13 May 2009, Almeria, Spain.

The sea was as flat as a mirror when we approached the harbour entrance and it beame a clear and dry day. Although the harbour basin is quite big, the authorities had decided that we should be parked at the East dock and that gave not that much room to swing the ship into the berth. But as the East dock is also the Eastern breakwater it was at least close to the entrance of the harbour and that saved timed. On advice of the pilot we docked stern in, as there was the expectation of wind in the afternoon and if you are then docked nose out it is all a bit easier. The East dock was just a short walk away from the boulevard and large enough to have buses and taxi’s come to the gangway. There was even a little sightseeing train that offered an hour tour of the city for 5 euro’s, so not bad at all.

Today one of my daily chores was a little bit more unusual. Welcoming new crew onboard the ship. Each new cruise, a number of the crew go on vacation and are replaced by new crew. However there is a difference between new crew and New, new crew.
With new, new crew we are talking about all of those who are either brand new to sailing or brand new to Holland America. As the ships culture is considerably different to shore side life, the company makes an extra effort to have these new members of the Club Prinsendam feel themselves at home as quickly as possible. They get a little welcome present and when they board there is a “buddy” waiting who takes the new one around and makes sure he/she knows how to get a good start in their new life. To make this welcome to a new world a bit more festive; we throw a welcome on board luncheon for all of them. Here they meet their, also new, fellow crewmembers and also the ships staff. This is normally done once a month when we have a sufficient number to make it a nice occasion.

We have a special officer on board, the crew purser, whose job it is among other things to especially look after all the crew and help them with any issues they might have. So she organized this luncheon and we do that in our Pinnacle restaurant. This is a speciality restaurant and is also the nicest appointed lounge that we have onboard. (at least that is my personal opinion) Most crew will never set foot in this restaurant so it is a real treat and also it gives them a strong indication that we as a company find the crew extremely important. It is them that deliver the product and it is them who have to ensure that guests come back to us time and time again. So we have a nice luncheon, with Pinnacle Restaurant quality food and full waiter service and the ships staff joins in to have an informal chat during the lunch.

(Photo courtesy: Gary Wright Image Creator Manager)

By 1800 we were getting ready to sail and then we had a medivac. One of our guests developed a severe medical issue and had to be landed at once. Of course I will wait until the medical department has done what it has to do, whatever time it takes, but I was in a hurry because the wind was getting stronger by the minute. We were expecting wind but not gale force. A gale was building up in the low part of the Med but was now leaning more in the direction of the Balearic Islands. In the end we left nearly an hour late and while a wind force seven was blowing through the port. With the aid of a tugboat I brought the stern high up into the wind, lined up in the fairway and then it was full ahead and we shot out of the port. It is a bit like giving full gas on your car, while still in your garage and then shooting out into the street, aiming for that one open gap between other cars. When out of the lee of the islands there was a wind force 9 blowing and the ship moved considerably. Still it was not as bad as it could have been if the Mediterranean had been an ocean. The waves would have then become a long running swell and that would have resulted in a real bumpy ride.

By 9 pm. We could start the turn to the East and then we had the wind and waves behind us. That gave us an extra push in the back and helped to make up for lost time. If we can keep up the momentum through the night then we will still be on time in Ibiza. The gale is supposed to die off during the night and in Ibiza it is supposed to be wind still, or “feeble wind” as the local agent called it. Behind the gale is a large rain front and if it does not move sufficiently to the North, then we will get a bit of precipitation while are in the port.