Today is the last sea day of our cruise and it was a glorious day with sunshine galore and just a gentle breeze blowing over the deck. We covered today the distance between Cozumel and Key West. With a nice push in the back from the Gulf Stream we sailed north from the island of Cozumel and then this morning we passed the west point of Cuba and then followed the Gulf Stream towards Key West. For our whole route we can stay in the Gulf Stream and that gives us a free bonus of distance of 1 to 2 sometimes 3 miles every hour. Between pilot and pilot we have 30 hrs. of travel and if we gain on average 2 miles an hour then we save 60 hours and that is 3 hrs. sailing at full speed. That is a lot in our business and we get it all for free.
The Gulf Stream as tracked by NOAA. It even flows into the Gulf of Mexico and then returns into the Gulf Stream. (Courtesy NOAA)
Thus the navigation team is totally focused and committed to trying to catch as much of the Gulf Stream as possible. And here lies the problem as the axis of the Gulf Stream, there where most of the current flow is, moves from one side of the Straits of Florida to the other side and although there are enough theories that abound about the why, there is still no watertight explanation about why it does so. NOAA is actively studying the Gulf Stream and produces daily charts which are getting more and more accurate but surprises remain. Hence we on board try to substantiate our educated guesses by moving the ship away from the intended cruise course and see what happens. A bit to the north or a bit to the south. And the focus is on trying to find more current but also if we have some current to at least not lose it. Better one Bird in the hand than 10 in the air as a Dutch saying goes.
A modern bronze sculpture (weight 130 kg) in Lido. Made by the Dutch Artist Eppe de Haan.
Apart from my work on board, my job as Fleet Support Master or Travelling Master has the great advantage that I rotate over the fleet and sail on all the ships. When you are as a regular captain assigned to a ship you tend to stay at least for a few years on that one ship and then you might move. Maybe on own request, maybe because there is a musical chair happening going on and several positions are affected like dominoes in a row. We had that recently when one of the Seabourn Captains passed away while on board and to fill the gap several captains were affected including one promotion, earlier than expected. But I see all the ships and that is a nice plus for my HAL hobby and so I am busy with documenting all the HAL ships by photographing all the decks and especially all the art work. Until the arrival of the Koningsdam, where most of the art work is modern and music related, all the Holland America ships had a lot of antique art on board. Either related to our history, including the colonies in the East or West Indies, or just beautiful antiques and art just to look at.
An old carving of the Sea God Poseidon. Except it is not old, but certainly traditional, and is a copy of the original which was standing on board the Noordam III and that was an old carving.
But also here there is a pattern. Where the N-ships and the S Class were completely full of only old stuff, by the time the Eurodam came into being it had become a sort of a mix where old and new were on display in perfect harmony. In one corner an antique in another corner something new. Or something that hinged between both worlds. For this blog, I have selected three photos which show exactly that. The fact that the guests do enjoy what we display on board is visible by the cooperation Holland America Line has arranged with the Dutch Rijksmuseum and what has resulted in the lower Atrium of the Westerdam now being a learning center for the art in the real Rijksmuseum. Although I am not an art expert, I can only discern between what I like: nice, and what I do not like: not nice but I find it fascinating what we have in different art variations all over the fleet.
And this is something totally different, the Dutch artist Rodolfo Sanz was asked to create something that related to the cooking classes in the Queens Lounge next door. For which we have a complete kitchen on the stage. So he put an apple on a dining table that you can eat without cooking. (Maybe in case the cooking class failed ???)
We were supposed to be docked by 08.00 hrs. tomorrow morning in Key West but for operational reasons we will now arrive at 08.30 and to make it up for the guests we will also stay half hour longer. Reason for this is there are two ships coming in (us and the Disney Magic) who both need to go through a full CPB inspection as they are both coming from foreign ports, and with a finite number of CBP officers available, we have to share. Thus with staggering it a little bit, the CBP can clear both ships in the most economical way possible. We are scheduled to dock at Pier B, which is in downtown, only one block away from Mallory Square. For the weather it is going to be a very warm day again. 27 oC / 80oF with light winds.
March 31, 2018 at 9:40 am
As well as the great art, I love all the Holland America photographs outside the staterooms on Eurodam, great mix of people and ships though the years. I note many are from your collection!