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mcpepe
Cruiser
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 02:19 am | 1st Post |
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I was 11 years old on my first cruise. It was July 1974 on the Incres Line's MS Victoria. It was a small ship by today's standards but to me it was huge. I was on this cruise with my parents and my two brothers, ages 10 and 9 at the time. We were booked into two of the biggest suites on the ship, Abaco and Eleuthera. "Big" is a relative term when describing cabins of older ships.
We left from San Juan and sailed to some ports that even today aren't sailed to all that frequently. We went to Curacao, Caracas, Grenada, Guadalupe, and St. Thomas. My memories are like still snapshots, as 33 year old memories are.
Of course cruising was of a different era back then. It was much more formal. We all dressed up for dinner, long dresses were common to see on women, suits on men each night, my young brothers included.
Speaking of dining, there were no special menus for children. We grew up eating good food and were actually excited and adventurous to try new and different foods. We never had a problem ordering anything off the menu. We loved the food, we loved having those long dinners that parents today seem to feel their children can't handle.
There were no childrens programs either. We didn't need one. Then again there weren't that many young ones on the ship as I recall. They did have some impromptu pool games for the kids one day. It was a blast. They threw metal spoons in the pool and basically whoever got the most won. We had relay races in the pool too. Being on a ship, visiting fascinating ports each day, being entertained by dancers and music each night......who needed a special kids club? Certainly not my brothers or I. And I don't ever remember running through halls or pushing elevator buttons either.
There WERE reserved deck chairs by the pool. But when your ship only held 300 people it was different than 3000.
I remember the Flamenco dancers they had perform several times during the cruise. Gosh, I loved them! I also remember Shirley Evans VERY well. She is the accordion player who was in The Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour" movie. Shirley was a great entertainer.
I remembered having quite a crush on the ships photographer. I remember his name was Chris and I thought he looked like Paul McCartney at the time. I remember meeting the captain.
I remember the two honeymoon couples we met and hung out with. I also remember a girl I befriended named Dayalda whose mother looked like Elizabeth Taylor.
I remember Grenada for the beautiful dress my parents bought for me on the beach from a woman selling it. It wasn't fancy, but a sundress, and I still remember it to this day. I remember buying nutmeg there too. Grenada is known as the spice isle.
I remember Guadalupe for the topless beach. It wasn't something I was used to so my brothers and I giggled a bit, but being a French island, it was just their way of sunbathing. And no, my parents didn't make a big deal of it.
St Thomas.....Magan's Bay. <sigh> Gosh it was beautiful to my 11 yo eyes. So beautiful that my mom and I visited there together many years later for 9 nights...not on a cruise.
Yes, my first cruise was a magical one and I'm so glad I was able to bring my own children on their first cruise so young as well.
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Maria
mpepe84@aoldotcom
Upcoming cruises:
Norwegian Gem 3/22/08 Florida/Bahamas
Yes, that's me in my avatar!
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hstrybuf
Founders
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 03:15 am | 2nd Post |
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| Those were the days! Thanks for sharing your memories with us!
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Deb
Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~ Welsh Proverb
http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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BAMA X 2
Teeny Bopper
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 03:27 am | 3rd Post |
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WOW! What a great post! Thank you for reminding me what spoiled little brats I carry on cruises today!
Great post!
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CRUISERS ARE LOSERS!
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Catnip
Charter Member
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 03:35 am | 4th Post |
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BAMA X 2 wrote: WOW! What a great post! Thank you for reminding me what spoiled little brats I carry on cruises today!
Great post!
I agree with Bama! Totally superb post!!!!!!!!!  I was 25 for my first cruise, but between back then and now, cruising is totally different.
Even back in the early 80's, most of the "cruise staff" did the entertaining. There were the "singers & dancers" that did one production show, but the "cruise staff" did other things at night like ventriloquests, magic shows, dancing, singing & other things.
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48 previous cruises..
Next up: shortie Bahama cruise next month!
Life is a circus
and I'm stuck in the freak tent
Proud non-member of the O-Crew and FOMT
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mcpepe
Cruiser
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 04:24 am | 5th Post |
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Aww, thanks guys for the nice responses! I was transported down memory lane writing the post. Seems the older I get, the more wistful I get and the more appreciative I am of all my past life experiences.
It seems the only place to really relive your travels IS on message boards like these, where people gather who share your passion of travelling!
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Maria
mpepe84@aoldotcom
Upcoming cruises:
Norwegian Gem 3/22/08 Florida/Bahamas
Yes, that's me in my avatar!
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BAMA X 2
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 04:36 am | 6th Post |
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mcpepe wrote: Seems the older I get, the more wistful I get and the more appreciative I am of all my past life experiences.
Damn Pepe! If you wern't from Jersey, I'd be in Love!
