Isla de Margarita is a long and wide island with the place where we have to go in the middle at the South side. Thus the approach takes a while to complete. Coming from the open Caribbean Sea we first sail for 30 miles through a fairly shallow channel and then make a sharp turn into the bay of El Guamache. There is really nothing there, apart from the cargo dock and the tender pier.
The reason that we are calling here is one out of necessity. When Holland America Line came to Isla de Margarita for the first time in the last 80’s, we anchored at Porlamar. This is the main town on the island and a resort in the style of Acapulco. However the anchorage is very open to South Easterly winds and swell. Because of that it was often that we could not operate a tender service as there was too much swell running along the boarding platform. In the end the decision was made to start docking at El Guamache cargo dock. This meant that the guests have to get on a mini bus or go by taxi to Porlamar but at least the can get there, instead of having to look at the area from the ship while it sails by.
When other company’s saw that this worked very well, they also started calling here. Some company’s did this on weekly and all year around cruises. In the same way as it works in Dominica (see blog of 9 Nov.) with docking preference the ship with the higher frequency of calling docks, and the other ship(s) have to anchor. As we are only calling here four times during this winter season, we will have to anchor each time. Every call, the Empress of the Seas (RCI) will dock from 06.00 to 15.00 hrs. and the Holiday Dream (Pullmantur) docks from 15.00 to 22.00 hrs. The holiday Dream comes in at 10 am. and has to use tenders until the Empress leaves.
We were at anchor by 7 am. after having followed the Empress of the Seas through the channel towards the dock. Venezuela is not yet that regulated that the local Coastguard controls the air waves so for most of our journey along the island we had very nice South American music to listen to, broadcasted on VHF channel 16. This VHF 16 is the hailing and emergency channel so in principle not such a good idea but I have to assume that the person transmitting the music was not aware of that.
With the two other ships moving from and to the dock, I was forced to anchor a bit further out, then I really liked. If the Empress had stayed put all day, I could have almost dropped the anchor on the dock and keep the tender ride to a minimum. But that ship was leaving at 15.00 hrs. and had then to go between me and the Holiday Dream, so I had to keep a bit of a distance, thus increasing the tender ride to about 5 minutes.
It was a very windy day but as we anchored in the bay, there were only wavelets but no long waves which you only get over long stretches of open waters. Thus it was not uncomfortable. I had a visit in the morning from the local director of tourism and the harbor master who brought the good news that they are building a cruise ship dock in Porlamar. That will mean that by the end of next year, two ships will be able to dock close to the resort. The Veendam is not coming back to this area next year, as we are doing a 32 day Amazon cruise followed by seven day West Caribbean cruises. However the company might be back in 2009 there as I have not yet seen the sailings schedules for that year.
It being a windy day meant that departure meant doing very little. We raised the anchor and while swinging around on the bow thruster the wind blew us right out of the bay into open waters.
Tomorrow we are in Kralendijk, Bonaire and a piece of my home country in a Caribbean setting.
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