Your first cruise ship

[Copper10-8]

Well mine was my honeymoon in 1984 on the Mardi Gras with Carnival, it is now part of the ocean floor, they sunk it to make a reef.

mew1

 

ts Empress of Canada (1960-2003) Built in 1961 as ts Empress of Canada by Vickers-Armstrong, Walker-on-Tyne, England for Britain-based company Canadian Pacific Steamships, Ltd. Vickers-Armstrong, which had built the Empress of England on the same slip four years previously, received the order for the ship in 1958. Her keel was laid in January 1959, she was launched on 10 May 1960 and named by her godmother, Olive Diefenbaker, wife of John Diefenbaker, Canadian Prime Minister from 1957-1963. The ship had a gross registered tonnage of 27,284 tons and a length of 650 feet along with a beam of 86.5 feet. She was a twin propeller vessel capable of reaching an average speed of 21 knots. Her accommodation consisted of 192 first class passengers and 856 in tourist class.

 

On 7 March 1961, she set out on her sea trials in which she performed satisfactory. She was handed over to Canadian Pacific on 29 March 1961 and on 24 April 1961 set out on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Montreal, Quebec via Greenock, Ireland and Quebec City, Quebec. In doing this, she joined her slightly older running mates Empress of Britain and Empress of England on the Canadian run.

 

 

The Empress of Canada’s stylish looks and amenities quickly earned her a very good reputation among the travelling public. As were her two running mates, she was a very modern ship and was fitted with stabilizers and a complete air-conditioning system. Being the newest ship however, she was distinguished by her bulbous bow and more streamlined superstructure. For the greater part of the year, she and her stable mates served on the Liverpool-Montreal run, using the 1,000-mile route along the St. Lawrence River to reach their turnaround port. During the winters when the St. Lawrence was impassable, the ships either terminated their sailings at Saint John, New Brunswick or set off on Caribbean cruises out of New York.

Troubled times were ahead though, for the transatlantic ocean liner route which ultimately resulted in famous ships like the ss United States and rms Queen Mary leaving the route and/or never sailing again. The reason behind this was the increase of, and new technology in, commercial air traffic. Tremendous developments in aviation design after World War II had resulted in faster flights across the Atlantic Ocean and elsewhere. As a result, the empresses were spending more and more time doing cruises instead of crossings. By 1969 Empress of Canada completed only seven such voyages and spent the rest of her time in the Caribbean.

Canadian Pacific was a going through many changes, and this was reflected in 1968 when they adopted new company colors (green funnel with a white semi-circle/dark green triangle). But Canadian Pacific could not retain its business much longer, and on 23 November 1971 Empress of Canada arrived at Liverpool at the end of her last voyage for the company. With that, the North Atlantic service of Canadian Pacific ceased after 68 years and the Empress of Canada was laid up and put up for sale. Plans were initially made to sell the ship to Britain-based Shaw Savill Line, the same company which had purchased Empress of England but that sale did not take place.

 

 

 

In January 1972 however, she was sold to Ted Arison’s newly founded Carnival Cruise Lines Inc. to become their first ship. Carnival renamed her Mardi Gras and had her extensively refitted for full-time cruising. Externally, she retained her profile, with the exception of the removal of some of her cargo cranes. Her funnel was repainted, but it still kept much of its looks. Carnival decided to create their funnel livery with the old Canadian Pacific pattern as a base. The funnel was painted red, but the white semi-circle was allowed to remain. The in cut triangle was replaced with a blue in cut semi-circle, thereby keeping, but slightly altering, the “letter C look”.However, the ship did not have a very auspicious start with her new owners. On her maiden voyage, she ran aground on a sandbar outside the Port of Miami. Although she managed to come off undamaged, there was still trouble ahead. During the first one and a half years, Carnival recorded a loss of about $8,000,000. The Mardi Gras had been marketed as "The Flagship of the Golden Fleet". Carnival critics stated that it was not at all golden, and that there was no fleet.

Mardi Gras initially was an only ship for Carnival but that was about to change. In 1973, Carnival progressively introduced the ‘Fun Ship’ concept and $10,000,000 was spent over eighteen months converting Mardi Gras. But in order to keep business rolling, the ship was kept in service while the work was being done. During the voyages, those areas that were being rebuilt were closed off to the passengers, and this resulted in the ship being able to carry only 60% of her usual capacity. Internally, the ship went through a complete facelift. She was given vivid colors, bright lights as well as disco and casino. Carnival now offered some of the cheapest cruises available in the Caribbean, and the indicators were soon pointing upwards. In 1974, the Mardi Gras was being marketed nation-wide in the U.S. and Canada, and she was quickly becoming a very popular ship, often sailing with a full compliment of passengers. By the mid-1970s, Carnival was enjoying immense success, and they were soon looking for a second ship to expand their fleet. As a result, in December 1975 they purchased the Queen Anna Maria (the former Empress of Britain) and renamed her Carnivale. The two former Empresseswere again serving the same company and the duo was transformed into a trio in 1977, when the S.A. Vaal,originally Union-Castle’s Transvaal Castle,was purchased and renamed Festivale.

 

 

With this original trio of ships, Carnival now had its “Golden Fleet”. The company was making big money, and they soon announced the construction of their very first new build, the Tropicale (1982), followed in succession by the Holiday (1985), the Jubilee (1986) and the Celebration (1987). Carnival’s fleet, as well as its might, was growing at a steady pace. But the three original ships were still a very important part of the fleet, and they were thus kept at very high standards. In the 1980s, Mardi Gras went through two overhauls during which the ship was modernized and had more cabins added. The company had soon gained the well-earned reputation of always keeping their ships spotless.

 

But, as the cruise marked continued to grow, so did Carnival Cruise Lines. In 1990, the new 70,000-ton Fantasy entered service. Carnival had by now established themselves as the largest cruising company in the world, and their financial situation gave them the opportunity to seriously upgrade their fleet. The Fantasy would become the first ship of a total eight to be built from the same basic design. These state-of-the art cruise ships made the original trio Mardi Gras, Carnivale and Festivale obsolete, and it was clear that they would soon leave the company.

 

 

In the fall of 1993, Mardi Gras was transferred to Greek operator Epirotiki Lines, after a proposed merger between Carnival and Epirotiki had failed to materialize. However, her future duties were unclear. It was proposed that she was to be renamed Olympic, but as Epirotiki was already operating another ship with that name, some suggested that she should be given the name Homeric instead. As it was, neither of these names was used. Instead, the ship was soon chartered to Galveston-based Gold Star Cruises. With this company, she was renamed Star of Texas and was employed doing short gambling cruises in the Mexican Gulf. However, this venture was unsuccessful and the company folded within a matter of months. The ship was then redeployed to Miami, Fl, in 1994, named Lucky Star, and continued operating gambling cruises from there. As it was, bad luck continued and this stint also became a very short one, lasting only a few weeks.

 

 

Escaping creditors, the ship first fled to Freeport, the Bahamas and was then sent to Eleusis, Greece to be laid up in Greek waters. The ship was still under Epirotiki ownership, but they did not have much interest in operating her. Then, late in 1995, Epirotiki merged with Sun Lines to form the new company Royal Olympic Cruises. The former Empress of Canada remained laid up however, and was soon in a very run down condition. Rumors at the time were that the ship would re-enter service as either Homeric or Olympic 2004, but any such plans fell through. During the lay-up, her name was instead changed to Apollon. In late 1997, things started to look a lot brighter. Apollonwas moved to Piraeus to be refurbished in order to meet the latest SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) requirements. Many of her original traditional British fittings, such as her rich wood paneling and brass, were still intact and Royal Olympic were careful not to spoil this atmosphere when they refurbished the ship.

 

When Apollon did return to service in 1999, she was chartered to Britain-based tour company Direct Cruises. They employed her as Apollo on a series of cruises around the United Kingdom, and with that, she returned to her native waters almost 40 years after her birth. This meant a welcome reunion for many British ship enthusiasts; however it would not last very long. Although Direct Cruises was doing very well on the British Market at the time, the company was soon acquired by their financially stronger competitor Airtours. They initially announced that Direct Cruises would continue operating separately, but this never happened and the charter of Apollon that was to have included the 2000 season was cancelled and the ship was sent back to her owners.

