02 November 2012; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.

They were fully awake in the port; and at the correct time the pilot boat came speeding out of the port. On board hopped a pilot who was all excited about our visit and the prospect of having breakfast on board. After the master – pilot conference, during which we decided that the ship would be in good shape, if I kept it in the middle of the fairway, we sailed into the port. As explained yesterday, the lifeboat and davit committee had requested a starboard side docking and that meant making a swivel maneuver. The approach course to the port is 292o then when inside the breakwater you make a turn to 017o, and then a sharp turn back to port to 270o.  (When you go portside alongside it is 292o, a continuous turn inside the breakwater to 090o and then backing up to the dock). That happens of course with slow speed, while the pilot keeps two tugboats buzzing around the ship. Officially “to assist” but I think they are more concerned with avoiding ships from run aground and block their beautiful port. Everybody has their priorities of course.

My priority was to be docked by 05.00 hrs so that the Tikal flight tour could leave at sunrise. The tours are the main reason why we are docking here, as our whole cruise is built around Middle American culture, from the Mayans, to the Spanish, to the Mexicans. For the non touring guests there is a little shopping village outside the gate, complete with local shows and a café that can keep you occupied for awhile. This morning the place was inspected by my Lord and Master and given the approval that “it was quite a nice place”. For somebody who has been nearly everywhere in the last 30 years, that is quite a statement of approval.

So I made the swivel maneuver and parked as scheduled alongside the cruise terminal. This dock has a centre pontoon that floats and thus the gangway height is always the same. Unfortunately the pontoon is quite low, so we have to install a ramp under it and then list the ship to starboard to reduce the steepness of the gangway. That made us look for the whole duration of our stay, as if we had ballasting problems but it is the only way to create a safe situation for the multitude of scooters, rollators and wheelchairs we have on board this cruise. Due to the large numbers of guests who are doing the cruise back to back, and thus do not have to fly, we have an increased number of guests with mobility challenges, who have a hard time getting in and out of a plane, but who are still agile enough to “roll- on /roll-off a cruise ship. Hence we cannot use a gangway with steps.  If we have to then we have a real challenge on our hands, or sometimes refuse guests from going ashore, as it is not a safe option to do so. In most cases we can solve the issue by listing the ship and if the ship then looks like a bit strange for the day, so be it.

We got an exciting piece of news today, the good ship Statendam won the NCWS (National Cruise Week Sale) from the whole fleet. Our cruise consultants managed to make the most bookings, assisted by the whole ship in getting the guests in the cruise mood.  That netted us $ 1000,– for the crew fund, which we hope to use for a crew event during  the 30 day south pacific cruise. We do not know if the guests will actually follow up on their initial booking, but the feel good factor of the Statendam, must have helped. Plus the prizes that were raffled off, one including having a private dinner with the captain & big boss. I have just found out that these guests booked the “voyage of the Vikings” on the Maasdam, which is again a loop- cruise, where you board and disembark in the same port.    

Lake Nicaragua is one of the reasons why a alternative to the Panama Canal was planned here. See the blue bit under the red line of the proposed canal.

Tomorrow will be a restful sea day, followed by a partial sea day as we have the evening call at Fuerte Amador. The morning will be windy as we will be passing Lake Nicaragua, where we have a similar outflow as the tehantepec wind near Huatlaco. It will be less strong because the gap in the mountain range, courtesy of Lake Nicaragua, is much wider.