I was brought up in South Africa where my dad was a minister in Soweto. We returned to England in 1969. We couldn't afford to fly so we came by ship. The ship was one of the Union Castle Line and called the Edinburgh Castle.
I was only eleven but I remember very much enjoying the journey. But there weren't many passengers on board. I can't quite remember how many but I seem to think it was about a hundred. The voyage was three weeks long. My strongest memory is the breakfast in the dining room and being able to have scrambled eggs everyday!
I also remember having to anchor off Southampton for three days because the fog was so thick and we couldn't dock. The sound of the foghorns echoing through the channel remains with me to this day. I don't think fog is a problem to shipping any longer.
I returned from Kenya in 1964 on a Union Castle ship! We went from Mombasa to Tilbury docks in London, stopping at Cairo and Naples for excursions. There was a small swimming pool on one the decks. I remember being shocked by what London looked like, it was very grey the day we docked.
The trips from Africa weren't cruises - they were proper journeys.
My longest sea trip was c.1971 on a rather lovely Swedish Lloyd ferry from Tilbury to Gothenburg. We left at 4pm on Sunday and arrived early on Tuesday. The weather was gorgeous.
I like travelling by sea but I'm not in the slightest bit attracted by the big cruise ships.
I returned from Kenya in 1964 on a Union Castle ship! We went from Mombasa to Tilbury docks in London, stopping at Cairo and Naples for excursions. There was a small swimming pool on one the decks. I remember being shocked by what London looked like, it was very grey the day we docked.
Yes, I remember the swimming pool too. They lowered the deprh of the water for children in the afternoons. It was salty sea water in the pool.
When we crossed the equator there was a big party and ceremony involving green foam and people thrown in the pool.
I've looked it up and -
Crossing the equator on Union-Castle Line ships was a major celebratory event, featuring a theatrical "Crossing the Line" ceremony where passengers and crew were initiated by a costumed King Neptune and his court. Held near the ship's pool, first-timers were playfully judged, "shaved," and dunked, often receiving certificates, sweets, or enjoying deck parties and gala dinners afterwards
@Gramps49 thanks for the suggestion, but I prefer to spend my money on holidays that I know I'm going to enjoy. And aren't we getting off-topic? The question was 'would you want to live on a cruise ship', wasn't it?
We were '£10 Poms' and sailed to Australia in 1964 and returned in 1966. Not a pleasant voyage on the way back. Measles. Chickenpox. Ship's Fever. Days roiling and puking across the Bay of Biscay.
Wondering what the numbers branded on the arm of the Polish Jewish woman meant who shared the cabin with us.
Our mother having to barricade the door to keep amorous Italian sailors out. She'd separated from our Dad but he flew back a while later.
I remember our first day back in Blighty vividly. An uncle hired a car to drive us back to South Wales and everything so lush and green.
The trips from Africa weren't cruises - they were proper journeys.
My longest sea trip was c.1971 on a rather lovely Swedish Lloyd ferry from Tilbury to Gothenburg. We left at 4pm on Sunday and arrived early on Tuesday. The weather was gorgeous.
I like travelling by sea but I'm not in the slightest bit attracted by the big cruise ships.
Yes, I agree and it was a truly wonderful journey. Apart from when we hit the Bay of Biscay and I got very seasick. The idea of a modern day cruise ship holiday horrifies me, let alone the idea of living on one fulltime 😬
Of course there haven't been cabins available on Calmac sailings for a long time.
The worst night's (lack of) sleep I've ever had was on a CalMac ferry. We had booked a cabin, but this must have been at the time that they were removing the cabin ferries from service, because the ferry that turned up didn't have cabins - it just had lounges with reclining seats. None of us slept a wink, which was not great, because we arrived at Oban in the morning, and needed to drive across Scotland...
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I returned from Kenya in 1964 on a Union Castle ship! We went from Mombasa to Tilbury docks in London, stopping at Cairo and Naples for excursions. There was a small swimming pool on one the decks. I remember being shocked by what London looked like, it was very grey the day we docked.
My longest sea trip was c.1971 on a rather lovely Swedish Lloyd ferry from Tilbury to Gothenburg. We left at 4pm on Sunday and arrived early on Tuesday. The weather was gorgeous.
I like travelling by sea but I'm not in the slightest bit attracted by the big cruise ships.
Yes, I remember the swimming pool too. They lowered the deprh of the water for children in the afternoons. It was salty sea water in the pool.
When we crossed the equator there was a big party and ceremony involving green foam and people thrown in the pool.
I've looked it up and -
Wondering what the numbers branded on the arm of the Polish Jewish woman meant who shared the cabin with us.
Our mother having to barricade the door to keep amorous Italian sailors out. She'd separated from our Dad but he flew back a while later.
I remember our first day back in Blighty vividly. An uncle hired a car to drive us back to South Wales and everything so lush and green.
How old were you?
My OP was about a young-ish couple.
But treating a cruise ship like a retirement home is possible and increasingly popular.
I would still miss my garden and dogs too much.
Yes, I agree and it was a truly wonderful journey. Apart from when we hit the Bay of Biscay and I got very seasick. The idea of a modern day cruise ship holiday horrifies me, let alone the idea of living on one fulltime 😬
No to living on a cruise ship for me.
The worst night's (lack of) sleep I've ever had was on a CalMac ferry. We had booked a cabin, but this must have been at the time that they were removing the cabin ferries from service, because the ferry that turned up didn't have cabins - it just had lounges with reclining seats. None of us slept a wink, which was not great, because we arrived at Oban in the morning, and needed to drive across Scotland...