 

 

Royal Olympic still did not have any interest in operating Apollon within their fleet, and she was therefore sent back to Piraeus to be laid up again. Surprisingly though, from March through November 2001, she was put back in service by Royal Olympic for three- and four-day cruises out of Piraeus as a result of delays in the delivery of their new Olympic Explorer. She operated alongside the new Olympic Countess before being laid up for good in 2003. Later that year, she was sold for scrap to Indian breakers and, renamed Apollo for her final journey. On 9 December 2003, she was beached at Alang, India and eventually scrapped.

[Copper10-8]

Honeymoon cruise on the Adventure, very shortly after it was released. Funny thing is, now I prefer Radiance class ships, which are older and smaller!

 

ms Adventure of the Seas (2001-present) Built in 2001 by Kvaerner Masa Yard Oy (now Aker Finnyards), Abo (Turku), Finland as ms Adventure of the Seas for Royal Caribbean International. Adventure OTS belongs to a class of five vessels, initially known as “Project Eagle”. She is the third vessel in the class, now known as the “Voyager class”, her sisters being Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000), Navigator of the Seas (2002) and Mariner of the Seas (2003). Kvaerner Masa has a long relationship with RCCL/RCI, having constructed the company’s first four ships: Song of Norway, Nordic Prince and Sun Viking in the early 1970s, and Song of America in 1982. The company's Helsinki yard later undertook the complex task of lengthening both the Song of Norway and Nordic Prince in the first such operation ever performed on a passenger ship.

The Voyager class of ships are known as post-Panamax cruise ships, meaning that they are too large to transit the Panama Canal. The five ships at 137,276 grt are currently the fourth largest passenger ships in the world. Only RCI’s Oasis of the Seas at 225,282 grt, (sister Allure of the Seas to join in November 2010), RCI’s three Freedom of the Seas class ships at 154,407 grt, and Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary 2 at 148,528 grt are larger in size. The main engine power for Adventure of the Seas is provided by six Wärtsilä Vasa 46 diesel engines, giving a total output of 75,600kW and creating a service speed of around 22 knots. The engines have been modified by approximately 5% to accommodate three 14MW Azipods – two azimuthing and one fixed. In addition, there are four bow thrusters and two stern thrusters.

When Adventure OTS emerged from the Finnish shipyard on 26 October 2001, she could carry 3,114 guests. The first of two trademarks of the Voyager class vessels and the heartbeat of the ship is the Royal Promenade, a naturally lighted four-deck high mall area/marble floored street stretching just over ¾ the length of the ship lined with bars and several shops specializing in jewelry, souvenirs, cigars, cigarettes, and liquor, the other trademark being the RCI Rock Climbing Wall mounted on the back of her funnel, the world’s first at sea, offering skill combinations for all levels at 150-200 feet above sea level. The ship features an on-board casino, Casino Royale, on Deck 4. There are also numerous themed bars and lounges, including the Aquarium bar, pool deck bar, the Duck and Dog Pub, Champagne Bar, the Schooner and the Viking Lounge. There are two eleven-story high open atriums, called the Centrum, surrounded by bars, lounges and shops and Studio B, a multipurpose studio complex filled with activities from ice-skating to cooking demonstrations. An outdoor pool is found on deck 11 along with three whirlpools. On the same deck is the Day Spa & Fitness Center, the indoor/outdoor Solarium pool and lounge area that can be covered during inclement weather by a huge glass moving roof called the Crystal Canopy. The Solarium has its own pool and two additional whirlpools, one on starboard and one on port. A jogging track can be found on deck 12.

 

Several youth facilities are scattered about the ship, including a Video Arcade area, Adventure Ocean and the Optix teen disco. A special edition of RCI's daily program (The Compass), called Explorations is published specifically for children. The Spa and Fitness Center can be found on deck 9. Adventure OTS has a three-level main dining room with three separate themed dining areas known as Vivaldi, Mozart and Strauss. The 1,350-seat main show lounge, known as The Lyric is located on decks 2 through 6. The ship also contains a conference center, a library at the end of the Royal Promenade located on deck 7, Café Promenade, serving Seattle’s Best Coffee and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, an internet center known as Royalcaribbean Online, a buffet called The Windjammer, Portofino, an Italian-themed alternate restaurant, Johnny Rockets, a 50s diner, two shuffle board courts, an In-Line Track, made specifically for in-line skating, the Adventure Dunes Golf Course, a 9-hole miniature golf course, a photo and art gallery and the other RCI trademark, the Viking Crown Lounge.

Adventure has 1,557 cabins, of which 757 are situated on the outside with balconies, giving a double occupancy capacity of 3,114 or 3,840 in total. Unusually for a cruise vessel, some 10% of the cabins face inwards with an atrium view, and these are priced higher than the equivalent ocean-view rooms. Almost all outward facing cabins on Adventure feature balconies as well as en-suite bathrooms and an innovative interactive television service. Special attention has been given to the 1,180 crew who are accommodated in 667 cabins fitted with TVs and refrigerators. The crew has a recreation deck, two whirlpools, a gymnasium, three dining rooms and a disco at their disposal for when they are not attending to the ship’s passengers.

After crossing the Atlantic, the clear and sunny Saturday afternoon of 10 November 2001, set the stage for the arrival and christening of Adventure of the Seas, the first passenger ship into New York Harbor following the September 11 terrorist attacks. She sailed into New York for a two-day tribute cruise for the families of the fallen firefighters and police officers who were victim to the devastation at the World Trade Center. Royal Caribbean also donated $50,000 to the Twin Towers Relief Fund. FDNY fireboats John D. McKean and John J. Harvey were waiting for her arrival positioned off Liberty Island and gave her a welcome water spray of red, white and blue. She was christened and named at Pier 88 by representatives of the New York Police and Fire Departments. The vessel’s godparents were Maggie McDonnell, widow of NYPD police officer Brian McDonnell, Tara Stackpole, widow of FDNY firefighter Captain Timothy Stackpole, FDNY firefighter Kevin Hannafin, who had lost his brother, firefighter Tom Hannafin; and Sergeant Richard Lucas of the NYPD Harbor Unit which assisted rescuers. They were joined by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, RCI CEO Richard Fain and approximately 2,000 NYPD and FDNY family members.

On 18 November 2001, Adventure of the Seas departed on her maiden voyage, a seven-day cruise to San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Since 2001, she has been sailing seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises from her home port, San Juan with port calls at Oranjestad, Aruba, Willemstad, Curacao, Roseau, Dominica and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI. On 2 May 2010 she will depart San Juan on a 13-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona, Spain with port calls at Santa Cruz, Tenerife and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands and Cadiz in Spain. Upon her arrival in Spain, she will conduct Mediterranean summer cruises with Malaga as her home port.

[Copper10-8]

NCL Starward to Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Nassau...August 1974. now that makes me feel old!

 

Beverly

 

 

Starward (1968-present) Built in 1968 as ms Starward by AG Weser Werk Seebeck in Bremerhaven, (then) West Germany. She was delivered to her owners, Norwegian Caribbean Line, which later would become Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), on 29 November 1968 and made her first cruise for them on 21 December 1968. She was their first purpose-built ship and originally had a stern car door as well as garage space to take trailers, specifically to Jamaica. This space was later converted to cabins.

 

 

A sister to NCL's Skyward, she initially operated out of Miami, Fl. on seven-day cruises to the Caribbean islands. She was later moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico for seven-day cruises to the southern Caribbean.

 

 

In 1994, Starward was sold to Greece-based Festival Cruises, their second ship, who renamed her Bolero and, after a refit in Piraeus, began operating her on Mediterranean itineraries. Her first cruise for them took place on 22 December 1995 out of Genoa, Italy. She would sail from there and from Savona, Italy to the Canaries and/or Portugal, Morocco and mainland Spain. In addition, she did Western and Northern Europe runs.

 

Summer seasons would find her sailing on seven-day cruises from Venice, Italy to Greece calling at Dubrovnik, Croatia, Kusadasi, Turkey, Katakolon, Delos, Mykonos, Patmos and Pylos, Greece. In December 1997, she operated a fifteen-night transatlantic crossing from Genoa, Italy to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, followed by a series of one week charter cruises.

.

 

In 2000, she was chartered to Great Britain-based First Choice Cruises and in 2002 to Spanish Cruise Line (SCL), followed by charters to other travel companies.

 

 

When Festival collapsed in January 2004, she was laid up at Gibraltar, until being purchased by Orient Queen Shipping in November 2004 and renamed Orient Queen in 2005.

