By 9 am the agent was waiting to take me to the Statendam from the hotel. Not much more than 3 blocks from the ship but as it was raining, it was handy as it kept me and my luggage dry. The weather was its regular Alaska self, a steady drizzle interspersed with bigger rain drops with real soaking capability. Luckily Juneau has invested in a large open sided tent on the dock where everybody gathering for a tour can wait and not get totally drenched.
As with all Holland America Line ships a lot of crew stays on the same ship for years. Especially if there are three or more in the same function so they can rotate through. On most ships I have now visited about 40% of the crew know me but here back on my old ship it jumped up to about 70% and that gave a nice homecoming feeling. Master of the ms Statendam is Captain Sybe de Boer who I have also known for a very long time as he was my Chief Officer back in 2001 on the good old Noordam (III).
Talking about the old Noordam (III) while waiting in the lobby at the hotel I came across a model of the Noordam. A builder’s model made by Chantiers de Atlantique were she was built in 1983/84. I knew that model and always wondered what happened to it. Now I wonder how did end up in the Baranof? No good asking the staff as none of those around had been here longer than one or two seasons. If Holland America ever decides to have its own little museum, then it would be nice addition.
As is known, the Statendam and her sister the Ryndam are leaving the HAL fleet in September as they are being transferred to P&O Australia, which is an up and coming company catering to the Australians. It started it with P&O, when they bought Sitmar cruises and they ended up with the Fairstar and the Fairwind that were sailing there. The Fairstar left but the Fairwind = renamed to Fair Princess served the Australian market for a number of years and P&O started to send more and more ships over there. Including the other Sitmar ships which became available when Princess kept adding new ships to the fleet. Eventually the capacity needed was big enough to sustain a more independent brand: P&O Australia was born. Being part of Carnival and being part of the HAL group, it is not much of a far reaching policy to transfer ships within the group where appropriate.
So two of our S class are leaving and they will meet up in Singapore where they both will go through an extensive dry dock to be adapted for the Australian Market. I will see if I can lay my hand on some artist drawings to see what they are planning.
Why am I mentioning all this? As it ties in with what I will do while here on board, as sort of a side job. The inventory of all the Antiques and to estimate the packing up. I did the same when I sailed out the Rotterdam in 1997 and the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2000 so it was not difficult to agree with the Captains request to do this. I can easily find every day an odd hour spare to deal with this. It will be interesting to see what will be the final estimate of value by the time that I am done.
However the good old Statendam is doing what I think the best Alaska cruise there is. A 14 day round trip to Anchorage and back from Seattle, with no change over and quite a few ports which are not that “touristy” yet. For those who try to buy a T- shirt in every port, it might not be ideal, but for those who want to see some real Alaskan ports; this is it. On the Zaandam we called at Haines which would fill the requisition, here we have Icy Strait Point, Kodiak and Homer to make it interesting.
The Statendam will sail tonight at 10 pm. and arrive at Icy strait Point tomorrow morning at 07.00 hrs. This is not really a town but more a location to visit and it is located just South East of the entrance to Glacier Bay.
July 18, 2015 at 7:49 pm
With little time left on this computer I would like to comment only to your paragraph 2 of this entry. Although I don’t know Captain Sijbe de Boer personally, he should know of me from arrivals and departures in Vancouver. The one I do know personally is the Chief Officer/Staff Captain, if he is still on board since the beginning of the season. Would you be so kind as to give him my kind regards Captain. I believe he was working under your command as well after Captain Frans Consen left on leave in the Fall of 2012. He is the one introduced by you from SASSENHEIM!
When the Statendam and the Zaandam arrived on the same day at the beginning of the Alaska season here in Vancouver, the Zaandam got all my attention and I ran to the her side to get my booming “Goeie Morgen” from the Captain there clear out of his Bridge window.
Looking forward to all your interesting findings on the Statendam ……………………….
July 19, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Being booked aboard the Statendam for her final HAL voyage, I am interested in anything that you may learn about the preperations being made on board for the transfer to P & O Australia. It will be interesting to learn the estimated value of the Statendam’s antiques and how long it might take to get everything packed.
Does Captain de Boer know if he will be the Statendam’s Master on that final voyage?
Thank you for your insight and information!
July 19, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Thank you for reading my blog.
No the Captain will be Vincent Smit. Captain Sybe de Boer is assuming a similar position as mine, as Fleet Captain, which means he will go
around the fleet for training and quality control on the navigational / bridge side, as I am doing with everything off the bridge.
Best regards
Capt. Albert
July 20, 2015 at 11:09 am
Here is a link to an Australian Newspaper describing what is in store for the Ryndam and the Statendam:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/holiday-ideas/new-po-cruise-ships-to-set-a-new-benchmark-for-boutique-style/story-fnjjv4qv-1227425230372
August 1, 2015 at 7:50 pm
I am terribly disappointed that Capt. Sybe de Boer will not be on my fourth and final trip on the Elegant Old Lady during my August 24, 2015 trip to Alaska.
My third World Cruise Jan.5 2016 is coming up shortly and I am wondering just who the Captain might be. Any thing further on Capt. de boer would be appreciated, if it is available as to which ship he might be in command.
August 2, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Good morning,
Capt. Sybe de Boer is going shore side for two years as Visiting Fleet Captain to review bridge watchkeeping procedures in the fleet. Sort of the same thing that I do but then off the bridge. I do not know yet who will be the 2016 WC captain, but that should be announced shortly.
Thank you for reading my blog
Captain Albert.