Alaska

Back in Alaska

26 Comments

After a prolonged absence, I return to the blog.  Since last posting, (it seems like an age ago), I have been keeping busy; time in Europe, training and U.K. with family and a of course, some time in Florida.  It has been quite disjointed, flitting hither and thither……

My ‘training’ was at our Training Centre outside Amsterdam, a town called Almere.  I’ve mentioned it before on these pages; on this occasion I was doing a course on ‘Ship Handling’.  I was dubious about this before going there; after all, I have been handling ships since 1982.  As is transpired, after many years of handling Azipod-drive ships, I returned to ‘conventional’ with rudders, twin-screw and thrusters.  In my case, my ‘sim’ was a Costa Cruise line vessel, 135,000 tonnes.  During the week, I and the officers with me were put through numerous scenarios.  I had to confess that I enjoyed it immensely.  Simulators have come a long way since I first experienced one.  One is totally absorbed into the complexities within minutes of walking into one, they are so realistic.  While another team conducted their exercise, I took the opportunity to whip out the iPhone, so, for your delectation, some visuals of the sim.  The first is taken in the ‘control’ room; the room in which the adjudicators/instructors sit and the 2nd is in the sim itself.  The scene is from Port Everglades, (Fort Lauderdale), complete with a Delta airline aircraft on final approach, they think of everything!

 

Having come away from my course it was back to U.K. and some time with family.  Returning to Cambridge, (a beautiful city) and visits to Sam and Liz and (of course), the grandchildren.  They are growing so fast.  It was a delight to have to do a ‘shopping’ memory game with Emily every morning 🙂 .

Cambridge, punting on the river Cam

St.Ives near Cambridge. Birthplace of my Mum. This bridge has been in existence, (in various forms), since the 1100’s. The building in the centre is the old ‘Toll gate’, one had to pay to get across!

Olly, very pleased, having completed building his ship model

Violet and Lois, her little sister

Olly and Emily having some ‘Papa’ time with Anthony.

I write now, on a (our first) dull and gloomy morning.  We are docked at ‘Icy Strait Point’, (presumably so named because it looks good in cruise brochures).  I have known it as Hoonah for many years and previously one had to drift off the village and tender guests ashore.  The new dock makes a world of difference and instead of being on or near the Bridge all day, I now have luxury of sitting in 🙄 my office and writing.  We are on a 14-day itinerary this year; out of Seattle on a Monday, we make our way north and call at Ketchikan, then scenic cruise Tracy, (or Endicott) Arm before going to Juneau, Icy Strait Point, thence across the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak before crossing back to Hubbard Glacier, Sitka and Victoria B.C. and Seattle.  It’s a superb itinerary, far less intensive than the 7-day cruises. 

I must be getting old; despite writing this blog for months I always return after a period off the ship and find that I have to remember how I did this and that on these pages, crunching photos and videos for example. Never mind, it all came back and I post a time-lapse of our transit of Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier; (the actual transit to the glacier took 3 hours, you see it in approximately 40 seconds  🙄 

Here is arrival Juneau, a similar ‘speedy’ docking 🙂  It’s nice to back!

 

26 thoughts on “Back in Alaska”

  1. Hi Captain, good to know that you had a great leave, fantastic pictures as always, nice to have you back, I look forward to your posts… safe travels ….justin

  2. It was a pleasant surprise to find your newest blog post in my email this evening. After leaving the WC17 at the half-way point, in Hong Kong, I followed the remainder of the cruise through your blog. It was almost as good as being on the ship. I was delighted to see that you are again at the helm and will be looking forward to sailing with you again, both on the September Alaska sailing and for the full trip on the World Cruise 2018. Thanks for your insights and information.

  5. Great pictures & videos Captain! We missed your blog downunder but look forward to receiving some more. Thank you for sharing your work , locations & family with us.

  6. Captain Jonathon,
    Welcome back. Great to get your blog. It was worth waiting for.
    Funny thing, Ollie has the same Lego ship I have sitting on a table in our living room. Good job Ollie! We are off on the Rotterdam in one week for the Voyage of the Vikings, When we return we will be gearing up to join you on the 2018 World. We are really looking forward to our second full World Cruise. Best to you and Karen.

  7. Can not believe how minds work.
    I checked in on your blog a few hours ago to see if I could send a message as to where you are or how soon you will be back behind the all in command again.
    Just opened my email and wa hoo..

    You just missed your grand voyage travelers Maryann and Bill
    They already took us on the cruise.
    My family & I was in Alaska in June will not say the line,but we are Elite with them so go where the perks are
    Will look forward to your postings

  8. Nice to have you back and a reminder of our 14 day Alaska on the Amsterdam in 2012. Looking forward to seeing you on the Grand World in January. Your fellow Merritt Island residents, Ken & Noreen

  9. Good to hear from you. Glad you are practicing leaving Fla port as i will be aboard the Amsterdam Jan 4 th for a long, long way!
    Best regards, charlotte S

  10. Welcome back.
    I head out next week to the Nieuw Amsterdam with daughter, son and his wife.
    I can’t wait for them to see the wonders of Alaska and Glacier Bay. Having been there a few times myself I know they will enjoy it.
    Grandkids sure are growing.
    Diane Earl

  11. Welcome back. Would love to do the 14 day Alaska itinerary some day. Looks like you were in port with the Disney Wonder in Juneau. We’ll sail on her next April thru the Panama Canal.

  12. Nice to have you back! Always enjoy sharing your adventures. Think grand daughter, Erin D jumped on board with you as temp. cd toward the end of the last world cruise. She speaks so very highly of you and would probably kill me if she knew I told you that! LOL

  13. Welcome back Captain! The only thing missing from that PEV sim is the horns, bells and whistles from the condos 😉

  15. Welcome Back! (to Alaska and “our world!” It is always nice to again be in your blogosphere and to keep up with you and your delicious wandering! Kind regards Peter R

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