06 July 2015; To Seward and back, Alaska.

The cruise of the Zaandam terminates in Seward at least for those who go home or go overland. I found out during the changeover in Seward that we had about 200 on board who are making the cruise back down to Vancouver as well. That cruise is nearly the same except for calling at Haines instead of Skagway.  Holland America has been going to Seward since the early 1990’s when the Rotterdam V initiated the service. Our company opted for Seward because Whittier, just around the corner, was much more of a blowhole than Seward. It has not been unknown for the ships there to be delayed in arrival because the weather was just too inclement. Courtesy of the fact that the Whittier dock is much more exposed.

Seward is located deep in a fjord and when it blows, then it is mostly north to south, that is in line with the dock, and that makes the chance of docking for 99% certain. I believe in all the years it has only been once that a HAL ship could not dock and that was with the old Rotterdam.  Being a steam ship she was still to a certain extent relying on tugboats and during that one call, the wind was just under the wrong angle, and just too strong for tug and ship together.  Luckily in Seward there is the option to drop anchor just off the dock and that is what we did. Then we just tendered everybody ashore.  Not an easy task in a turn over port, getting the 1000 guests ashore was just regular work but bringing approx. 3000 pieces of luggage ashore with the lifeboats was another thing. (And then of course the same amount back on board again)

We managed the whole operation by having 4 big lifeboats in the water and towing them 2 by 2 with the motor lifeboats 1 &2 ashore. The good old Rotterdam still had rowing lifeboats by means of a Fleming gear system. Which meant that they had to be towed for this short of operation. Ashore we had devised a clever system with a cage attached to a fork lift to overcome the tidal problem in Seward. The tide is on average 10 feet and with high water you might be able to hand a suitcase ashore but at low water that option does not work.  I remember the longshoremen were not too happy about the sudden change in procedures. Going from a cosy conveyor belt operation to lift and stretch with heavy suitcases. But contract is contract so they moaned and groaned as only longshoremen can. I somehow have the suspicion that there are special Moan, Groan and Curse classes given at the Longshoremen Academy, and it sounded as if they were sitting for their final exam. I think it was blowing wind force 8 or 9 for most of the day but as we were anchored so close to the shore, the wind could not whip up any waves and we could run a perfectly nice and smooth operation.

Thus while Princess favors Whittier, Holland America has happily stayed in Seward. Then Princess showed up for a few seasons with a Saturday ship and then disappeared again. I have never found out if they did not like Seward or that the Saturday routine did not work.  Then for a number of years Celebrity and RCI were there as well, calling on Sundays the same as we did and still do. But now they are also gone and we have the dock to ourselves again.

There is more than one dock here. To the right of the Railroad dock, where we dock, is a small dock, used by barges which bring in the supplies and to the left is the Coal dock where every so often a Japanese Bulk carrier arrives to fill up with coal coming from the interior.  Then there is a large Marina near the town of Seward, wildly popular in the summer when the fishing season is open.  Also for them there is the advantage of Resurrection Bay being nice and sheltered.

Most of the summer there is very little wind but that changes quickly near the end of August. For those who watched “The deadliest catch” know that can be very spooky here. The headache for any HAL captain is that we have to go to Seward whatever it takes, because it is a change over port. If we do not arrive, or arrive late then we endanger the operation of  30 or 40 overland tours by bus, train or other means; and we endanger those who have to fly home to go back to work again. Deviating to Anchorage, Kodiak, Homer or Whittier has no use as those places have the same weather, most of the time even worse than sheltered Seward.

So we have to be clever then about what to do. More about that tomorrow. In the mean time we have made our change over call in Seward and are now heading back to Glacier Bay sailing over a flat and very smooth Gulf of Alaska.