Dry Dock mode. A few years ago. 😁 Once in a while a ship must enter a Dry Dock. A dry dock is a place where the ship will stay for a certain period for maintenance, repairs, new constructions, and inspections which can only take place when the ship is out of service (off-hire). There are international requirements in regards to how often certain types (and … Continue reading When a ship enters Dry Dock.
The picture was shot by Chief Engineer Arvid Joakimsen, and sent to me. In parts one and two, I talked about the Engine Department and the Deck department. And in this part I will write about the by far biggest department onboard, the Hotel Department. After all, as already mentioned, it is a hotel on keel. With all the different types … Continue reading The various jobs on a cruise ship, part III.
Seabourn Pride at anchor in Halong bay. After we had been to Halong Bay and finished with South East Asia, which had included Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, it was time for the final leg of this absolutely amazing (and everyone’s favourite) cruise. And for me, being in this part of the world for the first time in my life, it was … Continue reading The journey continued to Hong Kong.
At anchor overnight in Halong bay. The town of Hon Gai in front of us. Then we were heading to a place I really had been looking forward to. The world famous Halong Bay (or Ha Long bay), in northern Vietnam. A bay dotted with small and big islets which seem to have been growing up from the bottom a long time ago. I … Continue reading Halong Bay, Vietnam.
Local dock workers having a break. We had just visited the exciting city of Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, which is the official name, and heading down the Saigon river again. And next stop would be the city of Da Nang, a big fishery port and later on a stop in the commercial port of Haiphong, in the northern part of Vietnam. And once again, exciting … Continue reading To DaNang, and a stop in Haiphong, Vietnam.
I had just visited Thailand for the first time in my life, and what an experience that had been. Amazingly enough, it was more or less what I expected, the good and the bad included. Having read a lot about Thailand before we got there, since I have always been a History & Geography Buff. But still, so many new impressions to take in, and to … Continue reading Vietnam next.
To exotic Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. I even got a tan. After a very stressful day in Singapore, where we would have a “turn around” day regularly for the next 4 months, with change of pax (and some crew), spare parts received, provisions received, and services, it was time to start a new cruise. It is normally a bit tired crew after such a … Continue reading To exotic Thailand
My home away from home. We were now finally arrived in Singapore, after an amazing cruise crossing the Indian ocean, and this port would be one of the regular Turnaround ports (or Embarkation ports), for the next few months, alternating with Hong Kong. Depending which side of the Singapore Strait we would operate in. Because one of the cruises will take us on the north-western … Continue reading Turnaround Port.
Happy as can be. In the last part I talked about we leaving the Mediterranean, and sailed in convoy through the Suez Canal, into the Red Sea, with a stop in Safaga, and later on Djibouti which was a shocker to experience. Then we sailed through the Gulf of Aden, which a few years later would be an infamous place to pass through due to all the … Continue reading To South-East Asia
A new career. Seabourn Pride After more than 20 years in the cruise industry, I remember several of my friends and family members asked me, how is it, to have this kind of job, and how come I left the Navy after 11 years to pursue a career in the cruise industry. I left the Navy basically because the Cold War was … Continue reading A new career
The Traveller 