 

She was operated by Abou Mehri Cruises of Beirut, Lebanon and managed by Österreichischer Lloyd. At the time, she was the only Lebanese-owned cruise ship. Orient Queen cruised her first season out of Beirut in the spring of 2005. In November 2005, she was repositioned to Dubai to begin what would turn out to be an unsuccessful Persian Gulf cruise winter program, providing the first luxury cruise line service between Dubai and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Quatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

 

 

She was repositioned back to Beirut to begin a 2006 cruise season in the Mediterranean Sea. On 19 July 2006 however, Orient Queen was chartered by the U.S. Government and used to evacuate United States (and other countries') citizens from Lebanon as a result of the armed conflict between that country and Israel. She took those evacuees to the port of Larnaca in Cyprus.

[Copper10-8]

On 25 August 2006, Orient Queen was sold to Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines for which she sailed on Med cruises. In the spring of 2007, she ran a World Cruise charter for German-based Delphin Seereisen when construction of that lines' new Delphin Voyager was delayed. Upon the completion of that charter, the ship returned to Louis Cruises and continued sailing Mediterranean for them.

 

 

On 28 July 2009, Louis entered into an agreement with Brazil-based tour and cruise operator Agencia De Viagens CVC Tur Ltda to charter the ship to them from 20 November 2009 until 15 March 2010. During that time she is operating out of Recife, Brazil.

 

 

 

 

[Copper10-8]

I am a newcomer.

Sensation, Carnival, 2007, 3 day Bahamas.

Yes it did get me hooked

 

ms Sensation (1993-present) Built in 1993 as ms Sensation by Kvaerner Masa Shipyard, Helsingfors (Helsinki), Finland for Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line for Caribbean cruising. She was handed over to her new owners on 18 October 1993. After a North Atlantic crossing, she was officially named in Miami, FL on 13 November 1993 by her godmothers Gerry Donnelly, Vicki Freed, Roberta Jacoby and Cherie Weinstein. Eight days later on 21 November 1993, she departed Miami on her maiden Caribbean cruise.

 

Sensation belongs to the 'Fantasy-class' of ships and was the third vessel built in the class of eight (the others are Fantasy - 1990, Ecstasy - 1991, Fascination - 1994, Imagination - 1995, Inspiration - 1996, Elation -1998 and Paradise - 1998).

The Fantasy class has a so-called 'modern ocean/cruise liner design', with all of its cabins situated within the hull and only a handful of suites on the superstructure, similar to Carnival's Holiday-class ships which were built in the late eighties. Sensation and six of her sisters have two fixed propellors as opposed to the last two ships of the class, Elation and Paradise who have an Azipod azimuth thruster propulsion system. The class of eight were also the last cruise ships built with their lifeboats situated on their upper deck.

 

In terms of layout and function, Sensation is virtually identical to her sister Fantasy-class ships. The ship consists of ten decks with most of the public rooms concentrated on Atlantic, Promenade and Lido decks (8-10), while her passenger cabins are located on Riviera, Main, Upper and Empress decks (4-7). Like other Carnival ships, her public areas are designed and decorated in a flamboyant style by Carnival's award winning (interior) naval architect Joe Farcus, who has a penchant for augmenting the interiors with more than a dash of neon and glitz. While passenger opinions of the decor ranged from glamorous and elegant to gaudy and gauche, there is no denying that Farcus' whimsical design style enhances the Sensation's "Fun Ship" aura.

 

The ship's centerpiece is its six-story Grand Atrium complete with glass-enclosed elevators. A favorite gathering place before dinner is at the semicircular Grand Atrium Plaza & Bar on the floor of the Atrium where guests can enjoy pre-dinner drinks to the accompaniment of classical music performed by a trio. Sensation's public spaces encompass a diversity of styles and design elements celebrating the arts and literature. Among the venues that display those themes are the Fantasia Main Lounge, Touch of Class Piano Bar, the Kaleidoscope Dance Club/Disco and the Oak Room Library.

 

One of the most expansive public areas is the area known as Sensation Boulevard on Promenade Deck, which is decorated with striking columns featuring crafted classical reliefs of the Muses. Promenade Deck gets especially busy at night as it connects the main "evening" lounges, such as the Plaza Aft Lounge, Michael Angelo Lounge, Joe's Cafe and the Mirage Bar, which is next to the Club Vegas Casino. Other public areas include the Fun Shops shopping mall, the Video Arcade & Club O2 and the ship's photo gallery. There is also an Internet cafe while Wi-Fi is available in most public rooms.

 

 

Sensation was one of several cruise ships chartered by the U.S. Government/Military Sealift Command to provide accommodation for refugees and relief workers following Hurrican Katrina's path of destruction in August 2005. After being released from FEMA service, she moved to Port Canaveral, Fl, where she replaced her older sister Fantasy on Carnival's three and four-day cruises from that port to the Bahamas.

 

In late 2006, Carnival Cruise Line announced a massive multi-million dollar product enhancement initiative to its Fantasy class fleet known as "Evolutions Of Fun" which is expected to be completed in 2009. The refit will consist of new ship names, with all eight ships receiving a repainted name with the "Carnival" prefix (i.e. Carnival Fantasy, etc.) after their final refurbishment to their pools and outside decks. Sensation became 'Carnival Sensation' in November 2009.

 

 

Carnival Sensation was the fourth Fantasy-class ship (Carnival Imagination, Inspiration and Fantasy preceded her) to enter drydock in January 2009 and emerged with her "Evolutions of Fun" enhancements and upgrades thirty five days later on 12 February 2009. During this refit, ninety-eight existing ocean view staterooms were transformed into balcony cabins. In addition, eight of her suites on the Upper Deck received larger balconies. Twenty four balconies were 'extended' from the vessel mid-ships and another twelve near her stern. The remaining sixty two are now located at her aft section. In addition, all her staterooms were completely refurbished, as well as virtually all dining, dancing and entertainment venues. Guest corridors were renovated and a new “Circle C” facility catering to 12- to 14-year olds was added.

 

 

 

The adults-only area (around the funnel) was moved to Promenade deck aft and now known as the 'Serenity adults-only area', replacing the children's wading pool on the back of Promenade deck with the wading pool becoming part of the new waterpark. That area with multiple slides called "Carnival Water Works Aqua Park" was installed on Verandah Deck, aft. Carnival Sensation's main pool area on Lido Deck, midship, was completely refurbished and redesigned in a tropical theme with new materials and new spiral staircases and the original water slide was removed. Other renovations included new carpeting in public spaces and in her main dining rooms. A miniature golf course was added to the forward sun deck.

 

The ship's restaurant and the majority of her public areas received new decors as well as new electronic equipment. Except for the Carnival Elation and the Carnival Paradise which already have the feature, the sculpture found in the Sensations' atrium (and on the other six ships) was removed and replaced with an atrium bar and an orchestra platform. Finally, all staterooms received new decors, new beds and new flat screen televisions.

 

 

Carnival Sensation is currently sailing three and four-day cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, FL. On this route, three-day cruises depart on Thursdays and call at Nassau, while four-day voyages depart on Sundays with port calls at Nassau and Freeport.

[Copper10-8]

our first was 05 on Disney Wonder. A 4 night to Nassau and Castaway Cay...still new to this

 

ms Disney Wonder (1999-present) Built in 1999 as ms Disney Wonder by Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A., Marghera (Venice), Italy for Disney Cruise Line. She is the second cruise ship operated by the line, their first being her sister Disney Magic (1998). Both ships are virtually identical in their design, with a few variations in restaurants and entertainment venues. Both contain areas designed exclusively for various age groups, including toddlers, young kids, teens, and adults. Unlike most ships of their type, they do not include casinos.

 

After delivery on 1 July 1999, Disney Wonder had her inaugural cruise from the Fincantieri shipyard, stopping in Southampton, England before crossing the Atlantic and arriving at her homeport of Port Canaveral, FL. two weeks later. Her godmother is none other than Disney's character Tinkerbell.

 

 

Disney Wonder has a wraparound promenade deck and three swimming pools, including a children's pool with waterslide . Her Sports deck features paddle tennis, table tennis and basketball courts as well as a golf driving range. There are three themed main dining rooms with rotated guest usage and there is also a reservations-only Italian restaurant for adults only. Lots of fast food outlets and a cafe provide the informal eating options. Entertainment is provided in the four-deck Walt Disney Theater and an adult entertainment area offering a Jazz Piano Lounge, Rock and Country & Western Lounge and a Comedy Club. There is also a dedicated movie theater offering Disney and new release movies.

