08 May 2012; Huatalco de Santa Cruz, Mexico.

The crossing of the Gulfo de Tehantepec was indeed un-eventful and we arrived with wind still weather and sunny skies at the pilot station. As predicted it was going to be a hot day. Not a warm day, a hot day. The pilot was nicely on time; as a matter of fact he was out early, sitting in his boat watching the sharks play in the water. It seems that the entrance to the bay is an excellent hunting ground for sharks and we saw many fin tips coming above water. It is a pity that I cannot announce it to the guests as it is simply too difficult to see the fins in the long rolling swell. I counted at least 8 of them, fairly close together, about a mile off shore. With the pilot on board and after his confirmation that it would remain great weather today, I decided to dock nose in, on the west side of the pier. We are busy with changing the wires of the lifeboats and it is better that we do that with the boat above open water. The boat has to go up and down to see if the new wire has been adjusted for the right length and that is something you do not like to do above the pier. By 11 am we were happily docked giving the authorities ample time to clear the ship as our official time for docking was noon time. However it is better to arrive early than just to linger at sea. Puerto Chiapas to Hualtalco is a 2 engine run at about 70% engine output. If I let them run on 80% I hardly use anymore fuel but I arrive an hour earlier. When docked in port, I can then switch off that second engine and save in that hour more fuel than by running 70% at sea. One engine keeps running as it provides the AC and Electricity for the ship. Plus an hour extra in port is always appreciated. If not by the guests, then certainly by the crew.

I would like to thank you for your kind comments on the blog about Corinto. I was hoping for some response but I had not expected to get Cruise Critic buzzing. But it is gratefully and humbly appreciated.

For those of you who want to get involved:
Please do not send money donations  to the ship. Ships mail goes through many hands from the time if leaves your house until it ends up on my desk. It remains in boxes somewhere in the agent’s office or the terminal until the ship comes in and then when it goes on board there is not always one single person in control. Too much of a chance for it to disappear, unless you have somebody you know that goes on the cruise and can bring it along. Sending a few goodies is another story, and I would like to ask for school supplies. Not books but yellow pads, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, dry erasers, markers. Anything that has a high turnover in a classroom. Also small play things for the toddlers in kindergarten, I am not a father, so for me it is an unknown science. Most of you have children and/or grand children and they play with things.

So anything you can think of that is easy to mail and will work for kids. Both the Hotelmanager and I are on vacation for midsummer but we have set up arrangements that when things arrive on board, that they will be stored until we come back to sort it out.
Preferred address:
Attn:
Hotelmanager ss Statendam
Bert van Mackelenbergh
Note: Corinto donations
Holland America Line
300 Elliott Avenue West
Seattle 98119
USA.
Please do not forget: Note: Corinto donations.

Most boxes, pallets, parcels and supplies coming to the ship are marked Hotelmanager or Master; but with this note the staff on board can separate it directly and store it away in one location.

For those of you in one of our home ports, or ports of call, and want to drop something off, let me know and I will provide the local agent address.

Once again, Thank you all for your great responses.

Ps, the school was named after one of Nicaragua’s greatest poets. Ruben Dario. I checked Wikipedia and it seems the man had quite a colorful life and career. We are also making a new sign on board, to replace the old one that you see here on the left.