Black Watch 29th October 2016, Part 2 the conclusion

Sunday 30th October 2016
Last night in my cabin was a Daily Times for today, which simply said we would arrive at our mystery port at 8.30 a.m. Hmm, I can see we are in Amsterdam and berthed at the Cruise Terminal near the huge main Railway Station, which is fine with me. It looks grey outside but then this is almost the end of October; I went for breakfast and found hot porridge available so the world is improving by the minute.

View to the funnel

View down to the pool

Comfy corner

The Fred. Olsen logo on the funnel

One of the Fred. Olsen pieces of artwork, entitled Bergerac 1955, by artist Sigurd Nome

Black Watch/Black Prince model

Details


Several of us walked out of the terminal and along the road towards the station and the cross-river ferries embarkation pontoons. We hadn't walked far when we realised that the good ship MAGELLAN was heading towards our cruise terminal berths and offered photo opportunities as she slowed and turned.

Magellan, of CMV

Magellan stern


Photos done we could continue along to the ferries and I went on ferry number 50 and then walked a little distance so I could see the BLACK WATCH from another vantage point.

Ferry route 50

Black Watch and Magellan, seen through light rain


On my way back across the water the light rain started and I was glad to get back on board for lunch. I noticed from the Daily programme that at 11.30 this morning I could have gone to the Marquee Bar on deck 9 to try one of the eighteen varieties of gin available on the Gin Menu! After lunch several of us went for coffee in the lounge/card room, and to catch up on the various activities of the morning.

Once again there were live entertainments available on board during the day, plus music, movies and various dining and beverage options to choose from.

The Prom deck at night


We sailed in darkness at 6 p.m. from the lovely port of Amsterdam, heading back to Harwich overnight, but first we had drinks, dinner and evening show time to enjoy here on board.

I did, I did


Ships seen: Black Watch, Magellan, Port of Amsterdam tug 5, Sovereign the river pleasure craft, ferry number 50

For a ship of 28,623 gross tons, and built in 1972 as the ROYAL VIKING STAR, I think BLACK WATCH of Fred. Olsen is a little gem of a ship, and long may she last. I had enjoyed a happy time on her with my friends.

Black Watch 29th October 2016, Part 1

Saturday 29th October 2016
This is to be a mystery weekend trip on BLACK WATCH, sailing from Harwich, in Essex. Fortunately the first part of my day started without mystery, by getting an early train to London Gatwick Airport. There I met one of my travelling companions who had very kindly offered me a lift to Harwich. We were soon there and parked near The Ha'penny Pier, ready for what we called a little trip round the bay. The sun shone down and the sea was as calm as the proverbial millpond as we watched the harbour ferry HARBOUR FERRY approach in its golden glory. Nearby was Lightship Vessel number 18, built in 1958 but now retired and used as a party boat I believe, and in the distance we could see another laid-up Trinity House lightship. Whilst we were standing on the Pier I was looking down at the water and suddenly realised that a seal was looking up at me, from just a few feet away. He obviously realised I had no fish or food to give him, so dived back underwater and swam away. That was fun.

LV18 at Ha'penny Pier

Harbour Ferry getting nearer

Waving

Ex-Canberra lifeboat, with a new little bridge

Patricia of Trinity House


We bought return tickets to and from Shotley on the Suffolk side of the River Stour and boarded the little ferry that in a previous life had been a lifeboat on CANBERRA although now with a tiny added Bridge. We set off and sailed past Trinity House's PATRICIA at a nearby quay and then we could see BLACK WATCH at her berth at the Harwich International Cruise Terminal some distance away at Parkeston. I could see a large Danish container vessel being loaded at a berth at the busy working terminal Port of Felixstowe, Suffolk, which is on the north side of the river and nearer the sea. We approached the Shotley quayside on the peninsula which is between the River Stour and River Orwell in Suffolk. People disembarked and others embarked on this foot and bicycle ferry, which can carry a maximum of 58 passengers and 20 bicycles, but we were very lightly loaded today.

