DaCruzNut Posted May 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 18 – MEMORIES GO ON… After completing its scheduled cruise, the ship returns to it’s home port and the passengers disembark. But, the journey isn’t over…. The crew scurries to spruce the ship up and ready it for the next group of passengers, who will embark in a few, short, hours. Then, the ship sails, once again, bringing fun and excitement to a whole new compliment of passengers. My story, so far, is like the ship which has returned to port. My past memories have disembarked, and the ‘ship’ has been spruced up, and ready for the new memories to embark. The journey isn’t over…. Yet, the old memories aren’t gone, and the ghost of them remains, just as the ghosts of all its past passengers remain on a ship, forever. From the classic ocean liners, in New York Harbor, which instilled a love of ships, and the sea, in me; to the first cruise ships I sailed, the converted liners that served the early cruise industry so well; onward to the early ‘super-liners,’ at an unbelievable 45,000 grt; and, finally, the 100,000+ grt ‘mega-liners.’ What an astonishing transformation in so short a time. I often wonder if cruising was better, in those early days. I have come to the conclusion that it wasn’t better, it was merely simpler. The ships were smaller, and the passengers and crew became a ‘family’ at sea. The food was prepared for less people and, generally, the quality and service were better. The entertainment options were few. During the day, pool games, the calypso band poolside, napkin folding, and so on. At night, the production show, perhaps a single small lounge, a disco and, somewhere, karaoke. You had to have karaoke. You were completely cut off from the world. No TV; no phone; no Times Fax; nothing! If WWIII began while you were at sea, there was time enough to find out about it when you got back to Miami….. Today, we have so much to do, on a ship, so many choices. Rock wall climbing; ice skating; roller blading; miniature golf; why you might not even think you’re on a ship. Turn on the TV in the cabin, and you can catch CNN, via satellite. Wake up in the morning, and there’s a Times Fax under the cabin door. Pick up the room phone, and dial home; or, e-mail home from the internet café. ……..and, that’s my personal little problem with some of today’s ships. Don’t get the wrong idea. Some of the changes have most definitely been positive, and cruising, today, is better than it was in the early years, for most people. Having cruised in the early dats, I feel that I take a cruise to be on a ship. If I wanted to stay at a resort, I could fly to an island, and do so. On the other hand, some of the mega-liners, like the Grand Princess and the Carnival mega’s, maintain the ‘feel’ of a smaller ship, yet offer all the options only a very large one can offer. I must admit I also enjoy these ships, very much. I do, however, feel the passengers and crew are impersonal towards one another, and I miss the old camaraderie. Sadly, there's only one classic ship still doing regular cruises, Imperial Majesty's "Regal Empress." She sails a two-night from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau. If you want to experience classsic cruising, before it's gone, thgiis is your last chance. And, starting at $149.00 p.p., ($129.00 for Florida residents) she's a bargain. So, big ship, small ship, new ship, old; a cruise, is a cruise, is a cruise….. Cruises are like sex; At worst, it will be good, and it only gets better from there! Wishing you many, tranquil days at sea; and warm, soothing, breezes to carry you to exotic ports of call. HOLIDAY 09-16-89 BRITANIS 03-30-90 CARIBE I 05-19-90 DISCOVERY I 06-13-90 DOLPHIN 08-17-90 MARDI GRAS 01-20-91 BRITANIS 03-22-91 BRITANIS 04-12-91 SUNWARD II 09-20-91 NORDIC EMPRESS 11-18-91 BRITANIS 01-04-92 BRITANIS 02-09-92 BRITANIS 05-01-92 TROPIC STAR 05/15/92 BRITANIS 06-26-92 DOLPHIN 09-25-92 FANTASY 11-16-92 TROPIC STAR 12-05-92 COSTA ALLEGRA 01-23-93 BRITANIS 02-26-93 ROYAL MAJESTY 04-02-93 BRITANIS 06-04-93 DISCOVERY I 07/24/93 BRITANIS 08-27-93 MAJESTIC 11-18-93 DISCOVERY I 12-24-93 ZENITH 03-12-94 BRITANIS 04-01-94 TROPIC STAR 05-15-94 SEAWARD 07-01-94 BRITANIS 08-05-94 SEAWARD 11-11-94 TROPICANA 05-28-95 SENSATION 10-20-95 DISCOVERY I 01-12-96 SCAND. SUN 04-03-96 NORWEGIAN CROWN 10-19-96 SOVEREIGN of the SEAS 06-16-97 NORWAY 12-06-97 SCAND. DAWN 04-02-97 SCAND. SUN 03-31-98 NORWEGIAN WIND 12-06-98 LEEWARD 04-09-99 LEEWARD 07-12-99 TRIUMPH 12-11-99 IMAGINATION 07-15-00 MAASDAM 12-10-00 GRAND PRINCESS 10-01-01 NORWEGIAN STAR 11-16-01 HORIZON 12-14-01 CENTURY 04-06-02 MAJESTY of the SEAS 07-23-02 FASCINATION 11/22/02 VICTORY 03/30/03 FASCINATION 06/19/03 REGAL EMPRESS 02/27/04 FASCINATION 04/02/04 REGAL EMPRESS 04/10/05 ……………………………â⠂¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ ……… (If you missed any of the preceding chapters, and wish to “catch up,†you can click on the links below….) Part 1 – Introduction; http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4349 Part 2 – Onto The Ship; Out To Sea [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443 Part 3 – First, there’s The Food [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4395]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4395 Part 4 – Shooting The Dice [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443 Part 5 – Places To Visit; People To See [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4459]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4459 Part 6 – Catching Cruise Fever [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4534]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4534 Part 7 – A Love Affair at Sea [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4578]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4578 Part 8 – Apollo Wasn’t Just A Greek God [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4604]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4604 Part 9 – Bon Voyage To A Real Lady http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4636 Part 10 – Olympus, To Caribe I, To rgale Empress [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4659]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4659 Part 11 – Dirty Dancing At Sea [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4691]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4691 Part 12 – Dirty Dancing At Sea http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4705 Part 13 – This ‘n That Stuff http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4744 Part 14 – Attitude, Attitude, Attitude http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4872 Parts 15 & 16 – People With No Names/Does The Cruise Director [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5188]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5188 Part 17 – Something Old, Something New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaCruzNut Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 18 – MEMORIES GO ON… After completing its scheduled cruise, the ship returns to it’s home port and the passengers disembark. But, the journey isn’t over…. The crew scurries to spruce the ship up and ready it for the next group of passengers, who will embark in a few, short, hours. Then, the ship sails, once again, bringing fun and excitement to a whole new compliment of passengers. My story, so far, is like the ship which has returned to port. My past memories have disembarked, and the ‘ship’ has been spruced up, and ready for the new memories to embark. The journey isn’t over…. Yet, the old memories aren’t gone, and the ghost of them remains, just as the ghosts of all its past passengers remain on a ship, forever. From the classic ocean liners, in New York Harbor, which instilled a love of ships, and the sea, in me; to the first cruise ships I sailed, the converted liners that served the early cruise industry so well; onward to the early ‘super-liners,’ at an unbelievable 45,000 grt; and, finally, the 100,000+ grt ‘mega-liners.’ What an astonishing transformation in so short a time. I often wonder if cruising was better, in those early days. I have come to the conclusion that it wasn’t better, it was merely simpler. The ships were smaller, and the passengers and crew became a ‘family’ at sea. The food was prepared for less people and, generally, the quality and service were better. The entertainment options were few. During the day, pool games, the calypso band poolside, napkin folding, and so on. At night, the production show, perhaps a single small lounge, a disco and, somewhere, karaoke. You had to have karaoke. You were completely cut off from the world. No TV; no phone; no Times Fax; nothing! If WWIII began while you were at sea, there was time enough to find out about it when you got back to Miami….. Today, we have so much to do, on a ship, so many choices. Rock wall climbing; ice skating; roller blading; miniature golf; why you might not even think you’re on a ship. Turn on the TV in the cabin, and you can catch CNN, via satellite. Wake up in the morning, and there’s a Times Fax under the cabin door. Pick up the room phone, and dial home; or, e-mail home from the internet café. ……..and, that’s my personal little problem with some of today’s ships. Don’t get the wrong idea. Some of the changes have most definitely been positive, and cruising, today, is better than it was in the early years, for most people. Having cruised in the early dats, I feel that I take a cruise to be on a ship. If I wanted to stay at a resort, I could fly to an island, and do so. On the other hand, some of the mega-liners, like the Grand Princess and the Carnival mega’s, maintain the ‘feel’ of a smaller ship, yet offer all the options only a very large one can offer. I must admit I also enjoy these ships, very much. I do, however, feel the passengers and crew are impersonal towards one another, and I miss the old camaraderie. Sadly, there's only one classic ship still doing regular cruises, Imperial Majesty's "Regal Empress." She sails a two-night from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau. If you want to experience classsic cruising, before