18 March 2019; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

While we were coming from the South, the Koningsdam was coming from the North and in between was a Princess ship which was going west to Princess Cays, about 5 miles away from Half Moon Cay. So in the early morning dawn Half Moon Cay saw the lights of three apartment buildings coming closer and closer until the Princess ship went the other way.  We dropped the hook at 07.00 while the Koningsdam who made her approach about 30 minutes later remained on the engines. With Azipods and the latest electronic gadgetry it is as easy to float as to anchor. But the Volendam has conventional propellers, rudders and stern thrusters and then dropping the hook is still an easier option.

All the way in, the big question was, what is the wind going to do? The wind was blowing from the South and that is really the wrong direction if it is a strong wind. It is hard to make a lee and the ship will stretch behind its anchor chain towards the direction of the beach. Although our ships might be floating hotels, they are not meant to be land based hotels and thus we do not want to get too close to the shallow waters. But we were in luck today as it was only a very gentle breeze and the ship could be nicely kept in position with the stern thruster so that we could operate tenders from both sides. I explained the pecking order before, the largest ships gets the two largest shore tenders, the Henry Hudson and the Anne Bonney and the smaller ship gets the smaller tender, the Rookie, and supplements that capacity with its own ship tenders.

A sight you seldom see. The whole Half Moon Cay fleet at the Volendam. From left to right the Henry Hudson alongside, the Anne Bonney drifting, the Rookie in the fore ground and to the right the Half Moon Clipper.

That means a lot of traffic in and out of the harbor and to ensure that this works safely the security departments also acts as traffic cops. Our security staff regulated traffic until 11.00 hrs. and the one from the Koningsdam until departure. Each tender waits in a holding area off the entrance and is then called in as soon as the fairway is clear. With this constant shuttle both ships had over 3000 guests ashore in just under two hours. With the tender capacity available it can go even faster  but not all guests were planning to lay on the beach all day and thus over those two hours it was a steady flow.  Closer to departure it was different as those who did stay all day at the beach all wanted to come back on the very last tender. And that does not work and thus that is the busiest period of tender service during the whole day.

The anchorage of Half Moon Cay on the Radar with chart overlay. Light blue is the 10 meter line, dark blue is  what falls dry on low tide. The Koningsdam is the yellow echo behind the Volendam and the 2nd yellow echo is a duplication of the Koningsdam echo caused by a radar reflection.

Not all guests went ashore and quite a few were on the outside decks as they were fascinated with the whole operation that is part of a Half Moon Cay visit. On arrival of the Volendam, two sailing boats were shoe-ed away from the anchorage. Sometimes they do not want to go but normally the appearance of a big blue bow and a 13000 pound / 6500 kg. anchor above the sail boat cabin makes them quite quickly change their mind. Then there is a whole slew of supporting tenders coming out of the little port, coming to the ships to start shuttling guests. This is then followed by our Half Moon Clipper that comes alongside each ship to collect all the food and drink for the day. So while the guests are walking to the beach, there are these little tractors on the island that run all the supplies via the back roads from the Clipper to the Cook house and to the bars.  The delivery of the provisions for the day is normally split between the ships or one ship does it all. Today the Koningsdam was doing most of it but the Volendam had to help out with ice cream and fresh fruit.

The ms Koningsdam as seen through a deck opening on the promenade deck starboard aft.

The weather remained perfect a gentle southerly breeze, partly cloudy / nearly cloudy, so still sunny but not burning hot, and temperatures that were warm but not blistering.  This is also the last sunny day as tomorrow in Fort Lauderdale it is supposed to be raining all day and temperatures will just reach 18oC / 70F. Not a great way to end a cruise but it might make you decide to sign up for the next one.

But at least we are all by ourselves tomorrow. Tuesday is not really a great cruise day in Port Everglades and that is good for us as it means that the airport is less busy.  Also there will be sufficient CBP officers for clearing the ship swiftly and also the security checkpoint into the port where all the buses and cars have to go through will flow more smoothly.

I will have the important task to help with the zero count, by showing my face at immigration and showing my visa, there will be proof that I am still not a danger to the USA. Once back on board I will have to move cabins as my cabin has been sold to guests. This time I only have to move next door and that will be the easiest cabin change I have made in the last four years.

On request of a dear reader. I mentioned Beaufort wind force yesterday, this is the conversion table to land miles.