By 7 am. we were happily at anchor on the roads of Newport, Rhode Island, as per schedule. Only to find out that most of our guests preferred to stay in bed and only go ashore much later in the morning.

Due to the proximity of the remnants of Hurricane Gabrielle, it was overcast but luckily it remained dry. The hurricane was quickly dissipating of the coast of Cape Hatteras and was starting its crossing to Europe as a regular depression. However there is always the chance that some of the remnants come further north. This was not to be this time and after the departure the only thing we felt was a slight swell coming from the south but for that we have stabilizers.

Newport is a tender port with a fair distance to travel from the anchorage as the tenders have to go around Goat Island and then enter the town area. There is a small public dock but that only fits small ships and the rest of the docks are given over to luxury yachts, some of them Mega, Mega yachts. According to the pilot there is some talk about building a cruise ship dock but if that had to happen close to town, it would have to be near or attached to Goat Island where the water is deep enough. It looks like it that the owners of Goat Island are in no great hurry to sell out, unless persuaded by a very big bag of gold. So for the time being the ships are at anchor.

This was a short stop, last tender to be back by 2.30 pm. as we had a tight schedule for getting to Boston. However the last tours only returned by 2.30 so it was not before 3.15 that we had the boats back on board and could sail out of the harbor. By that time I had raised the anchor already for a long time. There is the unfortunate thing that Newport used to have a big Navy yard and that this yard used to dump all sorts of stuff in the area where the ships now anchor. So when you raise the anchor you never know what it brings up from the bottom and how long it will take before you have cleared the anchor. I remember that we picked up wires (always hoping that it is not a live one……) small and large bits of concrete and once even a prewar Ford truck. But of course if you are early and prepare for the worst, then all goes well and this time the anchor came up clean.

By 4 pm. We were out of the port and by 5 pm. I was standing in the receiving line as it was Captain’s welcome on board party. The company is in the process of revamping this party. No longer all that picture taking, and no longer we will have the elaborate introduction of all officers. We are still waiting for the props that go with the new set-up and you will read in this blog of course as soon as it starts. Second sitting introduction was finished by 8 pm. And by 8.30 pm. I was in bed. Reason; by 4 .15 pm. the Veendam had sailed into a white curtain. Fog. Routine is then that the chief officer is on the bridge from 6 to midnight and the captain from midnight to 6 With a short interval the fog lasted all night, only to clear by the time that we docked the ship alongside the Boston passenger terminal and thus it was a long night; staring at the Radar screen and listening to the 2 minute interval of the Fog horn.