I recently found a VHS tape in a box of videos including this one where a passenger was kind enough to follow me around the Song of America for a video tour of the ship.
I Cruised for the first time on Song of America back in 1988. Its great to see this video. Back then, I was just 15 and spent most of my time in the arcade or the Viking Deck. When we arrived at Ports, I only got off at Jamaica for about 30 minutes before deciding to just go back and enjoy the ship more. My last cruise was just last year February on Carnival's Imagination which sadly was scrapped at the end of last year. Looking forward to more cruises in the future. Thank you for sharing your vintage footage reminding me of my cruise on this vessel.
Thanks for doing this man - Song was my first ship, I worked it from January to mid April 1997. Many memories. Was hoping to see the old crew bar but hey still a beauty of a video
I was in that ship in 1989 as well, it would have been the third week of February and I would have been 7 years old. My family had a blast. I remember the waiters spinning the trays, and I don’t know how I remember this but our waiters’ names were Martin and Benny and I think the cruise director’s name was Gene Cook.
Barry, I remember you. Our very first cruise was Sept 1989 on the Song of America and we just got back into port in Miami before hurricane Hugo hit the east coast. I remember your magic act and just how nice you were to our our church group. There was another thing I remember some of the staff doing, and that was a skit that had several of you doing different things in sync with the music. It looks like that's it at 56 seconds into this video. My wife and I cruise an average of 6 times a year (Carnival) and absolutely love it. I can thank you and the Song of America staff for getting us hooked on cruising.
Thanks for the memory,worked for RCCL from '87-'91,both Song of Norway and Sovereign of the Seas both have been decommissioned,recognized the servers in the crows' nest can't recall the names but the one spinning the tray was a head waiter around '90.Thank you.
Our Honeymoon was on SOA in October 1983. We have been married for 37 years now! Took other cruises but the Song of America is still the most beautiful.
I was just telling the story of my cruise on that very ship. Caught fire at see after leaving Cozumel. We stood at our life boats for hours and then, were invited into the bars for free drinks. We were repaired enough to get us back to Cozumel where we stayed for the next day and a half before heading back to our original starting port. We stayed three miles out for two more days and returned on the intended end date. I loved seeing the video. I just wish our cruise wasn't marred by an unfortunate event.
Barry, that was amazing being able to experience what it was like to sail in those days. Great footage and so fun to see how it has changed in some areas and others not so much. You also looked like you enjoyed yourself and it’s can transpire through the lens. Again thanks for sharing. Sea Ya Eric
Thank you Barry for the memories. When I was a teenager, I saiied on the Song of Norway for our family vacations. I enjoyed cruising so much in the lat 1980's after college in 1986 I work for 4 years with the then Sitmar Cruise line.
We only visited this ship once and never got to get photos of her interiors, they ran us travel agents through her too fast to even remember what the Purser's Desk looked like. I'm glad this video was done by the passenger and gave it to you.
I loved the DJ booth, when it was sold - they covered all of the seats in blue vinyl and called the disco 'neptunes'. It subsequently became 'blakes' coffee and piano lounge. I also loved the schooner bar just off the casino. WONDERFUL VIDEO!
I have to tell a story about the Song of America. When I was a 11-year-old boy back in 1989, I went with my dad and brother to the Port of Miami and we started to walk around and incredibly we got to the boarding gate itself of the ship and saw its interior, I suppose the central atrium. At that time there were no major security controls. The thing is that we were just walking, not travelling on the ship. The interior of the ship looked really cosy. Great memories of this moment. Excellent video by the way. Regards.
This was my first cruise ship expereince. My honeymoon cruise. May 5-12th 1988, Nassau, San Juan , St Thomas. Now Sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises.
Thanks for this tour! I was on this ship in November of 1990....it was my first cruise. Were you still on it then? Later, I was on the Sovereign of the Seas and the Nordic Empress. So many memories! ~Janice
The best ship in the world, so many great memories of this fine ship. Mostly as "Sunbird" and "Thomson Destiny" for the UK market, I got engaged on her back in around 2012. Great video Barry, its a unique size of ship with a great atmosphere!!
Thank you so much for this blast from the past. Was my first cruise in Aug 1988...still cruising today!!
I Cruised for the first time on Song of America back in 1988. Its great to see this video. Back then, I was just 15 and spent most of my time in the arcade or the Viking Deck. When we arrived at Ports, I only got off at Jamaica for about 30 minutes before deciding to just go back and enjoy the ship more. My last cruise was just last year February on Carnival's Imagination which sadly was scrapped at the end of last year. Looking forward to more cruises in the future. Thank you for sharing your vintage footage reminding me of my cruise on this vessel.
Thanks for doing this man - Song was my first ship, I worked it from January to mid April 1997. Many memories. Was hoping to see the old crew bar but hey still a beauty of a video
I was in that ship in 1989 as well, it would have been the third week of February and I would have been 7 years old. My family had a blast. I remember the waiters spinning the trays, and I don’t know how I remember this but our waiters’ names were Martin and Benny and I think the cruise director’s name was Gene Cook.
