Cruise Line Gets Revenge on SGs

[felinefan]

The first and last times I was on a cruise was 1965 (going to Australia) and 1966 (returning to the U.S. after being in Australia for six months). Our ships, the Himalaya (going) and Oronsay (returning) were built in 1949/1950, and were pretty basic. There was a First Class, I remember the chainlink fence keeping us second class passengers out of their area of the ship. Being only 9 years old, I was more focused on the playroom with a nanny and the food. Every morning, we had orange juice and sweet biscuits brought into our cabins. We went to meals when the crewmembers went through the hallways playing the bells. There was a movie theater on board (I accompanied my older brother and sister one time, but was turned away at the door--"Goldfinger" was for 12 years and up.)

Both ships were owned by P&O Lines (still in service--I checked recently!), though both ships were scrapped in the mid-70s. They were of British registry, so we had quite an interesting crew--kind of prepared us for the way the Aussies speak, though at that time relations between Australia and the U.K. weren't great (I remember being told that when the Beatles were touring Australia they were pelted with stones). My mom was once mistaken for a Brit (long story) and was treated rudely, until she stated she was an American (east coast) whereupon the person who spoke rudely to her suddenly began treating her nicely!

There were laundry rooms on board--I remember mom teaching me how to iron clothes. When there was a storm at sea, or we were approaching port, the playroom was closed. Thinking back, I can't really complain about anything on board.

I think the Morans (or as one person put it, the MORONS) need to get a life!

[EeyoresButterfly]

The only cruise I have been on was with Disney, and I absolutely loved it. The only issue I had was the lady who was kind of rude to me when I tried to buy a drink, but then, I get mistaken for a 12 year old all the time. I also had lots of guests asking me where my parents were when I was in the Quiet Cove pool. It gets annoying sometimes. We had an absolute blast! My mom didn't really want to go (she didn't tell us this- it was my college graduation trip), and by the end she was saying "when we take another cruise" not "if we take another cruise!" I'm thinking of taking one next May when I get my Master's.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I remember my first cruise! IT was wonderful, we visited Hawaii, then made stops at Guam, and the Phillippines. we also made ports of call in Hong Kong, and later Singapore.

Best cruise memory was Christmas eve religious service, between stanzas of the of "Silent Night" the forward twin 5 inch mount would let loose a volley of RAP and HE. (we were off the coast of Viet Nam at the time)

Pretty much blew them back to the stone age....ahhh good times.

(cruise ship was haze grey)

[hobie16]

My only cruise was on a 55' power boat down the coast of Baha Cali and around the tip to La Paz. My goal was to taste test Margaritas in every port and compare them to the owner's. The owner won hands down and I never got sick due the medicinal properties of tequila.