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BAMA X 2
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 04:43 am | 7th Post |
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Catnip wrote: BAMA X 2 wrote: WOW! What a great post! Thank you for reminding me what spoiled little brats I carry on cruises today!
Great post!
I agree with Bama! Totally superb post!!!!!!!!! I was 25 for my first cruise, but between back then and now, cruising is totally different.
Nip, did they still have all the guys with oars on the bottom of the ship back then?
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Catnip
Charter Member
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 02:01 pm | 8th Post |
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BAMA X 2 wrote:
I agree with Bama! Totally superb post!!!!!!!!! I was 25 for my first cruise, but between back then and now, cruising is totally different.
Nip, did they still have all the guys with oars on the bottom of the ship back then?
____________________
48 previous cruises..
Next up: shortie Bahama cruise next month!
Life is a circus
and I'm stuck in the freak tent
Proud non-member of the O-Crew and FOMT
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hstrybuf
Founders
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Posted: Fri Oct 12th, 2007 03:03 am | 9th Post |
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mcpepe wrote: Aww, thanks guys for the nice responses! I was transported down memory lane writing the post. Seems the older I get, the more wistful I get and the more appreciative I am of all my past life experiences.
It seems the only place to really relive your travels IS on message boards like these, where people gather who share your passion of travelling!
I couldn't agree with you more Maria!
____________________
Deb
Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~ Welsh Proverb
http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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Florita
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Posted: Sat Jan 19th, 2008 03:20 am | 10th Post |
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Hi: Was looking through some old souvenirs and found a key ring from the Victoria. Thought I would google the Victoria Incres Line and maybe find something about the ship. Your first cruise message came up and I would like you to have it the key ring . No strings attached. If you would like it, please send me a stamped, addressed envelope.
Incidentally, we were on the ship with 4 friends and entered the masquerade party as the characters from "Alice -in-Wonderland. We won 1st prize with great gifts for all. My husband was the Mad Hatter and I was Alice with a yellow floor mop for hair. It was really hysterical and we have a picture of the event.
It was also our 1st cruise and unforgettable.
Cordially,
F Reiff
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hstrybuf
Founders
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Posted: Sat Jan 19th, 2008 01:59 pm | 11th Post |
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| It is never a good idea to post one's name and address on the Internet. With the safety of our members in mind, the information has been deleted.
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Deb
Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~ Welsh Proverb
http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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Mikmity
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Posted: Sat May 21st, 2011 07:48 pm | 12th Post |
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I was 10 years old when my parents and older sister and I cruised for 2 weeks from New York to the Caribbean on the MS Victoria in December 1963. My parents surprised my sister and I with this Christmas cruise and it was probably the best gift I have ever received. It was the most wonderful cruise with awesome food and an Italian crew! I have been on Carnival and Norwegian in the past 3 years and the bigger ships cannot measure up the to service on the MS Victoria! Anyway, we cruised to Puerto Rico, Granada, Santa Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Trinidad, and I believe Guadaloupe before returning to New York. After 48 years, I just got in contact with a friend that I met on the cruise...for the first time, on Facebook. She and I were both 10 years old in 1963! I have incredible memories about the ship and ports we visited. Like someone said in a prior post, the memories are like snapshots. I'm glad that at least one of my five children has had the opportunity to cruise with us on the 2 recent cruises. I can't wait to go again, I just don't know which line we will cruise with! Anyone out there who cruised on the MS Victoria?
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hopman
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Posted: Thu Jul 28th, 2011 01:38 am | 13th Post |
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| Boy do I remember the Victoria. First sailed on her in 1966 at age 7 (2nd cruise, 1st was on the SS. united states in 1964)..then sailed with my family again on the Victoria in 1971. I still rememer our cabin on Emerald Deck....by today's standards it was a huge outside cabin with 2 lower and upper beds. We sailed during the winter..our parents took us out of school and of course back then....few people took cruises, let alone with children. So, we were very accustomed to being the only kids on the ship and the Italian crew spoiled us rotten. You cannot compare anything from that era to today's massive cruise ships with their constant focus on getting passengers to spend more $$ on anything from art shows to merchandise, drinks, etc. Back then, it was ALL about service and luxury. I remember those 2 wonderful pools on the rear promendate deck, and still have a photo of my mom sitting on the bridge that spanned between them. We also dove for spoons in the pool for entertainment (how simple but how much fun!), enjoyed wonderful meals, had waiters who became like part of our family (my father kept in contact with our waiter from our 1971 Victoria cruise for years!). Our last cruise from NYC visited Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent, and Haiti....to this day, 26 cruises later, I struggle recreating the experience of the Victoria for today's ships cannot compare. They are shopping malls at sea....and the only smaller ships that do cater to their passengers are the premium or luxury brands that are out of reach. BTW - anyone cruise on the Gripsholm? Wonderful experience in 1969 with Swedish America Line..
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