Black Watch at Harwich Cruise Terminal, in the far distance

A Danish vessel in another direction


After another calm journey back to the Harwich Ha'penny Pier we went for lunch at The Pier Hotel Restaurant which offered delicious fresh food, including venison. Then it was time to drive to the Cruise Terminal and check in for our mystery two night/one port cruise on BLACK WATCH. I have enjoyed four trips on her in the past and was looking forward to another one today. We were soon checked in and on board, and met up with our other travelling companions. Nearby we could see the huge SEAJACKS LEVIATHAN vessel.

Seajacks Leviathan

Black Watch model

Black Watch deck plan

Black Watch facilities


Afternoon Tea was available, followed by Lifeboat drill, and the various bars were soon open before we sailed from Harwich at 6 p.m. I noticed the Bookmark Cafe on Deck 7 offers a big range of premium hot drinks and a large choice of chocolates! I think I might need to visit this place another time... Dinner was in the Glentanar Restaurant on Deck 6 forward and our group second sitting was at 8.30 p.m. but we noticed passengers could also dine in the Garden Cafe. Food and service were most enjoyable and then it was Showtime which we all enjoyed too.

Ships seen: Black Watch, Harbour Ferry, Seajacks Leviathan, Trinity House's Patricia built in 1982, LV 18 party ship


To be concluded...

Norwegian Jade 2nd June 2017, Part 3 the final one

Sunday 4th June 2017
We arrived in the port city of Hamburg in pouring rain, which was forecast for the day but was still disappointing. There was time for an enjoyable breakfast in the Garden Cafe but most of us were upset by the news of the knife attack in London, although it had been speedily dealt with by our admirable Police Service.

We were able to disembark mid-morning at this Altona cruise terminal and wait in the dry there until the river ferry we wanted arrived at the nearby platform. We wanted to head down river first, before heading up river again to view the new Elbphilarmonie building, apparently planned to resemble a crystal palace on a mountain (in fact a red-brick warehouse). It is a concert hall in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg, set above an hotel, apartments and car park. Its other attraction is the Plaza, a viewing platform 37 metres above ground level, above the red brick part of the building, giving views for miles around Hamburg. Work started on the building in 2007 and it has finally opened in January 2017 after years of delays and huge cost increases, and become hugely popular with audiences.

We bought a day ticket for ferries and trains, at the machine beside the ferry stop, and were soon on our first ferry of the day.

Ferry Altenwerder

On board the ferry


We sailed down river and disembarked on the other side; we waited a short while before taking the next ferry up river and seeing different views.

Harmonie


As usual there was a man walking a dog on one of the beaches alongside the riverside, and we were glad to see that the rain had almost stopped and the sky was clearing.

Reeperbahn

On the way we passed the Norwegian Jade so I had a good look at the windows of the stern Dining Room

The jade-coloured artwork on the ship

Alongside the Altona terminal

Bow view

Cap San Diego

Elbphilarmonie above the red brick

Plaza balcony with no access from the hotel


Our next ferry took us to the Elbphilarmonie stop in HafenCity and we headed for the Hotel Westin restaurant inside the top of the red brick part of the building. The restaurant was on the Plaza floor, with huge glass windows which looked out on to the viewing gallery and the city beyond. In theory that should have been fine, but there were so many people walking around on the viewing gallery that we were unable to see very much at all. The restaurant menu was limited but well presented, and by the time the food arrived we had seen more citizens than views. The dining tables were at the same floor height as the Plaza gallery flooring so when we were seated the view was even more restricted - what a shame and a disappointment. We asked to be able to go to the viewing Plaza but that was not allowed, so we left the hotel and went back down in the lift into the sunshine out on the riverside.

Another ferry collected us and took us to the Landungsbruecken, known as Hamburg's water railway station, and to a shop nearby I like visiting. There I was able to spend a happy time buying five small toy model ships to add to my collection. I believe we should all make sure the next generations know about ships and the sea, and so after this visit I could go home and know that two small boys will enjoy playing with the new toys and being shown their routes on the map on the floor. We don't play with my beautifully-made Union-Castle Line ship models, I hasten to add, but the boys can see them on display.

