This so strange, my original post seems to have ‘thrown a wobbly’, some of the writing, photos and videos have disappeared, this hasn’t happened before, so here I am, trying to edit and rewrite……..
I was surprised that by putting a latitude and longitude into Google maps I can give you a ‘visual’ of where we are. We are making just over 14 knots, (15.4 mph, 24 kph), almost halfway across the Indian Ocean and 2,700 miles, (4,320 kms) until we reach Durban.
The Pacific Princess leaves, 5 hours before us.
The shortest route from Fremantle to Durban is a ‘Great Circle’ track however this would take us south, into the ‘Roaring Forties’, the weather-machine of the southern hemisphere, with storms rolling around the globe. Having been there before, on a bulk-carrier, I had no wish to go there again and so we take a ‘Rhumb Line’ track, which keeps us north of the worst of it. Nevertheless, we still catch the northern periphery of those storms.
Our weather programme and the first of our ‘blows’
We are keeping busy, managing to do some maintenance which would, have we had guests on board, been impossible. We are also trying to keep everyone motivated during this ‘quiet’ time, organising crew activities such as quizzes, games and activities. It surprised me that many crew members can’t swim, so swimming classes included 🙂
We are of course doing our best to reduce expenditure, fuel=$, so every cent saved counts. We have emergency lighting on in most areas, some areas , none at all. Air-conditioning is only where needed, all of us eat communaly in the Lido, there are 550 of us, so much of the kitchens are shut down,………..the list is endless. It is surreal when one walks around this beautiful ship and to give you an idea, i took the GoPro on a stroll around the ship that many of you know well.
I wrote earlier about my time on the bulk carrier. We took iron-ore, (100,000 tonnes) from the ore fields of western Australia to Japan. here it was discharged and back we went again for another load. We were to do the same again for my last voyage of my contract, however the cargo was sold and we had to proceed to Rotterdam to discharge, just my luck. Here’s where the Great Circle route came into play; we went south, into the “Roaring Forties” and spent many days with our deck partly submerged and rolling our guts out, (no stabilisers). Hence my reservations for doing so again.
We intend to arrive in Durban on 5th April, stopping for a few hours to take bunkers, (fuel), stores and provisions.
Thank you for your comments and good to see that you are back home. Zaandam has her challenges and if you want to let the crew of Zaandam (and Rotterdam who is assisting her), know that you are thinking of them, the easiest way to do this quickly is on social media – on Facebook and Instagram. A few words of encouragement would do a power of good. You can tag it #HALstrong
Stay well.
Jonathan
Captain Mercer,
I was lucky enough to sail with your command for a lot of seasons and those contracts are some of my best memories. It breaks my heart to see the Amstie so still and quiet, but she is only sleeping, she will be back to her normal self soon. As will we all I hope.
Thinking of you and Karen and all of you on my dear flagship.
All the very best
Captain Jonathan, We have so appreciated reading your updates and look forward to a couple of more to hear you and your crew received supplies and fuel and arrive back in America and then at your homes. Glad to see Zaandam and Rotterdam have finally been allowed to dock. Your HAL President wrote a very appropriate piece for the Wall Street Journal today. My Aunt was aboard again for the World Cruise and so thankful she returned home safely. So appreciated your navigation and travel updates from so many interesting places, having personally taken many navigation courses using the 1210 training chart! Best Wishes for retirement and hope you can visit our beautiful home of San Diego, California and our beautiful harbor! Be sure to view the harbor from the Point Loma Lighthouse/National Monument or better yet from a sailboat!
Hi Captain
We were to join you from Freo to Burnie and to deliver some lectures and that would have been our fourth stint with you (having been on first from HK to Capetown in 2014). Not to be, however, and it was weird cycling past you in port just near our home. Have loved the blog, so enjoy the last legs as much as possible. What has been happening in Fremantle has been a focus for me, and you might be interested in some of these comments. https://brianstoddartwriter.wordpress.com/2020/03/28/the-black-death-and-now/ Many thanks for all the greta times you gave Sandi and me. Cheers. Brian
Thanks Brian, what an interesting article.
Dear Captain Mercer,
I am brokenhearted to hear of the demise of the 2020 round the world cruise.
I had the most fabulous time in the 2019 cruise. Thank you so very much!
One of the greatest benefits was the sizable number of people I met from all over the world. We are keeping in now contact on group chats. Countries include, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina and of course the USA.
I hope our paths cross again soon! I’m looking very seriously at the 2021 cruise. Hope world health will be in order by then.
Best regards always,
Tom Pavelko
Sunnyvale, California
Captain Mercer,
It was with tearful eyes that I watched you walk around the beautiful empty rooms of the ship. Such fond memories we have of each area you entered. The tears turned to smiles when you stopped and waved into the camera. Little things like that make you the beloved Captain revered by all. Was wondering if you would be able to hand that GoPro over to a crew member (maybe Ronald – Head of the Lido crew) and let them show us all the wonderful men and women that make up your crew. We had become very attached to many of them and are hoping and praying they are happy and doing well. Again thank you for your leadership in the trying days of the 2020 World Magical Mystery Cruise.
Hello dear Captain,
Thank you for all you’ve done and are doing to keep our beloved Amsterdam safe and ready for her next adventure. We will be there. She is home.
Watching the video I tried to imagine how you must be feeling, and I can’t. Seeing the ship so empty and still stirred up so many emotions in me. All the happy memories, of course, but a great sadness that our world is in trouble. So much so that even the cocoon of our dam ship is threatened. We always feel so safe and special while on board.
I was feeling very emotional and teary when right at the end of watching your video my phone rang. It was Dolly. She sounded good and we agreed that, we don’t know when, but we will be back on her ship and bring those rooms to life again.
We all have loved having you as Captain and will miss you greatly. Have a safe trip and keep those blogs coming. We await your words anxiously.
Gayle Hughes