 

Disney Wonder has been alternating between three and four-night cruises, visiting Nassau and Disney's own private island, Castaway Cay, both in the Bahamas, The four-night cruise offers an additional day at sea. From 30 May through 22 August 2010, Disney Wonder will sail on five-night cruises, alternating between an itinerary that adds an additional stop at Castaway Cay and one that adds a stop at Key West, Fl.

 

 

In October 2006, the Wonder entered dry dock at the Norshipco shipyard in Norfolk, Va. for a general sprucing up and the addition of new features, many of which were introduced to her sister Disney Magic in 2005. A toddler pool was added that features interactive fountains and splash zones. A new computer simulator was put into the refurbished Oceaneer Lab that lets kids "steer" Disney Wonder in and out of port. A 24 x 14 foot LED screen was affixed to her forward funnel, overlooking the Goofy Pool and offering Disney movies and television programs.

 

In addition, her Vista Spa, her meeting and conference facilities as well as the Quiet Cove adults-only pool were renovated and expanded. Like Disney Magic, Disney Wonder also features a ship's whistle or horns which plays the opening seven-note theme from Disney's Pinocchio, "When You Wish Upon A Star", in addition to the traditional whistle. As on the Magic, Disney characters hang off the Wonder's stern and dominate her bow. The Magic’s Goofy has been replaced on the Wonder with Donald Duck and his nephew Huey on the stern, while Mickey on the bow has gone from Sorcerer Mickey to Steamboat Mickey.

 

 

On 22 February 2007, Disney Cruise Lines announced the order for two new ships which will be be added to the fleet in 2011 and 2012. The two ships are being built by the Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and will be named Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

 

 

In addition, Disney Cruise Line has succesfuly negotiated with the Port Canaveral port authority to extend their contract for fifteen more years, through 2022. As part of this contract, the port authority will expand and upgrade the cruise ship dock in order to accommodate the new ships, both of which will be home-ported there. The cruise terminal will be enlarged to accommodate more passengers and luggage and,last but not least, a parking garage will be built and completed by 2011.

 

 

With the arrival of Disney Dream in 2011, Disney Wonder will be relocated to, and home-ported at, Los Angeles (San Pedro), CA. That agreement will be for two years, with a potential extension of an additional three years. On 11 September 2009, Disney Cruise Line announced that the Wonder will operate eighteen 7-night sailings to Alaska in 2011.

 

[Copper10-8]

I feel like such a newbie! We waited until we were retired before we found cruising. Now we're hooked. (I swear, they should put a warning labels on the boarding passes for first-time cruisers advising them that cruising can be addictive!) The trip was memorable because in five days we were caught in not one but two hurricanes, Wilma and Alpha. We still loved it.

 

Our first cruise (Civilian type - I spent 22 years in the Navy) was in 2005, on Carnival's Celebration, out of JAX. We were hooked.

 

Does anyone know the final disposition of Celebration? I know she was stricken from Carnival's fleet in 2006 or 2007. Her sister ship, Holiday makes her last run from here in Mobile the first week of next month. I don't know who is buying her. She'll be replaced by Fantasy until next spring when Fantasy will be replaced by Elation.

 

ms Celebration (1987-present) Built in 1987 as ms Celebration by Kockums Varv AB, Malmö, Sweden for Carnival Cruise Line. Celebration was the third and last ship of Carnival's Holiday class, also called "Super Liners" by Carnival and known as the "Fun Ships". Her sisters are Holiday (1985) and the slightly larger Jubilee (1986). She was delivered to her new owners in February 1987 and on 9 February 1987 departed Malmö on her transatlantic crossing to Miami, FL. After her naming ceremony by her godmother Kathie Lee Gifford, she departed Miami for her inaugural cruise to the Caribbean on 14 March 1987.

 

When she emerged from the yard, Celebration was 47,262 gross registered tons, 732.6 feet long, 92.5 feet wide with a 25.5 foot draft. She was Liberian registered with Italian Officers and an International crew and she is diesel propelled. Celebration continued the tradition begun by her two sisters, of a single, wide promenade, which, became the boulevard for each evening's activities. Every Carnival ship has its own particular bit of whimsy. On Celebration, it was a trolley car, parked outside of the casino.

 

 

The Holiday class vessels were the first class of newbuilds for Carnival Cruise Lines (Tropicale was a single-class ship). None of the three ships in this class are still sailing for Carnival though. The first ship, the 46,052 gross ton Holiday, was completed in 1985. Carnival Cruise Lines retired her in November 2009 and she, like Celebration, was internally transfered to Spanish operator Iberocruceros where she became the Grand Holiday. A second and slightly larger sister ship, Jubilee, was built in 1986 at 47,262 gross tons. In 2004, she was internally transferred to P&O Cruises Australia where she became the Pacific Sun. Celebration was the last of the class and would also find her way to Iberocruceros.

 

Following a multi-million, 70-day drydock in Freeport, the Bahamas in March and April 2003, Celebration resumed her year-round Western Caribbean service from Galveston, Tx on Monday, 7 April 2003. The refurbishment included an overhaul of the purser's lobby, redesigned dining rooms and cabins, and cosmetic enhancements to virtually all her public rooms and areas.

 

 

Celebration has been the subject of negative publicity as a result of a series of incidents while operating for Carnival Cruise Line.

 

On 10 February 1989, Celebration rammed the 352-foot Cuban cement/bulk carrier Capitan San Luis off the coast of Cuba. The collision sliced the Cuban ship in half, killing three crew members and injuring thirteen. Celebration incurred considerable damage to her bow and had to be repaired. A federal judge in Miami quashed the investigation after deciding that the NTSB had no authority over the foreign registered ship.

 

In June 1995, an electronic panel caught fire in Celebration's engine control room knocking out her propulsion and leaving her adrift 370 nautical miles south of Miami near San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. Her 1,700 passengers spent two days aboard the stalled ship without air conditioning and overflowing toilets and were eventually transferred to her stable mate Ecstasy.

 

On Wednesday 12 January 2000 around midnight when the ship was roughly 100 miles west north-west of Jamaica, one of Celebration's three auxiliary generators caught fire. The fire was put out within minutes by Celebration's automated firefighting equipment however, the ship was adrift for about six hours with emergency lighting activated but no running water, toilets or air conditioning. The fire resulted in a premature end to the cruise for her 2,253 passengers who were flown home from Jamaica after the ship pulled into Montego Bay the next day. Carnival was forced to cancel her next cruise.

 

On 16 August 2006, Celebration struck the harbor floor in Nassau as the ship, with over 1,100 passengers onboard, was preparing to dock. Her propeller was struck which, besides causing damage to the vessel, also released 53 gallons of lubricating oil into the sea. As a result, Celebration's captain was forced to cancel her port of call at Nassau and return her to her Jacksonville homebase for repairs.

 

 

Towards the end of her career with Carnival, Celebration was based out of Jacksonville, FL from where she operated four and five-day cruises to Key West, FL, Nassau and Freeport, the Bahamas.

 

In April 2008, she was internally transferred to Iberocruceros and renamed Grand Celebration. The ship had an extensive refit before re-entering service with the Spanish line. The refit included new hull artwork. Unlike Carnival's other retired/transferred purpose-built ships, her trademark "whale tail" funnel was not altered or removed but only painted over. Grand Celebration entered into service for Iberocruceros in the summer of 2008.

 

 

Iberocruceros was founded in 2007 as a joint subsidiary of Carnival Corporation and Orizonia Corporacion. The cruise line is aimed at the Spanish-speaking market. Orizonia Corporación provided two ships from its existing Iberojet fleet, the Grand Mistral and the Grand Voyager. Carnival Cruise Lines provided Iberocruceros with the Grand Celebration and the Grand Holiday (the former Carnival Cruise Line ms Holiday).

 

 

Grand Celebration sails on mondays on seven-day cruises from Barcelona, Spain into the Mediterranean with stops at the Italian ports of Florence, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples as well as a port call at Valetta, Malta.

 

[OceanDreams]

John - What a wonderful thread ..... Thank you so much for starting it. You really should take all the facts that you have been sharing with us and put it into a book. I for one would buy it in a heart beat.

