Thus we started our Trans Atlantic crossing by leaving Cadiz on a wind still and moonlight night. The Cadiz pilot had already forecast that Cadiz was in for some rain and we saw that rain clouds were gathering at the horizon; early this morning it also came over the Prinsendam, courtesy of the tail end of a weather system that is moving over the North of Spain. However that weather system was going North East and we were going South West and logic demands that eventually you have to run out of it and that we did by noon time. The accompanying winds of force 6 to 7 disappeared as well and by late afternoon it was wind still and sunny. Also the predicted forecast of about 8 feet of swell proved to be true and thus the Prinsendam moved steadily through the ocean with just the slightest hint of pitching. It is always nice when the weather follows the weather forecast especially if it is a good forecast.

Since 8 November we have being calling at port after port, except two extra sea days, imposed upon us by the weather when I had to cancel Naples and Aleghro. Thus the cruise director had to keep a bit of a low key with all his entertainment programs as the days were filled with shore side adventures. However now with the sea days coming Thom Faulkner can really let himself go and make sure that the Prinsendam offers the best of what is available at Holland America. As a result of this focus, the times changes that we will do are tuned into the Hotel program in the best way possible. If we would follow the logic of the navigator, we would have done one hour back upon departure Cadiz so that we were sailing in line with the time meridians and the pace of the rising sun. However we try to do the “hours back” when it coincides with a formal night or another important evening event. Thus it was decreed by the Hotel manager that the hour back, needed to get onto Madeira time, will take place tonight when it is formal night. The result of course is that the ship “runs ahead” of the sun and that meant that is was still dark at 8 am in the morning. The overcast sky did not help and so it remained gloomy until about 9 am. Not that it caused much of a problem, as most of our guests were still in bed anyway, recovering from a full day Cadiz.

I had the look-outs (the quartermasters) on the bridge on high alert as we were passing through an area frequented by whales. Fin whales are quite common here and as they are not as exuberant as Hump back whales, we have to pay close attention. Also whale spouts are not always that clearly visible in the choppy waves hence everybody on the bridge was peering constantly not only to the horizon, to spot ships, but also into the waves to see whales. We spotted a few but they behaved themselves and nicely passed on our port side. I always like to announce sightings of whales but I only do it if I am fairly certain that a: the untrained eyes of the guests can find them and b: that they will not dive under by the time I have pointed them out. With Fin whales, that is not that easy as you cannot see the dive coming. With humpbacks you know that when the tail goes up, the whale goes under. Also when they surface they normally stay up for some time to catch their breath before they take their next dive. Fin whales are not that predictable and that makes me very careful in deciding to grab the mike of the PA system and start making noise.

The other whale that is easy to predict is the Blue Whale, the biggest animal in the world, which just does it own thing, even when a big ship comes zipping by. However we seldom see them.

The afternoon gave sunshine and the weather forecast for tomorrow indicates a mixture of sunshine, clouds and showers. We are docking at the inside of the breakwater as the cruise terminal of Funchal is reserved for the Aida Blue. She carries a lot more passengers but is also staying overnight and thus gets the prime berth. Not that I personally mind, as the breakwater is much quicker to arrive and to depart from.