Today was our regular day at sea. This is also the last day of the cruise and with all the activities that go with it. It was a windy but sunny day and most guests were either out in the sun or enjoying what the daily program was offering.
Let me give you an oversight what a captain does on a day like this also taking into account the issues we had this cruise.
07.00 Wake up call
07.15 – 07.30 Briefing by the senior navigator about the past night and current progress of the voyage.
07.30 – 07.45 Discussion with Chief engineer about past nights speed performance and plans for Tampa.
07.45 – 08.15 Reading and Deleting emails on computer.
08.15 – 08.45 Breakfast and writing daily blog
09.00 – 09.30 Crew meeting.
09.30 – 10.00 Checking and signing engine room logs (engine daily log, oil record book, grey water log)
10.00 – 10.30 Coffee on the bridge and meeting with navigators for arrival Tampa.
10.30 – 11.00 Making report for Head office in regards to speed/shaft behavior past night.
11.15 – noon time Mariner’s Society meeting. 600 of them this cruise.
Noon – 12.25 Pulling weather forecasts of the internet. Good, no wind in Tampa.
12.25 – 12.45 Welcoming Suite guests to Suite luncheon in the crows nest.
12.45 – 13.00 Writing the voice from the bridge additional information.
13.00 – 13.15 Voice with the cruise director.
13.15 – 14.00 Lunch.
14.00 – 14.30 Reading and deleting emails
14.30 – 15.00 Discussion with the chief officer. Topics:paint and officer appraisals.
15.00 – 15.30 Tea time on bridge. Observing junior navigator.
15.30 – 16.00 Installing painting (received in Tampa last week for 25 years of calling) with the ships carpenters. As it is done in a public area, it needs my approval.
16.00 – 16.30 Thinking about and writing a newly wed speech
16.30 – 17.00 Talking to the chief Engineer about Tampa. Bunkering, spares etc.
17.00 – 17.30 Rreading and deleting emails. Uploading blog. Checking weather.
17.30 – 18.00 On the bridge, chief engineer wants to test the bow thruster while sailing.
18.00 – 18.30 Crew meeting and discussion with Hotelmanager
18.30 – 19.15 Dinner
19.30 – 20.15 Renewals of the wedding vows. One couple was supposed to get married in Key West and I had to cancel the call. So I did an amended “Renewals” for them. Oldest couple who was renewing the vows had been married for 50 years.
20.15 – 20.30 Leaving night orders for approach to Tampa Seabuoy.
20.30 – Off to bed. I will be called at midnight for a six hour standby, sailing into Tampa bay.
Not mentioned: on and off the bridge in between to keep an eye on things. Who said that life was dull on a cruise ship…………………
November 25, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Capt. two questions when/if you have time:
Are all bridge officers navigators?
Does testing the bow thruster while sailing affect the ship’s heading, course or speed?
Thanks much/Dankuwel
November 26, 2007 at 11:20 am
“Who said life was dull on a cruise ship?” ….. certainly not us, captain!
And from what I have read in the CC rollcall, your 14 days out of Tampa this time will be anything but dull. It sounds like you will have on board a worldly-wise bunch of Holland of America cruise veterans who certainly know how to party and probably have enough experience between them to take over the ship if you should find yourself under the weather any day.
I do hope that you manage to keep them firmly in line, that your prop shaft wobbles are resolved, the weather stays sunny & calm and that you don’t encounter any rogue icebergs on your travels.