Back in August of 1996 my first cruise was on NCL's "Leeward." ..... and my addiction start from there.

(I thought I would save you some time and just repost what you had already written concerning the history of the "Leeward."

 

OceanDreams

 

 

 

ms Viking Saga (1980-present) Built as the cruise ferry ms Viking Saga in 1980 by Wartsila Turku New Shipyard, Turku, Finland for Finnish-based Rederi Ab Sally, one of the Viking Line partners. Viking Line is a Finnish shipping company that operates a fleet of ferries as well as cruiseferries between Finland, the Aland Islands, Sweden and Estonia. Viking Saga was the first genuine cruiseferry in the Finland to Sweden traffic pattern. She and her sister, Viking Song, alongside Silja Line's contemporary ms Finlandia and ms Silvia Regina, were instrumental in turning the Helsinki to Stockholm run into a popular cruise route.

 

In June 1982, Viking Saga was sold to Finnish-based Suomen Yritysrahoitus (common spelling!), who in turn chartered her right back to Sally. This is when a black cloud first appeared overhead the ship and started following her (read on!): In 1985, Viking Saga struck the bottom near Sandhamn in the Stockholm archipelago, and had to be docked in Stockholm.

 

After ms Olympia replaced her on the Helsinki to Stockholm route in April 1986, Viking Saga was rebuilt for use as a cruise ship at Wartsila Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland. She did not however, become a "real" cruise ship as she still had her car decks which were not built in/converted. During her conversion at the yard, there was an on board fire, but it was extinguished by the shipyard staff. Now named Sally Albatross, she entered service for the new Sally Cruise brand in May 1986. She was mainly used for cruising around the Baltic Sea from Helsinki (mainly 25-hour cruises to pretty much nowhere).

 

 

In 1987, Rederi Ab Sally was sold to its rivals, Effoa and Johnson Line. In January-February 1988, the Sally Albatross was comprehensively rebuilt at Schichau Seebeckwerft, Bremerhaven, Germany, where she received additional cabins on the former upper cardeck, the forward superstructure was built to a more streamlined appearance and smaller changes were made to the bow and other parts of the superstructure. At the same time her livery was altered, in addition to the light and dark blue stripes running along the hull black stripes were painted along the windows of the superstructure, giving the ship an even more streamlined appearance. The cost of the reconstruction was 35 million Finnish markka.

 

In January 1990, while docked at the Finnboda Shipyard, Nacka, Sweden, for reconstruction of her restaurants, nightclub and conference facilities, practically the entire superstructure of the ship was damaged beyond repair by a fire which had started from drops of liquid metal sparkling on flammnable material. The ship's sprinkler system had been turned off for the duration of the refit work. Due to the danger of gas bottles (used in the reconstruction) exploding in the heat, the local fire department thought twice about enetering the ship. As a result, Sally Albatross burned uncontrollably for three days. For the good news: all workers (and an American actress who had been on board) were rescued from inside the ship and no lives were lost.

 

The burnt-out hull was first towed to Mantyluoto, Finland, where she was partially scrapped, leaving only the hull below cardeck intact. After this the remains were towed into Naantali, Finland where the remaining hull was cut into several sections. These were then transported to the Finnyards shipyard in Rauma, Finland where they were used as the basis of a new ship with the project name Sally Eurocruiser. She was to be a genuine cruiseship, without a cardeck.

 

She was re-delivered in 1992, still named Sally Albatross, but in essence, she was a completely new ship. The new Sally Albatross was delivered to Finnish-based Sally Cruise on 23 March 1992 and started operating cruises in the Baltic Sea with Helsinki as her port of departure, in a similar arrangement as she had done in the late eighties. In July of the same year she was chartered to Svea 92, a Swedish consortium for advancing exports, as a hotel and conference ship for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. After the Olympic Games had concluded, in September 1992, Sally Albatross was transferred to the Finnish-based Silja Line. Despite joining the Silja, fleet Sally Albatross' old colour scheme and Sally Cruise funnel colors were maintained.

 

 

In 1994, that black cloud appeared again! On 4 March 1994, she ran aground in the ice-covered sea outside of Porkkala, Finland. She was towed to shallow waters and her passengers evacuated. After this, she was left on the spot, partially submerged, while preparations were made to re-float her. Re-floating the ship proved to be a complicated process, and it was not until 16 April that she was once again afloat. She was then towed to the abandoned Vuosaari shipyard, arriving on 20 April, where the most necessary repairs were made.

 

In October 1994, she was towed all the way to La Spezia, Italywhere she was repaired and rebuilt for international cruise traffic at Industrie Navali Maccaniche Affini. She then began a charter to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) who renamed her ms Leeward and, from July 1995 onwards, operated her in the Caribbean.

 

 

In March 2000, Leeward was once again chartered, this time for three years to Malaysian-based Star Cruises (owners of Norwegian Cruise Line) who renamed her Superstar Taurus and used her on various cruises around Asia, mostly from Japan.

 

 

In December 2001, however Star Cruises terminated the charter contract and the she reverted once again to Silja Line. Superstar Taurus sailed back to Europe, and between February and June 2002. received another rebuilt at Luonnonmaan, Telakka, Finland for cruise service on the Baltic Sea. On 1 June 2002, she was renamed Silja Opera and placed under Swedish flag. Silja Opera (re)started cruising the Baltic Sea on 29 June 2002 with once again Helsinki as her point of departure. She made a one-day cruise to nowhere from Helsinki and two-night cruises to Visby, Sweden and Riga, Latvia (discontinued after one season) as well as to St. Petersburg, Russia. The ship already had a reputation as a ship of bad luck (you think?) amongst the public, and this was not helped when in September 2003, she collided with not one, but three cargo-ships in St. Petersburg, resulting in minor damage to all parties involved. Less than two months later, in almost precisely same spot, she collided with a Russian icebreaker.

 

[CruiseAdict218]

My first Cruise was on the Carnival Triumph August 29th-September 5th 2009 Canada/New England out of New York

 

Carnival Triumph is a Triumph Class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Lines and has a "Great Cities of the World" theme.

 

Its amenities include the Paris Dining Room, the London Dining room, the Rome Lounge, Club Rio featuring music, and a workout center and the Spa Carnival. The Carnival Triumph currently sails 4,5 and 7 day voyages from New Orleans, Louisiana to the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas. The Carnival Triumph is structurally identical to its sister ship, the Carnival Victory, and differs from its class's namesake, the Carnival Destiny, by the addition of extra balcony cabins on the Lido deck and various changes to placement and shapes of its public areas.

 

The ship has one of the first sea-going cellular systems which allow guests to use their own personal cellular phones to make calls directly from the ship at any time.[5]

 

As of November 2009 the Carnival Triumph operates four-, five-, and seven-day cruises out of New Orleans, LA. The Triumph introduced a new seven-day eastern and "exotic western" Caribbean schedules to complement the line’s popular four- and five-day cruises to Mexico. The Carnival Fantasy, the previous ship sailing from New Orleans, operates four- and five-day cruises out of Mobile, Alabama.

 

Edited February 1, 2010 by CruiseAdict218

[makeaputt]

Royal Carribean's Song of Norway, to the Eastern Carribean, February 1991 for our 20th anniversary. Closing in on 40 years together and cruising more.

[Copper10-8]

I feel like such a newbie! We waited until we were retired before we found cruising. Now we're hooked. (I swear, they should put a warning labels on the boarding passes for first-time cruisers advising them that cruising can be addictive!) The trip was memorable because in five days we were caught in not one but two hurricanes, Wilma and Alpha. We still loved it.

 

Our first cruise (Civilian type - I spent 22 years in the Navy) was in 2005, on Carnival's Celebration, out of JAX. We were hooked.

 

Does anyone know the final disposition of Celebration? I know she was stricken from Carnival's fleet in 2006 or 2007. Her sister ship, Holiday makes her last run from here in Mobile the first week of next month. I don't know who is buying her. She'll be replaced by Fantasy until next spring when Fantasy will be replaced by Elation.

 

USS Niagra Falls AFS3, USS Franklin Roosevelt CVA42, USS Kalamazoo AOR6, USS Harry Yarnell CG19, USS Stark FFG31

 

 

Thanks for serving!

