One of my favorite ships, the SS Norway of Norwegian Cruise Line was one that I had long wanted to travel on. The seven-day cruise took place from Miami to the Caribbean over Thanksgiving. The cruise was Big Band Cruise, with four famous swing bands and dance hosts. Perfect — I’m a big fan of old jazz music and love dancing, but I don’t always have the right partner. I joined.
It was a great way to travel back in history, sailing on the Norway. Built in 1960, she was modeled after the famous SS France. She measures more than 1000 feet and has a beam of 110 feet. It can carry approximately 2,000 passengers, as well as a crew consisting of 900 people from around the globe.
The grand tradition felt right away when you boarded. While the Norway retained a graciousness and style that was reminiscent of older cruising, Although the ship was refurbished many times, the original art deco murals and hand-laid mosaic tile tiles, as well as the polished teak rails and nautical antiques of past cruises have been carefully preserved. You felt like you were on a long promenade deck, cruising back in time. It was obvious that this ship had hosted famous guests. You also noticed the original artwork and murals in the room. You half-expect Cary Grant to walk down the deck in his elegant tuxedo and sit next to you at the rail.
You may need to take some time before you can find your way. Norway measures 10 blocks in length and is 12 decks tall. An International Deck features sidewalk cafes and boutiques. The Olympic Deck houses a fitness center, with glass walls, so that you can look out at the ocean. Lower decks have a Roman Spa offering massages and aromatherapy. Two pools are located on different decks. There is also a jogging path, seven bars and six entertainment lounges. There are also a dry cleaner, a masseuse and a laundry service.
Norway’s 1 039 staterooms each have an individually-controlled air-conditioning system, a private bathroom with a shower, TV, radio, and cellular phone. Some suites include a living area and bedroom, while others have two bedrooms. Many penthouse suites come with private balconies. An evening, we were invited for dinner in the suite of the owner. The suite was magnificent, featuring a large wraparound balcony, living area, bedroom, dressing and bathroom, as well as a jacuzzi. Our host, a former Illinois police officer was celebrating having won a large lottery worth millions. A smaller cabin had a window and was less impressive.
It’s the most important job you have every day – choosing between all of the options. Broadway shows were featured, as well as dance classes, fitness classes, tennis instruction, ball driving, golf driving, putting, and paddleball. There was also snorkeling and excursion classes and volleyball. Fashion shows, wine tasting, art auctions and lectures. A tea for grandparents and mixer for singles were held. The champagne party was for honeymooners. Although there weren’t many children on this cruise, the youth programs included a playroom for kids, activities for teens, special shore excursions, and a variety of other kids’ activities. Is it possible to say that a cruise would bore you?
The activities began immediately after we left Miami in the late afternoon. A few passengers headed straight for the casino while others waited outside of the legal mile to see if it opened. There were many games available at the casino, including blackjack, craps and roulette. It was a great place to be, I loved listening to the music and eating the buffet. Then, you can see the coastline vanish astern.
This was a decision I felt glad that I made. I felt like a different person. This isn’t the same holiday rush as on land. As the waves crashed alongside the ship I could see the trailing wake. It was clean. Is holiday fatigue a problem? — poof. This would mean that the only thing that could cause traffic congestion is the waitlist for another meal. You can choose to either shop at port or onboard, play tennis or golf, swim at a tranquil beach, or go deep-sea fishing. Tonight, I’d have to choose whether or not to have conch fritters, shrimp, fresh baked bread, blueberry muffins or stuffed Cornish chicken, grilled swordfish or coconut meringue pie, or the ‘death by chocolate’ dessert. Maybe a combination of both. You wouldn’t think I would need to find a space for parking.
We were already meeting new people the second night, and we had begun to dance seriously by that point. It was the first time I had ever seen people who loved to dance and knew so much about big band and jazz music. The passengers could go from ballrooms to ballrooms, while on the International Deck they could talk with each other and share their past experiences.
There were four acts playing in this week’s gigs, two of which alternated each night. They were the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra led by Buddy Morrow and Si Zentner with his Orchestra; the Bob Crosby Orchestra directed by Ed Metz Jr and the Harry James Orchestra performed by Art Depew. Every night at Cafe Internationale, my favorite spot, the band’s drummer would play background music from the Fred Astaire old movies. The familiar old brush drum arrangements of ‘Stepping Outwith My Baby’ and for ‘Top Hat and Tails’ are still being played by him. I danced my first steps with the gentlemen hosts, who were wearing navy blazers and white trousers.