it's gone, thgiis is your last chance. And, starting at $149.00 p.p., ($129.00 for Florida residents) she's a bargain. So, big ship, small ship, new ship, old; a cruise, is a cruise, is a cruise….. Cruises are like sex; At worst, it will be good, and it only gets better from there! Wishing you many, tranquil days at sea; and warm, soothing, breezes to carry you to exotic ports of call. HOLIDAY 09-16-89 BRITANIS 03-30-90 CARIBE I 05-19-90 DISCOVERY I 06-13-90 DOLPHIN 08-17-90 MARDI GRAS 01-20-91 BRITANIS 03-22-91 BRITANIS 04-12-91 SUNWARD II 09-20-91 NORDIC EMPRESS 11-18-91 BRITANIS 01-04-92 BRITANIS 02-09-92 BRITANIS 05-01-92 TROPIC STAR 05/15/92 BRITANIS 06-26-92 DOLPHIN 09-25-92 FANTASY 11-16-92 TROPIC STAR 12-05-92 COSTA ALLEGRA 01-23-93 BRITANIS 02-26-93 ROYAL MAJESTY 04-02-93 BRITANIS 06-04-93 DISCOVERY I 07/24/93 BRITANIS 08-27-93 MAJESTIC 11-18-93 DISCOVERY I 12-24-93 ZENITH 03-12-94 BRITANIS 04-01-94 TROPIC STAR 05-15-94 SEAWARD 07-01-94 BRITANIS 08-05-94 SEAWARD 11-11-94 TROPICANA 05-28-95 SENSATION 10-20-95 DISCOVERY I 01-12-96 SCAND. SUN 04-03-96 NORWEGIAN CROWN 10-19-96 SOVEREIGN of the SEAS 06-16-97 NORWAY 12-06-97 SCAND. DAWN 04-02-97 SCAND. SUN 03-31-98 NORWEGIAN WIND 12-06-98 LEEWARD 04-09-99 LEEWARD 07-12-99 TRIUMPH 12-11-99 IMAGINATION 07-15-00 MAASDAM 12-10-00 GRAND PRINCESS 10-01-01 NORWEGIAN STAR 11-16-01 HORIZON 12-14-01 CENTURY 04-06-02 MAJESTY of the SEAS 07-23-02 FASCINATION 11/22/02 VICTORY 03/30/03 FASCINATION 06/19/03 REGAL EMPRESS 02/27/04 FASCINATION 04/02/04 REGAL EMPRESS 04/10/05 ……………………………â⠂¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ ……… (If you missed any of the preceding chapters, and wish to “catch up,†you can click on the links below….) Part 1 – Introduction; http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4349 Part 2 – Onto The Ship; Out To Sea [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443 Part 3 – First, there’s The Food [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4395]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4395 Part 4 – Shooting The Dice [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4443 Part 5 – Places To Visit; People To See [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4459]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4459 Part 6 – Catching Cruise Fever [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4534]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4534 Part 7 – A Love Affair at Sea [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4578]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4578 Part 8 – Apollo Wasn’t Just A Greek God [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4604]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4604 Part 9 – Bon Voyage To A Real Lady http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4636 Part 10 – Olympus, To Caribe I, To rgale Empress [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4659]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4659 Part 11 – Dirty Dancing At Sea [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4691]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4691 Part 12 – Dirty Dancing At Sea http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4705 Part 13 – This ‘n That Stuff http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4744 Part 14 – Attitude, Attitude, Attitude http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4872 Parts 15 & 16 – People With No Names/Does The Cruise Director [url=http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5188]http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5188 Part 17 – Something Old, Something New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mebert Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Hey Jeff, What an impressive number of cruises. I feel like such an cruising infant. You must have really loved the Britanis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mebert Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Hey Jeff, What an impressive number of cruises. I feel like such an cruising infant. You must have really loved the Britanis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaCruzNut Posted May 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Yes, she was a memorable lady! She seemed to have a living spirit that you could feel, the minute you stepped aboard. Joyce Gleason-Adamidis, a former Asst C.D., wrote a book about her, "If I Were Not Upon he Sea," which is excellent. If you ever see a copy, grab it! I bought mine in a Celebrity ships gift shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaCruzNut Posted May 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Yes, she was a memorable lady! She seemed to have a living spirit that you could feel, the minute you stepped aboard. Joyce Gleason-Adamidis, a former Asst C.D., wrote a book about her, "If I Were Not Upon he Sea," which is excellent. If you ever see a copy, grab it! I bought mine in a Celebrity ships gift shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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