G'evening friends,
So, 'Crazy Sam' has chosen The Love Boat as this Saturday's theme. And well, that prompted all sorts of memories to come spilling out.
Like my father, I love anything that floats. Unfortunately, due to the word-that-starts-with-C that we don't talk about, I don't see any more cruises in my future. Besides, the industry itself has changed so drastically ... not for the better. (IMHO)
ANYway, here are some images of happier times. Like Flavia wrote, "Remembering is a journey our heart takes into a time that was ... and our thoughts are the only tickets needed to ride."
It all began to germinate in 1957 with a 7-day sail across the pond on the Queen Elizabeth. Later a return to NYC on her sister ship, the Queen Mary.
LOL -- for what was supposed to be the "Gala Dinner" no-one looks particularly happy.
A few years later, a quickie cruise to the Bahamas aboard the ill-fated Yarmouth Castle.
... which burned and sank off the coast of Nassau only weeks after we'd disembarked!
Without a doubt, my all-time favorite series of cruises was via the now-defunct Sitmar line. Their smaller, more intimate vessels and all-Italian crew (be still my heart!) defined what it means to be pampered.
"You can't decide between the lobster or Beef Wellington? I bring you both. No problem."
".....the glory that was Rome is of another day."
My BF PJ ("PJ the DJ") used a clothes hanger to impersonate Pippi Longstocking for Costume Night.
Did I mention the Italian crew?
Funny, flirty ...
... unforgettable
(I love that quote.)
Years later, I got to witness my son enjoying his first 'real' cruise through the Greek Isles.
Notice the name on that life ring?
I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking, "3 times a charm?"!
... but that didn't stop Tom and I from taking a honeymoon cruise to Alaska. While the Holland American line is definitely more sedate than other ships, so am I! (*smile*) Besides I left my dancing shoes far, far behind.
On cabin balcony, entering Glacier Bay
Whew ... sorry, I was getting carried away there!
As always, I really appreciate you making time to visit and saying hello. Chat soon!
Hugs, Myra
{{{grin}}} Being silly...C word? Cookie? (ducking)--just being silly. {{laughing}}
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely photos, thank you for sharing my friend. Thank you for the many smiles and the memories you shared.
You always crack me up, Linda ... thank YOU!
DeleteI absolutely love all of these photos and memories! My parents took me on several cruises as a kid, and I went on a few in my twenties but that's about it. I do have a really funny story about the last one I went on that I will definitely have to show and tell about on a future Throwback Thursday. Thanks for always being so supportive and linking up with me. Big hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martha. I can't wait to read about your funny cruise story!
DeleteWow ... wow ... three times wow ... what wonderful memories, Mevely. How fantastic. What great times you had. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. I really enjoyed this post today. Thanx again.
ReplyDeleteGod bless always.
I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this, Victor. It was a long while ago; and yet, somedays it seems like yesterday.
DeleteI LOVED this post, Myra! Great photos and how fun are your memories! Thanks for sharing it all! (And I couldn't agree more about "those" Italians!)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terri! Ya, and I'm blessed to have one of 'those' Italians as a FB friend. (But gosh, he looks so OLD. LOL!)
DeleteYou sure have a lot of cruise memories - they were all different and all interesting. You are lucky. I was on one years ago - the Disney Cruise - a package with Disney and the ship.
ReplyDeleteI've no pictures, but perhaps the most interesting was a cruise through the Great Lakes. Did you enjoy your Disney Cruise? Perhaps you'll blog about that sometime?
DeleteYes it was a great post, loved it. I agree though with the feeling it will be awhile if ever, if we cruise again.
ReplyDeleteI do envy the cruises you show, we never made any real classy ones, NOR the destinations or the famous ships you cruised on. YOu don't get any better names than the Queens you mentioned WOW.
But for me, I did love the pics from the Alaskan cruise, y'all do look great!
Love from NC
Sherry & jack
Thanks, Jack (and Sherry). Don't forget, our trip on the Queens was 3rd class (i.e., 'steerage'). The Sitmar lines weren't classy at all... that was just the way passengers were treated in those days.
DeleteYou have such delightful memories aboard ships and on cruises Myra! Thanks for sharing them with us!
ReplyDeleteBetty
Thank you, Betty! Good (or no so). what would we be without our memories.
DeleteLove love love! All your precious memories plus all these fantastic photos that jog your memory. You have lived and exciting traveling life
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandra! I didn't realize it at the time, but ya. I was very fortunate.
DeletePS I really enjoyed seeing all your beautiful clothes that you wore and I think my favorite picture is the one of your husband on the Alaskan cruise with the camera showing it looks like art. And I do love the one with the champagne glasses stacked up into a fountain
ReplyDeleteI miss having the opportunity to dress 'up'. Still have that white gown!
DeleteSuch wonderful memories, Myra! Not the ship burning part, but you know what I mean. I think I've mentioned here that I've never wanted to go on a cruise as I think it would be a bit claustrophobic for me, especially if the weather were to take a turn for the worse. But that all Italian crew sounds tempting - lol!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
LOL for sure. Our last cruise in 2004 was the first time we splurged for an outside cabin with a balcony. I never suffered from claustrophobia, but think that option would help.
DeleteOh, how fun that all looks! I liked that our ship was smaller last summer, too. We got to know the staff and crew that took care of us quite well. Our waiters in the dining room cried and hugged us the last day. There were a couple of nights where we dressed for the dining room, but nothing quite so fancy as a gown and you could avoid it completely by dining at the buffet if you wanted. We did like it, but like you, I suspect Covid will keep us from doing another for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteWe used to do the same with crew members -- super nice folks who'd advise us where to find the best beaches and bars away from other tourists.
DeleteOh my...so many cruises and so many wonderful places. I've been on 2 cruises, one to the Bahamas and one to the Virgin Islands and they were both between 35-40 years ago.
ReplyDeleteAren't the Virgin Islands something else! My granddaughter and her hubby honeymooned on St. John last year.
DeleteI've never been on a cruse ship of any kind but used to watch the love boat all the time. Matter of fact my youngest son is named after the captain of the ship - Merrill Steuben. Not sure of the spelling of his last name, but I know I got the first name right.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful factoid, Ma! I used to love that show, too.
DeleteOh my, I'm so impressed. Looks like some wonderful times. I've never been on a cruise. I love the hanger, very cleaver!!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I need to ask PJ if she ever does that with her hair anymore.
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