 

 

USS Niagara Falls AFS-3

 

 

USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42

 

 

USS Kalamazoo AOR-6 (Laid up at ESCO Marine in the Brownsville,Tx ship channel in December 2008)

 

 

 

 

 

USS Harry Yarnell CG-17 off Portsmouth, England in 1992

 

 

USS Stark FFG-31

Edited February 3, 2010 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

This (Viking Serenade) was our first as well, only we took the 4 night, with the stops you mentioned plus San Diego. Our boys were very young at the time and we were all crammed into a tiny inside cabin, but it didn't matter. I remember our waiters name was Ray~ Noel and he always had a magic trick to show the boys every night in the dining room. We were hooked!

 

 

 

ms Scandinavia (1982-present) Build in 1982 as ms Scandinavia by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A., Nantes, France for Scandinavian World Cruises (the United Steamship Company, Ltd.), a subsidiary for Copenhagen, Denmark-based DFDS D/S Seaways. At the time of her construction, she was the largest cruise-ferry in the world. Upon her delivery to Scandinavian World Cruises on 20 August 1982, she crossed the North Atlantic, arriving in New York City on 25 September 1982 after courtesy visits in Miami and Port Canaveral, Fl, Philadelphia, Pa, Boston, Mass and Port Jefferson, NY. Three days later on 28 September 1982, she was named/christened in New York harbor.

 

 

On 02 October 1982, Scandinavian World Cruises began operating her on a cruise-ferry service from New York City to Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas. Upon arrival there, Scandinavia’s passengers and their vehicles wee transferred to other ships for their intended destinations which included South and North Florida. The ship could accommodate 1,606 passengers and 530 cars. This turned out not to be a successful operation, however, with the run terminated on 29 November 1983 and a decision made to return Scandinavia to Europe.

 

Upon arrival in Copenhagen, she was inserted on the DFDS Seaways’ overnight Copenhagen to Oslo run effective 9 December 1983 continuing on that route until April 1985.

 

 

In November 1984, she was sold to Sundance Cruise Corporation/Sundance Cruises as a replacement for their stricken pioneer ship, the Sundancer (sunk after striking an underwater rock off the coast of British Columbia, Canada on 29 June 1984), with a 2 April 1985 delivery. Sundance send her to the Blohm + Voss GmbH Schiffbau Werften/ shipyard in Hamburg, Germany where she arrived on 15 April 1985 for a refit making her more compatible for cruising however, keeping her ability to transport vehicles in addition to passengers. She was also given a new name, Stardancer. She departed the yard on 29 April 1985 and, after a transatlantic crossing and Panama Canal transit, she arrived at her new (summer) home port of Vancouver, BC.

 

She would spend that summer of 1985 doing Alaska inside passage cruising to Skagway, Ak and back. She was known as a deluxe alternative to the Alaska State Ferry system. After the Alaska season, her home port became Los Angeles (San Pedro) for cruising as far south as Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera taking cruise passengers, their cars and campers.In 1986 Sundance Cruises merged with Eastern Cruise Lines and Western Cruise Lines to form Admiral Cruises.

 

 

When Admiral Cruises was purchased by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1990, she became Viking Serenade, the only ship in the fleet that was not originally designed and built for the line. RCCL sent her to a two-week dry-dock at Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Diego, CA in January 1991 where she was converted into a genuine cruise ship with a new gross registered tonnage of 40,143. Among other things, her interior was extensively renovated, she lost her car deck which was replaced with accommodation for several hundred passengers, her funnel was shortened and an RCCL trademark Sky lounge (Viking Crown Lounge) was fitted.

 

 

After emerging from the yard and being christened by her godmother, actress-comedienne Whoopi Goldbergon 27 January 1991, RCCL started operating her on 3 and 4-night cruises from Los Angeles to Mexico’s Baja California; L.A. – Catalina Island – Ensenada, Mexico on three, and L.A. – Catalina Island – San Diego – Ensenada on her four-day itineraries.

 

 

On 26 March 2002 she was renamed Island Escape and internally transferred to RCCL and First Choice Holidays’ new subsidiary, Island Cruises. As Island Escape, she was marketed to the British market as a casual ship designed for the young and active crowd and operated in the Mediterranean out of Palma de Mallorca, on one of Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Western Med, during the northern hemisphere summer. During the southern hemisphere summer season, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil for South American cruises based out of Santos (Sao Paulo).

 

In April 2009 Island Escape joined the fleet of British-based Thomson Cruises but retained her name. Her primary area of operation is the Western Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Thomson describes the ship as the most laidback ship in their fleet, taking a more informal approach to life at sea.

[Copper10-8]

Some additional pics of the former Scandinavia:

 

 

As Stardancer in Admiral Cruises colors in Alaskan waters in 1988

 

 

As RCCL's Viking Serenade departing San Francisco in June 1991

 

 

As Viking Serenade for RCCL at the Los Angeles (San Pedro) Cruise Terminal in 1993 with the Vincent Thomas Bridge behind her

 

 

As Island Escape for Island Cruises arriving in Santos, Brazil in 2003

 

 

As Island Escape for Island Cruises (different colors) at Ajaccio, Corsica in 2006

 

 

As Island Escape sailing for Thomson Cruises and departing Toulon, France in October 2009

[Copper10-8]

We were on the NCL Starward in August of 1974 for our belated honeymoon with the same itinerary. We lived in Florida then but the cruise could have been the same week as yours. Small world. It was great! My first cruise, however, was on the Ariadne to Cozumel about 5-6 years before that one. She exists no more. She was more like an overgrown yacht, but I still have the pictures somewhere. Very elegant with lots of wood.

 

 

ts Patricia (1951-1997) Built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1951 for Rederi AB Svenska Lloyd/Swedish Lloyd. She was delivered to her new owners on 4 May 1951 and three days later placed on their Gothenburg-London (Tilbury) service as a passenger ferry. That winter season, on 13 September, Swedish Lloyd operated her on Caribbean cruising out of New York City. This pattern would repeat itself during the following years and in 1953 she also ran a service between New York and Bermuda as well as a charter to an unknown shipping company for more New York-Caribbean cruises that winter and the next. In September 1955, Patricia was to be chartered to German-based Hamburg-Amerikanische Paketfahrt Aktien-Gesellschaft(HAPAG-Lloyd) aka Hamburg-Amerika Linie/Hamburg America Line for two Mediterranean cruises. As a result of the Suez crisis, that charter fell through.

 

 

Eventually however, the Swedish Line felt that she was just too large for the route, and on 2 January 1957, Amerikanische Paketfahrt Aktien-Gesellschaft made sure they had another shot at her, purchasing her outright. HAPAG took possession of the ship in October 1957 and immediately placed her in dry-dock at Blohm + Voss, Hamburg for a refit. When she emerged from the yard on 1 February 1958, she had been renamed Ariadne, using her for luxury cruising around the world.

 

 

In November 1960 Ariadne was purchased by Miami-based Eastern Shipping Corporation which were controlled by the McCormick Shipping Company and considered to be the pioneers of Florida cruising. Beginning in 1961, with a capacity of only 239 passengers, she was initially used by them on longer, more diverse cruises from Miami into the Caribbean and she became one of the first ships to sail to Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico. She was then moved to three and four-day run from Port Everglades/Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. to Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas. On 26 May 1961, Eastern Shipping Corporation changed ownership (McCormick out and W.R. Lovett, the owner of the Winn-Dixie supermarket chain, in) and became Eastern Steamship Corporation. After a few years, the operating name was once more changed to Eastern Steamship Lines, a revival of the old Boston, Mass-based company’s name. Before leaving Eastern, Ariadne would also cruise to such new ports as Jacksonville, Fl and Charleston, SC, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Charlotte Amalie, St.Thomas, USVI.

 

 

In 1972, Eastern Steamship Lines (now owned by the Norwegian Gotaas-Larsen Corporation, one-third owner of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, established in 1968) entered into an agreement with Greek-based Chandris Lines to exchange Ariadne for their (Chandris’) Atlantis (to become Emerald Seas). Chandris promptly chartered Ariadne out to Bahama Cruise line as Freeport II from May until the end of 1973, cruising out of Miami to Nassau in the islands. Upon her return to Piraeus in December 1973, she was placed in dry-dock for a refit. She emerged in April 1974 after having been renamed Bon Vivant and was operated by Chandris Bon Vivant/Flagship Cruises on Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries. 1975 found her once again chartered by Bahama Cruise Line.

