Conference abbott::cruise_travel

94.0. "First Cruise Experiences" by TLE::BENTLEY () Thu Feb 23 1989 12:43

    In the process of answering another note, it occurred to me that 
    it might be fun to discuss oddball experiences you had the first 
    time you cruised.  Many of us do silly things or have strange things 
    happen to us when we are in a new environment.  My first cruise 
    experience occurred when I was ten years old -- and I didn't even 
    know it!

    We moved to Caracas, Venezuela, when I was a kid, and our mode of
    transportation was via the Santa Rosa of the Cunard lines (I don't 
    know if she is still sailing).  I wasn't aware, at the time, that we
    were on a cruise ship.  I thought it was just a way to get where we
    were going -- like a bus!
    
    My sister and I spent a lot of time running around on the decks,
    blowing blue and green plastic bubbles through straws (anybody remember
    those?).  The bubbles popped on the newly painted railings and I can 
    still see the looks we got from some of the crewmen.  Perhaps they 
    scolded us.  If so, I've blocked that memory!  

    I fell in love with the elevator boy, a teenager named Bubbles who 
    hailed from New Orleans, and I spent a lot of time riding up and down 
    between the deck floors and being a general nuisance to him, I'm sure.

    I had a birthday the night of the Captain's party.  I'll never forget 
    it (despite my senile age) as they made a big deal of it.  They had 
    a special birthday cake for me and during the entertainment they threw 
    island necklaces to the audience and I managed to catch one -- a big 
    thrill for me.  (In retrospect, I'm sure it was thrown directly at me!)

    I remember being a little seasick the first day out, but obviously it
    did not keep me down.  And I was astounded that fish could fly.  It 
    must have been then that I started planning the cruises I would take 
    as an adult!

    Well, that's it for now.  I'm off to the Caribbean Saturday; not a cruise 
    this year, however.   We've decided to just relax on one of our favorite 
    islands (Barbados) and watch the cruise ships come and go!

    My first cruise was on RCCL to Bremuda.  A feature of this line
    is the cocktail lounge around the smokestack.  My wife and I one
    night, while in port, went up there for a drink.  Well my wife said that
    she couldn't feel the boat swaying and I replied "it was going fast
    enough".  Well the waiter only heard not fast enough and started
    yelling "I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm sorry, I'm sorry".  Those
    cruise lines really keep the sword hanging of those people.