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| Subject: Re: Hey Oldtimers, what got you started cruising?
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Posted on: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 11:50:02 -0400
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This has been one of the most interesting threads .
Since I am probably the oldest "Oldtimer", my first cruise goes way
back to 1968. It was on the White Star Carmania that had become part of
the Cunard Line It had recently been fitted out from an ocean liner to a
cruise ship. It had also carried troops in WW2 The crew were not used to
a one class ship and treated us all like 1st class passengers.
I don't know who had the 1st idea to try a cruise vacation but we were a
group of 3 neighbor couples and I invited friends of mine to join us
making 4 couples. We saved. sewed and shopped for months because this
was the most expensive vacation any of us had ever taken. We had gotten
brochures from all the cruise lines and it boiled down to a German,
Norwegian or British ship. I can't remember why we chose the British.
Back then we paid brochure rates. No shopping around. We just went to a
local travel agent and booked a 10 day Caribbean cruise. Then we read
every word in the brochure to give us an idea of what a cruise would be
like.
We paid extra for our deck chairs and had an assigned chair. Everything
onboard was cash and I do remember the men would spend the morning
waiting for the sun to go over the yardarm playing cards and drinking 10
cent beers. Served in the pint thumb print mugs. The liquor was all duty
free so drinks were cheap.
There was no casino but there was bingo, horse races and betting on the
daily mileage. There was also no spa, no fitness center, and no ship
excursions. We got taxis in the ports and took a tour of the islands.
All meals were either late or early seating. No open seating at all and
dinner was a formal affair. We were served by white gloved waiters from
large platters. Picking what we wanted and telling them how much to
serve us. The crew were all from the UK.
There was a list published with the names of al the passengers and we
spent time trying to put faces to names on the list. We called one very
stylish woman Delores Del Rio. She had a very Spanish appearance. We
took on and let off passengers in the various ports.
I think I remember more about that cruise than I do about the 60 or more
we have taken since then.
P.S. I also travelled on the Epirotoki Jason back in about 1980. Another
"oldie but goodie"
~~DORIS~~
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http://community.webtv.net/DorisIs/AROUNDTHEHORN
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