 

 

In the spring of 1976, Chandris operated her on cruises from Venice, Italy to Dubrovnik, (then) Yugoslavia, the Greek islands, Istanbul, Turkey and Alexandria, Egypt. Chandris sold the Bon Vivant in December 1976 to the Panama-registered March Corporation Inc. who would use her as a hotel ship in Dubai effective 8 January 1977. Eleven months later she was back in Piraeus/Eleusis Bay where she was placed in layup. In September 1978, the ship was once again in dry-dock in order to get her back and ready for full-time cruising.

 

 

On 10 March 1979, she was transferred to the Greece-based Gilda Mar Corporation who renamed her Ariane and who began operating her on short cruises out of Piraeus during the summer and early fall of 1979. From 15 October 1979 until May 1982, she could be found in a long lay-up out of Piraeus/Eleusis Bay which was interrupted for one month (May to June 1982) by a charter, cruising from Genoa, Italy. Her layup at Piraeus/Eleusis Bay then continued until 1989.

 

In 1989, she was purchased by Cyprus-based Nios March Corporation Ltd who renamed her Empress Katerina. On 22 March 1991 she departed Piraeus enroute to Singapore. Her final destination in the Far East however, would be Ho Chi Minh City (the former Saigon) and the People’s Republic of Vietnam where she became a barracks ship. Apparently, someone liked her in that capacity because in January 1995, the Fortune Regent Maritime Ltd purchased her and assigned her as a barracks ship in Subic Bay in the Philippines.

 

Her time was running out however, and in 1997 she was purchased for scrap by the St. Vincent-based Thanfil Shipping & Trading SA. For her final voyage to the breakers she was given the transport name of Empress 65. On 18 December 1997, she arrived off the infamous Alang, India beaches where she was eventually broken up.

[Copper10-8]

Some additional pics of the former Patricia:

 

 

As Patricia for Rederi AB Svenska Lloyd/Swedish Lloyd

 

 

 

As Ariadne of Eastern Steamship Lines departing Nassau in 1967 and laying on her whistle

 

 

And entering Port Everglades, Fl

 

 

As Ariane at Genoa, Italy in the seventies

 

 

As Ariane off Mykonos, Greece in 1982

[Copper10-8]

1st cruise - SS Veracruz ~ 1978 - 14 days 11 ports

 

Any pictures of this ship or information? The company was Strand Cruises and embarked from Barbados.

 

ss Theodor Herzl (1957-1991) Built in 1957 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany as Theodor Herzl, she was part of a special reparations pact between what was then West Germany and the state of Israel. She was designed for Mediterranean service

 

 

Named in honor of the founder of the Zionist movement, she operated for Zim Israel Navigation Company aka Zim Israel Lines on routes from Marseilles, Naples and Venice to Haifa, carrying both immigrants and budget tourists. In the winter season, she could be found on Mediterranean cruises. She also had at least one season to the Mexican Riviera as well as a celebratory maiden voyage to New York and, in later years, made several immigrant crossings to South America, to Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

 

 

 

During the 1958-1959 winter season, Zim entered the international cruise market from the United States to the Caribbean Islands with three cruises per season. In 1964, she was converted into a one-class cruise ship, which saw all cabins converted to two bedded/two berth cabins, all having private facilities.

 

 

She completed her final voyage for Zim on on 27 November 1969 and was sold to the American International Service Travel Services (AIST) - Yes, there is a Ted Arison/Carnival Cruise Line connection here - who renamed her Carnivale (not to be confused with the later CCL Carnivale, the former Empress of Britain) and employed her in the Caribbean as a floating luxury hotel. Nothing else came to pass for her and she did not sail again until late 1975, when she was sold to New Horizons Shipping Ltd. who renamed her Freeport, rebuilt her, and used her on the Miami-Nassau-Freeport run.

 

In 1976, she was renamed Veracruz I and was largely responsible for making New York via Eastern Canada to the St. Lawrence River cruises popular.

 

 

In 1978, New Horizons Shipping Ltd became Freeport Cruises Lines and she became Veracruz Primero and in 1985, under Bahama Cruises Inc./Bahama Cruise Line management, just plain Veracruz.

 

 

In 1987, Bahama Cruise Line became the Bermuda Star Line and in 1990 was bought out by Commodore Cruise line. That same year, Veracruz was sold to Festival Shipping & Tourist Enterprises and was renamed Sun Ambassador however this did not last long and she was laid up in Florida.

 

Then in 1991, newly-formed Greek-based Fiesta Cruise Lines came calling. She was brought over to Greece as "Fiesta" and, once moored in Perama Bay near Piraeus, her resurrection began. She was to emerge as yet another "new" cruiseship, taking travelers around the Eastern Mediterranean in summers and in Caribbean waters in wintertime. But it all went astray when on 24 October 1991, she caught fire, burned out and then, overloaded with firefighters' water, capsized.

[albiewriter]

My first cruise was in 1987 on Holland-America's Niew Amsterdam; western caribbean out of Tampa, FL. Flew there the same day from Los Angeles (would any of us fly that far the same day now? Air travel has changed in may ways since then) with my grandmother and 5 cousins. She was taking her single grandchildren on a cruise, the married ones had already been on one to Alaska the previous summer. A few years later she took all 10 of us and spouses on a trans-canal cruise out of Acapulco on Princess Lines Royal Princess, that was a beautiful cruise ship with probably the best dining room I've experienced at sea. Grandmother has been gone since 1993 and we all agree that was some of the best memories we have of her.

[Copper10-8]

My first cruise was in 1987 on Holland-America's Niew Amsterdam; western caribbean out of Tampa, FL. Flew there the same day from Los Angeles (would any of us fly that far the same day now? Air travel has changed in may ways since then) with my grandmother and 5 cousins. She was taking her single grandchildren on a cruise, the married ones had already been on one to Alaska the previous summer. A few years later she took all 10 of us and spouses on a trans-canal cruise out of Acapulco on Princess Lines Royal Princess, that was a beautiful cruise ship with probably the best dining room I've experienced at sea. Grandmother has been gone since 1993 and we all agree that was some of the best memories we have of her.

 

 

m/s Nieuw Amsterdam III (1983-present). Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, St. Nazaire, France and delivered to Holland America Line on 1 July, 1983 as the first of two identical sisters which would be known as the "N"-class with HAL. Her younger sister, Noordam followed just under a year later from the same yard. They would be the last new-builds for the, at that time, Dutch-owned Holland-Amerika Lijn.

 

After some difficulties, including a main switchboard that burned out and a twice postponed dedication ceremony in Le Havre, France, at which she was named by her godmother, HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, she left on her maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York City on 10 July 1983. She would operate for them until 2000, cruising in the Caribbean in the winter and cruising to Alaska in the summer season.

 

On August 10, 1999, American Classic voyages, parent company of Delta Queen and American Hawaiian Cruises, announced that it had purchased Nieuw Amstedam from Holland America Line for $114.5 million dollars, to operate an inter-island Hawaii service alongside their ss Independence. After her final Alaska season in 2000, Nieuw Amsterdam sailed, without passengers, to Sydney, Australia where she served as a hotel ship for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Following those games, She sailed to Honolulu, where about 60 crew came aboard from the newly formed United States Lines (under American Classic Voyages).

 

On October 18, 2000 American Classic Voyages officially acquired the ship with the transfer occurring in an usual ceremony at sea, approximately fourteen miles off Portand, Ore. At the same moment her registry was changed to Honolulu, she reverted to the U.S. flag, and was renamed ms Patriot.

 

Patriot proceeded to Cascade General Shipyard in Portland, Ore arriving on 18 October, 2000 where she underwent a multi-million dollar drydocking and refurbishment. The existing casino was replaced with a Destination Learning Center, where passengers would be able to explore the heritage of the Hawaiian Islands; hear "talk story" from the onboard kumu (Hawaiian teacher); learn the Hawaiian language, hula, arts and crafts; and read about the five ports and four islands visited during the seven-night cruise. Other renovations included a new 464 square foot Presidential Suite; an upgraded Conference and Business Center with Internet portals; and modern family activities areas, including Kaleidoscope, a kids' club, and a teen center. Two new bow thrusters were added along with one stern thruster. Her hull was painted blue and a new funnel logo appreared. On November 8, 2000 she was refloated and remained at wet dock in Portland while work progressed.

 

She began operating cruises from Honolulu for United States Lines on 9 December 2000, every Saturday evening to Nawiliwili, Kauai, Kahului, Maui, Hilo, Hawaii, and Kona, Hawaii, before returning to Honolulu. .

