Classic Cruise Ships: Dolphin IV

[DaCruzNut]

There are a number of our members who haven't had the pleasure of sailing on some of the older, "classic," cruise ships. Many were small, by today's standards, and had few public rooms.

Arguments can be made both ways as to whether things were better, or not, in the "good old days."

Personally, I miss a lot of the things that were part of the "old" cruising, but appreciate many of the changes. I wish we could have it both ways, and be able to choose an old, or new, ship when we are picking a vacation. Anyway, being in a nostalgic mood, lately, I thought I'd go back to the good/bad old days, and relive a little of what we've lost.

I'm starting with one of my personal favorites....

One of my favorite “old timers†was the Dolphin IV.

She was built, in 1956, as the “Zion,†for Israel’s Zim Lines, by Deutsche Wreft, Hamburg, Germany. At 9,855 grt, she carried 312 passengers between New York and Haifa..

In 1966, she was refitted and became the Amelia de Mello, at 10,195 grt and, now, carrying 360 passengers.

In 1972 she was sold to Ulysses Lines and renamed the Ithaca. It was at this time that she was converted into a “cruise ship,†as opposed to an “ocean liner,†and she carried 780 passengers.

In 1979, she became the Dolphin IV, and was transferred to Dolphin Cruise Lines, which was owned by the same owners as Ulysses Lines.

As the Dolphin IV, she became a favorite of many of us, here in South Florida, who sailed her, often, on her 3-4 night cruises from Miami. Many of the passengers, on each voyage, were “repeaters,†and , like the Britanis and Emerald Seas, developed a following of her own.

Like most of the “classic†cruise ships, she had a special “feeling,†of her own; a “soul.â€Â

Her cabins were small, and tight; her public rooms subject to a little crowding; and, towards the end, was beginning to show her age. However, she remained “special†to many of us, and her food was the best! Apollo Cruise Chandelers sure knew how to throw a party! They even had an entire room, set aside in the buffet area, filled with nothing but desserts! Cakes, pies, pastries, cookies, ice cream….all fantastic.

On one of my cruises aboard this lady, I set a record for all-time weight gain. It was my first cruise on the Dolphin, a three-night Miami to Nassau. Between boarding the ship, noon, Friday, and disembarking Monday morning, 8:00 am, or so, I was able to put on eight (8) pounds! I, usually, don’t do that in a week!

She is sorely missed….

[Lisa63]

Jeff, how could I forget the little Dolphin IV?

We nearly booked a cruise on her when she was owned by Cape Canaveral Cruises. Dolphin remains my favorite cruise line of all the ones we've tried but we had never gotten around to cruising on Dolphin IV. :sad:

[DaCruzNut]

Lisa-

Who could ever forget the "Dessert Room???"

[Lisa63]

:grin:

[Shari2]

I remember The Dolphin !V, and the Britannia and all the older ships. I didn't cruise on them, but I did have the great fortune to have sailed on a few older,"classics." I started cruising in 1979 on the, "Carnivale."

It was built in the '50s and did do some transatlantic crossings. It had a long enclosed promenade which was kind of neat. At the time I went on the,"Carnivale," Carnival had only three ships, the, "Carnivale," the,"Mardi Gras," and the," Festivale." They were talking about building the, "Tropicale," back then. It's amazing how far they have come. The "Carnivale" was about 29,000 GRT.

I also sailed on the, "Cunard Princess." It was only about 18,000 GRT, and it was the first computer designed ship. We also had a bridge tour of her.

I also sailed on the "Norway," which used to be the " SS France," which definitely did transatlantic sailings. I sailed on the "Norway," before it was enlarged with another deck. At the time that I sailed on the "Norway," it was the largest cruise ship afloat, at about 70, 000 GRT, and it also was the longest. We had a tour of the bridge on the "Norway," which was so interesting!

I also cruised on the, "Constitution," which is the ship that took Princess Grace and her wedding entourage to France to marry Prince Regnier(sp). This ship had a lot of history. We also had a bridge tour of this ship. She also is the ship that, "An Affair to Remember was filmed on," and also a segment of the, "I Love Lucy," show. Although, I love the new ships and all that they offer, I feel blessed to have gone on some of the, "old classics." You also really got to feel, "the motion of the ocean on some of these ships." You really knew you were on a ship. I won't say that I always liked that, but I sure have some times to remember and talk about!!

[DaCruzNut]

Thanks for sharing that with us, Shari; it's nice to remember the "old days.." :grin: :grin: :grin:

[Bibb]

Our first cruise was on the Southward in 1985 followed by the Festival in '87, the Norway in '89, the Skyward in '91 and the Nordic Prince in '92. We loved the smaller and older ships. Just did the Nordic Empress Nov 29, 2003 and it was very nice.

Bibb

[PEB]

Our first cruise was on the Independence. At that time you could still take tours of a lot of the places they do not let you go on ships nowdays. Seeing it was an all American cruise the crew that were from your home state would search you out to hear about back home. The second in command happened to be from about 100 miles away from where I live, because of that we were allowed into the bridge at night to watch the things going on while sailing and to do some stargazing.

We had tours of crew quarters and we toured the engine room and followed the shafts of the ship all the way to the stern.

This was a ship with history and a ship that I will never forget. The older ships may not have all the amenities and they may have much smaller private and public areas but they have a true class to them. JMHO

If I have a choice between an old ship and a new one the old ship will win with me without question.

[DaCruzNut]

Anyone remember the Bon Voyage parties, where well-wishers could join you on board, prior to sailing, and celebrate with you? Then the announcement that all guests had to leave....

All the 'guests' left the ship to stand on the dock and wave good-bye, while the passengers threw confetti and streamers overboard!

Yes, it really was like the opening shots of, "Love Boat!"

[Lisa63]

My first time on a cruise ship was for a Bon Voyage party.

I was about ten years old at the time, and my grandparents were cruising from New York to the Bahamas on SS Rotterdam. We were able to go onboard, enjoy a party in their cabin, and then go back ashore and wave farewell.

How I wish I could go back in time and relive that experience. Of course, seeing Grandma and Grandpa again would be the most wonderful thing that could happen as they have both passed on. But as a ship enthusiast, I wonder what parts of the ship I saw. Did I walk up the double staircase? Did I walk along the beautiful teak promenade? Sadly, I was too young to appreciate it at the time.

However, I did inherit Grandma's photo album from that cruise. :smiley: It's one of my most prized possessions.