07 November 2008, Costa Maya.

This morning, the weather forecast announced that Tropical storm Paloma had been upgraded to a Hurricane class one with the expectation for a further upgrade to class 2 or class 3 as the system kept intensifying. However as it kept nicely on track heading North into the Caribbean Sea while we were heading North West, there was nothing to worry about. The people in Grand Cayman are not very happy of course as Paloma will pass over the island and later on Eastern Cuba will receive a visit as well. From there it is supposed to travel over the Bahamas’.

Thus the cruises of the Veendam will not be affected but ships who call at Grand Cayman and Jamaica will be. On arrival at Costa Maya the pilot announced that the bookings for next week were up as some ships were deviating from the Mid to the West Caribbean. We were together with the Carnival Legend, which is also on the Sunday run from Tampa. Normally we do not meet up but as they also had a different schedule this cruise we were in port at the same time. Next week, we will be all by ourselves, unless ships continue to stay away from the Hurricane area by rescheduling their whole cruise.

Costa Maya has only recently been reopened after the extensive hurricane damage from last year and while rebuilding the resort they also took the chance to extend and improve the piers. These are now long enough to have a Genesis ship dock there. Although I do not need that much pier to dock at, it was an improvement as I could now have all my mooring lines on the fixed dock, instead of having to run them over to separate dolphins. A procedure that takes more time. The linesmen have to get in a boat and then pull the ropes through the water onto the bollard then onto that dolphin. With a longer pier it is much easier. The number of docks have remained the same, one pier in the NW direction taking two ships and berth 3, in the SE direction taking one ship. Thus depending on the direction of the swell you can pick the dock that will keep the ship lined up with the nose into the swell.

With all docks occupied, that does not work of course and sometimes the swell is of such a height that only two ships can dock facing northwest, or only one ship, facing South East. That means that those other ships, that cannot get a dock facing the right direction, have to cancel the call. It is not easy to explain this to the guests onboard, who see another ship dock and then see their own ship cancelling. Why them and not us ???? Therefore it is much better to be by ourselves. Then you can pick the best dock and if all are bad because of the swell, you can just sail away without arguments.

The Carnival ship is on berth 3 which is the SE pier and the RCI ship is on berth 1 facing NW. Berth 2 (on the inside) is not occupied. Photo taking from the official Costa Maya website.

Today there was a moderate Northerly swell, so both ships were on the NW dock, berth 1 and 2. The Carnival Legend on the outside and the Veendam on the inside. Docking on the outside is easier, as you do not have to back down past the pier. However if you are inside you get a bit of shelter from the ship on the outside (e.g. the ship will have less movement along the dock, caused by the swell) so it is not a bad place to be. With the great weather of today a good time was had by all. As carnival ships normally carry a higher complement of unusual and or partying people, our guests had an enjoyable time observing them while sampling the delights of Costa Maya.

On departure the Carnival Legend was in a hurry as she was going for a medivac in Cozumel. There are facilities at Costa Maya but if a medivac plane is needed, then Cozumel is the nearest airport. Going there with the ship is much faster and much more comfortable than transport over land and ferry by an ambulance.

Tomorrow will be a sea day and it looks like another sunny day. We will get a bit of wind and rain during the coming night as a small weather front is coming down from the Gulf, but by tomorrow all should be well. With Hurricane Paloma keeping the Cubans occupied, the Veendam can sail undisturbed for Tampa.

From the National Hurricane Center website. Paloma on the way to the North East.