I was watching a You Tube video recently, which featured the 1982 Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalogue. It takes a while to get to the toys, which are towards the back, but there is plenty of interest.
One of the items that really stands out is a giant, doll-sized cruise ship. What a wonderful toy. A little digging turned up some further details.
The ship was part of a 1980s doll line by Kenner, called Glamour Gals. These were mini dolls, which were more like small action figures. They were posable, and had rooted hair, but were only 4 inches tall. About a third of the normal Barbie size.
Glamour Gals were the girls, and Great Dates were the boys. There were several dozen of these mini-dolls, and plenty of accessories, with playsets in varying sizes, and price ranges.
According to Plaid Stallions the line was fairly short-lived, only being made between 1980 and 1983. Here is a catalogue from their site.
Being so much smaller than Barbie, the accessories and playsets could include much larger items. Such as a cruise ship. This was basically a dolls house in the shape of a ship, with the box describing it as 'The most exciting way to doll house play'.
The Glamour Gals Ocean Queen Cruise Ship Play Set was a real monster. It was 37 1/2 inches long, and 21 1/2 inches high. There were three decks. The open upper deck, and two internal decks. Some assembly was required. There was a large sheet of stickers, which were numbered, for all the printed details, such as the name of the ship, and interiors.
The hull and superstructure were moulded in white plastic, with tan decks, and yellow railings. There were 'Over 50 pieces of movable furniture and accessories', in various colours. These included a motor launch. There was a heart-shaped swimming pool for the Pool Deck; an opening boarding ramp in the starboard side of the hull; and a working, lever-operated elevator so your dolls could move between decks.
There were 7 rooms (I am not sure how they got to seven, unless the Main Deck and Elevator are counted as 'Rooms').
On the upper internal level:
Navigation Room (bridge), with ship's wheel, and opening safe so the dolls could store their jewellery away.
The multi-level Elevator.
A single State Room, or cabin.
The open-sided Main Deck, with Shuffleboard Court.
On the lower internal level:
Dining Room.
Lower portion of the Elevator.
Beauty Salon.
Doctor's Office.
There was no engine room, and with only one passenger cabin, accommodation was limited. There were no quarters for the crew.
There were at least two different boxes. Both were basically plain white cardboard, with a large colour picture of the ship glued to the front, and folded around one side. One had a purple background, and pink or purple printing on the sides and back. The other had a red background, with red and blue printing. No.50690.
The Montgomery Ward catalogue lists this set at $67.88, in 1982.
I am not sure how sea-worthy this vessel would be, with so many large holes in the hull.
The ship did not normally come with any dolls (although some did include two dolls, according to a sticker on the front of the box). Crew figures were available separately.
On a single card, was Captain Kurt, in a white uniform, with blond hair. This was a Great Date figure.
There was also a three-doll Ocean Queen Crew Set, with accessories. This included Captain Bo, who seems to be the identical twin brother of Captain Kurt; Social Director Jessie (blonde, in a skirt); and Stewardess Danni (brown hair, in trousers).
I do not know if this is the full Ocean Queen range, or if there were any other figures or sets available.
Six photographs, all from Worthpoint.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