This is brilliant!!! I'm cruising on the ship as Celestyal Olympia this year and my research bought me here :)
Barry, I remember you. Our very first cruise was Sept 1989 on the Song of America and we just got back into port in Miami before hurricane Hugo hit the east coast. I remember your magic act and just how nice you were to our our church group. There was another thing I remember some of the staff doing, and that was a skit that had several of you doing different things in sync with the music. It looks like that's it at 56 seconds into this video. My wife and I cruise an average of 6 times a year (Carnival) and absolutely love it. I can thank you and the Song of America staff for getting us hooked on cruising.
I am 19 and I love ships This is cool fotage of the magnificent ship thank you for sharing this awesom video Berry
I worked on the Song of America from 1994 till.1996. Hard work but great memories and lots of pictures from the great days on board.
Thanks for the memory,worked for RCCL from '87-'91,both Song of Norway and Sovereign of the Seas both have been decommissioned,recognized the servers in the crows' nest can't recall the names but the one spinning the tray was a head waiter around '90.Thank you.
My first cruise was on the Song of America in 1986. Who would agree that compared to today's ships she was perhaps the "perfect" sized ship.
We cruised her as the sunbird in 99 and glad to hear shes still cruising in Greece!
My very first cruise in 2001 was aboard the Sunbird. I was lucky to see her docked in Kusadasi in 2015 as Celestyal Olympia. She’s going strong!
Wow! That ship is still sailing around?!! I was on her in 1996 on my honeymoon cruise from New York to Bermuda in 1996.
Our Honeymoon was on SOA in October 1983. We have been married for 37 years now! Took other cruises but the Song of America is still the most beautiful.
I was just telling the story of my cruise on that very ship. Caught fire at see after leaving Cozumel. We stood at our life boats for hours and then, were invited into the bars for free drinks. We were repaired enough to get us back to Cozumel where we stayed for the next day and a half before heading back to our original starting port. We stayed three miles out for two more days and returned on the intended end date. I loved seeing the video. I just wish our cruise wasn't marred by an unfortunate event.
thank you for uploading this, Barry. I was a musician on the SOA in 1990. this was a great trip down memory lane!
Barry, that was amazing being able to experience what it was like to sail in those days. Great footage and so fun to see how it has changed in some areas and others not so much.
You also looked like you enjoyed yourself and it’s can transpire through the lens.
Again thanks for sharing.
Sea Ya
Eric
We sailed the Song in '92 to the Mexican Riviera. It was a lovely ship.
This is amazing
Love all the details of your video.
Can’t believe the ship holds just up to 700 passengers lol
That’s awesome
Thank you Barry.
wow... this is a pre-youtuber magic... a sailor's nostalgia of the 80s... love it... you look pretty young... in your 20s?
Thank you Barry for the memories. When I was a teenager, I saiied on the Song of Norway for our family vacations. I enjoyed cruising so much in the lat 1980's after college in 1986 I work for 4 years with the then Sitmar Cruise line.
We only visited this ship once and never got to get photos of her interiors, they ran us travel agents through her too fast to even remember what the Purser's Desk looked like. I'm glad this video was done by the passenger and gave it to you.
Barry Vaudrin you might remember my father - a drummer from a Polish band. He was at the SoA cruise at the time.
I loved the DJ booth, when it was sold - they covered all of the seats in blue vinyl and called the disco 'neptunes'. It subsequently became 'blakes' coffee and piano lounge. I also loved the schooner bar just off the casino. WONDERFUL VIDEO!
My great grandmother sailed on the Song of Norway in 1987. I would say her experience was pretty close to the film portrayed in the video.
I have to tell a story about the Song of America. When I was a 11-year-old boy back in 1989, I went with my dad and brother to the Port of Miami and we started to walk around and incredibly we got to the boarding gate itself of the ship and saw its interior, I suppose the central atrium. At that time there were no major security controls. The thing is that we were just walking, not travelling on the ship. The interior of the ship looked really cosy. Great memories of this moment. Excellent video by the way. Regards.
This was my first cruise ship expereince. My honeymoon cruise. May 5-12th 1988, Nassau, San Juan , St Thomas. Now Sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises.
Thanks for this tour! I was on this ship in November of 1990....it was my first cruise. Were you still on it then? Later, I was on the Sovereign of the Seas and the Nordic Empress. So many memories! ~Janice
The best ship in the world, so many great memories of this fine ship. Mostly as "Sunbird" and "Thomson Destiny" for the UK market, I got engaged on her back in around 2012. Great video Barry, its a unique size of ship with a great atmosphere!!
See You In Mist huh
Any December holiday sailing that you are planning Barry? Great video!
Maybe on the MSC Seaside? Not sure yet