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You know, it's funny, the way cruising has changed since we started cruising in 1987. Back then, you didn't even have to smuggle liquor or wine onboard, you just carried it on. However, prices for cabins were a lot more. Our first cruise was on NCL Seaward, outside cabin on the lowest deck. We paid $1100 a person for a week in that dinky cabin in 1987. For $1100 a person these days, you can get a week in a suite.. ....but then your drinks cost $10 a piece!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by Carol_Hill; 02/20/2017 11:02 AM.
Carol Hill
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That's about when we took our first Cruise too. It was on the Enchanted Isle (later changed to Queen of Bermuda) out of New Orleans. The Cruise Line was the Commodore Cruise Line. It was a Cruise with the New Orleans Saints, and cost us $1700 for both of us. The Ship only carried 900 passengers. Those were the good ole days of Cruising. The Cruise Director would actually approach you and engage in conversations with you. Now if you see the Cruise Director, he is up on stage, then sneaks out the back door without any contact with the passengers. The drink of the day would cost $5.00 if you wanted the souvenier glass (looked like a Hurricane glass from Pat O'Briens in the Quarter). Yep, those were the good ole days.
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Yup, I have a bunch of those hurricane glasses! I too love smaller ships, even today. I really can't imagine being on one of those 5,000 pax ships. There are very few options for smaller ships, except in the premium lines. Back then, we enjoyed several cruises on lines like Dolphin, Regency, Crown, etc, with in many cases, old ships, but great cuisine! I miss those days too! ...although it wsa a PITA back then, having to tender everywhere including SXM, except STT and Coz, places like that.
Carol Hill
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My first cruise was in the mid 1980"s on the NCL Starward. The Starward and Skyward were sister ships with the only difference the bar area and the swimming pool on the top center deck. I was on the Starward 5 times and the Skyward 3 times. I miss the 800 pax ships. When the cam corder became an electronics for individuals I was on the Starward recording my trip. Even have some video of Mullet around 1991.
Wendell
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I saw the Starward about 8 years ago in Kusadasi, Turkey and Athens, Greece renamed the Orient Queen. Sadly, google tells me it was renamed again and scrapped in last couple of years. She looked good with those distinctive NCL twin funnels.
We also, sailed on Sunward 2 and Skyward. Pretty simple stuff back then. Sun deck, steel drums, , rum punch, midnight buffet, bingo, comedian and would you like the chicken, beef or fish entree. Hot dogs and hamburgers on the fantail.
I miss the small boats but I'm also amazed how I don't keep running into same people and don't wait in line on these mega boats.
I remember when shore excursions were a last minute thing and written on chalkboards.
And yes you could pack your own booze and buy booze in st Thomas. Also, boats stayed in Nassau late night/all night for gambling.
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Wendell---Are you sure that Starward and Seaward were sister ships??? Seaward was new the year we sailed it and was around 2000 pax, I think. Starward was older and smaller, I think.
Carol Hill
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Sorry carol , a senior moment on my cruises. The Starward and Skyward were sister ships. Those were sold off and replaced by the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Sky. After 2 years of service these new ships were cut in half and lengthened.
Wendell
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OK, I was pretty sure that Seaward was a one of. Our second cruise was on the Sunward II, kind of a garbage scow, even then, but we enjoyed it.
Carol Hill
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I think the starward and southward were closer. Skyward was more diff than those 2.
The sunward 2 was actually the Cunard Adventurer and had stabilizers and such that skyward didn't.
Somewhere, I used to have a postcard of the Sunward (1) pulling into Nassau.
I remember the carnivale (Carnival) and Carla c (costa) roaming the Caribbean. NCL was modern compared to them. Then Norwegian had the song of Norway.
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I was on all 3 of them too. The Norway was toooo big for me at that time with 2200 pax. The Carla Costa had a large group that worked in sales for Kodak from South America. There was one guy that was singing all the time, had a bottle of campaign at the front table for the shows every night . When he was paying the bill on the last day I looked over his shoulder, $1500 for the week, wooow.
The Carnivale had quite a lot of Europeans. Which I liked talking to at the open seating breakfast.
Also did the Seawind Crown for a honeymoon.
Wendell
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I meant royal Caribbean had song of Norway.
Those were the days.
Stayed at the British Colonial in Nassau (of James Bond fame) and it was neat to watch the ships at the piers.
I like all vacations including cruises, but many people I know have never been on a cruise and refuse to go on one for strange reasons. Too Bad for them.
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I made this it's own thread, since I was the one who took the other thread off target. Sorry to the original poster..
Carol Hill
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We went on the Norway in about 93 or 94. I didn't care for it, as our cabin was old and nasty.. The thing I remember best about that cruise was that we took the White Octopus to St. Barts from SXM. Great trip to St. Barts!
Carol Hill
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Yes, there was the White Octopus and the Falcon. An on island friend set us up flying over to St. Barts and sailing back to SXM on the Falcon ( to save the stomach). The Falcon took about 2 hours on the return trip. Lots of music and rhum punch.
Wendell
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Fortunately, we have always had a pretty strong stomach. A lot of people were sick on that White Octopus trip, but we weren't. What year were you on the Norway, do you remember?
Carol Hill
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Without digging into the archives I am thinking 1988 or 1989.
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OK.
Enjoy your upcoming adventure and please post a report upon your return!
Carol Hill
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I just looked in the archive and it was 1987 ( pre video).
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John and I are late comers to cruising, our first cruise being on the Norwegian MS to Bermuda in 1996. It was a small ship as I recall and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We looked into doing the same cruise a few years later and were told the Dreamward had been cut in two and a large mid section added to it.
I don't know why this rings a bell but we were told the Dreamward was the sister ship to the Starward but we thought it held about 550-600 passengers. The cruise we took last September on the Pride of America made the first ship look like a dinghy by comparison and was almost too big some nights depending on how many glasses of wine I had with dinner. Both our suite and our balcony on the Pride were humongous and the latter held two large padded reclining lounges with a cocktail table and a round dining table with four chairs that could easily have seated six. Once again I decided I am definitely NOT one of the best cruise passengers in that I'd rather 'be' where I'm going rather than 'get' there. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Today's cruises on these mega-ships seem to have very little to do with the ocean, but all those other entertainment options, which have nothing to do with the sea. We have pretty much been perfectly happy sitting and gazing at the sea, especially if it's from our private balcony, these days!! Back when we first started cruising, I really don't think private balconies even existed. Pretty sure there were none on Seaward and she was brand new when we sailed on her. That is one thing that is so much better than long ago, balconies.
Carol Hill
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