Your first cruise ship

[Copper10-8]

first cruise was on the sea venture new york to bermuda 1972 .got hooked .

 

 

Sea Venture (1971-present) Built in 1971 as ms Sea Venture by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke GmbH, Emden, (then) West Germany for Norwegian-based Flagship Cruises. She departed on her maiden voyage on 8 May 1971 and would operate on the New York City to Hamilton, Bermuda run as well as on Caribbean cruises for Flagship but only for one month shy of four years.

 

In April 1975, she was sold (along with her sister Island Venture) to the P&O Group (Great Britain) and assigned to Princess Cruises as Pacific Princess (her sister became Island Princess). Princess would initially use her for cruises to The Mexican Riviera out of Los Angeles (San Pedro), summer itineraries to Alaska and a gradual expansion via the Panama Canal into the Caribbean. Later on, she would be used for world-wide cruising.

 

 

Princess Cruises agreed to have both these ships featured in the televison romantic weekly sitcom "The Love Boat", which debuted in May 1977 and would stay in production for nine seasons. The ship featured in nearly every episode of the series (which was filmed primarily on sets in a production studio) was Pacific Princess, although other ships also appeared, including Island Princess. The term "Love Boat" was heavily used by Princess Cruises in their marketing, and became synonymous with the Pacific Princess. The success of the television show, which remained on the air until 1986, is largely credited with the increase in popularity of cruise ship travel in Nortn America.

 

Pacific Princess was sold in 2001 to Seahawk North America Inc, Nassau, Bahamas, but was leased back immediately and continued to operate as part of the Princess fleet until 2002, when the former Renaissance Cruises R-Three replaced her and took her name. Pacific Princess made her final voyage with Princess Cruises in October/November 2002, sailing from New York City to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.

 

She then began operating for Spanish-based tour operator Pullmantur Cruises under the new name Pacific, sailing in the Caribbean as well as in the Meditteranean from Valencia, Spain.

 

 

In December 2007, she was aquired by Brasilian tour operator Viagens CVC Tur Ltda, Sao Paulo. They operate her out of Sao Paulo during the Southern hemisphere summer. Between April and October 2008 she was chartered to newly-established Spanish-based Quail Cruises to operate Western Med cruises out of Valencia.

 

In October 2008, she was seen in Valencia, still in Quail Cruises livery, and listing slightly to port. She had failed certain safety tests, and consequently had been "arrested" by the Spanish

Authorities. This cancelled her South American winter cruise and forced Quail to use the former Cunard Countess (now Ocean Countess) as a replacement. Pacific Consequently, went to the shipyard in Genoa, Italy for repairs as a result of corrosion and generator problems. She is tentatively going back in service for Quail in July, sailing once again from Valencia, Spain.

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was on NCL's SS Norway. The ports were St. Thomas, Nassau and Little Stirrup Cay (NCL's private island). We were hooked. While at the pool, all you had to do was look up. If the waiter caught your eye, he was there to see if you wanted a drink. I didn't want to disappoint him, so I ordered what was to become my favorite drink ... Yellow Bird!!! I even know how to make them at home, though I haven't done so in quite a while.

Before we were even off the ship, my friend said, "Where are we going next year?" We went on the MS Starward the next year, then the Bermuda Star the following year. I have been on NCL's Seaward, and RCI's Monarch of the Seas as a solo, but had a great time with people I met on the ships. I went with family members on Carnival's Inspiration.

 

 

ss France (1962-2008) Built in 1962 as ocean liner ss France by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France for La Compagnie Generale Transatlantigue (CGT) aka the French Line. She was constructed to replace the line's other, by then considered old and outdated ships, ss Ile de France and ss Liberte.

 

On 11 May 1960, she was blessed by the Bishop of Nantes, Monseigneur Villepelet, and launched by Madame Yvonne de Gaulle, wife of the French President, and was then named France, in honor both of the country, and of the two previous CGT ships to bear the name. After her launch, her propellers were installed (the entire process taking over three weeks), the distinctive funnels affixed to her upper decks, her superstructure completed, life boats placed in their davits, and her interiors fitted out. She then undertook her sea trials on 19 November, 1961, and averaged an unexpected 35.21 knots. With the French Line satisfied, the ship was handed over, and undertook a trial cruise to the Canary Islands with a full complement of passengers and crew.

 

Her maiden voyage to New York took place on 3 February 1962, with many of France's film stars and aristocracy aboard. Once in service, ss France served as the line's flagship from 1961 until 1974 on the Le Havre to New York run, as well as gaining the distinction of being the world's longest liner of all-time (1,035 feet long). This record remained unchallenged until the construction of the RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004. In service, ss France would combine regular transatlantic crossings - six days and nights - with occasional winter cruises, as well as two world circumnavigations.

 

After a little more than a decade of service that included 377 transatlantic crossings, the economics that doomed the North Atlantic ocean liner generally caught up with the ss France. It was decided to take her out of service resulting in massive protests from the French population and even a hijack by her crew. On 7 December 1974 however, she was moored at a distant quay in Le Havre, known colloquially as the Quai de l'oubli - the pier of the forgotten. The ship sat in the same spot for approximately five years, with her interiors, including all furniture, still completely intact.

