Rhapsody of the Seas

[happy daze john in oz]

Thanks Albi, have heard thta from a few now, how the world has changed. How is Shields thses days, spent quite a bit of my very young life up there as weall as Sunderland, Bolden and Newcastle.

[Albert Bishop]

Morning John, Shields is still going strong, but like all ports these days, Yuppi flats and fancy resturants replacing what we had. One or two of the old pubs still hanging on, but their days may be numbered. Still I guess nothing is forever (Not even us) Cheers , Albi. Still sunny though,

[David Williams]

Hi John.
Nice to have you back,glad you enjoyed yourself.
After reading your "Saga",Im in two minds about
going on a cruise,the wife wants to go,we shall see.
Ive been told that there are still Passenger/Cargo
boats on regular runs that do cruises.At my age a
long haul for me is about four hours max in a plane,
Canary Islands,Turkey,Bulgaria and anywhere
in between.My middle daughter cruised on the
Navigator of the Seas a couple of years ago,and
she still drools over it.Take a couple of days off to
get over your holiday,then back onto the computer
Okay.Will speak to you soon.

Dave Williams(R583900)

[Geoff Anderson]

Hi All.
I have often thought about a cruise, but as the wife gets sea sick in the swimming pool. How stable are these cruise ships/ block of flats ?.I was thinking about going with my bro and wife. sailing in the Caribbean. I would also have to think about flight times, and wether it would be easier for us to meet them there, flying via the states. Rather than the long haul NZ / UK 24hr flight. then having a what ? 6 hr flight to the cruise ship.

best wishes geoff,

[happy daze john in oz]

Taffy and Daishop my advice to you is lay back and enjoy the voyage. Her indoors was not one bit keen on the idea of a cruise and i almost had to press gang her into going. Second night out she asks why we never did this before, going again in August.
As for seasickness, there is not much chance as most of the cruise ships stick to calm waters, but there are many seasick pills about that work well. Many of the travel agents who do the bookings also arrange conecting flights, so there is no hanging around. There are a number fo cargo companies who take up to 12 passengers but some of the tripos can be a bit long and some of the places visit are not always the best ports.
But you can make a booking with just a deposit and then have up to 4 months to pay the balanced, plenty of time to think about it. Go fot it fellas.

[happy daze john in oz]

ref post #22

G'day Albi, sounds as if Shields has gone the way of many such ports. Often wonder what my G.G.F. and G.G.G.F. would make of it all now, they spent their lives working on the Wearside shipyards.

[Billieboy]

Nice one John, those ships are really big!

I was invited onto the, "Sovereign of the Seas", for the naming ceremony at Miami in '92, an old mate of mine was the Engineer Vice President, had a great time, a super bun-fight just after Noon, Champers everywhere, I did manage to get myself and my boss back to our hotel in one piece. The most interesting gadget they had on board was the glass and bottle crusher, magic gear, it stops the propellers being damaged as the broken glasses and bottles are dumped.

[Short]

I have just joined this site, therefore only just read your write up on your cruise. It was certainly a most excellent effort I thoroughly enjoyed it. You managed to bring out all the facts and figures that I managed to compare to my erstwhile days as a Winger on RMS Andes. Thanks very much.

[Neville Roberts]

I have done a couple of criuses,and have found that the service is great and the food too but it is a far cry from the old first class days with only 6 bloods too take care of and a lot of silver service and table side work , boneing of dover sole, shelling lobsters and carving meats , cooking deserts,I have a pic on the site of a table of mine on the Empress of Canada where we are about too serve a course of turtle soup , I am in the background with the soup tureen. those were the days

[happy daze john in oz]

Neville mate, don't tell me you had to bone and cook the turtle at the table! But I must agree with you it is not the same though I have found the food and saloon service to be well up there with some of the best liners. But they are now only floating hotels, but it is the only way I can get back on the sea, go to a foreign port and still search out the odd local bar. Do not bother now with all the supervised tours in the land of the 'waving palms' Backshees as alf would sat.