I was lucky enough to cross the Atlantic on American Export Lines Constitution three times before I was 6 years old. My first crossing was in 1959.

How about the rest of you? When did you first cruise or cross? I wonder how far back we can go?

WOW, just got off the Regatta and thinking about a voyage's 36th anniversary.

Olympia was my first long trip away from home and was probably my most exciting voyage.

Thad

[ 12-07-2005: Message edited by: Thad ]

My 1st cruise was Rotterdam V 10 day Caribbean in 1969 again with the family.

My 1st cruise solo (paid for with my paper route) was 1978 aboard Oceanic to Bermuda & Nassau. I was 15 (looked 20).

All three I worked aboard in my shipboard career. It was my destiny?

[ 12-07-2005: Message edited by: TampaMike ]

[ 12-07-2005: Message edited by: Mariposa ]

Brian

P.S. Although I have photos of me and my siblings taken on that voyage, I ain't gonna post them. Wouldn't want to break your monitors.

[ 12-07-2005: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

quote:

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Originally posted by TampaMike:

My 1st cruise solo (paid for with my paper route) was 1978 aboard Oceanic to Bermuda & Nassau. I was 15 (looked 20).

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Hey Mike. What were the dates? I was on Oceanic's Nov 18-25, 1978 cruise to Bermuda to Nassau.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mariposa:
Crossing: Queen Mary, October 1967
It was an odd voyage, to say the least.

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You were on the her last voyage? as your first? That is something. How far did you go, or all the way?

quote:

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Originally posted by PamM:

You were on the her last voyage? as your first? That is something. How far did you go, or all the way?

Pam

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quote:

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Originally posted by Brian_O:

Hey Mike. What were the dates? I was on Oceanic's Nov 18-25, 1978 cruise to Bermuda to Nassau.

Brian

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I sailed Oceanic in August that year (and the following 3 summers, during the school break). I had the same cabin (O-18) and the same steward all 3 sailings. Ah,,,the good old days. Was that the November when Oceanic rammed a freighter in the fog, departing NY harbor? I have photos (somewhere) of the hole punctured into that wonderful bow.

When I worked aboard Oceanic (under Premier banner) I actually had that cabin as Tour Manager for a period). It seemed smaller, somehow.

Oddy, similar with Rotterdam V. I sailed a family voyage as a youngster having a small inside on LP, below the Lido. When I worked aboard Rott V later in life, I again was assigned this cabin as staff. I did not realize it at first, but had a very strong Deja Vu feeling to it. When speaking with my Dad he caught on (it was my description of the artwork on the after elevators that you saw as you exited the cabin) and confirmed when he pulled the scrapbook that had the luggage tags from our family voyage many years earlier. LP202, just below the Lido....great for a late night run for hot chocolate on the Alaska nights.

[ 12-08-2005: Message edited by: TampaMike ]

quote:

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Originally posted by TampaMike:

Was that the November when Oceanic rammed a freighter in the fog, departing NY harbor?

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I doubt it. The cruise I was on was her last Bermuda-Nassau cruise of the season and the bow was in prime condiition.

quote:

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Originally posted by TampaMike:
When I worked aboard Oceanic (under Premier banner) I actually had that cabin as Tour Manager for a period). It seemed smaller, somehow.

Oddy, similar with Rotterdam V. I sailed a family voyage as a youngster having a small inside on LP, below the Lido. When I worked aboard Rott V later in life, I again was assigned this cabin as staff.

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Very ironic...Three ships that you cruised on and later worked on; two ships in which you had the same cabin as a paying passenger and a staff.

The voyage was a delightful 10 days, as the ship arced north through Pentland Firth, and called at Bremen before calling at Copenhagen. It was a great ship, with excellent food and cabins, even in our "upper-lower" accomodations in tourist class.

We returned on a far-less-satisfactory "Flandre," whose cabins were crowded and uncomfortable, although the fare, as I recall, was within $25.00 of that of SAL. It took the creation of "Le France" to get us back on French Line.

Ah yes, we also sailed "Nordstjernen" of the "Hurtigrute" for the full 15-day roundtrip on that trip as well.

[ 12-15-2005: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

First 'crossing' (and first ship): 1977 with the Dionea of Societa Navigazione Alto Adriatico di Trieste and later Lloyd Triestino form Grado to Trieste - O.K. this is not a long journey but it was a regular service. Luckily the Dionea has been preseved as private yacht: (the sister ship Ambriabella is presently laid somewhere in Greece)

Click for picture

[ 12-15-2005: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]