 

There were no plans to scrap her, nor to sell her. However, in 1977 Saudi Arabian millionaire Akram Ojjeh expressed an interest in purchasing the vessel for use as a floating museum for antique French furniture and artworks, as well as a casino and hotel off the coast of the south-east United States. Though he did purchase the ship for $24 million U.S., this proposal was never realised, and others were rumored to have floated, including bids from the Soviet Union to use her as a hotel ship in the Black Sea, and a proposal from the People's Republic of China to turn her into a floating industrial trade fair.

 

In June 1979, Knut Kloster and Norwegian Caribbean Line came calling and purchased the France for $18 million U.S. She was towed from Le Havre to Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany for an extensive and expensive (close to $65 million U.S.) refit to make her suitable for cruising as the largest cruise ship afloat. At Bremerhaven, among other renovations, she would receive a set of five side thrusters, upgraded air-conditioning and reinforced hull plating. Her former black hull was repainted in a medium-dark blue. She emerged from Bremerhaven in the spring of 1980 as ss Norway and made a special visit to the City of Oslo, Norway before once more crossing the North Atlantic to arrive in New York City on 16 May 1980.

 

Once she reached her new home port of Miami, Fl. on the north side of the Dodge Island cruise terminal, NCL put her to work on the seven-night Caribbean run which included a stop at St. Thomas, USVI. Her size, passenger capacity, and amenities revolutionized the cruise industry and started a building frenzy as competitors began to order bigger and larger ships. As cruise competition attempted to take some of Norway's brisk business, the Norway herself was upgraded several times in order to maintain her position as the "grande dame" of the Caribbean, including the addition of new decks to her superstructure.

 

 

Competition eventually overtook the Norway, and she even started taking a back seat to other ships in NCL's lineup. No longer the "Ship amongst Ships", her owners severely cut back on her maintenance and upkeep. She experienced several mechanical breakdowns, fires, incidents of illegal waste dumping, and safety violations for which she was detained at port pending repairs. Despite the cutbacks, the ship remained extremely popular among cruise enthusiasts, some of whom questioned the owner's actions in light of the continuing successful operation of the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, which had become a well-maintained rival operating 5-star luxury cruises for Cunard.

 

On 25 May 2003, after docking in Miami at 5:00 a.m., the Norway was seriously damaged by a boiler explosion at 6:30 a.m. that killed eight crew members, and injured seventeen, as superheated steam flooded the boiler room, and blasted into crew quarters above through ruptured decking. None of the passengers were affected. On 27 June, 2003, NCL and her parent, Malaysian-based Star Cruises, decided to relocate her. She departed Miami under tow headed towards Europe and eventually arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany on 23 September, 2003.

 

 

In Bremerhaven she was used as accommodation for NCL crew training to take their places on board the line's new Pride of America which was being build there. Due to large amounts of asbestos aboard the ship (mostly in machine and bulkhead areas), the Norway was not allowed to leave Germany for any scrap yards due to the Basel Convention. However, after assuring the German authorities that she would go to Asia for repairs and further operation in Australia, she was allowed to leave port under tow on 23 May 2005 arriving at Port Klang, Malaysia on 10 August 2005.

 

In December 2005, Norway was sold to an American naval demolition dealer for scrap value and she was to be towed to Alang, India for demolition. However, in light of protests from Greenpeace, potentially lengthy legal battles due to environmental concerns over the ship's breakup, and amidst charges of fraudulent declarations made by the company to obtain permission to leave Bremerhaven, her owners cancelled the sale contract, refunded the purchase price, and left the ship where she was.

 

She was eventually sold in April 2006 to Bridgend Shipping Limited of Monrovia, Liberia, and renamed ss Blue Lady in preparation for scrapping. One month later she was again sold, to Haryana Ship Demolition Pvt. Ltd., and was subsequently left anchored in waters off the Malaysian coast after the government of Bangladesh refused her entry into their waters due to the onboard asbestos. Three weeks later, the ship began its journey towards Indian waters, and mid-July 2006 found her anchored 100 km off the Indian coast.

 

After lengthy court battles, and the arrival of Blue Lady at Alang, India, the Indian Supreme Court ruled on 11 September 2007 (the 33rd anniversary of the ss France's last day on the Atlantic), that she was safe to scrap. By 4 December of the same year, the tip of her bow had been cut; a ceremonial move done to most ships that end up in Alang just prior to the full scale breaking of a ship. On 20 January 2008, scrapping of Blue Lady had commenced on the forward part of the sun deck. The suites added during the 1990 refit were gone by March. By 12 July 2008, the bow and the stern of the ship had been removed, with little of the ship's famous profile still recognizable. By September 2008, most of what remained above the waterline had been cut away, and the ship's destruction was essentially completed by late 2008.

 

 

Edited September 14, 2009 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was actually a cruisetour on the Veendam in 2005 to Alaska. We were hooked and have tried to go on one cruise a year since then, aging parents allowing.

 

 

m/s Veendam (1996-present) Built in 1996 as ms Veendam by Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A., Marghera (Venice), Italy for Holland America Line. She is the fourth ship in HAL history to bear the name Veendam and the last of the four ships in the 'S' class (Statendam, Maasdam and Ryndam are her sisters). She was named after the town in the northeastern Dutch province of Groningen ('veen' means 'peat' in Dutch).

