Pics of Ships I've sailed on

[Ordinaryseaman]

Pics of my 5 ships (so far)

The two big ones are-

NCL's "Pride of Hawaii" my first ship- largest ever US flagged Cruise Ship- now reflagged. Sailed from Baltimore to Hawaii then Island hopped for 5 months.

And NCL's "Pride of America" the only large US flagged cruise ship left.



The 3 smaller ones are-

Majestic America Line-now defunct/for sale

Empress of the North (no-I wasn't there when they had to abandon ship) Paddlewheeler sailed SE Alaska and Columbia and Snake rivers- got repo'd by Marad

Queen of the West- Another paddlewheeler- recently had major engine room fire- sails Columbia and Snake Rivers-Astoria Oregon-Lewiston Washington

and

Columbia Queen- built as casino ship- no paddle/stern wheel- my last ship. same ports as other two- Columbia and Snake Rivers

Nice boats all-enjoy! Anthony

[Capt_Anonymous]

Did you work with Pete Pettersen on the Empress?

[Ordinaryseaman]

OF course! We loved captain Pete. Straightshooter- always fair- always polite. He's the one who first told me about PMI. I think he said he teaches/taught there.

I remember one time I was his lookout going through Wrangell Narrows in Alaska. I spot a 40' fishing Boat ahead- right in the middle of our path. I tell Pete and he tries repeatedly to contact them on the radio. No response.

Pete's about to start blasting on the horn when I look through the binoculars again- The captain of the boat has a skiff tied alongside-and is using the engines to push the big fishing boat!

[Capt_Anonymous]

Yes, Pete is now working at PMI full time. He started with them when Doug Pine left to return to the water. I've worked with him shoreside and what a gentleman he is, and very very knowledgeable about his profession. PMI is fortunate to have him on board.

Your Wrangell story was a good reminder to me to remember that things that look weird initially almost always have a good reason attached. It was a good reminder to all of us to not jump to conclusions about what our eyes are telling us. The first impulse probably was to think "what is that asshole thinking and why won't he get out of my way", when it turned out he was probably doing all he could!

[Robert]

Is there a way to post pics here from your computer. Every time I try to post it wants a URL.

[ptlmdr]

Hello, My son Dennis was on the Pride of Hawaii as a third mate, you probable sailed with him He's still on it now as the "Jade" over in Europe.

[Ordinaryseaman]

Ptlmdr-

The POH was the very first ship I sailed on. Got on in Baltimore in May 2006 sailed to Miami- through the Panama Canal, spent a week in California- then went to Hawaii. When I got on it was so new there was plastic over everything.

BEAUTIFUL SHIP! Crew gym, 1200 seat theater, waterslides, video arcade, spas, crew pool (on the bow, I was stunned by the size and beauty.

Unfortunately- I never met anyone from the deck department other than the captain and staff captain- no deckhands, mates- also no engineers.


Whoever was driving did a great job- never felt anything (only ship I can say this for

There are 3 crew messes (crew, staff/mgr, and officer) and the deck guys ate in a different cafeteria.

Crew berthing was also segregated- cooks/utilities, shared area, as did waiters, deckhands, etc.

As an aside- I stood barefoot one night on Waikiki sipping a coconut water and watching the Hawaii sail from Aloha Tower to be reflagged...

Thanks for the memories-Anthony

[CMA Cadet]

Anthony, when did you serve on the PRIDE OF AMERICA?

[Ordinaryseaman]

Cmacadet- I was on the POA (briefly) in March 2008. I was on the Pride Of Hawaii in 2006.


Interesting side story on the Pride of America.. I was on vacation on Oahu and HR asked me to fill in on the POAmerica as a utility galley. I fly to Kahului and go to the ship. I go to to the safety office to find out my station bill duties and they say "Hey- it's our new flambe cook!"

(I have ABSOLUTELY NO culinary skills whatsoever)

Turns out HR had made a mistake..

