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Author

Topic: Captains

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 12-18-1999 09:34 AM

In my topic on the Sunbird I made mention on ships captain. This seemed to give rise to some interest on the subject worthy of this new topic.
Ships captains today seem to have gone the way of the airline Captain. I remember as a kid flying on prop driven airplanes. During long flights the captain would put on his braided jacket and visit with passengers in the cabin.Today of couse this is a no, no for safety reasons.
Likewise with cruise ships today, the Captain is seldom seen, except on his reception evening. Even then we cant really be sure that he is in fact the right person.Who really would relish the thought of shaking 3000 anonymous hands once a week.
Back to the good old days.
My first cruise in 1978 was on the Sun Princess. My memory of he Captain differs from todays version. This captain was highly visible and made a daily walk around the ship stopping to make small talk with the passengers. He had a startling resemblance to Charles Laughton and was generally referred to as Captain Bligh.In addition, all officers on deck wore massive baggy shorts and spoke with very british accents.
Has anybody out there any memories of any crew that are in any way were different to todays stereotype

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-18-1999 01:13 PM

A Captain should be middle aged, with a big white beard and have rugged old 'sea dog' skin!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Bluekiwi
First Class Passenger
Member # 40

posted 12-18-1999 04:56 PM

WE SAILED NCL WIND EX HAWAII IN OCTOBER ON AN ELEVEN DAY CRUISE, WE SAW THE CAPTAIN EVERYDAY ON THE CRUISE HE WOULD WANDER THRU THE BAR AT NIGHT AND SAY HI, I WAS IMPRESSED WE CRUISED ON RCCL AND I NEVER EVEN SAW THE CAPTAIN ON THE WHOLE CRUISE AS WE NEVER ATTENDED THE CAPTAINS DINNER.

Posts: 53 | From: Auckland New Zealand | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-18-1999 05:56 PM

On our most recent cruise, this past June to Bermuda on the Norweigan Crown the captain was very visible walking around and chatting, and he was always trying to tell corny jokes, we have found Carnival's captain, while Pleasant not very fluent in English which I think is one reason they don't mingle with the passengers to much, 2 yrs ago on Dolphin's Oceanbreeze both the captain and the first officer gave us the most fascinating and eduacational bridge tour we ever had, it was held while we were getting very close to Key west and there was alot of radio traffic and such we really got to see the workings of the bridge when it was busy.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

WJCdiver
First Class Passenger
Member # 946

posted 12-19-1999 11:56 AM

I was on the QE2 in July and the Captain was quite visable. (Middle age white beard and all.)

Posts: 159 | From: New York, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 12-19-1999 06:31 PM

Recently returned from an H.A.L. cruise - ms Statendam. Captain Frans K. Consen was much in evidence - also Officers - during the day we didn't always recognize the Engineers - they were in working garb. At night the gold braid was very visible.
Captain Consen was most pleasant and usually had a story to share - I'd say he runs a happy ship. Even his Voice From The Bridge' messages were entertaining - more than can be said for most such blurbs.
We sailed ms Veendam in '98. Breaking with H.A.L. tradition, her Captain and several Officers were British - that too was 'a happy ship'. When the change was first announced many people were sure it would be 'very stuffy'. Not so -the Captain and his wife were seen almost daily somewhere around the ship. At this moment his name escapes me. Sympatico, you were there - can you help?

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 12-19-1999 08:30 PM

Green - Captain was John Scott. The other English captain on the Veendam is Mercer. Don't remember his first name. When and where will I see you again Green - any plans?
Captain on Volendam is middle aged,large, jolly and with a white beard. Sounds more like Santa Claus!!

[This message has been edited by sympatico (edited 12-20-1999).]

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 12-20-1999 07:38 AM

I agree with WJCdiver the Captain on the QE2 is highly visible around the ship.

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 12-20-1999 09:21 AM

Example of joke from Captain of the Sunbird.

"Tomorrow morning we shall be docking at St Lucia. If you get up early, at 6.00am you will see a large Island called the Pitons.These will be off to our left.---- If they are on the right, I"ll have to have another word with the navigator"

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-20-1999 11:06 AM

Very funny! That reminds me of our first cruise on the Nordic Prince. The captain was telling us all about how they cut the ship in two and streched it. He said if your carpet is wet that's where it was cut in half.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

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