Ramblings of a Salty Seadog

A year on and I thought it was worth revisiting Christmas past Capt. Peter Love. Capt. Jock Leferve and Cruise Director Chris Chapman. We...

Island Princess - Puerto Vallarta 1975 In 1975 Island Princess set off on her first season of Mexican Cruising under the P&O/Princess...

When I joined Oriana in 1973, remember this was pre-computer days and everything was done by hand or on very primitive equipment. For...

Capt. Peter Love. Capt. Jock Leferve and Cruise Director Chris Chapman. Not sure who Santa was. Although I spent a few Christmases at...

One of my former seagoing colleagues and friend Stuart Bennett turned 70 this week and of course, it got me thinking of the fun times we...

Island Princess 1974 Sky Princess 2021 Island Princess 1974 Sky Princess 2019 Tonnage 19,900 Tonnage 145,281 Length ...

Although Princess Cruises was founded by Stanley B. McDonald back in 1965, at which time he chartered ships. In 1972 Princess Cruises...

It has been a very sad week for old P&O seadogs. First we hear that Sue Huggins has passed away. Although l never sailed with Sue, all I...

Arrival at the Panama Canal always involves an early start for the ship’s company. Usually arriving very early morning. For the Purser’s...

When taking up a career as a P&O Pursers officer back in the 70’s, you were not just signing up to pen push and count cash you were also...

All the booze and tobacco onboard ship was duty free so on arrival in certain ports of call the main booze and tobacco storerooms would...

I would say the Purser’s office was the heart of the ship, of course the deck department and engineering department might argue...

In the early 1970 work started on El Salado wharf (where the current cruise terminal is located), making Puerto Vallarta the first...

If you remember the early days of Princess Cruises, then you will surely remember Pietro Corsi who was VP Hotel services for Princess...

When I joined SS Oriana as my first ship in 1973, I was informed that a ship was like a floating city and with almost all services...

When P&O acquired Princess Cruise in 1974 Island Princess’s first cruise season was basically Mexican Cruising. Pacific Princess joined...

How times have changed. Back in the day it was the Cruise Director and his staff along with willing members of the ship's company that...

Here you have the original team on Island Pricess when the ship was taken over by P & O in 1974 with Captain Biddick at the helm. We are...