 

The four ships are just about identical, having only small changes in their internal layout. However, each one has a different decorative theme. Veendam has the distinction of being the first HAL ship built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard (all of HAL's new-builts since then have been constructed at Marghera). Her three sisters had all been constructed at the builder's Monfalcone yard.

 

After running technical trials in the Adriatic, she was handed over to her owners on 1 May 1996. She then commenced a transatlantic crossing, with crew but without passengers, to Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. under the command of Captain W.H. Eulderink. After a christening and naming ceremony there by her godmother, actress Debbie Reynolds, on 15 May 1996, she commenced her inaugural/maiden ten-day cruise. Her "area of operations" has been the Caribbean, Alaska as well as European itineraries. For a while, Veendam had the distinction of being routinely commanded by a non-Dutch, and more specifically, a British captain. In addition, she was the only HAL ship not homeported in Rotterdam until 10 January 2006 when she switched from a Bahamian flag and registration (Nassau) to a Dutch one (Rotterdam - see pics below).

 

 

 

In April 2005, Holland America Cruise Line announced a program of up-scaling their cruise ships, cruise line image and passenger cruise experience called the 'Signature of Excellence program'. This enhancement program included stateroom amenities, luxury beds and bed linens, a Neptune Lounge, Pinnacle Grill, Explorations Cafe, Greenhouse Spa & Salon, and a Culinary Arts Center on all ships and the extension of the gym out and above the bridge. In addition, changes were made for non-adults including newly expanded youth facilities with the "Club HAL" program and the Loft and the Oasis for teens. After a dry-dock period in Freeport, The Bahamas, from 3-28 January 2006, Veendam initiated her SOE program on a western Caribbean cruise in late January 2006

 

 

 

In August 2008, HAL announced further enhancements to, as well as new features on, five of the line's ships as part of its ongoing Signature of Excellence program. The four 'S' sisters as well as the lead ship of the 'R' class, ms Rotterdam, will undergo extensive dry docks to create new venues, new staterooms and new decor. The 18-month, $200 million program began when Veendam entered dry dock #3 on 2 April 2009 at the Grand Bahama Shipyard at Freeport, the Bahamas.

 

While at Freeport, Veendams’ aft deck was expanded to create "The Retreat". Her existing Seaview pool was gutted and moved up one deck while in the space created by the transfer of the pool, thirty -two new verandah and eight inside staterooms were added.

Thirty-eight new Lanai staterooms were created whose large sliding glass doors provide direct access to Lower Promenade Deck's walk-around teak promenade. Each Lanai room offers its passengers two reserved lounge chairs just outside on deck, and their glass doors have a one-way-mirror coating to ensure privacy.

Veendam's third set of new staterooms are known as Spa staterooms, a total of fifteen (twelve outside with verandahs and three inside) were created near the Greenhouse Spa on Verandah Deck with earth-toned decor and a variety of in-room spa amenities including a exclusive spa treatments and a spa room service menu.

 

 

All of her existing staterooms were upgraded with new decor, modern wall sconces, carpeting, drapes, pillows and bed runners, resurfaced desks and vanities, and new vanities and cabinetry in the bathrooms.

The Retreat is a new resort-style pool area on the aft of the Lido deck. The Retreat’s pool is divided into three main sections separated by low, curving walls running the length of the pool. The middle section is 16 inches deep so guests can sit on built-in benches in the water. The two side sections feature forty-four lounge chairs in eight inches of water. Water falls and spouts were added to enhance the overall decor and located at the aft end of the pool a hot tub was installed.

 

Slice, an upscale pizzeria, serving signature pizzas, whole pies and slices to order, has been incorporated into the area. Tables and padded chairs under a sunscreen were added to provide a place to dine al fresco. In order to provide live music, a stage was added near the pool, while for additional entertainment, an LED screen and sound system was integrated into the ship's superstructure, providing both movies and video to The Retreat.

 

Veendam's original Piano and Casino Bars were gutted and reconfigured into a multi-themed new bar concept called "Mix". It features three separate areas where either Martinis, Champagne or Spirits & Ales are served.

Inside a section of the Lido restaurant, Canaletto a complimentary casual-style Italian restaurant for dinner was created. Each evening this section is transformed into the specialty restaurant with glass partitions and an Italian ambiance. Dishes range from Putanesca to Penne alla Vodka.

Veendam's main show lounge was transformed into the Showroom at Sea with the ambiance of a nightclub and a new slate of shows and lastly, a Merabella luxury jewelry shop was added midship.

 

 

Except for Veendam and Rotterdam, to be completed in December 2009, enhancements will be completed in two phases. First, in a series of drydocks in 2010 and 2011, Maasdam, Statendam and Ryndam will receive stateroom upgrades, the addition of Mix, Showroom at Sea, Canaletto and other public area enhancements. The second series of drydocks in 2012 and 2013 will add The Retreat and new staterooms on the aft portion of the ships, as well as forward verandah and spa staterooms. Passenger capacity of the five ships, based on a two per cabin, will be increased to 1,350 for the 'S' class and to 1,404 for the Rotterdam.

[berwyn]

Thanks for all your research.

[Empressa]

my first cruise was royal caribbean's grandeur of the seas, from baltimore to bermuda, sept 2007... DEFINITELY hooked!!

