The SS Norway, of the Norwegian Cruise Line, was just one of the grande olde ships I had usually wished to go on. Their seven-day cruise was above Thanksgiving out of Miami to the Caribbean. It was a Big Band Cruise with dance hosts and four well-recognized swing bands from the past. Excellent — I like the outdated jazz and huge band new music and I appreciate to dance but frequently do not have a very good dance lover. I signed up.
Sailing on the Norway turned out to be a excursion back in time. She was created in 1960 as the famed SS France, extra than 1,000 ft very long, a 110 foot beam, and with about 2,000 travellers and a crew of 900 who appear from all above the world.
You felt the grand tradition as quickly as you boarded. The Norway nonetheless taken care of a style and graciousness reminiscent of previously cruising. The ship has been refurbished several moments, but the art deco murals, hand-laid tile mosaics, polished teak rails, and the nautical antiques from cruises bygone have cautiously been preserved, and as you walked the lengthy promenade deck you felt like you were cruising somewhere again in time. As you dined, you realized you were eating wherever popular stars experienced dined, and you appear at the murals and initial artwork works understanding they were there in people early times when some others right before you sat in this room, seen these similar murals, and engaged in the exact form of energetic discussions with some others as you are carrying out now. Afterwards that evening, you half hope Cary Grant, sophisticated in his tuxedo, to stroll down the deck and lean nonchalantly up coming to you on the rail.
It requires a even though to discover your way all around. The Norway is 10 blocks extended and 12 decks significant. There is an Global Deck lined with sidewalk cafes and boutiques on the Olympic Deck is the health heart with glass walls so you can exercise when gazing out at the sea on a decreased deck you appear on a decadent Roman Spa that delivers massages, aromatherapy, overall body wraps, saunas, steam rooms, and an indoor pool for drinking water exercising. On many decks are two swimming pools, a jogging observe, 7 bars, six enjoyment lounges, just one grand ballroom, a cabaret, a massive casino, disco, an ice-product parlor, library, piano bar, and a theater for to start with operate and previous classic movies. If you want them, there is a hairdresser, laundry, dry cleaner, masseuse, and professional medical facilities.
The Norway has 1,039 staterooms, each and every with individually controlled air-conditioning, private tub with shower, Television, radio and phone. Some suites have a independent living area and bed room in addition to a master bedroom. Most penthouse suites have non-public balconies. A person night we were invited to a social gathering in the owner’s suite. It was magnificent, with a wrap-all around balcony, living space, bedroom, dressing room and jacuzzi. Our host — a former law enforcement officer from Illinois who had received a significant lottery of several tens of millions and was celebrating. We had a a lot less amazing modest cabin with a porthole.
Most significant occupation every single day — picking from among the matters to do. There have been Broadway demonstrates, training lessons, dance instruction, basketball, golfing driving and placing, paddleball, ping pong, shuffleboard, skeet capturing, snorkeling classes and excursions, volleyball, style reveals, wine-tasting, artwork auctions, lectures, a tea for grandparents, a mixer for singles, and a champagne social gathering for honeymooners. There weren’t several kids aboard this cruise, but generally there was a youth program with a children’s playroom, young children and teenager pursuits, and distinctive shore excursions. How can anyone at any time say they would be bored on a cruise?
We left Miami late in the afternoon and the pursuits started out right away. Some passengers instantly headed for the on line casino, waiting for it to open up when we bought outside the authorized miles. The on line casino was set up for blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, 200 slot machines and a couple new video games I hadn’t listened to of. I was joyful on deck, listening to the music, snacking off the welcome-aboard buffet, and watching the shoreline vanish astern.
I was already happy I had made this final decision. I felt like a unique individual. The holiday rush on land does not use listed here. I viewed the waves split together with the ship and the wake trail at the rear of. The air was clean. Holiday getaway fatigue? — poof. The only site visitors jam in this article would be the initial individuals in line waiting around to enter the dining area to dig in to a different meal. The only selections would be whether to store on board, in port, or both, or enjoy golfing or tennis, go swimming at some tranquil tropical seaside or work hard at deep-sea fishing. And tonight I would have to choose whether to have the conch fritters or shrimp, or fresh baked bread or blueberry muffins, or stuffed Cornish hen or grilled swordfish, or coconut meringue pie or that ‘death-by-chocolate’ dessert. Or a very little of each individual. And I by no means would have to look for a parking house!
By the to start with night we had been assembly men and women, and serious dancing had by now begun. I have never ever viewed so many folks in one location who loved dancing so a lot and who knew so substantially about jazz and huge band new music. You could wander from ballroom to ballroom, and in in between on the Intercontinental Deck you could sit and communicate to the passengers reminiscing and comparing recollections as they listened to a complimentary 24-hour CD jukebox stocked with selection options of yrs of jazz and large band recordings.
4 bands were being playing this week, alternating two just about every night: the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra carried out by Buddy Morrow, Si Zentner and his Orchestra, the Bob Crosby Orchestra done by Ed Metz Jr, and the Harry James Orchestra performed by Artwork Depew. And each night in the Cafe Internationale, which turned out to be my favorite area, was the band whose drummer applied to engage in the track record songs for the outdated Fred Astaire films. He continue to performed the previous acquainted brush drum arrangements for ‘Stepping Out with My Baby’ and ‘Top Hat and Tails’. I satisfied the 6 gentlemen dance hosts in their navy blazers and white slacks and danced my very first dances.
