SA Vaal Sailing April 1977
History as to why this journey, with ongoing conflict in Southern Africa during 1977 originally looking to travel to Zimbabwe our plans were terminated in their tracks by travel agent, forcing a rethink on where we were going to go.
Within our own borders would be safer we were advised, so we caught the Green train from Johannesburg (Park Station) to Durban (original station building), meandered around Durban for a day before going onboard the SA Vaal, rumour was rife the lines were coming to an end.
SA Vaal
The S.A. Vaal (30,212 grt, 760 ft. long) was originally the Transvaal Castle, sailing on her maiden voyage from Southampton to South Africa for Union-Castle Line in January 1962.
Four years later she was taken over by South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine) though remaining on the same route and still managed by Union-Castle.
In February 1966 registry was transferred to Cape Town. She made her last voyage for Union-Castle-Safmarine on 2nd September 1977 and was withdrawn from service on her return and sold to Festivale Maritime Inc. a subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Lines of Miami.
Rebuilt at Kawasaki with extra decks and renamed Festivale she joined the Mardi Gras (ex Empress of Canada) on their 'Fun Ship Cruises'.
In 1978 she cruised in the Caribbean based in San Juan, Puerto Rica and in 1982 was based in in Miami operating 7 day cruises to Nassau - San Juan - St Thomas.
She was acquired by Premier Cruises of Port Canaveral in 1996 and renamed Island Breeze operating for her owners in the Caribbean during the northern winter and on charter to Thomson Holidays in the Mediterranean during the summer.
At the beginning of 2000 she was renamed Big Red Boat III as part of Premier's corporate identity. However, in September 2000 Premier Cruises ceased trading and the ship was seized by creditors for non payment of debts. SA Vaal - Source and more photographs and stories
Boarded mid-afternoon the ship sailed through the night directly to Port Elizabeth where able to go on shore exploring for most of the day. Late afternoon set sail for Cape Town arriving early Sunday morning with the sunlight creeping up the mountain. Sorry the photographs have discoloured over time, hence a collage to show time onboard.
Photography of history I still have, added collection of the wonderful time spent enjoying life utilizing cruise ship as part of the travel package.
Menu for meals as glorious as the art paintings depicted at each serving, most incredible people who took full order for your whole meal, along with every other person around the table, everything memorized to perfection!
Arriving in Cape Town we hired a Mini Cooper spending a week exploring before catching a flight back to Johannesburg, something we had never done previously nor ever again. With railways now obsolete running on the tracks for passenger overnight journeys, ships taken off rumours were a reality, leaving plane travel still available within our boundaries, or go by car.
Thanks for joining me in appreciating our history, as always stay safe, wishing you a wonderful weekend.
And so we arrived at @dswigle our host is missing in action I'm sure she is sailing the seas once again in tall ships cruizing around. Happy #MarketFriday perhaps leave in the comments if you have had the pleasure of bording this ship!
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera.
Thought for Today: "Life is like a boat you move on when you paddle and stay in the same place if not." - African Proverb
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Yep! A great historic post and wonderful memories for you. That was indeed a great ship cruise that one will never forget.
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So much gone but not forgotten in our lifetime, have to find people who collect with all the historical things of interest I kept over the years.
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That’s totally awesome 1977, oh, wow, that was a different, far more elegant era. I can’t believe you have all these things saved and available for our perusal. Well done
What a wonderful time you had! 🤗💕❤️💕❤️🤗💕💕❤️
Years were tumultuous with problems within the land, at the time we worked around many negatives.
Keeping reminders of trips is something I have always done, even if only bringing home a rock from a region it is a part of something to remind me about where I have been.
!LUV thanks for visiting and kind comment.
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What a wonderful memory you have! I can tell that you enjoyed those time and it was one of the best moment in your life too.
Years of exploring, married 1976 eventually did visit Zimbabwe in 2006. Learning ones own region, something now highlighted during covid when many explored their countries unable to travel abroad.
Lovely film of you and yours having fun time. Nice to have kept a log of these memories.
Habit from young documenting and holding onto keepsakes, going through old photo albums one relives a little of the past.
Bloody good post Joan. Curangeled.
Appreciate your kindness, thanks for visiting G.
You're welcome, it was a really nice post.
A wonderful memory, a great historic past!!!
I cannot help but stare at the photos, hahaha!
Thank you, @joanstewart , for sharing this!
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Onboard was an eye opener with gambling machines a first, illegal on land. Good fun to experience. Photos were a drop down through time machine! !LOLZ !LUV
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Great memories
Great years even though there was much going on that we had no control over, much the same today.
Those UK sporting events were cool, I loved ticking off in my head ones that I had been to, inlcuding finishing with the Braemar gathering where the Royal Family would always attend.
What a brilliant piece of history and cherished memories:)
Used to keep in touch with news events even though we had no mobile cellphones or the likes. Gatherings were something we attended regularly with both my little sister and myself doing dancing at events around the country.
What a great trip down memory lane, @joanstewart! Isn't it fun to relive some of the best excursions you've taken in your life? I love your fetching red hat!
People who can do that are truly amazing. I can only imagine they had trouble training enough staff who have that ability!
Sad fact of life no coastal cruise lines that don't look like floating hotels, top heavy. No overnight trains, affordable, safe as we had previously, now privately owned and hellish expensive.
Fashion in early years what was you felt comfortable in, beret was one of my favourites !LOLZ
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