[TSS Olympia]

Our first cruise was a cruise to nowhere sailing out of Boston in March of perhaps 1972. Now obviously we were knew to cruising, who else would have cruised out Boston in March? The weather was raw and gusting, the Irish Republican Army sympathisers picketed the ship and entrances in support of "the troubles" back in Ireland and threats were uttered towards the ship. Not a great feeling as we boarded.. Before we boarded we envisioned rich dark woods throught the ship based on old 1940s movies i guess. But that was not to be the new modern QE2. The ship struck me then as bland and so blah, neutral colors everywhere, virtually no old dark rich wood, a modern safe but somewhat boring ship. On the positive side i do recall my wife comeing down a Grand Staircase heading to Dinner and she turning heads in her black gown. We did have interesting chats with our waiter regarding his career on Cunard and famous ships and ports he had visited. But sailing in the North Atlantic during rough seas and the plastic feel to the ship our first cruise was just ho hum. One last memory is of us walking off the ship and noticing that we were walking like old salts. During the rough seas and before i suspect stabilizers had been installed we had developed rolling gaits thats stayed with us a day or so :) Our second cruise a Greek Line ship was much more fun. But when the QE2 made her last appearance in Boston not long ago we were there to look honor and respect the last of the old true Ocean Liners.

[starrider]

My first was in '97 for a seven day to the Mexican Riviera abord the Carnival Jubilee. I went with a '50's band called Sha-Boom and an old girlfriend. The girlfriend didn't last, but my love of cruising did. The Jubilee has been re-named and still sails for a different line today.

[imsulin]

First "cruise" was a T/A in 1950 (still don't know if it was the SS United States or the SS Washington). I was four years old, and Army Dad was transferred to Stuttgart, Germany. Second "cruise was in 1954 (on one of those ships) back to the US.) Just remember being very seasick each way, sleeping in a bunk bed, being offered half-melted chocolate ice cream, throwing up constantly, hating my little brother for not being sick, and arriving back in New York. Scared and overwhelmed! Culture shock being back in the US with - gasp - TV! Fast forward - -married, two kids. Third cruise - Pacific Princess 1977 Mexican Riviera. Fourth cruise - Pacific Princess 1978 Mexican Riviera. Three kids. Both cruises paid for by DH company. Both in summer. I am the only idiot I know who wore a dress/skirt and heels to "tour" Acapulco, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. Back then, I didn't know S*** from Shinola about cruising. Have learned a lot since then, and am so glad I was able to go on so many cruises!! Can even spell places like Barbuda, Mustique, Anguilla, Petit St. Vincent, and Palm Island because I've been there! Sure do miss the days of the tall ship sailings! Not Windjammer, though did sail on Flying Cloud once.

[NewYearsBaby]

Hi, Cands from Melbourne (and all the rest of you). My favorite cruise, and favorite part of the world that I've seen so far, is the land down under. Hope to return someday for a nice long stay. Our first cruise was in 1999 on the NCL Sea. It was a 7-day cruise. It departed Houston and stopped at Cozumel, Belize and Roatan. We had to set sail on the outskirts of an incoming hurricane. Even though the first night was rough, we were hooked from the time we stepped on board.

[cruiselover57]

First cruise was a 7-day Caribbean cruise on RCI's (back then, known as RCCL) Song of Norway which was a really great ship! Only 18,000 tons (considered a small yacht now). Not sure where that ship is; probably got sold and is definitely operating under a different name for sure! That was in June 1972 and I've been hooked ever since. Cruise #73 coming up in December on the Mariner of the Seas!

[Winedrinkr]

My first cruise was on Costa's Frederico C. in the 1970s. My late wife got "hooked" on the all Italian crew. :-)

[imsulin]

Copper 10-8

 

Sorry to hear about your recent loss. God Bless.

[Copper10-8]

Copper 10-8

 

Sorry to hear about your recent loss. God Bless.

 

Thank you very much Ma'am! It is appreciated!

[klscaz]

RCCL Song of America (I think it was only one month before her final voyage)

9/28/1998 to Bermuda

 

We were hooked. The seas out of New York were pretty rough but we didn't mind at all. We leave on our 11th cruise on 11/1 (VOS from Barcelona)

[klscaz]

First cruise was a 7-day Caribbean cruise on RCI's (back then, known as RCCL) Song of Norway which was a really great ship! Only 18,000 tons (considered a small yacht now). Not sure where that ship is; probably got sold and is definitely operating under a different name for sure! That was in June 1972 and I've been hooked ever since. Cruise #73 coming up in December on the Mariner of the Seas!

 

Wow! Are you loyal to Royal? Have you been to EVERY port? Do you hold a record of some kind here on CC--or are there posters with even higher numbers?

 

I'm intrigued and jealous.

