Ahoy there! How many of you have been out to sea?

[ChickenGuy]

Right, all you landJUBbers....

Ever taken a sea voyage? A ferry crossing? Worked on a fishing boat? Served on a ship?

Although I've never worked or served, I've been on MANY car ferries frequently in my life from a young age. Almost always, this has been with the ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne, which serve most of the islands and routes along the western coast of Scotland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne

When I was younger, the longest journey, and the one I most frequently took, was 3 hours 30 minutes. It was often rough. My dad and I would go out on deck in bad weather, just to enjoy wind and spray in our faces.

It's the kind of journey I'm used to. I do it about 2 times a year (and will do it again going home this Christmas)

Anyway, that's enough from me.

Stories of life on the ocean wave, please.

 

[kevbo]

Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside
I do like to be beside the sea!

I've never been out to sea...

I think I would like it, though!

 

[BINOWGAYLATER]

Yes:

Any questions?

 

[gingentleman]

Yep! I have done short boat excursions and ferry rides. I love the ocean. I also love lakes and rivers. Water energy is a good thing!

 

[BINOWGAYLATER]

proof that New York is full of ferries

 

[ChickenGuy]

Any questions?

What type of ship was that?

How many were onboard?

What was your rank and position?

What daily duties did you have to do?

How long were you away for?

Any photos of you from back then?

 

[Orlandude]

I've been on several cruises, mostly to the Carribean....the longest being 5 days. There is nothing to compare with being out in the ocean, surrounded by nothing but water and sky. It is a beautiful (and humbling) experience. I recommend everyone do it at least once in your life.

 

[star-warrior]

My village in the far east requires a ferry to access, so yes, I've been on a ferry and seen the fish fly out of the water and the salt spray on my face.

I was once given a lift in a small boat - a row boat with an outboard motor attached. Having been used to the larger sturdier ferry, it was a big surprise to step into the smaller one as the whole thing just sunk suddenly under my weight throwing me off balance for a moment. I quickly sat down to lower my centre of gravity, lol.

I have sea legs it seems, and don't have motion sickness, so it's all good the jarring slap slap slap of the boat thudding down on the water as its speeding through the waves.

 

[Dobson73]

Sure have!

From a few sailings on my cousins yacht around the Hauraki Gulf when I lived in Auckland to a couple of trips around the Sth Pacific on the old Oriana. The best holidays, there is something about the sea air that washes away any care (and any hangover!).

Sailing around the Greek Islands on their ferries was also fantastic. I can't wait to get back out to sea again!

Love it, it's the best way to relax! My dream now is a cruise on the new Queen Elizabeth and/or the Queen Victoria. And maybe a Seabourn or two?

 

[istarttomelt]

yes, a couple of boat rides to Catalina island

 

[Yooper]

No cruises, but ferry trips, etc.

--Been across the English Channel via Hovercraft (I understand they are gone now).
--Ferry across Lake Michigan way back when
--Ferry to Drummond Island, MI
--Ferry to Mackinac Island, MI (of course, it is some sort of law)
--A once in a lifetime trip from Copper Harbor, MI to Isle Royale aboard the Queen lol and a week's stay there
--Several trips out along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Lake Superior)
--Couple of fishing charters on Lake Superior
--A friend of mine had a boat on Lake Superior for a couple of years and we 'went boating' rather often for two years until she discovered the hull was rotten and the boat sank at its mooring a day after we went out almost 50 miles

 

[mega]

In 1966 I sailed the SS Indepenence From New York to Naples. She looks pretty sad in this pic taken a few years ago ...

http://cruises.about.com/cs/shipprofiles/a/independence.htm

 

[teadrinker]

When I was young my family went on a holiday to Tasmania (the island state off the South of the Australian mainland). We went by the ocean ferry, which allowed us to take a car. The crossing took about 12 hours, and I enjoyed it enormously. I did the same crossing again with friends about 10 years later.

-T.

 

[NineOfClubs]

I spent a summer commercial salmon fishing around Kodiak, Alaska.

On a night crossing to the mainland a sudden storm, and fierce conditions, came close to sinking the boat I was on. It was the closest to death I've ever been.

 

[derelictdarrel]

I make my living as a mariner. I went to a maritime school and currently work for a ferry system. Thats about the extent of information I want to give about me and where I work on a public forum.

 

[ReluctantDaddy]

I've gone down with 100 guys... managed to not see the sun for up to ~ 45 days... the boat is amazing, but the trips tend to be boring and tiresome

11 years submarine service

 

[ashonfire]

I was working for awhile on a fishing boat right outside of Delacroix...

Someone at the pub last night told me that my beard made me look like I should be captaining a U-boat. I still can't work out if that's a compliment or not.

 

[BINOWGAYLATER]

What type of ship was that?

How many were onboard?

What was your rank and position?

What daily duties did you have to do?

How long were you away for?

Any photos of you from back then?

What type of ship was that? USS CANBERRA. Guided missle Heavy Cruiser - although by the time this picture was taken - the missles had been removed and the Hull Number was returned to the original CA-70 -- previously having the guided designation of CAG -2 - as only the Canberra and the USS.BOSTON had the missles.
it has the distinction of being the only US ship named for a "foreign" capital - as it was done to honor the memory of HMAS Canberra, sunk just before this ship was being finished and commissioned -- Christened by Lady Alice Dixon, wife of the Australian ambassador to the US at the time. (1945?)

How many were onboard? almost always - a full compliment of 1,000 swinging dicks. Including a Marine Detachment of 32 VERY SEXY marines.



What was your rank and position? I went on board as a Seaman - and left as a Petty Officer Third Class - worked in Radio Central - (in the Communicatons Division)

What daily duties did you have to do? Mostly, I teletyped messages 12 hours a day - 5 on - 7 off -- 7 on - 5 off -- (when at sea) and circulated the "Message Boards" to the 4 top officers, and the Admiral when he was aborad.


How long were you away for? 3 cruises of approximately 7 months each -- comprised of 30 days at sea - then 4-7 days in Subic Bay then back to the firing line for another 30 days (Gulf of tonkin mostly) - then back to the P.I. (Olongopo City) side trips to Hong Kong, Yokosuka, Taiwan and Melbourne (for the Battle of the coral Sea celebration. Back to San Diego for 3 months - then load up with food and ammo and back to the firing line.Any photos of you from back then? Yes

 

[The_Reaper]

Whilst down in Mexico on a family vacation, we took in a 'pirate ship' ride in Banderas Bay.

It was most enjoyable, and we did indeed lose sight of the land for a good portion of the trip. It was one of the highlights of the vacation, and the food served was also quite excellent as well...

If anyone makes it out that way, I'd highly recommend it.

 

[mbamike]

While on vacation in Florida I got a free ticket to go on one of the gambling cruises just for looking at a timeshare.

We left early the next morning, the sky was cloudy. We were served breakfast while the ship made its way out to sea. Just after breakfast, it started to rain. The ship, which was just a very large pontoon boat, began to be tossed about like a rag doll! People began loosing their breakfast all over the place! The captain did not turn around. He had a spot out in the Gulf of Mexico he had to go and he went there!! People continued to get sick all over the place! I went outside on the deck for periods at a time just to get away from all the puking!

I was very glad to get back to land that evening. It was still raining on land. I turned the tv on while I prepared to take a shower. I felt dirty. The newscaster reported "Tropical Storm Jerry Hits Florida!"