For all you bird lovers out there. Last week a little yellow warbler in Glacier Bay and now another interesting visitor. This is a Peregrine Falcon having a little snack on one of our balconies. We were about 25 miles out from the British Columbia coast in Hecate Strait when my Chief Officer Michiel Willems… read more of “Captain’s Log:…”
As we sail through Alaska we see quite a few birds. For a navigator like myself most of those birds fall in a few categories. It’s either a Bald Eagle or another bird. Alas ornithology is not my strong suit but every once in a while there is a surprise out there. The other day… read more of “Captain’s…”
This was the catch of the day yesterday in Ketchikan. This little Halibut weighed in at 99 pounds and was brought in by my wife Sherron on a 25-pound salmon line. Today we are eating fish. Best Regards, Captain Werner Timmers Master ms Zuiderdam
Most weeks when alongside in Ketchikan this eagle sits on the tree outside the bridge. Not sure if he is eyeing the hamburger pantry or if he is extra security but yesterday I know he was watching soccer on TV on the Princess ship. I think he is rooting for the Dutch team. Best Regards,… read more of “Captain’s Log:…”
We found a bear on a whale in Glacier Bay today. The whale died sometime in April and has been attracting bears and eagles and the like ever since. Normally they only feed on it in the early morning and the late afternoon as proven by motion activated cameras. Today we got lucky and spotted… read more of “Captain’s Log:…”
By popular demand, here is the recipe for my world-famous Lobster and Fennel Cake! Start with three sponge cakes of the desired colors. The color is achieved with food coloring. I had suggested to try blue curacao and cherry liqueur but the chef advised against trying to make the cake “float” in its own juices…. read more of “Recipe for Famous…”
Every once in a while I get invited to “cook” with the chef in what is called the Celebrity Cook Off. Two teams face off to cook a delicious meal using a couple secret ingredients in 30 minutes. While I do pretty good at steering the ship, cooking is definitely not my forte. However, if… read more of “Captain…”
The ship’s CO2 firefighting system is a very important safety system and it has to be checked thoroughly every year to make sure it is ready for use in case of a fire in the engine spaces. This service has been performed on all HAL vessels by one man, Joop Peitsman. Working for subcontractor Ajax,… read more of “Captain’s…”