A couple days out at sea the workers began to place up Xmas trees, much more than 50, all over all the decks. A several travellers served place on some ornaments. In the spirit of the holiday seasons, the online video channel highlighted basic getaway movies as very well as time period films, massive band performances, and interviews with outdated perfectly-regarded major band stars. We all had the holiday getaway spirit. But it’s distinct out here. There is no tension.
Our to start with port cease was St. Maarten/St. Martin. (The island is divided in two, half Dutch and 50 percent French.) The Dutch port, in which we docked, was Philipsburg. On the other side is Marigot, with some seaside French cafes. In among there is the seashore at Mullet Bay with plenty of rock formations for great picture ops, swimming, and exploring. There is responsibility-absolutely free procuring on both sides, with items ranging from cheap t-shirts to highly-priced jewellery and French and Caribbean designer clothing. Various shore excursions have been offered. In the morning we chose to go sailing on a 12-Metre racing sailboat that had raced in the America’s Cup. In the afternoon we wandered along from shop to shop in the sunlight with calypso new music in the qualifications, then stopped for a neat consume on a restaurant patio along the ocean, and assumed about the people shopping in the crowds back again house.
Upcoming cease was St. John, the U.S. Virgin Island that is a protected nationwide park. There are empty shorelines there and some fantastic hiking trails. We selected sailing once again, while other folks selected beaching, sightseeing close to the island by safari bus, or went on a single of a number of snorkel/scuba dives. Our sailboat took us above to St. Thomas, exactly where we caught up with the ship. Most of the men and women went into city to do some duty-totally free searching so their Xmas browsing would be finished when they obtained property. Other individuals headed for Magen’s Bay, most well known beach in the spot. A further group went snorkeling at the protected reefs of Buck Island, in which feeding fish by hand underwater is a spotlight, and many others seen coral and sea life on the Atlantis submarine. We were being again on board in a good deal of time for a rest and a shower right before evening meal, and extra big band tunes and dancing.
I have three amazing recollections from the 2nd official evening. A single was the group of musicians sitting all around the CD juke box, taking part in the old stuff and reminiscing. “Which is Big Holley on bass, with Slam Stewart, 1 of people amazing instances they performed jointly.” “Who’s the drummer?” “Seems like Oliver Jackson.” “Suitable. Remember the night …” I just sat and listened, grinning, joyful to be element of it.
The second memory was the scene at 1 a.m. in the most important ballroom. Some of the more mature people were being asleep sitting down on the side banquettes, far too weary to dance any longer, but as well stubborn to go away the very good audio.
It was immediately after 2 a.m. when I started out back to my stateroom, having my standard wander earlier the CD juke box to get a breath of sea air ahead of turning in. The reminiscing musicians were being gone, but a single aged pair ended up there, slim and little in their official apparel, with their arms around each other, misplaced in reminiscences, dancing to an outdated Tommy Dorsey tune. I experienced tears in my eyes as I walked again to my cabin.
The up coming day was seaside day on a little island in the Bahamas — Wonderful Stirrup Cay. I made use of to are living in the Bahamas on just one of the outislands, so it was excellent to get again to clear turquoise Bahamian waters. I walked the seashore, and remembered my five a long time dwelling in the islands.
At the stop of 7 times, the ship was glowing with decorations, completely ready for the Xmas and New Year’s Cruise. They were by now completely booked. But, I considered, I can indicator up for following yr. But time got away and now she will sail no extra.
Historical past OF THE S.S. NORWAY
The Norway was christened the S.S. France in 1960. Length: 1,035 ft, that longest passenger ship then at any time designed. Along with Cunard’s Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, she was just one of the grand luxury ships often crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
But jet planes arrived alongside, and were being faster and much less expensive, passenger targeted visitors became unprofitable, and sailings ended up stopped in 1974. The France languished for a number of decades in the port of Le Havre right until pioneer of the cruise market Knut U. Kloster, acquired her for $18 million for his Norwegian Caribbean Line (now regarded as Norwegian Cruise Line) and renamed her the S.S. Norway. In excess of the next 10 months some 2,000 workers renovated the ship at the expense of $100 million.
She commenced her new life in the Caribbean, sailing her initially 7-day Caribbean cruise June 1, l980 from Miami, her new property port, with an worldwide crew of 800 from some 40 nations. In 1990 she once much more returned to the shipyard, this time for a $40 million refurbishment, which includes a 6,000 square foot Roman Spa with pampering exercise, health and natural beauty programs and two glass-enclosed decks of luxury cabins, like two with floor-to-ceiling windows, wraparound balconies, and jacuzzis with ocean perspective. In 1993 the ship had a $23 million refurbishing and renovation of the 5,000 square foot on line casino to a mirrored, etched and stained glass Art Deco topic reminiscent of the ship’s legendary earlier.
Her potential was unknown for a lengthy time, but now she is headed to be scrap.
