Due to the distance from Grand Turk we cannot arrive here much earlier than noon time in San Juan and that is what we did. We arrived at the pilot station at 10.30am and were docked an hour later. Official arrival time is noon time but most captains try to be a little bit earlier to ensure that the clearance time needed by the authorities is not eating into the shore time of the guests. It worked out this time and just after 12 noon there was the dong-dong for all ashore that is going ashore. Already in port was the Norwegian Gem and the Aida Vita. The Navigator of the Seas came in around 2 pm. Not a bad day for those earning their money in tourism. Roughly just under 11,000 guests going ashore.
The Aida bike tour gathering. I wonder how the local drivers will cope with such a throng of bikes. Not a usual sight in San Juan.
The Aida Vita is docked next to us and we could see their bicycle shore excursion going off. All Aida ships have bikes on board, some of them have over 200 and it is wildly popular among the Germans. They do biking tours in every port as far as I know, maybe with the exception of Russia. I find it fascinating to see this, especially as the whole thing is organized with German “Grundlichkeit” or thoroughness. They have an official “Fahrrad Meister” on board. This is a function you could translate into bicycle manager but it is much more as the German word “Meister” also encompasses the quality of being an expert. This function is responsible for the whole operation in regards to the bikes. Going off the ship, back on the ship and the tour in-between. I assume that there is also a dedicated bicycle repairman on board as with so many bikes it is not something an engineer can do just on the side.
When the ship docks, all these bikes have to be brought ashore and I have seen them doing 150 bikes in 10 minutes. As it was such a startling sight to see these bikes pouring out at such a high tempo from the ships break door, I walked over (this was in Bergen Norway about two years ago) and asked how this worked so well. The answer was, we train. So they had dedicated training to carry 150 bikes ashore in 10 minutes to ensure that the gangway was not unduly blocked and the tours could leave on time. Just amazing.
The port has a narrow entrance but a large central basin which branches off to the various dock areas,
San Juan is a fairly easy port to enter, with just one challenge, the wind. The port is under the constant influence of the Trade Wind, which when enhanced by a weather front, can easily blow up to wind force 8. The problem is that wind is full on the ps. beam when entering the port and full on the sb. beam when docking. When the wind is pushing you off track the course compensation you need to apply makes it sometimes look as if you are entering port under a totally wrong angle. The bow is aiming straight for the Fortress on the eastern shore and the middle of the ship is on track in the fairway. It makes life a bit more interesting but it can scare the guests who are watching the approach.
Today we had about 30 knots of easterly winds in open water, about 25 knots when we passed the Fortress at the entrance and then it came down to between 10 to 15 knots in the harbor. So not much of a problem for a powerful ship such as the Westerdam and we docked without much of issue at Pier 4 West. San Juan has a number of dedicated docks for cruise ships. Pier one is mainly used as an overflow and for the smaller ships, Pier two is currently not there, Pier three is for the mega liners and Pier four is for everything which fits in and that was us as well today.
The weather was clearing up and the sun came out. There was still a lot of rain in the air but it was mainly hanging over the Forest to the south. Tomorrow might be a different story as there is a band of rain clouds in the area and thus Ch. Amalie, St Thomas might offer a rainy shopping day. That port is just around the corner and therefore we can leave tonight at 11 pm. Even then it only takes about 12 knots to get there for a normal arrival time. I hope it will be dry, at least in the port as rain, even warm rain, is not much fun and most of the crew has safety drill tomorrow and standing on deck in the rain is even less fun.
November 18, 2015 at 10:00 am
Thank you so much for these reports. We have done this cruise twice and will be aboard the Westerdam again in 16 days. The insights you give us here are just going to make our cruise a better experience. Ben was in the US Navy, and he especially enjoys your posts. Will you still be aboard the Westerdam in early December?? We have a Meet & Greet on December 6th at 11:30 in the Crows Nest. I know that ships personnel no longer come to these events – but, oh my, how exciting it would be if you stopped by.
Fair winds and following seas,
Susan & Bennett
November 18, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Thank you for reading my blog.
Yes I will be on board. You will see me probably running around with six students in tow. I cannot promise but I have written the time down so I will try to pop up for a few moments.
Best regards
Capt. Albert
November 18, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Dear Capt. Albert, As we have been doing annual cruises now on these wonderful “DAM” ships, I have become a fan of your always insightful blogs. A year ago last April, we visited Grand Turk on the Veendam and visited a small museum that has remnants of a sunken ship carbon dated to the late 1500’s found at the site that logs of Columbus’ journeys provide additional indications it is likely remains of the Pinta. As a mariner, you may also find this interesting, if your duties would ever give you the time to visit. Your blogs always bring back fond memories and understanding and appreciation for the great jobs the entire crew is doing, beyond that of the crew we do get the pleasure of meeting. Smooth sailings
Dave & Alice Kenat, Billings, Montana
November 18, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Thank you for reading my blog.
I did not know that. I just know that the dispute about which island was the Columbus landing side is very fierce and by no means settled. But yes, I will try to walk over there to see what it is.
Best regards
Capt. Albert
November 18, 2015 at 5:45 pm
Capt.
Can the approach into San Juan, as you described, be compared to the approach into Willemstad, Curacao under windy conditions? I remember one such approach on Maasdam where I thought for sure we were going to make a brand new entrance into the south side of Fort Amsterdam however, at the last minute, the captain straightened her out for a precise entry into Sint Annabaai 🙂 Thanks for your time!
November 19, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Hello Copper,
Good to hear from you again. Yes it is almost similar, although Willemstad has more current than wind in the early mornings, but the approach is the same. The ship goes in under angle to compensate for the wind, so the hull of the ship is where it is supposed to be, but it just looks like as if the bow is heading directly for the shore side and whatever is on it.
Best regards
Capt. Albert