A few days after arriving at sea, the crew began to place Christmas trees around the entire deck. A few people helped to put up ornaments. This channel featured both classic holiday films and big band performances. It also interviewed well-known musicians from big bands. All of us shared the holiday spirit. However, it is different in this area. It’s not like there is any pressure.
St. Maarten/St. Martin. (The island is split in half Dutch and half French. Philipsburg, the Dutch port from which we arrived, was our docking point. Marigot is on the opposite side, where you will find some French cafés. Mullet Bay is located between the two, with its many rock formations that make for great photo opportunities, swimming and exploration. You can shop duty free on either side, from inexpensive T-shirts and designer clothing in the French or Caribbean. There was also the option to take shore excursions. The morning was spent sailing on a racing 12-Metre sailboat, which had previously raced in America’s Cup. We walked from one shop to the next in the sunshine, listening to calypso music, before stopping for a refreshing drink at a patio restaurant overlooking the ocean. Then we thought back about all the shoppers in our hometown.
The next stop was St. John in the U.S Virgin Islands, which is protected as a national park. The island has beautiful hiking trails as well as empty beaches. While we chose to sail again, others preferred beaching or going on safari buses around the island. We were taken by our sailboat to St. Thomas where we met up with the ship. Many people came into the town for duty-free shopping to get their Christmas shopping done once they return home. Some others headed to Magen’s Bay which is the most well-known beach in this area. A second group explored Buck Island’s coral reefs. There, they could feed fish underwater by hand. Other groups viewed marine life and coral from the Atlantis submarine. It was a long time before we got back to board, so there was plenty of time for some rest and showers. Then it was on to dinner with more dance and music from big bands.
From the second formal night, I still have three great memories. One of my favorite memories was that group of musicians who played the old music and shared their thoughts. “That’s Major Holley on bass, with Slam Stewart, one of those wonderful times they played together.” “Who’s the drummer?” “Sounds like Oliver Jackson.” “Right. Remember the night …”It was all I could do, so I just sat there and listened.
Second was the 1 a.m. scene in the main ballroom. Some older folks were still asleep on the banquettes at the sides, too exhausted to move but not able to stop listening to the great music.
When I got up at 2 AM, it was too late to return to my room. After taking a walk along the shoreline to catch some sea air, I turned in. While the reminiscing music was gone, one couple of elderly men were still there. They were small in their formal attire and wrapped their arms around their partner, lost in old Tommy Dorsey songs. When I returned home to my cabin I felt like I was crying.
Next day, I spent the day at Great Stirrup Cay on an island off the Bahamas. My family used to be on the Bahamas’ outislands. It was great to see the beautiful turquoise Bahamian waters again. As I was walking along the shore, I thought back to the five years that my family had lived in these islands.
The ship sparkled with Christmas decorations at the end of seven days. All of them were booked. However, I decided to sign up next year. She will no longer sail because time passed.
HISTORY OF S.S. NORWAY
The S.S. France was given the name Norway in 1960. Longitude: 1,035 feet. This is the longest passenger vessel ever constructed. She was also a luxury ship that regularly crossed the Atlantic Ocean, along with Queen Mary of Cunard and Queen Elizabeth.
The jet planes became faster and cheaper and passenger traffic declined. In 1974, sailings were cancelled. Knut Kloster, pioneer in the industry of cruise ships and shipbuilding, purchased the France from the port of Le Havre. The Norwegian Caribbean Line bought the France for $18 million. It was completed by over 2,000 workers in 10 months. The cost: $100 million.
Her new life began in the Caribbean when she set sail on her first 7-day Caribbean cruise, June 1st, l980, from Miami. She was joined by 800 people from around 40 countries. The shipyard was once again her home in 1990. It received a $40million refurbishment. She also reopened a Roman Spa, which offered beauty and pampering treatments, as well as two enclosed decks of luxurious cabins. Two had floor-to-ceiling glass windows with wraparound balconies and had ocean views. The ship underwent a $23million refurbishment and renovation to transform the casino, which was 5,000 feet in size, into a mirror-etched, stained glass Art Deco theme that is reminiscent of its legendary past.
Although her future was unclear for many years, she now has a chance to make a living as a scrapper.