At this time of year I am all too aware that time (and Leave) is passing too fast. It’s approximately 2 weeks before I and Karen begin to think about packing suitcases, getting all the tasks (that we have been putting off for far too long), completed and gradually getting back into the ‘zone’ of another Grand World Voyage and all that it involves, (including writing these posts).
Not that I haven’t been busy; spending time in Europe, (Netherlands and U.K.). The ‘Netherlands’ refers to Training courses. I (and many others) are continually required to update our qualifications. The Carnival Group of companies have a Training centre just outside Amsterdam, in the city of Almere. I’m a frequent visitor to the establishment, as are hundreds of fellow officers from the Group Lines.
My particular course involved being exercised in Emergency procedures; Loss of propulsion, steering, fires and suchlike. They all occur at the most inopportune times, (but of course 🙄 ) and require the Bridge team to react accordingly. Bridge Resource Management is the official term.
This is done on a simulator and very realistic too, I may add. They are so realistic that one finds oneself processing events as if one was on the Bridge of a ship, the attendant increase in heart rate, sweating palms ever present. The purpose being to assess the Bridge team’s reaction and how they work. My rank dictated that I was always in ‘charge’ and therefore had the burden of directing and organising teams to react. After a week of this I found myself finding no challenge in sleeping, each day involving 8-9 hours of simulations and critique.
The photos below were not taken during the exercises; (one hasn’t time to manage that). They were taken during a lull in the proceedings and the instructor kindly ran a brief simulation for me (and therefore, you 🙂 ) The programmer obviously had a sense of humour, a convoy of Carnival Group vessels were passing south through the Tongass Narrows as our vessel headed north.
The ‘control centre’, where the exercises are loaded into the simulator
The Sim, empty at the moment,
A ‘convoy’ of Carnival Group ships pass in the Tongass Narrows, Ketchikan AK
2 Princess vessels are docked on berths 1 & 2 Ketchikan
I could not complete this post without updating you on ‘family’. Violet, Emily and Olly are growing up fast, communication is improving 🙂 and the girls are nattering away in understandable phrases. Olly is excelling at school and loves every minute of it.
Emily with her calculator
The girls together
Violet and Liz with Santa
Sam and Emily with Santa
No-one is going to get their biscuits!
Gramps with Violet and her new hat.
Olly’s school Nativity play, Olly centre back
I look forward to posting during our travels around the globe and wish you and your loved ones, a Happy and Joyous Christmas and a prosperous, healthy 2016.
The most important thing is that you, Karen, and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. I couldn’t open any of the pictures except the family (who I enjoy seeing) but when I went to “comment”, it opened all the pictures. So I got to see them after all. I know you are on a well deserved vacation but I do miss your blogs. Enjoy
You and Karen have a very Merry Christmas with those lovely grandchildren, and a great 2016. We are currently on the Prinsendam for our Holidays, with family and grandchildren all grown up we now indulge ourselves.
I will be following you along on your Grand Voyage; along with some of your passenger bloggers and wishing we were there.
Safe sailing.
Helen
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Have another great year won’t you? My wife and I knew we were in good hands during our two Grand World voyages. Thank you.
We always enjoy your updates and family pictures. As a retired military pilot I am glad to be done with formal currency and “sim time” requirements. We just got off the Amsterdam from the Inca Empires and gave our regards to Gene and Jodi for the World. After sailing the world in 14 and 15 we’re taking this year off for some different voyages. We are looking at 17 to rejoin the Amsterdam and crew for another World. We’ll keep Merritt Island safe pending your return.
Have a wonderful holiday and safe sailing. We’ll be following along.
Merry Christmas!. Looking forward to going on the World Voyage via your blog.
Good morning from Ontario CANADA
I am planning on being on the Navigation level when you sail around the world in 2017 or 2018.
Keep the updates coming.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Glad to see you are brushing up on your navagational skills. We sailed with you on the full 2014 WV and will be joining you in two weeks for the full 2016 WC. We look forward to fun fact reports at noon each day.
Captain Jonathan and Karen,
Thanks for the update. A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you both and your family, too. Cheers!
Merry Christmas to you and the family, Captain! See you in 2 weeks 🙂
Having enjoyed your blogs for so long, I have finally managed to book a short 3 weeks on the elegant Amsterdam from Sydney. Good wishes to you all for the festive season and beyond.
So nice to read your update. Like any time off it is a mixture of fun and work.
I saw your lovely ship in Tahati in Nov and talked to the ships Drs. Told them how I enjoy your posting on the world cruise. (Women)
Have a very Merry Christmas. And a safe Healthy New Year ,will look forward to your reports.
Cheat to hear from you Captn Johnathan….you have a marvelous itinerary coming up, but I can see how time with the wee ones has been just a joy for you I’m sure
I,too, was in Hoorn,Holland, celebrating the 400 th since the rounding of Cape Hoorn….Le Maire had left from that little harbor to discover a new route to Batavia and it was quite moving to send off the pageant players in a rowboat by torch light to meet the tide.
For the re relation, the used De Halve Moen which is berthed there now, back from the Hudson River all very dramatic…
Recalling our 2012 time together as you p
Steered use back from Antarctica at flank speed for shelter from an incoming Pacific storm, I will be watching how you fare in to Easter Island, or not!,
Looking forward to seeing you both again after 3000 mm of rain this year in Bergen Norway (today). Wish you all the best with your wonderful family.
Pieter & Gunvor Visser
Awww…those girls are absolutely precious! Enjoy your Christmas and enjoy all the new adventures 2016 brings to you and yours!
We are looking forward to being on the Amsterdam with you on the first leg of the World Voyage. We depart in Sydney to tour Australia for 6 weeks and then head home on the Nordam, Boarding on March 25 then around New Zealand and across the Pacific to Vancouver.