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was a cruise to nowhere sailing out of Boston in March of perhaps 1972. Now obviously we were knew to cruising, who else would have cruised out Boston in March? The weather was raw and gusting, the Irish Republican Army sympathisers picketed the ship and entrances in support of "the troubles" back in Ireland and threats were uttered towards the ship. Not a great feeling as we boarded.. Before we boarded we envisioned rich dark woods throught the ship based on old 1940s movies i guess. But that was not to be the new modern QE2. The ship struck me then as bland and so blah, neutral colors everywhere, virtually no old dark rich wood, a modern safe but somewhat boring ship. On the positive side i do recall my wife comeing down a Grand Staircase heading to Dinner and she turning heads in her black gown. We did have interesting chats with our waiter regarding his career on Cunard and famous ships and ports he had visited. But sailing in the North Atlantic during rough seas and the plastic feel to the ship our first cruise was just ho hum. One last memory is of us walking off the ship and noticing that we were walking like old salts. During the rough seas and before i suspect stabilizers had been installed we had developed rolling gaits thats stayed with us a day or so Our second cruise a Greek Line ship was much more fun. But when the QE2 made her last appearance in Boston not long ago we were there to look honor and respect the last of the old true Ocean Liners.

 

 

 

RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Queen Elizabeth 2 (1969-present) Built by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (John Brown and Company), Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland as RMS Queen Elizabeth II, also known simply as 'QE II', for Cunard Line. She was named after the earlier Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth and served as the flagship of the line from 1969 until succeeded by RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004. She was considered the last of the great transatlantic ocean liners prior to the construction of the QM2. Before she was refitted with a diesel power plant in 1986, she was also the last oil-fired passenger steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean in scheduled liner service. During almost 40 years of service, QE2 travelled the world and lately operated predominantly as a cruise ship, sailing out of Southhampton, England.

 

Queen Elizabeth 2's maiden voyage, from Southampton to New York City, commenced on 2 May 1969, and took 4 days, 16 hours and 35 minutes. However, HRH Prince Charles was the first "civilian" passenger to board the ship, on her voyage from the shipyard in Clydebank to drydock in Greenock. On board for the short journey was her first captain, William (Bil) Warwick. In 1971, she participated in the rescue of some 500 passengers from the burning French Line ship Antilles. On 17 May 1972, while travelling from New York to Southampton, she was the subject of a bomb threat. She was searched by her crew, and by a British military bomb disposal team parachuted into the sea near the ship. No bomb was found, but the individual making the threat was located and arrested by the FBI.

 

 

 

In April 1982, she took part in the Falklands War, carrying 3,000 troops and 650 volunteer crew to the South Atlantic. She was refitted in Southampton in preparation for war service, including the installation of three helicopter landing pads, the transformation of public lounges into dormitories, the installation of fuel pipes that ran through the ship down to the engine room to allow for refuelling at sea, and the covering of carpets with 2,000 sheets of hard board. Over 650 Cunard crewmembers volunteered for the voyage to look after the 3,000 members of the Fifth Infantry Brigade, which the ship transported to South Georgia. During the voyage the ship was blacked out and the radar switched off in order to avoid detection, steaming on without modern aids.

 

 

 

After the War ended, she returned to the UK in June 1982, where she was greeted in Southampton Water by HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who was on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Captain of the QE2 responded to the Queen Mother's welcome: "Please convey to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, our thanks for her kind message. Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 is proud to have been of service to Her Majesty's Forces." The ship underwent conversion back to passenger service, with her funnel being painted in the traditional Cunard orange-red with black stripes, but her hull painted an unconventional light charcoal grey. This colour proved difficult to maintain, and so was reverted to traditional colours in 1983.

 

 

On 7 August 1992, her hull was extensively damaged when she ran aground south of Cuttyhunk Island near Martha's Vineyard, while returning from a five day cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia along the east coast of the United States and Canada. A combination of her speed, an uncharted shoal and underestimating the increase in the ship's draft due to the so-called squat effect led to the ship's hull scraping rocks on the ocean floor. The accident resulted in her passengers being evacuated at nearby Newport, Rhode Island and the ship being taken out of service while repairs were made in drydock.

 

By the mid 1990's it was decided that QE2 was due for a new look and in 1994 the ship was given a multi-million dollar refurbishment in Hamburg, Germany. She emerged from the refit having every major public room refurbished. She also appeared for the first time with a Royal Blue hull.

 

In 1995, during her twentieth world cruise, she passed her four millionth mile mark having sailed the equivalent of 185 times around the planet. QE2 celebrated the 30th anniversary of her maiden voyage in Southampton in 1999. In three decades she had completed 1,159 voyages, sailed 4,648,050 nautical miles and carried over 2 million passengers.[In late 1999, she was treated to a multi-million dollar refurbishment which included updating various public rooms and passenger cabins. This refit also included the mammoth task of a complete hull strip (back to the bare metal) and repaint in traditional Cunard colors of matte black with a white superstructure.

 

While she was taken off the traditional "transatlantic" route (which was taken over by the Queen Mary 2 in 2004) QE2 still undertook an annual world cruise and regular trips around the Mediterranean. On 5 November 2004, QE2 became Cunard's longest serving ship, surpassing RMS Aquitania's 35 years. On 20 February 2007, QE2, while on her annual world cruise, met her running mate and successor flagship QM2 (herself on her maiden world cruise) in Sydney Harbor, Australia. This was the first time two Cunard Queens had been together in Sydney since the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth served as troop ships in 1941.

 

 

As Queen Elizabeth 2 approached her 40th anniversary with Cunard, questions began to circulate as to how much longer the ship could stay in service. Cunard had to consider the economics of maintaining a 40-year-old liner in operation, particularly with regard to new SOLAS safety regulations that would apply from 2010 onwards. Both Southampton and Clydebank had offered to take over QE2 after her retirement, but on 18 June 2007 it was announced that the ship had been purchased by the Dubai investment company Istithmar for $100 million.

