I write from Port Klang, Malaysia, tied up, (I use the term loosely) to a berth which is 50m shorter than we are; our bow is sticking out in the river. On the ‘outer; berth is the “Golden Princess”, also doing a Service call. We have come in for fuel, our waste disposal and a few provisions and I expect us to leave around 10 p.m. tonight after a 10-hour call.
What happened to Singapore you may ask? Short answer, they refused us entry. We will never know why, however they had an enormous spike in C-19 cases prior to our intended arrival, which may have some bearing on the matter, Anyway, all change, (where have I heard that before 😯 ). Re-wind, where to next? ah yes, Malaysia might be good, let’s go there. So, on the 23rd we were able to alter our course in the Malacca Straits and head there without any radical alterations. Then we had to start the task of clearance documentation all over again, different port, different papers. Arriving at Port Klang roads on the 24th, we were told to anchor while our paperwork was processed.
Small trawlers surrounded us while at anchor
Heavy rain, lightning, thunderstorms every evening in the area
So, at 7 this morning, we weighed at anchor.
My first coffee of the morning, I couldn’t resist this sunrise
We proceeded inwards, in the north channel, towards the Boustead Cruise terminal. We unfortunately, had to take a pilot, which we embarked at buoy #1. Pleasingly, he wore a mask, (no gloves though), however we were clad for war.
Prior to the pilot boarding and prepping up.
The Golden Princess had already got the outer berth, so we had to make do with the inner; much shorter than our length and with poor tie-up arrangements. It was, however, suitable for our needs for a short call, I wouldn’t have dreamed of staying here for a long one.
Radar of the river transit, the berth is at the 7 o’clock position
Optimistic fishermen
Approaching the berth, going to tuck in the other side of the GP
Stopped, now to work her sideways into the other side
Success
Our next call? Jakarta and hopefully disembarking some of our Indonesian Crew. We should be there on the morning tof the 28th, however, I have learned by now, I’ll believe it when I see it. 🙂
Keep those lovely comments coming, some of them were published (anonymously) in our “In this together” daily HAL Group publication!
Before I go, some ‘retro’ photos.
Penthouse
Starboard side deck 7, looking aft
Stay well, stay healthy!
Hello Captain Jonathan,
We really appreciate you taking the time to update your blog! Since we all should still be on the ship with you, it makes us feel good to see what’s going on. One of your photos was looking down the hall where our stateroom was so looks like home!! This is definitely going to be a memorable retirement cruise for you and Karen! We really have loved sailing with you all these last number (?) of years! You are calming, have always kept us guests well-informed, gone above and beyond for us and the crew many times, while always making sure the ship would be safe too! We love you for who you are and how you are!! Thank you for everything! We appreciate your friendship too! Keep in touch please! Stay safe and healthy! Hugs to you and Karen!! Jan and Dick
Hi Captain Jonathan
So glad to see that you finally made it to port for refueling. I have been following along on your journey. I loved the video you took for the crew appreciation day. I was happy to see the smiling faces of everyone that I recognize. I also enjoyed your tour through the ship without any passengers. Made me very nostalgic for our time on the Amsterdam. Even though I hated having to get off in Freemantle, I was thankful for your compassion that you extended to all on the ship. May the rest of your journey be stress free and please enjoy your retirement. We miss you, the best captain ever.
Thank you, Captain for keeping all of us informed during your final command, especially since departing Fremantle. Hopefully the dedicated crew may finally begin repatriating home while others will be staying for awhile. Larry and I want everyone to know how you made every day on the ms Amsterdam wonderful! The crew is the heart and soul of Holland America and what we cherish most. Stay strong. You are all about to enter the Twilight Zone ashore.
Dear Captain,
Very sorry to hear of the difficult challenges you and your crew are going through! Given my recent contacts with my WhatsApp’s acquaintances the whole world is a bit hysterical.
My 96-year-old mother had to visit the hospital yesterday with a blood clot in her leg. This exquisite place with state-of-the-art medicine was clearly panicking with getting patients out as soon as possible. A place that used to be I haven against serious disease was now a point of highly possible infection.
Good news I’m hopeful about. My apologies if you’ve heard this before. There are over 200 programs in the world trying to find a vaccine. Five of them are now in clinical trial. One gentleman in the UK said the development he was leading was similar to a vaccine approved in the past and therefore made be distributed as soon as September. Also, possibly some other medical abatement will be developed in the near term. (I personally believe testing and contract tracing will not be enough.)
