This is my last blog entry for the time being. Today I will leave the ship and then fly tomorrow to the Netherlands for the Senior Management conference which takes place on the old ss Rotterdam this year. After that I will go on leave until August 11. Then I will return to the Statendam,… read more of “17 May 2013;…”
The weather guru’s must have heard me moaning and groaning about Skagway as they did their best and this morning the weather was wonderful. Flat calm seas and far ranging vista’s showing the Fairweather mountain range in all its glory. In the upper bay we saw some low clouds hanging but it was a very… read more of “16 May 2013;…”
So the weather guru’s has promised me south winds 5 to 10 knots. And what did I see when I arrived on the bridge at 05.15; 25 knots gusting to 30 knots. At least they had the direction right. Which is not that difficult as it can only blow from two directions here. North or… read more of “15 May 2013;…”
With the wind in the back we sailed up Chatham Strait heading for the Kake Pilot station at 0900 hrs. Ahead of us where the Norwegian Pearl, sailing for 1400 hrs. and the Century Celebration heading for Icy Strait. Behind us was the Oosterdam, going for an afternoon call at Tracy Arm. We are now… read more of “14 May 2013;…”
With the tide at Seymour Narrows being as it is, it is a late night affair and nothing we can do about it. Slack water at the Narrows dictates our lives. Four ships lives to be precise. Thus after departing from Vancouver, the whole convoy trundled up Georgia Strait towards the magic moment of –near… read more of “13 May; Inside…”
The season is now coming into full swing. This week the last cruise ship will arrive to make up the full complement of regulars for the summer. Today we had four ships in Vancouver and that will remain more or less the same in each port. 3 in Juneau, 4 in Skagway and 4 in Ketchikan…. read more of “12 May 2013;…”
After all the nice weather in Alaska we had a windy and rainy day today in the Inside Passage. While sailing through Queen Charlotte Sound the wind breezed up to 35 knots and with it came the waves. Everything in line with the weather forecast, so we were not surprised and I was running the… read more of “11 May 2013;…”
Sailing from Glacier Bay to Ketchikan, you leave the Inside passage for a little while when nearing an area called Cape Decision. That gives the strange feeling of a moving ship while you are supposed to sail in the sheltered Inside Passage. It only lasts for about an hour or so while we move from… read more of “10 May 2013;…”
