Today we were sailing the same way back as we went west the day before yesterday. A gloomy day with low ceiling clouds and a bit of wind from the South East. The weather front that was threatening to bring a lot of wind to the area decided to cancel its performance for the time being and thus it was a nice and quiet day. Recently I posed the theory that whales do not like rain, and I do not know if it is true, but today we had a lot of whales; and no rain. As they were humpbacks they were quite lively. Humpback whales are considered the clowns of the whale family and today they did live up to their reputation.
It just looked like this. Photo courtesy, somewhere off the internet.
In the course of the morning, we saw flapping tails, fins beating on the water, rolling bodies and partial and full breaches. One in particular really startled the bridge team by launching him/herself straight up and completely out of the water. Less than half a mile away and 35 tons of volume coming out of the water like a rocket is really impressive. Most of the time, a whale is breaching partially and some of the body stays in the water. Most of the time the tail; but this time we saw it all for a brief second. Then with a nice splash he/she returned back to into the sea. Most of the officers had never seen it happen so close by, and they were all very impressed.
Unfortunately there were hardly any guests around to see it all. You cannot announce this as you do not know when it will happen and when you announce when it happens; it is over before you have time to look at the right spot. Also on the first day of the cruise, things tend to be very quiet on board. Most guests have had a busy and tiring overland tour and they are just glad that they do not have to get out of bed at 06.00 in the morning for yet another bus ride. Then there is the attraction of the Self –Service Laundry’s which also keeps a lot of the guests focused on other things than wild life.
The Self Service Laundry’s here are a mixed blessing. It is a great service for the guests and much appreciated by them but at the same time it is one of the biggest complaint issues we have on board. Simply because there are never enough of them; at least in the eyes of the guests. On a day like today we have at least 500 guests who all want to do their laundry at the same time. As we do not have washing machines in the cabins, that is not possible. So we get queues and then it is all our fault when a guest cannot get at a machine.
With so many people pushing buttons (and some of them very technically challenged) machines break down and then it is our fault again that they do not work. Repairs do take time so it might be a day that a machine is out of order. All in all it gives everybody a real headache. I refuse to get near the Self Service Laundrys at the beginning of a cruise, first as I do not want to hear & watch the heated arguments (never come between Ladies and their laundry basket) and secondly it would be all my fault if somebody would open up somebodies else’s washing machine and dump it all on the ironing board. No, the laundry rooms are definitely no place to be, if you want a peaceful morning.
Tomorrow we will be in Glacier Bay. By that time the guests will have rested, will have done their laundry and be ready for the first highlight of our cruise. The weather looks good, with some haziness in the morning but that should burn off quickly as we are expecting some sun.
More over the restrictions on entering John Hopkins have been lifted. On Sept 1st, the pupping season for the seals officially ended and that means I can go in there. Depending on the ice conditions of course.
September 3, 2013 at 10:01 pm
I never get near the laundry rooms because HAL offers what has got to be the greatest service ever – laundry by the bag or unlimited for the cruise. It means I don’t have to spend my vacation time doing a household chore – that’s one of the things I want a vacation from!
September 3, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Well Captain Albert, allow me add to your whale theory, which I believe to be correct. In August 2003 my wife and I went on a HAL Alaska cruise southbound from Seward to Vancouver. On the Statendam….During the entire week, it rained and the weather was never better than 200 to 300 foot overcast. We never saw a single whale. Not one of my favorite cruises, but I loved the ship.
As this was a reunion cruise for my Air Force Pilot Training class, the weather was secondary to many meetings and reminiscing in the Statendam’s wonderful pubs, and to this day I believe our financial contributions to those establishments are partly responsible for HAL’s health and survival in the cruise industry.
Your faithful blog reader…..Ruud
September 4, 2013 at 9:53 pm
next time you sail, drinks will be on me.
Capt. Albert
September 4, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Can someone tell me why you would need a laundry on the first day of a 7 day cruise, understandable later on a longer cruise. We did a 31 day cruise last year admittedly it didn’t include flying anywhere so there wasn’t a limit on what we brought aboard but neither I nor my wife used the laundry.
Our first time on HAL in a months time, this time flying is involved so limited as to what we can bring and the laundry bag idea seems great unlimited even better does anyone have anymore information.
September 4, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Hello Brian,
these people are coming from 7 to 30 days of sightseeing in the interior. Most of the hotels do not have facilities or by the time people get there it is too late. so here on board, is then the first option.
Thank you for reading my blog
Capt. albert
September 5, 2013 at 12:06 am
Brian, on the Statendam last year and still true as of this writing I believe, the cost of laundry by the bag (about 15×18 inches, big enough to hold 2-4 days worth of clothes for 2 people) is $20, and unlimited is $49 per week/per cabin. Includes folding/hanging and pressing where appropriate. They do a very good job. As I said, one of the BEST ideas HAL has come up with IMO.
I hear it may be a bit more on the bigger ships.
Also, unlimited is free for those in suites and 4-star Mariners and above.
September 5, 2013 at 9:09 am
Thank you Barbara we board Statendam in San Francisco at the beginning of next month, we had already decided that we needed to budget for laundry as we are flying from the UK and have 3 nights in SF before boarding then 32 nights aboard, seems very reasonable I’m fairly sure we will be using that service.