attractive, the rum punch in Nassau was awesome, Pina Coladas were given away in every shop in San Juan, and we had ice cream at a Baskin Robbins in St. Thomas! uh...I'm a foodie...:D

But most memorable of that ship were 2 things: (besides the honeymoon stuff ;)); 1. the space shuttle exploded after takeoff on January 28, 1986 and we gathered around for any information we could glean, remember, no internet! It was very sad and did put a damper on the cruise a bit. 2. An elderly gentleman didn't wake up from his nap one afternoon...we offloaded him in Nassau...my husband kept saying he wondered where they were keeping him...the milk was starting to taste funny...:p. At 24 were among the youngest on the ship, this time we will fit right in!

Happy Sailing!

[hatterasjack]

I sailed from Charleston, SC in May of 1970. I remember the swinging chairs in an observation area above the bridge. We had an outside cabin with a porthole; it came in handy to check the weather before going ashore. The ship was cozy, almost like a yacht. You got to know so many people. It's too bad today's ships are so huge you're lucky if you see a fellow passenger more than once.

 

We were tied up in Nassau and had gone clubbing one night. While we were in town the Starward arrived and was tied up at a right angle to Skyward; bow to bow. The cab bringing us back to the ship pulled up to Starward and started to let us out. Most of the folks in the cab were too smashed to notice it wasn't the Skyward. Luckily I called it to their attention before they went aboard. Back in those days there was no security. You could just walk right in. It was just like walking into a hotel, no one checked to see if you were a passenger.

 

Well that was a real cruise; they don't make 'em like that any more.

[seacruise9]

Hi,

 

I cruised aboard the Skyward with my parents back in June 1976 (seven-day Eastern Caribbean from Miami). This is the first cruise that I remember (I was 11 years old at the time). This began my love of cruises. :)

 

Chuck

Edited December 9, 2014 by seacruise9

[cp556]

October 13, 1985 was my first cruise ... 7 nt Western Caribbean from Miami aboard Skyward. I'd bought a "quad share" (cruise line finds 4 same-sex roommates) but my TA screwed up and when I got to Miami they did not have a share for me. I ended up with an outside double to myself.

 

I can say that since then I've done over 100 cruises but Skyward still holds a special place in my heart.

[Kim040465]

Yes!  This was my first cruise and I was 14 years old!  Two of our Aunts took my sister and me. When leaving the port of Miami everyone would be waving by to family and friends and confetti and balloons were everywhere!  We had the best time. It was just like the show "The Love Boat" which we watched all the time.  Very small ship looking back now but I remember the crew being so personable. They would be walking around the ship and just sit and talk to people. Dinner with the Captain was a very special formal event and of course your group had their picture made with the Captain on the entrance to the dining room. Well, actually you dressed up every night for dinner back then. The cruise director would go on excursions with us. One I will never forget was in Haiti riding a donkey 7 miles up a mountain just to see the Citadel. The crew brought bottled water and our lunch with them. It was quite interesting seeing all the people that lived in these shacks up in the mountains and some were even practicing voodoo. Definitely something you could not do today. When we go to Haiti today they have black iron gates surrounding an area just for cruise ship visitors with signs on the gates saying "If you pass through these gates you are doing so at your own risk". That's pretty scary. Jamaica is the same way. The world has really changed a lot and for the worse!!!  I am glad I had the opportunity to experience cruising and other countries before it became so dangerous. They had a talent show one night on the ship and the four of us each dressed up like one of the four islands we visited. We won first place!   We did get into a tropical storm and they had all the doors locked so no one could go outside for about a day until they could get out of it. The tables in the dining rooms had ledges around them so nothing would slide off the table in bad weather I guess. Every night there was a Midnight Buffet in the dining room. Ice sculptures were always on the buffet as well as in the dining room during meals. Great experience for sure and definitely different from the world of cruising today which we do and love it!  Sorry so lengthy but when I started writing it just brought back so many great memories!  
Kim in MS

[dexddd]

14 hours ago, Kim040465 said:

