Cruise Talk: Home Lines Cruises

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Home Lines Cruises

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Topic: Home Lines Cruises

HomeLines
First Class Passenger
Member # 1707

posted 02-10-2001 07:38 PM

Anyone sail on Home Lines in the 70s or 80s? I have incredible memories from that line. Haven't taken a cruise yet that comes close. Anyone remember what made this company so special to them?

Posts: 165 | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

WJCdiver
First Class Passenger
Member # 946

posted 02-11-2001 05:09 PM

I sailed on the Italia in 1962 and then on the Homeric in 1968. I remember the incredibly friendly all Italian crew and the wonderful food. I also remember the Italian bands playing in the night clubs doing songs like "Al di La".

I just got borrowed my mothers photo album and will try to post some photos of the Italia.

Note: I was 8 on the first cruise.

Bill

Posts: 159 | From: New York, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

mikiebaccarat
First Class Passenger
Member # 1026

posted 02-11-2001 06:42 PM

I sailed on the Italia, Homeric, Oceanic and Atlantic of Home Lines and they and the old HAL were my favourite cruise lines ( i have had 19 cruises plus 4 transatlantic crossings)

I am told that the Valtur Prima is operated by some of the former owners of Home Lines and that service on her is very like the old Home Lines services. Indeed her funnel logo is an adaptation of the old Home Lines funnel logo.

Valtur Prima is under charger this winter to one of the Canadian package tour companies for Carribean Cruising. It would be interesting to know if any subscriber was on her this winter.

Posts: 53 | From: Kingston,ON,Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

starfish
First Class Passenger
Member # 986

posted 02-11-2001 07:27 PM

We sailed on the Atlantic in 87 on our honeymoon. I remember the great food and service. I just seen her Wednesday leaving St.Thomas,sailing between the Disney Wonder and the Norway.

Posts: 225 | From: Dallas,PA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 02-12-2001 12:23 PM

To Mikiebaccarat:The Valtur Prima is a good cruise ship that offer a real premium cruise product at excellent rates.The service and the cuisine are very fine and can compete with the standard of the old Home Lines.The ship is actually chartered to the Italian Tour Operator Valtur of Turin.The Italia Prima(the former name of the ship)is owned by NINA Cruises of Rome a company formed by the italian shipowner Bruno Quericoni.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Jesse C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1678

posted 02-12-2001 06:04 PM

The MS Valtur Prima used to be the MV Stockholm. It carried Dr. Jonas Edward Salk, the man who made the first polio vaccine to a meeting in Denmark, and it also collided with the TN Andrea Doria off of Nantucket. Before being called the Valtur Prima, the contents of its hull were changed, as well as everything above the hull. Some people saw pictures of its bare hull.

Posts: 244 | From: Houston, Texas, United States of America | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Conte Di Savoia
First Class Passenger
Member # 1802

posted 02-21-2001 05:42 PM

I was on the Oceanic in the mid 70's. She was a very beautiful ship, but I don't recall the food as being on a par with that on the Italian Line.
I will be on the Valtur Prima in mid March. Looking forward to a unique experience.

Posts: 64 | From: Bay Shore, NY | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

dixwelll
Just Boarded
Member # 1822

posted 02-23-2001 04:01 PM

My first Home Lines Cruise was October 25, 1975. It was the best and worst day of my life. I so fell in love with Home Lines, the sea, and cruising. I was 23 on my first cruise, and I tell everyone I grew up on ships. I did, you know. My entire life was influenced by my experiences aboard ship, on the islands, with the crew and the passengers. I forged friendships of a lifetime. If you didn't experience the mystique of Home Lines, it is impossible to understand what that world was like. Never mind the gracious and elegant ships - Oceanic, Doric, Atlantic, Homeric- the ones I had the opportunity to sail. Never mind the incomparable service, the caliber of training for waiters, bartenders, cabin stewards, etc. Never mind the array of delicious foods. It was the people who mattered on those ships. They made Home Lines reputation sparkle. Repeat passengers, young & old, male & female, always talked about how the crew made the ships what delightful havens they were.

It was an era not to be recaptured in any time or any place. And I suppose that's a good thing. The memories are warm and well-kept remnants of a time long gone. I still have a spoon with the home lines crown engraved on the handle; plate; Home Lines soap; passenger lists; hundreds & hundreds of pictures.

Those of us who were part of that time know what it was. Those of you who never experienced a "linger longer" cruise have much to miss.

Posts: 5 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

Beezo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1505

posted 02-25-2001 09:39 PM

does anybody have pictures og the fleet? thanks!

Brian

Posts: 865 | From: Massachusetts, USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

HomeLines
First Class Passenger
Member # 1707

posted 03-10-2001 08:25 PM

Dixwell you are so on point! The crew made that cruise line truly incredible! I first sailed on them when I was 12, will always cherish the memories.

Posts: 165 | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 03-11-2001 02:45 AM

After ramming the Andrea Doria, which sunk,
the "Stockholm" was repaired and namend
"Völkerfreundschaft" for Communist Germany
(DDR).
Later it was sold and layed up for some time, then it becomes "Italia Prima" under charter of Neckermann Cruises and sailing for NINA
in Italy.
Now she is an club-ship on the Cuban Market,
she had the Place of the "Costa Playa",
which was put away from the cuban market when Carnivale bought Costa.

There was no longer an way in Cuba for the "Costa Playa". She is now an swimming Casino in far east.