Mare Frisium sailed past

Kirchdorf sailed along


It was soon time to walk to a nearby train station and travel to the airport, ready for flights home. I had time to have coffee and enjoy looking at my new toy ships, before flying home; that flight was enlivened by sitting next to a travel agent who had also been on NORWEGIAN JADE with a big party of agents, and I felt it worth mentioning that I had paid for my fare, even though it was a really low one - laughter all round.

Ships seen: Aida Sol, Fantasia, Norwegian Jade, the red-hulled Elbe 3 museum ship, Cap San Diego, Mississippi Queen, Atlantic Sail still in dry dock, Mare Frisium, and ferries Harmonie, Reeerbahn, Elbemeile, Kirchdorf, Altenwerder


I had really enjoyed my two nights on NORWEGIAN JADE from Southampton, with the pleasure of a sea day before arrival in Hamburg. The ship is comfortable, well designed with good passenger flow routes, and the staff are professional, helpful and pleasant.

Norwegian Jade 2nd June 2017, Part 2

Saturday 3rd June 2017
The day started with a leisurely breakfast up in the Deck 12 Garden Cafe, as we sailed along in the increasing sunshine. Visibility was about 3 miles, but the speed was shown as 17/18 knots, with 3-4 feet wave height. At coffee time we went to the Deck 7 Java Cafe in the mid-ships atrium, before heading out on deck to consider sitting in the sunshine.

That's a big shower, up on the top deck in sunshine


That proved too much of a breezy challenge but the social Spinnaker Bar was the ideal place to be for many of us.

I could have participated in so many things today on board, including games and sports, jewellery sales, body sculpt boot camp, introduction to acupuncture, trivia quiz, art sales, bridge play, wrinkle remedies, origami paper boxes to be made, increase your metabolism, and a cooking demonstration of bouillabaisse. This was all in the morning; the afternoon's choices offered digital photo seminar, genealogy social group, extreme bean bag toss, charades, binocular seminar, trivia quiz on beers of the world, satellite Texas hold'em tournament, champagne art auction preview, chocolate & wine pairing, look 10 years younger group, improve your posture, goofy golf, veterans social, classic car enthusiasts social, family balloon twisting and many many other things.

Late lunch was good at the Irish O'Sheehan's pub, with slightly misty views out to sea during the meal. The Daily Programme told us about a Quiz to be held after the quiet time so we headed back to the oh-so-comfortable Spinnaker Lounge for the views out to the almost completely calm sea. We read that the wave height was now only 1 foot, just the way the North Sea should be in an ideal situation, to my mind. We joined people sitting nearby for the quiz and soon realised that the questions were mainly aimed at an American audience. I think someone forgot that on this trip the passengers were mostly British, having embarked in Southampton. We did our best and enjoyed it, although we didn't win.

After that I decided to go and see the Bridge Viewing Area, which is always available so passengers can watch through huge glass panels what is being done on the Bridge by the Deck officers on watch. There were some duplicate radar screens in this Area, which were interesting too. I enjoyed seeing the original flag of the PRIDE OF HAWAII, displayed safely in a glass case, with another display explaining what I was looking at.

Flag details

Flag in the glass case


I headed for the End of the World stern cafe, which is beyond the Garden Cafe, for a cup of tea, and realised I was walking along the famous 'fishes forward' carpet motif, although I was the red fish heading the wrong way!

Fish heading forward (except me, being the red fish)


Pre-dinner drinks in another of the atrium bars later then led on to dinner in the Grand Pacific Restaurant again. I enjoyed the food and the choice of dishes, and remember choosing Volcano pudding (chocolate soufflé with ice cream and strawberry sauce).

The evening 'Showdown' entertainment was loud and good and the music and dancing in the Spinnaker Bar this evening was to disco music of the 50s and 60s - good fun.

By this time we had arrived near the North Sea entrance to the River Elbe and the Pilot, but had to wait in the darkness. Nearby were the lights of many vessels which I couldn't recognise, but I was reliably informed what they were, so they are my Ships Seen list for today!