On 19 October, 2001, American Classic Voyages, Inc. announced that it had filed for bankruptcy court protection and would cease most sailings. Both ss Independence and ms Patriot stopped sailing on Saturday, 20 October after completing their cruises and were laid up at pier 24 in Honolulu. On 27 January 2002, she was auctioned off at the federal court in Honolulu, purchased by Carnival Corporation/Holland America Line and reverted back to her original HAL name of Nieuw Amsterdam (III). She left Honolulu on 15 March, initially for drydock at Freeport, the Bahamas but then arriving at Charleston, NC on 23 April 2002 for a wetdock.

 

 

She left Charleston for Piraeus, Greece on 7 May 2002 after Carnival reached a bareboat charter agreement with Cyprus-based Louis Cruises. Upon arrival there, she underwent an extensive refit at Piraeus and was initially named Spirit.

 

Louis subsequently sub-chartered the ship to Britain-based Thomson Holidays for ten years for which she became Thomson Spirit. In May 08, Louis aquired the ship permanently from Carnival Corp (the sub-charter to Thomson continued/is continuing until November 2011). She can be found mainly in the Mediterranean.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Copper10-8

[slyfox0113]

My first cruise was on Celebrity Meridian from New York to Bermuda in July 1994. I got so seasick I wanted to die, so I can't say I got addicted at this point. I found out during the cruise, after a call of desperation, to the ships doctor, that the Scop patch I had on was actually making me sick. So off it came and a couple hours later I was feeling better after some Dramamine. I didn't cruise for a long time after. I really got hooked after our Carnival cruise to Canada and that one was on the tail of a hurricane that stalled over the Mid Atlantic area. I later found out the Meridian sunk off the coast of somewhere, not really sure where or why. Now I try to cruise every year and loving it.

[tuolumne2]

My wife's first cruise ship was the Santos Maru in the 1940's, a freighter that also carried 12 passengers from San Francisco to Callao, Peru with her parents who were going to be missionaries. Her second ship was Delta Lines, not sure of ship name in the late 50's. Our first cruise ship together was RCCL's Song of America in Oct. 1992 on our 25th anniversary. We loved that beautiful ship and still do, except for our noisy lower deck tiny room with L-shaped twin beds. That is the one that hooked us on cruising.

 

Monarch of the Seas RCI Oct. 2003 Mexican Riveria

Monarch of the Seas RCI Oct. 2005 Mexican Riveria

Norwegian Star NCL Sept. 2007 Mexican Riveria

Carnival Spirit Oct. 2008 Hawaii

Carnival Paradise Oct. 2009 Mexican Riveria

 

Coming up- Celebrity Infinity Apr. 25, 2010 Panama Canal

[Copper10-8]

Noordam, December 2006. BEST momento? Our now 2 year old daughter

 

 

Ms Noordam (2006-present) Built in 2006 as ms Noordam (IV) 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 Noordam and the last of the four ships in the 'Vista’ class (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam are her sisters). All four ships are named after/represent points of the compass: Noord (North), Oost (East), Zuid (South) and West (West). The Vistas were designed mainly for shorter, less than two week long, cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe.

 

The four ships are equipped with a diesel-electric power plant and an Azipod propulsion system. They were designed so that eighty-five percent of their staterooms have ocean views and sixty-seven percent have verandas; the extensive use of glass in the superstructure of the Vista-class ships is also reflected in the class name. The Vista’s feature "exterior glass elevators," located on both sides of the vessels and vertically traversing 10 decks, providing guests with panoramic sea views.

 

 

At 82,500 grt, Noordam is almost 30% larger than HAL's "R" class and almost 35% larger than their "S" class ships. The Noordam has a length of 950ft and a 105.8ft beam. She has a speed of 24 knots, with a service speed of 22 knots. Noordam has a passenger capacity of 1,918 souls and she has 800 crew members. There were originally five Vista’s planned for HAL but that fifth hull was first transferred to Cunard Line in 2003 and then a second time to P&O Cruises to become their ms Arcadia.

 

 

Noordam was the first Vista built to incorporate all of HAL’s 2003 Signature of Excellence enhancements into its design. As such, she came out with new stateroom amenities (luxury beds and bed linens upgrades, Euro-style mattresses and waffle-weave bathrobes to all cabin categories), new massage-type showerheads in all bathrooms, new flat-screen LCD televisions and DVD players in all cabins, a Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine, for gourmet cooking demonstrations and interactive classes; a Greenhouse Spa & Salon, offering thermal suite treatment, a hydrotherapy and thalassotherapy pool and heated ceramic lounges; an Explorations Cafe to serve as a multidimensional venue for onboard programming, Pinnacle Grill alternate restaurant, a ”Loft” for teens, an area designed exclusively for teens (ages 13-17). In addition, Noordam differs from her three older sisters in certain ways: she has a Pinnacle Bar in place of the Windstar Café, a redesigned Ocean Bar as well as thirty-five additional cabins near her stern which, in turn, meant a redesigned aft end.

 

 

Noordam’s Atrium is dominated by a large Waterford Crystal gyroscope that changes color as it rotates. Examples of her onboard art include museum-quality paintings such as an oil painting of the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands, painted in 1842, as well as contemporary art such as a series of photographs of music greats Dizzy Gillespie and BB King. One of the most valuable pieces of furniture onboard the ship is an inlaid chest flanked by carved wooden 17th-century Baroque columns. Made in Germany in 1885, the chest is inlaid with ebony and precious stones.

 

 

After running technical trials in the Adriatic and having been accepted by her new owners, Noordam crossed the Atlantic under the command of Holland America Line Captain John Scott. This brought her to New York City where on 22 February 2006, she was christened by her godmother, actress Marlee Matlin. She later departed on her maiden voyage, a ten-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. For the 2006 summer season, Noordam operated in European/ Mediterranean waters before returning to New York and the Caribbean in the fall. She has since been homeported out of Ft. Lauderdale, Fl for her Caribbean cruises and had spent her summers back in Europe.

 

 

 

From 9 June through 11 July 2010, Noordam will be berthed at Durban, South Africa, where she will act as a chartered floating hotel during the FIFA World Cup Football (Soccer) events. During the tournament, Noordam will also be making two visits to Port Elizabeth for the quarter final and the 3rd and 4th place playoffs.

[Copper10-8]

Norway in 1985 to the Caribbean. I loved watching Love Boat and decided to do it for real. I knew it wouldn't be like the TV show but thought it would be great. It was.

 

I shared an inside cabin via Singleworld. Remember the wonderful great open spaces, dining rooms and the entertainment (they did a full Broadway play). Magnificent.

 

Did the Norway one more time in 1994 -- I really miss that ship.

 

More than a dozen cruises later . . .

 

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 at the Lloyd Werft 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.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

Some additional pics of a legend:

 

As France at Le Havre, France

 

As France for La Compagnie Generale Transatlantigue (CGT) aka the French Line

 

As Norway for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Departing Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany under tow to Port Klang, Malaysia on 23 May 2005 and passing NCL's new Pride of America

 

 

Departing Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany under tow to Port Klang, Malaysia on 23 May 2005

[mousy56]

Our first cruise was in 1998 on Sovereign of the Seas, even tho we enjoyed our little 3 night bahamas cruise I think it would be our next one that was most exciting. We sailed for 7 nights on the S. S. SeaBreeze and loved her. Too bad my favoriate slot machine is at the bottom of the ocean. I learned to play video poker on her. :-(

 

I was always interested in my Father's stories of being on a ship. He was on the USS Los Angeles during the Korean conflict. There is a picture of him standing on deck pointing to a shelled stack in the Los Angeles newspaper from that time. He doesn't talk about it much any more but I have always wondered what happened to his ship.

[Copper10-8]

Our first cruise was in 1998 on Sovereign of the Seas, even tho we enjoyed our little 3 night bahamas cruise I think it would be our next one that was most exciting. We sailed for 7 nights on the S. S. SeaBreeze and loved her. Too bad my favoriate slot machine is at the bottom of the ocean. I learned to play video poker on her. :-(

 

I was always interested in my Father's stories of being on a ship. He was on the USS Los Angeles during the Korean conflict. There is a picture of him standing on deck pointing to a shelled stack in the Los Angeles newspaper from that time. He doesn't talk about it much any more but I have always wondered what happened to his ship.

 

 

USS Los Angeles CA-135