Today a relaxing sea day. We are sailing along the Portuguese and Spanish coast towards our next port of call Hendaye, in France. This morning at 08.30 we passed Cape Finisterre and changed course to the East as we came North of Spain. The weather changed noticeably the moment we came around this Cape. Here currents come together and also the weather gets more under the influence of the North Atlantic. Thus, although the sun was shining, it was quite cool outside. However as there was no wind, it was a very pleasant day. While the guests had a nice relaxing day, this was of my busiest days as far as non navigational activities were concerned.
Here a breakdown in the sea day of the life of a HAL cruise ship captain.
07.30 Go to bridge to check on ships progress. Is the ship still going the right way? Are we making sufficient speed? Is the weather doing what the forecast predicted…?
07.45 Check the aft deck for Independence Day. (See below)
08.00 Open up the computer and read the night reports and any other emails generated during the night.
08.30 Put two sailors to work who are working on a locker cleaning project in the ship.
08.40 Get my wife out of bed for breakfast.
09.10 Meeting with the Ships Operations Clerk whom I am teaching how to deal with seaman’s books, Dutch mustering and enrollment
09.50 Crew announcement for the Filipino Independence day.
10.00 Flag ceremony
June 12, is the National day of the Philippines, when they celebrate the 111th year of Independence. On all the Hal ships, and hopefully also on other ships, there is a ceremony to commemorate this. Before that (see my Naples blog on 4 June) there were competitions and last night there was a big party as well. Today was the official part. Although it is up the crew to organize this themselves I like to decide where they do it, otherwise they are bound to select the wrong area and everybody gets blown off the deck by the wind. Today there was no wind, only the breeze generated by the ships speed, so it was perfectly calm on the aft deck.
The ceremony consists of an official announcement, raising the flag, singing the national anthem, a toast and a short speech by the captain. I always like the officers to attend as well, out of respect to their fellow crewmembers and they always do. See attached a few photos from the event.
Everybody nicely lined up around the red carpet.
The toast, on freedom forever.
The Speech on behalf of the company and the ships complement.
Photo courtesy: Crew purser Andrea Consentini.
10.20 Green tea (I do not drink coffee) on the bridge
10.30 Welcoming the new crew that joined yesterday in Lisbon
10.45 Meet and greet Mariners for their luncheon, the first group plus speech.
11.15 Clean out my computer again from emails. Answer emails from Bordeaux, Dover, Amsterdam and Greenwich, which are the four coming ports of call.
11.40 Heeeeee…….., I’ve got 30 minutes spare. Time to write my draft blog of yesterday.
12.15 Medal ceremony repeat guests
12.50 Voice from the bridge
13.00 Sit down for the Mariners lunch
14.00 Work on appraisal form for CO going home. Sign others
15.00 Clean out the email on the computer
15.30 Poke my nose in a cruise critic meeting that I received an invite for.
15.50 Check the bridge
16.00 Take a nap until 17.30
17.45 Check the bridge
18.00 Cleaning out emails and calling the office in regards to an upcoming audit.
1845 – 1945 Formal night captains photo shoot in atrium approx. 60% of the photos taken sell, which makes me the highest photo revenue generator on the ship. (No commission though…………………)
1945 – 22.15 Cocktails and table in the dining room with guests and my wife.
22.20 Check the bridge; write in the night order book, standby for me will be 0600 tomorrow morning. Upload my blog.
23.00 Kiss the wife good night. & turn out the light.
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