![]() Well, the day came and we
embarked on the afternoon of 1st October, after going through
security once more. This time a manual search, open each bag and unzip each
compartment, followed by a short van ride to the ship. Two crew members came
down to get us then and it was up the gangway and sign the book. Our steward
came to the ships office to get us and our bags and show us up to our cabin,
then give us a conducted tour before we unpacked and settled in for the next 37
days or so. Our cabin is spacious and comfortable with a DVD player, VCR/TV
combination, CD player, Coffee making facilities, fridge, coffee table and
three seater couch. There is a desk, twin beds, en suite and there is plenty of
room in the cabin with storage for everything except our suitcases, which Louis
our steward is happy to take and store away until the end of the voyage. One of
the best things we have found is there is a lift on board so we donÕt have to
climb up and down 6 flights of stairs. 2nd October. We
sailed around 1:30 am and awoke to our first day at sea, and the start of a
voyage of 14433 nautical miles Tilbury to Auckland via Hamburg, Rotterdam,
Damietta, Suez Canal, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. We went to have a look
around the bridge after breakfast to see how things are done. Once we were
clear of the Thames we are under the control of a ÒBrixham PilotÓ. These pilots
are responsible for all shipping in the English Channel area, and he will be on
board until after we leave Rotterdam and until we pass Brixham, when the ships
master takes over. Usually one is not permitted on the bridge when there is a
pilot aboard, but he has said we are welcome any time subject to the masters
permission, but we are not permitted when there is a port or river pilot
aboard. We are back with this time thing again too. This morning breakfast at
7:30 am, 900 am the clocks go forward one hour, so 9 becomes 10, lunch is at
noon, a very short morning. And so now all we need to do
is sit back and enjoy the voyage. Although we were warned that as this is a freight
carrying ship and passengers are a secondary consideration we have found
everyone on board from the captain down to be nothing but courteous and
helpful. The bar in the officers recreation room is now dry as part of the
companyÕs safety policy, but we, and our other passenger (Duncan), have
purchased our own supply from the Bond storeÓ. Funnily it was Australian beer
(Victorian Bitter) so it is something I am familiar with as when we sailed on
the ÒFairstarÓ a few years ago that was the beer of choice then. The only thing
we miss is morning and afternoon tea, although we have coffee making facilities
in our cabin but nothing to nibble, we will have to get some biscuits ashore.
Meal times are Breakfast 7:30 Ð
8:30; Lunch 12:00 Ð 1:00;
Dinner 6:00 - 7:00. |