By 2 am. in the morning we had our Lady pilot on board and sailed into Tampa Bay. There was no opposing traffic this time and thus we could keep up our speed and made good progress towards the dock. The wind, although strong, was from the North North East and that meant that it would be almost directly on the bow during docking and thus not a matter of concern as it would cause no drift. The rest of the day was nice and sunny weather with just a quick shower before departure but luckily after the passenger boatdrill.
I have been coming to Tampa on a regular basis since 1984, so I know most of the pilots very well and that makes it easy to cooperate. I know the way they perform their dutys and they know that I am very familiar with the port, so that what ever I do with the ship, it is done to support them. The Tampa bay pilots go by numbers, Units they call themselves. The confusing bit is that when Unit One retires, unit two becomes unit one and three becomes two. So every season, I have to try to figure out who is unit 16 or unit 22 when all the units have moved up a bit. The past year saw quite a few retirements and thus everybody moved a few steps up, with the new pilots being added to the list in the higher numbers. Even for the pilots themselves it is confusing and they sometimes have to consult the list to see who is which number. As a matter of fact their numbering is a little bit off at the moment. In January a pilot retired but by that time the pilot books & current tables had already been printed and thus the numbering system for each pilot. To avoid further confusion, there is now a gap, a missing unit, until coming December when the new pilot book comes out. So number 18 is at the moment, really number 17 etc. Looking at it another way, it is a nice tradition to have something like that and traditions do not always have to make sense. We have a lot of traditions in the Shipping Industry that do not make sense at all and nobody wants to let go of them, although the bean keepers are always trying. Either to save money or to streamline “the process”, whatever that process might be.
A familiar sight for us, the Tampa pilot boat delivering or picking up the pilot.
So, we were happily docked by 5.30 am. and by 6 am Customs and Border Protection was ready to start the processing of all the guests and crew. As we are docking at terminal 3, the clearance is done in the terminal which means that the guests leave the ship, go through passport control and then pick up their luggage, similar to when you enter the USA by plane.
Thus the guests have to wait until all the luggage is off the ship and coming from a 36 day cruise, there was a lot of luggage. However we are blessed with very good longshoremen in Tampa and they work very quickly and efficiently. I have been to other ports where it was much more of an issue. So just after docking, the crew is the first to go to immigration; those who have joined the ship after the ship had left the last US port. The remainder of the crew will see CBP every 90 days for a full crew inspection. As I had joined the Veendam in Aruba, I had to go as well and so it was 7 am. when I was finally back in bed after having gotten up at midnight.
By 10 am. I was running around again as I wanted to inspect a few cabins and balconies to see the state of maintenance. Something you cannot do when there are guests inside. Due to the fact that during the up/down on the Amazon we could not wash any salt off of the hull, rust spots were starting to appear that need attention. However we have a challenge on our hands as in Mexico we are not allowed to do any maintenance at all to the outside of the ship and the coming cruise we are sold out, which makes access to any cabin difficult. Part of the sell-out has to do with having a part Jazz charter coming on board with 200 aficionados.
By 5 pm. we sailed from the dock on our first cruise of the Caribbean season, heading for Key West. Tonight the USA goes to winter time and so do we. So one extra hours sleep for all, except the dog shift.
November 2, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Greetings!
I have to ask about pilot stations. Where are they actually located? I am sure for security reasons you cannot give exact locations, but in your posts you always talk about coming to the pilot station at several hours before docking?
Are these out in the open water somewhere on board a ship? Do they come out from shore to meet you? Like will one take the pilot boat all the way from Tampa to meet you at 2AM or is their station somewhere in western Florida?
Thanks!
November 2, 2008 at 12:39 pm
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November 3, 2008 at 8:48 am
Greetings Captain Albert,
My nine year old son and I have been reading your blog for several months now, ever since discovering it through Cruise Critic. We are sailing with you next week (Nov 9-16th). Do you ever do tours of the non-public areas for children? Also, if you need some dinner companions during this sailing just give us a ring- we promise to be very entertaining 🙂
Monique
December 3, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Captain Albert:
Didn’t know you had returned to sea after your last vacation. So this afternoon I casually checked your website, and read all your blogs since you rejoined the Veendam in Aruba. Had planned to replace the brake pads on my car this afternoon but that didn’t happen. Instead I read with fascination your observations about the Amazon “expedition” and blew the afternoon away. You re a great writer and provide wonderful “behind the scene” insight. We sailed with you and the Veendam last year on the Montreal-Tampa cruise, and competed in the “build a ship” competition. Rest assured I will tune in regularly from now on, and especially when you join the “Prinsendam”
Ruud Hartog, Tampa, Florida