In a ceremonial display before her retirement, QE2 met her stablemates, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria near the Statue of Liberty in New York City harbor on 13 January 2008, with a celebratory fireworks display. QE2 and QV had made a tandem crossing of the Atlantic for the meet. This marked the first time three Cunard Queens have been present in the same location.

QE2 left Southampton Docks for the final time at 1915 GMT on 11 November 2008, to begin her farewell voyage under the name of "QE2's Final Voyage". Her ownership passed to Nakheel Properties, a company of Dubai World, on 26 November. The decommissioning of the ship was particularly poignant for the QE2's only permanent resident, Beatrice Muller, aged 89, who lived on board in retirement for 14 years, at a cost of some $5,400) per month. At the time of her retirement, QE2 had sailed over six million miles, carried 2.5 million passengers and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings.

 

QE2 arrived in Dubai on the evening of 26 November 2008 in a flotilla of 120 smaller vessels, led by mv Dubai, the personal yacht of Sheikh Mohammed, ruler of Dubai. She was greeted with a fly-over from an Emirates Airbus A380 jet and a huge fireworks display, while thousand of people gathered at the Mina Rashid, waving the flags of Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates.

 

Since her arrival in Dubai QE2 has remained moored at Port Rashid. Shortly after her final passengers were disembarked, she was moved forward to the cargo area of the port, to free up the passenger terminal for other cruise vessels. At present, QE2 remains an ocean going vessel, and as such, Ronald Warwick (the former Captain of QE2 and QM2 as well as a retired Commodore of the Cunard Line) has been employed by V-Ships (who are managing QE2 during her de-fit) as the vessel's legal master.

 

It was anticipated that QE2 would be moved to the Dubai Drydocks sometime during 2009 to begin a series of far-reaching refurbishments which will ultimately result in her being converted into a floating hotel. Upon completion the plans are that she will be moved to The Palm Jumeirah to take up residence at "the QE2 Precinct".

 

Due to the 2008 Global Recession, fears have been sparked that QE2's refurbishment and hotel conversion will not take place, and that the ship may be resold. These rumors have since resulted in owners Nakheel issuing a series of press releases stating that plans for QE2's conversion are ongoing, with no intention to sell. However, since arriving in Dubai the only visible exterior change to QE2 has been the painting out of the Cunard titles from the ship's superstructure.

 

QE2 was joined inMina Rashid by QM2 on Saturday, 21 March, 2009 while QM2 visited Dubai as part of her 2009 World Cruise. She was joined once again by the QV on Sunday, 29 March, 2009 as a part of that ship's 2009 World Cruise. In April 2009, an alleged concept model of the post-refurbished Hotel QE2 was shown for sale on an online auction website. That model depicted a much altered QE2.

 

In June, 2009 the Southampton Daily Echo reported that QE2 would return to the UK as an operating cruise ship. However, on 20 July, 2009 the current owners confirmed rumors that QE2 will reposition to Cape Town, South Africa for use as a floating Hotel.

On 24 June 2009, QE2 made her first journey after nearly eight months of inactivity since the liner arrived in Dubai, the vessel manuvered under her own power into the Dubai Drydocks for inspection and hull repainting before her voyage to Cape Town's V&A Waterfront to serve there as a floating hotel for the 2010 FIFA World Cup (soccer) and beyond.

 

Shortly after her refit QE2 was registered under the flag of Vanuatu and Port Vila (her new home port) was painted on her stern, replacing the word Southampton. She has since returned to Port Rashid where it is anticipated she will soon sail for Cape Town. The arrival of QE2 in Cape Town is expected to create many local jobs(as the ship will arrive with only a minimal operating crew) including Hotel staff, Restaurant staff, chefs, cleaners and shop attendants all being sourced from the local workforce.

[Copper10-8]

Some more pics of a classic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 2009 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

My first was in '97 for a seven day to the Mexican Riviera abord the Carnival Jubilee. I went with a '50's band called Sha-Boom and an old girlfriend. The girlfriend didn't last, but my love of cruising did. The Jubilee has been re-named and still sails for a different line today.

 

 

Jubilee (1986-present) Build in 1986 as Jubilee by Kockums Varv Ab, Malmö, Sweden for Carnival Cruise Line as the second vessel of the three-ship medium-size Holiday class (Holiday - 1985, Jubilee - 1986 & Celebration - 1987). She was delivered on 1 June 1986 to CCL and 0n 6 July 1986 began operating Caribbean cruises out of Dodge Island, Miami, Fl.

 

Duuring her Carnival career, she also operated out of Los Angeles (San Pedro) on Mexican Riviera cruises and out of Vancouver, BC on Alaska cruises.

 

 

In September 2004, she received an internal transfer to P&O Australia, a Carnival subsidiary who renamed her Pacific Sun. After an intensive refit at Grand Bahamas Dockyards, she received interior as well as exterior changes. The most obvious exterior changes were the removal of both Carnival-trademark winglets on her funnel and the construction of so-called ducktails on her stern. Due to this addition, she will pitch and roll less and this will also increase her fuel efficiency. A two-story waterslide was one of her added features.

