Well, the North Westerly wind that started to blow on departure from Tampa had one advantage, it sped the ship up by an additional knot and it created a wind still situation on deck as the ship was going as fast as the wind was blowing. Pleasant for the guests on the outside decks and good for the fuel consumption of the ship. As this was the second frontal system coming from the North West it affected the prevailing currents and for once to our advantage.

By the afternoon we were nearing the coast of Cuba, were the Gulf Stream turns from the Caribbean Sea into the Straits of Florida and we did not notice anything. We kept our regular speed. Normally the Gulf Stream runs against us for about 4 to 5 hours, slowing down the ship by anything from 1 to 4 knots but this time nothing. We kept our xtra “wind knot” and never noticed the Gulf Stream or the West Caribbean current that normally runs North West under Cuba. It seemed that the two frontal systems really upset the regular Caribbean current flow.

We are tomorrow in Grand Cayman and that is going to be interesting as with a North Westerly wind, the swell normally runs into the port and the ships have to cancel. Only if the frontal system dissipates during the night, or the wind veers to the North or North East in time, we might stand a chance. There is an alternative to downtown; and that is Spotts bay, 6 miles to the East on the south side of the island. It only has a small tender pier and is located in the middle of nowhere. The location and setup for multiple ships is far from ideal. So we will see.

We will be in tomorrow with four other ships. Carnival Valor, Carnival Legend, Norwegian Majesty, Grandeur of the Seas and us. That means about 12500 guests ashore not counting the crew. I hope they have stocked up on sufficient T-shirts in the shops. All the ships are arriving at about the same time and so we met three of them while rounding Cabo San Antonio. Cabo S.A. is the most Western point of Cuba and as all ships that want to get out or into the NW Carib have to go around this Cape, a Vessel Traffic Separation Scheme has been established. In the chart it looks just like a highway with a northbound lane and a southbound lane. With the arrival times being 6, 7, 8 and 9 am. respectively we formed one convoy of “cruise ship glamour” going around the corner. There was one little yacht sitting just south of the Cape and the British owner (I assume so, as he spoke with a very plum voice) was most amused to see all those “gin palaces” parading by his little yacht. The yacht was a bit far-away, so I could not see if he was standing to attention on his bow, taking the salute. British gents are always keen on parades and things. He sounded quite chuffed on the VHF; about us sailing past his boat.

Except the Grandeur, which was coming from somewhere else, we all nicely rounded the corner in the right lane and lined up for Grand Cayman, with the two Carnival ships charging ahead. They remain on Miami time, so when they arrive at 6 am. tomorrow morning, it is on board already 7 am. and thus “the troops” will be ready to go ashore. Their tours start early and that is the first wave coming of the ships, followed around 8 – 9 am. the T shirt and Beach crowd. Those ships sail early as well as they have to get to Cozumel on time, which is a very tight run, if there is no sea day in between.

I closed off the evening with the Welcome on board champagne toast and had a rowdy crowd during the 2nd intro’s. So things are looking good for the cruise.