Yes!  This was my first cruise and I was 14 years old!  Two of our Aunts took my sister and me. When leaving the port of Miami everyone would be waving by to family and friends and confetti and balloons were everywhere!  We had the best time. It was just like the show "The Love Boat" which we watched all the time.  Very small ship looking back now but I remember the crew being so personable. They would be walking around the ship and just sit and talk to people. Dinner with the Captain was a very special formal event and of course your group had their picture made with the Captain on the entrance to the dining room. Well, actually you dressed up every night for dinner back then. The cruise director would go on excursions with us. One I will never forget was in Haiti riding a donkey 7 miles up a mountain just to see the Citadel. The crew brought bottled water and our lunch with them. It was quite interesting seeing all the people that lived in these shacks up in the mountains and some were even practicing voodoo. Definitely something you could not do today. When we go to Haiti today they have black iron gates surrounding an area just for cruise ship visitors with signs on the gates saying "If you pass through these gates you are doing so at your own risk". That's pretty scary. Jamaica is the same way. The world has really changed a lot and for the worse!!!  I am glad I had the opportunity to experience cruising and other countries before it became so dangerous. They had a talent show one night on the ship and the four of us each dressed up like one of the four islands we visited. We won first place!   We did get into a tropical storm and they had all the doors locked so no one could go outside for about a day until they could get out of it. The tables in the dining rooms had ledges around them so nothing would slide off the table in bad weather I guess. Every night there was a Midnight Buffet in the dining room. Ice sculptures were always on the buffet as well as in the dining room during meals. Great experience for sure and definitely different from the world of cruising today which we do and love it!  Sorry so lengthy but when I started writing it just brought back so many great memories!  
Kim in MS

Welcome to CC and for finding an 8 year old thread.  I sailed Skyward first time too when 14ish back around 83 or 84.  Still have picture with Captain going into show.  Loved the Dive In t-shirts. 

[ColeThornton]

This might be the oldest thread ever bumped up.  Started in 2007.  lol      😉

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, dexddd said:

Welcome to CC and for finding an 8 year old thread.  I sailed Skyward first time too when 14ish back around 83 or 84.  Still have picture with Captain going into show.  Loved the Dive In t-shirts. 

I'm just here for the clay pigeons...I wish this were still an activity. I know where I'd be every sea day, all day long. 

[Kim040465]

5 hours ago, ColeThornton said:

This might be the oldest thread ever bumped up.  Started in 2007.  lol      😉

Probably so!  I was just searching for videos of the cruises back then. We were laughing at some of the things we saw. It was a great experience, though. 

[dexddd]

On 6/1/2023 at 8:14 AM, cruiseny4life said:

I'm just here for the clay pigeons...I wish this were still an activity. I know where I'd be every sea day, all day long. 

Yeah, they had those in the back.  Also miss the flaming baked Alaskas.

[LoveSkyward]

I  sailed on the MS Skyward on a one week cruise in the Caribbean. I turned 15 on the cruise. I had fun visiting Hatia, San Juan Peurto Rico, St. Thomas Virgin Islands and Nassau in the Bahamas. I think what most fascinated me was the ship itself. In July, 2023 at 64 yoa I will be sailing again. And it will be an NCL cruise in Alaska on the Spirit. I  am getting old and ironically I will be sailing on NCL's oldest  ship but I can't wait for the cruise to begin.

[LoveSkyward]

I forgot to mention in my post that the year I took my NCL cruise on the wonderful MS Skyward was April, 1974 ! It's now 2023 and I've read  that she was sold for scrap in 2021. May she rest in peace. The MS Skyward was a grand old girl !!!

[LoveSkyward]

