Scenic Cruising, Southwards to Cape Horn via Glacier Alley.

Yesterday the Prinsendam did a bit of scenic cruising through the Cockburn Channel and Beagle Channel.  Today we went through Glacier Alley and on to Cape Horn.  Glacier Alley did live up to its name even though it is the southern hemisphere summer and some of the glaciers are melting.

Going through Glacier Alley

The sea was calm around Cape Horn and so the Captain gave the go-ahead for a small crew group to go ashore in a rescue boat.  Paul was one of the first people to volunteer!  It has been 28 or 29 years since Paul had the opportunity to step ashore on Cape Horn however the last time that opportunity was cancelled due to very poor weather.  So now you can understand why Paul wanted to go ashore!

Paul also asked the Captain if I could go with him even though I am not a crew member.  Fortunately he gave me permission to do so.  In the end the security officer, a photographer, the future cruise consultant, the guest relations manager, an engineer, Paul and I went.  First we had to kit up in survival suits.  It was very funny trying to put the bulky 'onesies' on, bearing in mind that one size fits all - er, not quite!  There weren't quite enough survival suits so I ended up putting on a hazardous spillage suit which would at least protect me enough from the elements and keep me warm enough for a short while if I did happen to fall into the water - which didn't happen of course.

We got into the rescue boat and were piloted across to Cape Horn which is in actual fact an island.  Once at the stony shoreline Paul hopped out and held the boat steady while we all climbed out and headed towards the staircase going up the cliff face.  It was then that I discovered that my hazardous spillage suite was  not entirely liquid-proof.  It had leakalitis and I was soon soaking wet up to my knees when I entered the water.  It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be - it was probably as cold as when I swam in the Straits of Magellan two days ago.  Fortunately I had taken my boots off before getting into the suit otherwise they would have been swimming.

Once at the stairs, and the bottom of a funicular which takes groceries and stores up to the lighthouse, we stripped back down to our warm day clothes and headed up the cliff stairs where we were warmly greeted by the lighthouse keeper.  He had a huge smile on his face - watching us huff and puff up the stairs while he looked on!  At the top Paul presented the lighthouse keeper with commemorative plates from the Prinsendam (bearing in mind this is the last time that the Prinsendam sails around Cape Horn under that name and under a Dutch flag).  Paul and I had also brought along two rather nice bottles of wine which he handed over to the lighthouse keeper.  We thought he could do with it during the next 10 months that lay ahead for the poor chap and his family!

While the rest of the staff from the Prinsendam went to the viewpoints on the island, Paul and I headed up to the lighthouse.  There is a small chapel next to the lighthouse so the lighthouse keeper kindly unlocked the door so that I could go inside and have a few moments of contemplation.  He quietly looked on until I was finished and then closed the door after I left.  He then invited us inside the lighthouse in order to sign the visitors book and also introduced us to wife and 2 children - the third child was too shy to come and say 'hello'.  The children are home-schooled for now.

Trying to get the suits off!

Paul and I then headed to the viewpoints, passing the other staff members on the way.  We had to be quick because it was getting dark and also we had to get back to the ship which, in the meantime, had been sailing around Cape Horn.  Well, we hoped that we could get back to the ship.  The rescue boat had left us at the shore and sailed out of the bay but unfortunately the person who piloted it decided to sail through seaweed rather than going via a clear area of water.  Needless to say the engine was not too happy about it and died.  So, during the time that we were on Cape Horn the lads were desperately trying to clear the seaweed and get the rescue boat's engine going again.  Fortunately it spluttered to life and they were able to get back to the shoreline as we arrived back.  The ship also came into view, her lights twinkling in the distance through the black night.  She put her searchlights on as we headed back towards her, giving us a nice lighted path over the sea.

We arrived back at the ship safe and sound and very happy!  It is the memories that matter the most and hopefully we can call upon them as the years go by.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Glacier Alley

Small section of the Glacier Alley in Fast Forward

Cape Horn

Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Over the last few days we have been at sea.  We were due to anchor at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas on 3rd January but unfortunately the port was cancelled because of strong winds. It is something that the captain doesn't take lightly - putting lives at risk in order not to disappoint vs putting safety first.

Miami is a turn around port today, before heading out for the South American Grand Voyage.  I got off the ship for a few hours and went by bus into town for a wander.  Unfortunately I have never taken a sailor's mission bus so I was particularly nervous as to where to get dropped off, etc; and so was initially very reluctant to go.  Fortunately the chief engineer's wife was also going into town on the bus so I went with her; and on the way back I teamed up with the HR Manageress.  It was easier than I thought.

I spent a few good hours, having a wander around.  But no - I was good.  I didn't spend much - just picked up 2 packets of M&Ms (next best thing to smarties) and 2 packets of crisps.  Er .. and a bikini because my current one is just about to fall apart!

The Prinsendam is fully loaded and we are now setting off on the South American Grand Voyage - an 80 day cruise.

Sailing Towards Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

We had a bit of a restless night.  Floor 4 of the hotel that we were staying in was a bit noisy, our neighbours especially.  No consideration was spared for tired, travel weary guests.

Our taxi to the port arrived on time and we were dropped off at the terminal after a relatively short drive.  There were 7 cruise ships in port today, 3 of which were Holland America ships: MS Veendam, MS Koningsdam (one of the biggest ships in the fleet) and of course - our much smaller ship, MS Prinsendam.

We were shoved from pillar to post, trying to figure out which entrance of the terminal we should take and no security personnel or terminal officials seeming to know - pointing us in one direction and then being redirected back to where we came from!  Eventually something 'clicked' and we got in through the correct door and went through the usual security checks without any further hassles.  It didn't help because not many crew were embarking nor disembarking due to the festive season coming up and flights/hotel accommodation being expensive - change-overs are kept to a minimum at this time.

There was a delay in the Prinsendam's departure - so many ships - the harbour and the waterways were busy.

It is good to be back on board and to see some familiar faces again.

Our sailing schedule for the holiday cruise is:

Date               Day        Location
21-Dec-2018    Fri          Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
22-Dec-2018    Sat         At Sea
23-Dec-2018    Sun        Amber Cove (Puerta Plata), Dominican Rep.
24-Dec-2018    Mon       Cap Cana (Punta Cana), Dominican Rep.
25-Dec-2018    Tue        At Sea
26-Dec-2018    Wed       Bridgetown, Barbados, Caribbean
27-Dec-2018    Thu       Scarborough, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago
28-Dec-2018    Fri         Port Elizabeth, Bequia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Caribbean
29-Dec-2018    Sat        Fort-de-France, Martinique, Caribbean
30-Dec-2018    Sun       Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, Caribbean
31-Dec-2018    Mon      Road Town, Tortola, Virgin Islands, Carib.
01-Jan-2019    Tue        At Sea (Atlantic Ocean)
02-Jan-2019    Wed       At Sea
03-Jan-2019    Thu        Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
04-Jan-2019    Fri         Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States