So the executive chef, the chef's assistant, and the safety secretary have a pow wow and ask me what I think of PRETENDING to be a chef/cook

They said they liked my cleancut appearance and attitude and thought I could do it for the short duration of my stay.

I tell them, repeatedly, that I can't cook- but am willing to try...

Then they take me aside and say " Don't worry- we'll put you somewhere easy - and- Nobody other than us knows about this- don't tell and of the other chefs!"

They put me in the Aloha cafe (one of the busiest places on the America) and had me making Bananas Foster (easy enough)

I guess I was convincing because the next day the Chef in the Aloha cafe put me in charge of 2 stations, and soon I was up to 4 stations- and stressed out of my mind!!!

I was running back and forth from deck 2 to the cafe trying to keep stuff stocked I had no idea where I WAS on the ship- much less what the ingredients were I was looking for.

This goes on for maybe a week- me being TOTALLY stressed out, getting put in charge of more and more stations- and not being able to tell anyone I'm not cook/chef. I just kept smiling, working my butt off and pretending I had an idea what I was doing!

Finally- I can't take it anymore and tell the chef where I worked- he didn't believe me! It took me 3 times and all he could say was- "Wow- I never would have guessed!"

Right about that time I got acall from Majestic America and went over to the deck department...

[CMA Cadet]

Great story. Thanks for sharing Anthony

[Shellback]

No kidding...It just goes to show that if you put your mind to it, most things can be accomplished...

[Ordinaryseaman]

More pics...

Empress in Tracy Arm- Empress in Seattle, Ocean Phoenix in Akutan Alaska, Pride of Hawaii from Walmart in Kona Hawaii (with a submarine in foreground) , fire damage on the Queen of the West

More pics on my profile page

[RkyMtn Paul]

Stick with those guys, and they may send you to Culinary Institute of America. To funny. Personally, those guys work to hard.

[Ordinaryseaman]

Paul- what do you mean

Never heard of any of my former companies sending anyone to CIA/La Cordon Bleu- but maybe it happens occasionally?

NCL required all of their Cooks to have a culinary degree- unless you worked your way up- which I've seen happen- utility galley to galley steward-to junior cook- to cook...but you needed a degree to start as a cook.

Haven't worked in a galley- except to lend a helping hand- in several years- but it's always an option.

NCL needs people so bad they have a page just for former employees who have jumped ship

BTW- where are you in the Rocky Mountains Paul?

[RkyMtn Paul]

Just joking around about CIA. Joined a ship that had one of their grads on board, and the dude left within 2 weeks for vacation. Someone who can make oxtails desirable, wow! Just north of you in the Big D, or rather A(urora).

[Ordinaryseaman]

That makes 3 of us- Rocky Mountain Mariners- MtSkier is in Montana

[Shellback]

Paul- what do you mean

Never heard of any of my former companies sending anyone to CIA/La Cordon Bleu- but maybe it happens occasionally?

NCL required all of their Cooks to have a culinary degree- unless you worked your way up- which I've seen happen- utility galley to galley steward-to junior cook- to cook...but you needed a degree to start as a cook.

Haven't worked in a galley- except to lend a helping hand- in several years- but it's always an option.

NCL needs people so bad they have a page just for former employees who have jumped ship

BTW- where are you in the Rocky Mountains Paul?

OS, what are you saying? I have FH on my MMC, is it worthless too???

[Ordinaryseaman]

No it's not useless- maybe someday- if you work hard- you too can be a utility galley

[abergeron]

Were you on the empress of the north when it ran aground ?

[Ordinaryseaman]

No, I jumped from the bridge wing just prior to the collision

Just kidding!

No I came on right after they got her up and running again- I also narrowly missed her other groundings, the fire on the Queen of The West- and the the Time NCL flooded one of our ships in drydock.

I have IMPECCABLE timing

I do know/have sailed people who were on the Empress that night- as well as sailors from the QOTW fire.

And have heard, repeatedly, the bridge voice recorder from that fateful night...