I just joined the group and I don't know how or if we can respond to someone's post within this thread but I can like so relate to Kim040465's post as I was 14 when I boarded the MS Skyward in March, 1974 & turned 15 during the week long cruise visiting all the same islands. I too took the ride on the camel to visit the old Citadel on the peek of the mountain. It had never been finished. Each of us participant's on this optional journey in Cap Haitian, Haiti rode those donkeys while 2 Haitian men walked by foot on each side of our donkey prodding her along. I remember feeling sorry for the two men having to walk and for the donkey getting whipped so often. Also, on our way to the starting point of the donkey trip to the Citadel. We took a " taxi " which was a late 1950's auto. The roads were dirt and their was no speed limit and even any rules concerning which side of the road they drove on. As we went through a village the  people were so poor they lived in little straw huts. Chickens and pigs roamed aimlessly. Sometimes  you'd see women walking down the road balancing a clay urn on their head. Remember that this was 1974 but we were told by the tour guide that the average income of a local resident of  Cap Haitian, Haiti was only $70/YEAR in American dollars !!! The MS Skyward had to set anchor far from the shore and so they had to use a couple of the ship's lifeboats to take us to and fro shore. Young boys who could do it would swim out to the ship. People would throw quarters & half dollars from the highest decks on the ship. The boys who were wading in the water would dive for the  coinage and scoop it into their mouths. The one's who were the best swimmers & divers would return to the surface with the change in their mouths causing their cheeks to pucker. We were told that on any given day one or more  of the boys would drown swimming their way to the ship or on the way back to shore. But it was worth the risk because the American money improved their and their family's lives so much. Although the seven mile trail to and fro the Citadel took us several hours due to the slow donkeys it was an incredible journey with gorgeous views of the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. The men would occasionally stop the donkeys at vantage points so we could take pictures. We were warned by the ship tour director to beware of men who would ride up in horses and engage us in conversation. They could speak english but the local men guiding us up the trail could not. The men on horses pretended to be your friend but they often got in the way. We were told what they were really interested in were not us but the big tips they expected. Sure  enough one took a liking to me as he rode to and fro different people he would engage me in conversation and pretend to like me. I would often ignore him as the two men guiding the donkey I rode obviously despised him. I can tell you that he never got a dime from me but I tipped the two men well ( the two guiding the donkey ). My 17 year old brother was on a stubborn donkey not too far ahead of me but at one point I realized he had vanished. When we finally made it to the Citadel my brother was there & he told me had been waiting for us to arrive. Well it turns out he told one of the english speaking guides that he had gotten off his donkey and started walking as to keep his donkey from getting beaten. Apparently another english speaking guide convinced my brother to leave our scattered caravan and follow him up an often treacherous path that would shave time off the journey. Another interesting nugget is that their were no " workers " at the Citadel. After we had eaten the lunches our ship's crew members had brought we were free to roam the Citadel at will. I followed my adventurous brother and when we made it to the top of the Citadel my brother convinced me to follow him as he walked out onto the highest ledge of the Citadel. The ledge was only a couple feet wide and if either of us had lost our balance we surely would have fallen to our deaths. But the view of the mountainside looking towards the ocean was indescribably beautiful. I stopped about 1/3 of they way out and returned to safety as I waited for my brother to finish his perilous journey. The return down the trail on the donkeys was a much shorter journey timewise . As we were riding in the " taxi " to return to town another car suddenly appeared coming at us from the opposite direction. Because their were no rules of the road it became sort of a dogfight to see what side of the road each vehicle was going to take. I 'm sure the other passengers were wondering what I was : " Are we going to have a head on crash " ? Thankfully we didn't. When we returned to the ship I was so glad for having had the opportunity to make that trip but so glad to be safely back on board the MS Skyward ! I'm sorry if my story is a little disjointed but I am writing things as I remember them. I have more stories to tell about the other ports on this cruise & about the ship but I'll wait till later. I hope someone enjoyed the story about my Haitian journey !     

[bettyboop16]

Never sailed on Skyward, but sailed on Seaward 1996, first cruise, first time flying. It was awesome!

[Kim040465]

I also am new on this site but I can so relate to the Donkey ride up the mountain for 7 miles!  It was definitely an experience.  I had not thought about the kids swimming out to the boat and filling their mouths with coins!  That was interesting although I felt sorry for them!  

[Crown Vic]

If you sail on NCL currently, there is a video on TV talking about NCL’s inception with Knut Kloster et al.
During the video, the ‘old’ ships are mentioned and shown…Southward, Skyward, Sunward, Seaward, Westward and so on to the Norway and nowadays the Prima.

Interesting to watch and reminisce.

Cheers…

[IsanTom]

On 7/8/2007 at 7:53 PM, NthernLgts said:

She was the first cruise I ever took in 1987, and was the one that made me realize how much I love cruising. Her sister ship was the Southward if memory serves me correct. This was back in the days of golfballs and clay pigeons off the stern of the ship....

I cruised Starwood, Southward, Sunward and Norway 6 times. I think there were two other ships in those days.

[mcmomny]

On 7/9/2007 at 7:59 PM, crugirl said:

Like yourselves this was our very first cruise during the 1980s. The cruise was the Mexican Fiesta with stops in Cancun and Cozumel. On the pool deck there was a replica of a Mayan pyramid. Our last cruise with NCL was in 1995 and we have decided to give freestyle a try in April 2008. This would be our 5th cruise with NCL however Our Lattitude Status doesn't give us credit for this very first cruise. Despite phone calls and correspondence to the cruise line we have had no response. Has anyone else encountered this problem?

 

We sailed on The Sunward back in the early 90"s and when we sailed again many years later I was asked if we had sailed on NCL before and I said YES!

So our TA at the time told me to reach out to NCL Latitudes and request these points to be added to our account.

NCL wanted receipts, dailies or pictures of us on the ship. I didn't have the receipt but I did have the dailies and some pictures in my photo album of our 4 day cruise to The Bahamas!

So NCL gave me credit for 7 points! Not the 4 I was missing, nice plus.

But this was several years ago and now they have a big disclaimer of time to claim your missing points. Sorry

 

• IMPORTANT: Rewards points are applied to your account after you return from your cruise. Points will be applied within 48 hours after you have completed a sailing. Effective 1-February 2016, missing cruises must be claimed within 12 months from the day the cruise ends, in order to receive Latitudes points. We are unable to respond to requests submitted after the 12 month deadline has expired.