We had a very heavy swell running throughout the night, causing the Prinsendam to pitch heavily. Still the weather remained good for this region and when we docked in Valparaiso it was chilly but wind still and as soon as the sun rose, it became a beautiful day. All around us the port was full of Chilean navy ships, according to the pilot almost the whole fleet was home. With the fuel prices being so high there was not so much money for playing around with these expensive toys and most ships were laid up double and triple thick on the inside of the break water. Although the port is sheltered there is a still a low swell running into the harbour as the long waves are bouncing back from the shore line further to the East. The dock has very strong fenders and thus we are gently moved along the dock all day. The ships rubbing stroke earned its money again.
As we were docked today at a container terminal in Valparaiso, we used the dockside container crane to get the containers off.
Today was a very busy day. This morning we removed the containers from the forward deck as all the work on the new section has been completed. We are now Cruise ship Prinsendam once again, instead of Container ship Prinsendam. We have heavy provisioning today and heavy means all sorts of supplies with approx. 12 containers to be offloaded. That is 300+ pallets. Then we bunkered 500 tons fuel oil, to top the tanks up. We are off loading the last of the garbage that came out of the new section (plastics and other packing materials, carpet and left over’s from the wall paneling) basically everything that we cannot recycle ourselves onboard or cannot be burned in our incinerator. Then there was water loading, sludge removal and in between we had over 350 guests on tour so it was extremely busy in, on and around the ship.
With the containers off the ship, the forward deck is free again and so the sailors painted the deck where the three containers had been welded to the ship. Welded, so that they would not move in bad weather. We still have a lot of “touch up” to do in various places and as soon as the sailors are finished with the new section (today there are placing the deck furniture) this will be taken in hand. The rest of the deck department was busy with the inspectors of Lloyds Register. Before the new cabins are allowed to be occupied, Lloyds Register has to verify that all the emergency systems and P.A speakers are working so that in a case of an emergency, announcements can be made.
In the meantime I am worrying about Isla Robinson Crusoe. The weather is very un-predictable there and it is a 37 hour sea voyage across the Pacific Ocean. The Amsterdam who is 14 days ahead of us had to cancel their call as it was blowing wind force 12 but “bumped” all the way over there and then ”bumped” all the way back without getting even close. It is not my intention to do the same. If their weather had been truly horrible then I would have opted for going straight down to the Chilean Inside Passage and do some more sightseeing instead of enduring three days of bad weather for nothing at all. However the weather looks good, so we will be going there. It might still change for the worst but the weather pattern for the coming days indicated gentle to moderate breezes from the North West, and that might just be what we need. Keeping my fingers crossed.
As promised here some photos from the new cabins. There are basically three variations. The balcony cabins, the four large inside cabins and the two large inside handicapped cabins. The inside cabins are really inside cabins with no daylight. The handicapped cabins are as far as I know are the biggest ones in the fleet and will go down very well with the guests.
All in all I think that the new cabins are a great addition to the ship and as the new addition does not really spoil the outside look of the Prinsendam, I am really pleased with it.
One of the new Balcony Cabins.
One of the four big inside cabins.
Bathroom; same for the inside cabin as the balcony cabin
The inside handicapped cabin looking aft.
Handicapped Inside cabin looking towards the bathroom.
The spacious handicapped Bathroom
And how to get there, the portside corridor looking aft.
February 5, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I bet you and the passengers are happy that this construction is over. The cabins are beautiful.
February 5, 2010 at 3:29 pm
The new rooms look nice. I hope the passengers are pleased.
February 5, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Oi Captain, thank you very much for a beautiful picture of your Prinsendam in full, unobstructed profile view posted by your Chief Engineer on 3 February! Fortunately, her graceful lines have not been destroyed for the sake of more cabins. She actually looks like she’s become sleeker in form. No doubt, some of your veteran cruisers can heave a sigh of relief that she’s not changed into a clumpy, aft heavy dame. Can she still surf the way she did before, Captain?
February 5, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Enjoying “riding along” with you on this voyage, Capt. Sounds like a great itinerary! Thanks for the pics; FYI, there are 4 former Dutch Navy/Koninklijke Marine frigates within the current Armade de Chile; Almirante Latorre (FFG-14), ex-HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck, Capitan Prat (FFG-11), ex-HNLMS Witte de With, Almirante Blanco Encalada (FF-15), ex-HNLMS Abraham van der Hulst and Almirante Riveros (FF-18), ex-HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes
February 6, 2010 at 4:39 am
Thanks so much for your postings! My stepmother, Brenda Sullivan, is so excited to be on this trip with you. We love being able to follow along your travels and talk about it with the kids. She has 9 grands!! Tomorrow, Feb 6, is her birthday. If you haven’t met her yet hope you meet her soon. You won’t forget her. She is one in a million. Safe travels. I will be meeting her in Buenos Aires when you dock there!