Highest regards and prayers for to all!
Hi Captain!
Still following like so many others. I am also following the QE with a musician friend posting on FaceBook. I like other faithful readers wait for your next post. I am sorry not to have gotten copies of your first two books. Until your next book publishes… do you have time for more crew videos, please? 🙂 It brings joy to your dedicated readers to see the other side of these out at sea days. Meaning smiles and the camaraderie among the all on board. As I read above from Linda – you do have a birthday coming up as I remember. All the best for safe, healthy sailing to you all.
Dear Captain, Your doing a great job! Keep the faith and stay strong! We are thinking of you and your incredible staff and look forward to your blog posts! This will be a story to tell the grandchildren. Take good care of yourself and our deepest regards to Karen. All the Best…
Ann and Cathy Scott🇨🇦
Virtual Hugs
HAL Strong❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
The Flying Dutchman replayed in modern form.
We are following the journey.
Greetings to Ischa in the Lido from Italiano
Be safe all.
Captain
Thanks for the status of the 2020 Grand World Voyage. Glad you found somewhere to bunker and provision.
Hard to know what the future will bring. Wish you fair winds and following seas.
We have enjoyed your continued blogs and know you will be glad when retirement finally arrives. Bet you wish you had retired before this cruise. But we appreciated knowing you were at the helm on our first world cruise. Best wishes on the remainder of your expedition and may you get home sooner rather than later.
Hi Captain, so glad you found a port, albeit with some trouble! I am just so happy that the wonderful crew is being well taken care of and hopefully on their way home. I thought you might enjoy this article about another ship still trying to get home, and what it’s like after the majority of the crew are repatriated. This German ship will give you a peek into your future and assure you that you are not alone out there! Stay safe and can’t wait to read the book! https://thepointsguy.com/news/artania-last-cruise-ship-passengers-at-sea/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=055C7F66-850B-11EA-AAED-4CFF39982C1E&utm_term=Editorial&utm_campaign=facebook
You have received so many well-earned kudos and can count me in on those as well. You are handling this frustrating, stressful “adventure” with such grace and good humor.
All the best to you and the crew. Please keep the blog going!
Captain, you’re my HERO!!! Enjoy that Penthouse. We certainly did!!
As have many others, I continue to follow the path of “our” ship. It’s become more and more evident that it was good that we all got off when we did! Glad you got into Port Klang and now are on your way to Jakarta. Hopefully, for once, this will be a call that you can make without problems. Otherwise, you might end up “on your beam ends”. There you go, a nautical idiom for you to look up! But, I hope that doesn’t happen.
On another note, I hope you have a Happy Birthday as I know that’s coming up!!
I too look forward to your blog in my mailbox and I read it to my husband. I have learned so much from your blog and also from those who reply and make comments. We can’t believe that you all are still at sea or at least on the ship and not home. My question Captain is what kind of or should I say how many of the crew stay onboard once you dock for your last stop? What work will be done on the ship when you disembark? As others have mentioned you are making history even though it isn’t pleasant and how you imagined your last trip to be. You will be invited to speak I’m sure and share some of the interesting details of this journey. We are so happy to hear you are all healthy. Maybe bring on the ship isn’t such a bad thing. You have a little more control there than many other places.
In the states they are talking about several states beginning to open up and lessen restrictions. There is such fear and confusion around this virus. People are trying crazy things to ward it off and getting aggressive about going back to work. Lines are miles long for food bank staples. Every scientific laboratory in the world is working on a vaccination for this virus. Hopefully this in some way will unite our world.
Yes we do also hope that HAL is realizing what a fantastic job you are doing for them and your crew and we recognize it. Continue to stay in good spirits and healthy. We send you all peace and strength to get you past this and safely home.
Looks like you all are finally getting somewhere, and are we glad. We were getting worried that you might just have to sail around forever, and wished you had loaded more than 3 containers in Durban. Thought I saw Thomas on the bridge in one of your photos. He said he was supposed to get off in Perth. Maybe his relief wasn’t able to get to the ship. Karen was saying you all might spend time in Bali after you retired and now’s your chance, since you will be there on your last stop and apparently the Amsterdam will stay in Asia until it resumes sailing with passengers. The staff and officers have done such a good job keeping the crew entertained, some of them may not even want to get off. I know you will be relieved and happy when this journey is completed, but I can see you relating tales as a guest lecturer in years to come. You have definitely “gone above and beyond” and I hope Holland appreciates it. I know we certainly do. Your still our hero!