 

 

Her first cruise for P&O Australia out of Sydney's Darling Harbor took place on 27 October 2004. Since that time, Pacific Sun has welcomed thousands of Australians onboard on year-round South Pacific and tropical North Queensland itineraries. Her guests were able to choose from three-night short break cruises to a fourteen-night voyage to New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu. Destinations included islands such as Ouvea (New Caledonia), Champagne Bay (Vanuatu) and the Isle of Pines (New Caledonia), as well as capitals like Noumea (New Caledonia) and Vila (Solomon Islands).

 

In November 2007, P&O Australia relocated Pacific Sun to Brisbane which has seen her become the largest year-round liner ever to be based in Queensland. As a result, she has had the opportunity to offer her guests the forty two-night Cherry Blossum cruise which goes around Asia.

 

As a sidenote, on July 31, 2008, 42 of her passengers received medical attention after she was hit by severe weather and experienced 22 feet swells and 50 knot winds causing her to roll sharply just before 8 pm. She was enroute to Auckland, New Zealand following an eight-day cruise in the South Pacific. She is currently operating on three to fourteen-night itineraries to Queensland and the South Pacific.

[Copper10-8]

Hi, Cands from Melbourne (and all the rest of you). My favorite cruise, and favorite part of the world that I've seen so far, is the land down under. Hope to return someday for a nice long stay. Our first cruise was in 1999 on the NCL Sea. It was a 7-day cruise. It departed Houston and stopped at Cozumel, Belize and Roatan. We had to set sail on the outskirts of an incoming hurricane. Even though the first night was rough, we were hooked from the time we stepped on board.

 

 

ms Seaward (1988-present) Built in 1988 by Oy Wartsila Ab/Wartsila Marine Shipyard, Abo, Finland as ms Seaward for Kloster Cruise/Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She was delivered on 16 May 1988 and,upon completion of her maiden voyage, she spent most of her early career cruising in the Caribbean.

 

 

In 1997 she was refurbished, renamed Norwegian Sea and assigned to the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet. Her multimillion dollar renovation included the addition of a fifth restaurant called The Pasta Cafe. In addition, her bars and lounges and other public areas, and some of its suites were refurbished with new looks, including fresh upholsteries, furniture, draperies and color schemes.

 

 

She was the third ship in NCL's fleet to embrace Freestyle Cruising, which, according to NCL, bucks the regimented scheduling typical on some other lines. Passengers can eat whenever they want with whomever they please – at the eatery of their choice! – and such flexibility also extends to disembarkation times and dining attire.

 

 

 

In November 1998, Norwegian Sea replaced the trouble-plagued Norwegian Star by starting to operate year-round seven-night "Texaribbean" itineraries from Houston, TX with stops in Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, and Cancun. She received another refurbishing in January 2003 at Freeport, the Bahamas.

 

 

In August 2005, she was transferred to the fleet of NCL parent, Malaysia-based Star Cruises, rebuilt at Sembawang, Singapore where additional cabins were added, and renamed SuperStar Libra. In September 2005, she operated on cruises from Mumbai, India.

 

In the summer of 2006, she sailed a variety of cruises in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean seas before redeploying to Mumbai, India in late September 2006. SuperStar Libra was based in Taiwan in 2007 and 2008 and sailed from Keelung. She operated from Singapore from November 2008 until January 2009 when she was laid up at Port Klang, Malaysia.

 

SuperStar Libra restarted sailings from Keelung on 27 May 2009 which are scheduled to continue until October 2009, operating one to three-night cruises to open sea, Ishigaki and Naha (Okinawa, Japan). She will then be deployed to Singapore in November for three-night Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Penang (Malaysia) or Langkawi Island (Malaysia) cruises and four-night Kuala Lumpur and Phuket (Thailand) cruises until late December. After that, plans are for her to be laid up in Port Klang again. Her possible destinations have yet to be confirmed for year 2010.

[Copper10-8]

First cruise was a 7-day Caribbean cruise on RCI's (back then, known as RCCL) Song of Norway which was a really great ship! Only 18,000 tons (considered a small yacht now). Not sure where that ship is; probably got sold and is definitely operating under a different name for sure! That was in June 1972 and I've been hooked ever since. Cruise #73 coming up in December on the Mariner of the Seas!

 

 

Song of Norway (1970-present) Built by in 1970 as ms Song of Norway by Wartsila Shipyards, Helsinki, Finland for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. She was the first new ship built for RCCL, would have two sisters - Nordic Prince and Sun Viking - and soon began sailing seven- and fourteen-day cruises out of Miami, FL. In 1978, Song of Norway was lengthened by 85 feet, to increase her total passenger capacity to 1,024 as well as increase her size to 23,000 gross tons (original size had been 18,416 GT). She would serve RCCL (later RCI) throughout the world, breaking in new territories for the line.

 

 

In 1996, surpassed by the new and significantly larger ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, Song of Norway was sold to British-based Sun Cruises, part of the Airtours/MyTravel Group, who operated the vesel under the name Sundream on cruises, mostly to the Med. As part of the deal, Song of Norways's distinctive Viking Sky Lounge on the funnel, a trademark of RCCL/RCI, was removed

 

 

 

After a short lay-up that began on 26 September 2004 in Piraeus, she was sold and refitted there in order to become MS Dream Princess for Israeli-based Caspi Cruises/Tumaco Navigation in October 2004. Upon completion of the refit in early 2005, she began sailing three and four-night Eastern Mediterranean cruises from Haifa and Ashdod, Israel to Alanya, Turkey, Rhodes, Greece and Larnaca, Cyprus. Some itineraries also included Limassol, Cyprus, Marmaris, Turkey and Santorini, Greece. January 2006 found her some distance away from her home, being used to house students from Tulane University after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, LA.

