[acoulterfan]

Celebrities flying commercial airlines can be seen sometimes, but sailing with one would be a longer experience with more possibilities for interaction. How did the car get loaded? Was it just driven aboard?

Have to make a correction: I still have the original Passenger List and the date of our trip was January 11, 1956, not 57. John Wayne is listed. I am listed with the title of Miss in front off my name. We stayed at the old Henry Hudson Hotel before embarking. Don’t remember if the car was lifted aboard or if driven. I was given horrible tasting cherry liquid Dramamine also before boarding. The streets of New York were slippery and icy and I marveled as a child looking up at the tall skyscrapers and hearing all of the honking horns of cars echoing. Strange what you remember as a child. Sounds are not forgotten.

Anyway, when my parents were in the ballroom for whatever adult festivities/entertainment that was happening I would ingratiate myself with the staff in the kitchen and slid on my knees in my pajamas down the slippery corridors for fun. I was amazed at the round honeydew and cantaloupe melon balls served to me in these short pedestaled silver bowls. And the very rare roast beef was to die for. I still have a few Breakfast and Dinner Menus that my father passed to me before his death. On the wall next to my bed was a red and green steward and stewardess button to call for service. I would press the button and tell them I wanted a plate of grapes and they actually brought them to me. It was like a dream to a little nine year old girl.

My mother later told me that she saw John Wayne with a different woman every night, LOL!

The breakfast menu for example had the following:

Under the heading of Preserves you had the selection of Jams: blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, apricot, damson, peach, or plums. Under Jellies: Red current, guava, strawberry, or Bar le Dun (Red) Preisselbeeren. My Goodness!

The dinner entrees were from another world!

[acoulterfan]

I think it is horrible that she is just being left to rust. She should’ve been sent to her grave many years ago!! This is just so disrespectful!!

[Dr. Franklin]

Anyway, when my parents were in the ballroom for whatever adult festivities/entertainment that was happening I would ingratiate myself with the staff in the kitchen and slid on my knees in my pajamas down the slippery corridors for fun. I was amazed at the round honeydew and cantaloupe melon balls served to me in these short pedestaled silver bowls. And the very rare roast beef was to die for. I still have a few Breakfast and Dinner Menus that my father passed to me before his death. On the wall next to my bed was a red and green steward and stewardess button to call for service. I would press the button and tell them I wanted a plate of grapes and they actually brought them to me. It was like a dream to a little nine year old girl.

They could still recreate that atmosphere as part of five star floating hotel. It's present location is close to the sports stadiums and not far from Philadelphia International Airport. It could do weddings and other big events. I was down there in the Spring to watch the U.S.S. New Jersey go by on its way to the Navy Yard for dry dock work. There are some old piers nearby that the city has turned into parks that could be dredged out to give the ship a new berth. The city would need to get involved. If the conservancy didn't have to pay rent every month, that money could be used to refurbish the great ship. Things can be done, but only if government makes an effort to save the ship.

My mother later told me that she saw John Wayne with a different woman every night, LOL!

Mel Brooks famously declared, "It's good to be the king!", but being the Duke was also good as well.