After so many port days in a row; Warnemunde, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm, finally a sea day for everybody to catch their breath. The funny thing is that most (not everybody) guests like to book the cruise that offers the most ports, as it offers the best value for money. However when they then make the cruise, a great sigh of relief goes up when there is finally a sea day coming. Sightseeing is hard work, especially in Europe, where each country has its distinct culture and the impressions are overwhelming. By the time you are on day 10, you cannot remember anymore which ruin you did on day one. So today was a day to relax; at least nobody was going ashore. As we only had a few sea days this cruise, we had to cram the 2nd half of all our standard Holland America activities into this sea day. We had the mariners luncheon (two sittings as the whole ship is a mariner here), Walk the Cure on deck and numerous other things, including lectures, get togethers, cruise staff activities etc etc. Cruising is hard work, especially on this cruise where there are so few sea days.

Every cruise we have a fund raiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation against breast cancer. Holland America has embraced this good cause as their main focus in sponsoring and as a result all the ships try to enthuse the guests for 13 laps around the deck, which is approx. 5 kilometers. The money is raised by selling T shirts. Recently we passed the $ 2 million milestone of money raised for The Cure. That milestone was celebrated during the inaugural festivities onboard the ms Nieuw Amsterdam. Here on the Prinsendam we announced the great result as well and had a more official start of the walk than would otherwise be the case. Yours truly cut the ribbon; there was a group photo, the priest said a prayer and later on there was a gathering in the show lounge with cake and champagne. (We had to ensure of course that the calories lost during the walk were put back on again at once)

group cure The Prinsendam guests participating in the walk around the deck and led by the Cruise Director and his staff.

ribbon cure Due to lack of policitians onboard it was decided that I was the best alternative for an official opening gesture. With a pink pair of scissors, a pink ribbon was cut, while wearing a pink wristband and trying to avoid pink balloons from flying overboard. It was a very pink moment.

Photo courtesy on behalf of Photo department Prinsendam:
Kirsty Elder Image Creator Manager

The ship in the meantime did not have to work that hard. The Prinsendam was gliding along at the sedate speed of 16 knots. The Kieler Kanal is not that far away from Stockholm but just too far to reach it during an overnight. Also I cannot arrive at the Canal in the middle of the night, as the schedule calls for a day crossing. The Canal operates 24 hours a day so a night crossing is possible but then the sights to be seen are severely limited as North Germany, does not have the midnight sun as we all know. So we will arrive at day break, which is still early but then we have to make Amsterdam on time and that means getting out early at the other side of the canal. I am afraid that the guests will have to wake up early tomorrow morning if they want to see the first locks.

For those who did not participate in any activities today, there was plenty to see around the ship. By noon time we entered the NE/SW shipping line that runs through the whole Baltic and as a result, there were ships all around us. As we were doing 16 knots, we were on that intermediate speed that puts you between the slow boats and the fast racers. A cruise ship normally belongs to the latter category but not always. Most coasters, and the Baltic is full of these Short Sea Traders, plod along with a speed between 11 to 13 knots. So, one by one, we over took them. The ferries and the container ships normally maintain a speed of around 19 to 20 knots and thus they overtook us. In the afternoon a Superfast Ferry (that is a brand name) came by and overtook us with a speed of 26 knots. Then you really think that your own ship is standing still. Everybody is however sailing in the same lane when going in the same direction, and normally overtake on the others starboard side and that gives the pattern that the slow boats are sailing in the inner side of the shipping lane and the faster ones more towards the outside of the lane.

It only gets interesting when it comes to a cross roads and there is traffic from starboard coming in. One ship then becomes the give-way vessel and if you are just being over taken by another ship, it can become a complicated situation. The overtaking ship has to give way to you again but does not always do so timely or in the way that you anticipate. As I wrote in the beginning of the cruise, then the presence of the Master is required on the bridge.

Tomorrow we will pick up the Kieler Bay pilot at 0400 hrs. It becomes daylight at 04.32 and we will be entering the locks around 05.00, if all goes well. Thus I made my announcements accordingly today and now we will have to see, who will rise to the challenge and which guests will be there with me to see day break. It will be a nice day break though as it is supposed to be sunny all day, with very little wind.