 

 

 

2006 and 2007 found her chartered to Cyprus-based Lance Shipping under the name Dream. Princess Cruises had let it be known that they had not been happy campers when the name "Dream Princess" was selected for the ship by her Israeli owners in late 2004! In November 2006, Dream was chartered to Gulf Dream Cruise, running out of Dubai in the Gulf, but the venture collapsed after one cruise. On 18 September 2007, while anchored in the port of Rhodes, Dream developed a 10 degrees list. She was immediately evacuated and four officers who where on duty at the time of the incident were detained. The crew was accused of deliberately grounding the vessel to prevent further listing and an ultimate sinking. Divers investigating the incident discovered that hatchways in her hull designed for discharging untreated waste into the ocean, had been crudely plugged with chunks of wood, to prevent those discharges. Doing this kept the waste onboard. However, failure to pump the waste in a timely manner, resulted in the listing of the vessel.

 

[Copper10-8]

The list was eventually corrected but on 18 November 2007, due to strong winds, Dream came loose of her moorings and collided with a cargo ship which was tied up adjacent to her, causing minor damages to both vessels. The Greek coast guard managed to tow Dream back to her dock, using tug-boats. Dream would remain in the port of Rhodes for nearly two months until her seaworthiness was established. On November 28, 2007 she was towed to the port of Kusadasi, Turkey were she underwent repairs.

 

 

During that same month (November 2007) Caspi Cruises sold the ship to Miami-based International Shipping Partners, Inc. (ISP) who renamed her Clipper Pearl. After her refitting both in Kusadasi and in Valetta, Malta, she was chartered to the Peace Boat organization as a replacement for their Topaz, and once again renamed, this time as Clipper Pacific. The Peaceboat organization is a Japan-based international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment.

 

Clipper Pacific's bad luck continued however when, on 16 July 2008 while on her maiden arrival in U.S. waters (for her new owners), she was discovered to have numerous safety violations when inspected in New York by the United States Coast Guard. In addition to her hull damage, inspectors discovered 66 other safety violations, including problems with life jackets, labeling of fire exits and damaged lifeboats.

 

On 18 July 2008, the USCG cleared her for departure to Tampa, Fl where, upon arrival on 21 July, she entered drydock at the Tampa Bay ship repair yard. Ultrasonic images of her hull were taken to check the thickness of her hull plates and needed repairs were made before she was able to resume her transit to Japan. She did eventually reach Yokohama in early September.

 

 

 

Clipper Pacific set off on Peace Boat's 63rd Global Voyage for Peace from Yokohama on 7 September, 2008. After visiting various ports in Asia (held up once again in Singapore on 19 September due to electrical problems) and Africa, she passed through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean Sea. Her next stop was at Kusadasi on 13 October where inspectors from the Classification Society came onboard to take a serious look see. They were not happy with what they found and sent her to Izmir, Turkey for repairs. She would be stranded at Izmir with 700 passengers on board for over two weeks due to problems with her engines as well as other maintenance problems. Now completely off schedule, she arrived at Piraeus, Greece on the evening of 29 October 2008 only to be forced to stay there until 11 November. On that morning she was last seen cruising off the port to an anchorage area.

 

This was the final drop in the bucket for the Peace Boat organization who decided to end its charter contract with the ship. Clipper Pacific's mostly student passengers were transferred to the last minute chartered ms Mona Lisa, which resumed the 63rd Voyage for Peace, picking up where Clipper Pacifc left off.

 

In 2009 the ship was used on Mediterranean voyages as a stand-in by a cruise ship company whose own advertised voyages on smaller vessels had booked to overcapacity. This arrangement is scheduled to end in November. As recent as July 2009 she was seen in port in Istanbul Turkey.

[NewYearsBaby]

Copper, thanks for the information and photos about our first cruise ship, the NCL Sea. My goodness, you've put a lot of time and effort into your research and it's fascinating. My husband, a Marine in the late 60's, notices your Semper Fi and sends his greetings.

[Copper10-8]

Copper, thanks for the information and photos about our first cruise ship, the NCL Sea. My goodness, you've put a lot of time and effort into your research and it's fascinating. My husband, a Marine in the late 60's, notices your Semper Fi and sends his greetings.

 

 

Semper Fi to your husband, New Years Baby!:) (1976-1980)

[DKNYC]

Thanks Copper 10-8 for the wonderful posts about Queen Elizabeth 2. She was my first ship back in 1997-98 for the annual Christmas in the Caribbean cruise. This started my addiction and I am off to Southampton to board QM2 in less that 2 weeks. :D

 

Denise

[joeandaimeesmom]

Thanks Copper for the pictures!! They were awesome!! Our first cruise was Carnival Inspiration in January 2005. It was a group cruise consisting of Boyds Bears Collectors.. Can you imagine a bunch of bear loving people??!!! I have been addicted ever since.. :)