Posts: 1034 | From: Gutach, Black Forest, Germany | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

WJCdiver
First Class Passenger
Member # 946

posted 04-01-2001 12:07 AM

Take a look at the "classic photos". I sent in photos of Home Lines Italia from about 1964, and the Statendam from 1966.

Bill

Posts: 159 | From: New York, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 04-06-2009 11:37 AM

Any more pepeople here remember Home Lines and the Oceanic and have pictures or stories to tell?

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 04-06-2009 11:47 AM

I first sailed on OCEANIC in 1979, under Home Lines. Those were the days of personalized, white glove service by genuinely friendly Italians. Home Lines did everything in a classy, elegant manner and yet it was warm and fuzzy at the same time. The ship was still in her original, elegant form at that time. I later sailed her under Premier/Big Red Boat as well as Pullmantur, and while I still love the ship, the original styling, decor and furnishings are long gone.

I also sailed on ATLANTIC when she was new in 1982, and while Home Lines was still somewhat of a classy operation, by that point in time the cruise product (and ship) had evolved into more of a mass-market kind of thing, that one sees today.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

avalon1025
First Class Passenger
Member # 5383

posted 04-06-2009 02:16 PM

having grown up in NY, we used to sail Home Lines all the time. Great memories of service and food, amazing pastas by the pool!

I can not remember right now, but there was a song every past passenger knew and sung on the Oceanic, anyone remember?

Posts: 331 | From: West Hollywood | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 04-06-2009 02:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by avalon1025:

I can not remember right now, but there was a song every past passenger knew and sung on the Oceanic, anyone remember?

It was called "The OCEANIC Song." I can't remember the lyrics, although they were pretty simple and repetitive, but I still recall the tune. The orchestra used to play it in the Italian Hall while old ladies line-danced to it!

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 04-06-2009 04:25 PM

I think that the Oceanic looked best in Home Lines colors.. Their yellow was just the right shade, not so "primary" as Costa.

Oceanic in 1985

Atlantic in 1985

Doric in the background in maybe 1981

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

nycruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 960

posted 04-06-2009 06:19 PM

I have always heard such great things of the Home Lines. Many people in my family, living in the NYC area, at one time or another sailed on the Oceanic. My greatgrandmother just pased away a few weeks ago at the age of 93. While looking through her things I found her cruise pictures from the 70's and 80's. Many were from the Oceanic. She always enjoyed a cruise from NYC!

I started cruising in 1987 at 6 years old on the Oceanic though she was part of Priemer by then. Though I was very young when I look back at my early cruises which were mainly on Chandris Fantasy Cruises from NYC those cruise felt very simple and homey in comparison to todays ships.

While Chandris was budget line I do feel what people are saying about the Home Lines. Cruising back then was different from the attitude of the crew to the quality of the product. Of course the industry grew and that quality and coziness has gone except for the luxury lines with smaller ships.

Good memories for sure! Whish I had the opportunity to sail the Home Lines. Few years back I purchased a few brochures from Ebay of the Atlantic and Oceanic. Great brochures and they feature the "linger longer cruises" as one poster mentioned.

Posts: 665 | From: Westchester County, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 04-06-2009 07:55 PM

I sailed with Home Lines on the old Homeric, Oceanic, Doric and Atlantic. Doric was my favorite. She had large cabins and a very cozy atmosphere. I never found the Oceanic warm and inviting as most did. I was never a big fan of Home Lines and felt it was a let-down after having sailed with Italian Line. It's wonderful to hear that so many have fond memories of Home Lines Cruises.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 04-09-2009 09:21 AM

Superb photographs Thad - Sagafjord also looks lovely in that last shot in her NAL colours!

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 04-09-2009 10:51 AM

As you mentioned funnel colors.....I always liked the original funnel colors of NAL, HAL, Italian Line, and CGT. For some reason stripes of colors appealed to me above others. Also liked Cunard and Furness-Bermuda.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 04-09-2009 12:38 PM

You know, it might be sacrilege, but I actually liked the red-orange that HAL had in the 70's. I think it played of the dark blue hulls well. I also liked the blue and white "multi-mark" striped logo. I am tired of white and blue stacks, though I would make an exception for the multi-blue and white fanning stripes of the original NCL stacks. I reallyliked the way Sitmar and Home lines painted their masts and upper deck houses the yellow funnel color too. I like Carnival's boldly colored red, white and blue stack. I think that Costa's yellow is a bit strong, but in general I like it. I like P&O's Buff, and Saga's yellow and blue. FOCL and Pullmantur have nice interesting red stacks. Phoenix Reisen's turquiose is a little much for my tastes, but at least it is distinctive. The Orange and Blue of HAPAG is pretty cool in my bag, if a littel 70's looking. But you are correct in that there is really a paucity of stripes on today's stacks..

Deep Orange and Blue look nice together here to me.

One of the few blue and white stacks I like

I like the yellow deck houses

nice red..

Orange and Blue together again

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 04-09-2009 06:16 PM

There was something very special about Italian passenger ships. I was lucky to sail on Princess when they had an Italian feel in the 1970s and early 1980s as well as on Sitmar's Fairsea and Fairwind several times beginning in the early 1970s. The service and food was incredible but I was never crazy about the Italian desserts.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 04-09-2009 07:15 PM

Of all the Italian ships, I still like the Italian Line the best. I sailed Fairwind once, and thought that was good. I also liked the Italian dining staff on Flagship Cruises' Sea Venture. CGT, however, surpassed all of them in service and food....matchless!

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

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