Captain’s Log: Dec. 31, Willemstad, Curacao

Captain Jonathan Mercer

We are in Willemstad, Curacao, today and a beautiful day it is, too. I, like many of my associates, find entering this narrow ‘cut’ of a harbour to be one that concentrates the mind, one can almost feel the tension on the bridge when taking this ship, (or any other for that matter), into what amounts to a very narrow channel while being influenced by an extremely strong current outside the entrance, not to mention the wind.

It is a matter of heading towards the land on the eastern side of the cut and letting the current work you north; if one gets it correct, the ship should be in the centre of the fairway and pointing in the right direction. Once inside, it is a matter of slamming on the brakes, enough to stop her continuing past the berth one is intended for.

This evening we will back out, azipods being perfect for such a manoeuvre and then swing outside before heading northwest towards Fort Lauderdale for Saturday.

I have my trunks in the cabin, for it is almost time to leave the lovely ‘E’ and head home, Jeroen (and Pam) rejoin on Saturday until March, when I return.

I have thoroughly enjoyed posting on the blog and although I am not commanding the ‘E’, should I catch that elusive 20-pound trout, or break an 80 on the golf course, rest assured you will read about it. I am going to Europe, too, to see my family and spend some time over there.

I apologise for not writing more often recently, as I mentioned, paperwork and ship-matters have occupied a great deal of my time these past weeks, however, that is all but finished now. Perhaps one of my New Year resolutions should be to write more here?

I wish all of you a very happy New Year and may 2009 bring you all you wish for and more. Let us all hope that that it will be a better year and that we remain optimistic.

We will be in the Atrium at midnight, ringing in the new year with the ‘E’s’ polished bell and all of us, guests, officers and crew alike, will be thinking of friends and family while we do so.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for 2009 from all of us at Eurodam News Blog!

We will not post on Jan. 1, as we will be busy compiling lists of resolutions we won’t keep in the new year. But we’ll be back on Friday, Jan. 2.

Postcard from Tortola

Ken Edmier sent us this stunning photo of Eurodam in Tortola he took last week on his Christmas cruise.

Postcard from Louie Pang

Hello Eurodam,

We have a great time Dec. 13-20, despite the rocky ride initially. Food is great and service is better than what we used to have.

Little details really count:

• The silverware in dinning room.
• Lemonade and chilled towel for guests coming back from shore (didn’t see that even for the Queen Mary’s guests!)
• Even the buffet is better than what we expected. (it comes with fresh squeeze OJ!)
• Justin Miller ! Unbelievable!

Love the Beef Wellington and the no flour chocolate cake! And my Mom didn’t complain about the food, which is a major success by itself!

I could said that although the ship lack some of the big ship facilities which our kid could love to have, it excels in details, sophistication and good planning.

Excellent work HAL!

Special thanks to captain and crew for making all the ports of call, given that the weather was not exactly cooperating. Been able to visit all the beaches that my kid was told really meant a lot to her and us.

Half Moon Cay — do they have an immigration department?

Just two questions for Captain Mercer:
1. When we are docked, I always have the feeling the ship is leaning to one side, is it true or I need to get my ears/brain check?
2. Does the size of the ship matter in a rocky sea? If not, what does?

Keep it up Eurodam and we hope to see when we’re ready for the Mediterranean.

Louie

The Bests Mark 25 Years

We sailed on the Eurodam Nov. 15-22, 2008, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We reaffirmed our wedding vows on Nov. 16. We are still enjoying the wonderful memories of the journey.

Thank You,

David & Peggy Best

Christmas Morning on Eurodam

Ken Edmier of Leesburg, Ga., sent us some photos of the festivities on board Eurodam Dec. 25, along with this note:

Christmas morning on the Eurodam included the cruise director and entertainers leading in singing Christmas carols. The carols were interrupted by the Captain letting us know that radar had picked up an unknown object and later confirmed that Santa had found the Eurodam!

Postcards from the Dec. 13 Cruise

Cruiser Becky Holtrop sent us this nice note and a link to photos from her recent cruise:

We were on Eurodam’s December 13 sailing. The ship was beautifully decorated for Christmas and we cruised in style since we stayed in the penthouse!

Here’s a link to my photo album.

Captain Mercer said we experienced the roughest seas in Eurodam’s history; that made for an adventure!

Happy New Year,

Becky

Captain’s Log: Dec. 25, at Sea

We have had a lovely Christmas. Yesterday, the 24th, we were docked in a windy Philipsburg, St. Maarten. There were five big cruise ships in and it was consequently very busy.

The large swell was rolling into the bay despite the headland which protects the harbour and we had put additional mooring lines out. It was just as well, with the constant ‘up and down’ alongside the berth, one of the aft lines chafed through. The four ships alongside the pier were all moving quite considerably, and I saw the crew of each ship having to tend lines too.

We left late, six older teenagers, arriving well after sailing time — 40 minutes after all-aboard. They were lucky, in the old days, before security checks and computer swipe-on, they would have been unknowingly left in St. Maarten, having to return to the U.S., clad only in swimming gear and a towel. That would have been a sight to see.

We had gales forecast and sure enough, during the night, we rolled somewhat, despite the use of our stabilisers. We did, however, have a wonderful evening of festivities, culminating in an evening carol service, the participants being the Indonesian, Filipino and ‘International’ choirs. They sang their hearts out and then, after my Christmas address, they were meant to sing ‘Silent Night’, holding candles, on the stage. Despite rehearsals and constant oversight, no one had foreseen that the stage curtain has a fail-safe option, if ‘people’ or persons are too near the curtain when it starts to lift, the circuits deliberately switch off. So there they were, singing from behind a curtain that wouldn’t lift! Some quick improvisation saw them exiting stage left and right instead.

Our long-range radar detected a very small target at 9:15 on Christmas morning and an information announcement was duly made to the boys and girls (and their Mums and Dads). By 9:30, although flitting behind some of the clouds, our lookouts had positively identified what appeared to be a sleigh, reindeer and a portly man, dressed in red and white. By 9:45 there were reports from the technical staff that someone could be seen on the closed-circuit television, trying to climb down one of our funnels! A (slightly dishevelled) Santa Claus arrived on our main stage, the show lounge and excited children were brought to him, with their families, to receive ‘goodies’ from him, lots of happy, excited faces! I always go down and watch this. It is what Christmas is all about and this was no exception. It always takes me back to the days when my girls were such an age.

The evening saw me, with many of the officers, serving our wonderful crew in their dining area. It’s a tradition with our fleet and makes for a great time. Then it was time for an officers cocktail party, followed by our Christmas dinner and then an early night, to catch up on some sleep. Half Moon Cay beckons us …

Happy Holidays From the Eurodam News Blog

All of us at Eurodam News Blog wish our loyal readers a happy and healthy holiday season. Due to Christmas (and Boxing Day for those of you in the U.K.!), we will not be posting Dec. 25 and 26. We will be back posting Monday, Dec. 29. Enjoy your holiday!

Eurodam decked out for the holidays. Thanks to guest John Majors for sending in the photo.

Postcards from Tortola

Eurodam called at Tortola yesterday. I came into the dock a little fast, ending up in the straw market!