Ships seen: Agath, Mol Emissary, Barents, BBC Spring, Genko Pyrenees, Komet 3, Marielist, Iduna, Hermes Leader, Maersk Nijmetun, Pegasus, IBS Shipra, Barbara, Martin Island, Baltimore Highway, Star Hyperion, Barmbeck, Morningcello, BF Esperanzo, Hilge, Hanni, Jolyn, and the Grimaldi RORO Grande Dakar which I did see


To be concluded...

Norwegian Jade, 2nd June 2017

NORWEGIAN JADE 2nd June 2017

Goodness, here I am again off to sea for two nights. I took a train along the South Coast of England to Southampton Central station and then shared a taxi to the latest Ocean Terminal building. I remember using the 1950-built old Ocean Terminal, when I was at sea with Union-Castle Line, with its wonderful Art Deco styling and the Boat Trains from London arriving alongside. Passengers sailing to the United States would use the terminal to embark on their liners to the USA. I know that I arrived at the same quayside on the CAPETOWN CASTLE, when she was unexpectedly pressed into service again in 1966 for voyages to Cape Town in South Africa (see "Union-Castle Line Purserette"). The terminal was closed in 1980, due to travellers using jet aircraft to get quickly to the States and cruise ships starting to become so much bigger. After that moment of nostalgia, I met my travelling companion and we checked in for our weekend re-positioning voyage from here in Southampton to Hamburg in Germany. We were soon on board and I headed for my inside port side forward cabin 8519, on deck 8.

Norwegian Jade

My cabin 8519


This Norwegian Cruise Line ship is fresh out of dry dock and this is a great opportunity to sail on her and sample her Freestyle Cruising. She was built in 2006 by Meyer Werft in Pappenburg as the PRIDE OF HAWAII for NCL's America division, and is 93,558 gross tons. Needs changed and she became JADE, then NORWEGIAN JADE with appropriately-coloured hull art. The ship can carry 2,402 guests in double occupancy, with a crew of 1037. There are 16 dining options and 15 bars and lounges plus many other facilities to be enjoyed on board, so I'm looking forward to more fun time at sea.

We decided to go for lunch in the Grand Pacific main dining room and were delighted to be placed at a window table. The artwork and furnishings really appealed to me and I'm told they are reminiscent of the Matson Line's luxury liners MARIPOSA, MONTEREY, and LURLINE built between 1930 and 1932. I enjoy knowing that during the early 1970s Union-Castle Travel in the UK held the General Sales Agency with Pacific Far East Line Inc., United States Line and Matson Lines. Just to add to life's coincidences, at present I'm reading about the last cruise on board Matson's MARIPOSA ("Nothing can go Wrong" by John D. MacDonald & Captain John H. Kilpack) in 1977 and it is fascinating to be able to imagine events happening in locations similar to this Grand Pacific Main Dining Room here on NORWEGIAN JADE. Many events mentioned in the book will probably not feature on our two-night trip to Hamburg!

Grand Pacific Dining Room before lunch

Grand Pacific Dining room before lunch

Grand Pacific Dining Room entrance


We later found a glass builder's plate on display showing her PRIDE OF HAWAII details from 2006.

Builder's Plate

Ship Plan

Decks

Fish forward

The vast Spinnaker Bar

The Spinnaker Lounge


We could see several other cruise ships at the other Southampton passenger terminals including NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS, SILVER WHISPER, SILVER EXPLORER, AURORA, and MARINA, and also the newly-painted Hythe Ferry HYTHE SCENE, previously GREAT EXPECTATIONS, with her blue hull, plus tugs, ferries and fast craft to the Isle of Wight, and the venerable tug CALSHOT berthed nearby. Those of us who have taken the little ferry to Hythe, just across the water, will have happy memories of disembarking from her and then taking the ancient train which still runs safely along the pier into the village. The afternoon spent in the spacious Spinnaker Bar was a very enjoyable time.

Marina

Calshot

Ships in port: in the distance L-R Aurora, Silver Explorer, Silver Whisper, Navigator of the Seas and something unknown with a blue hull in the middle of them

Hythe Scene


We attended the mandatory Lifeboat Drill held in the theatre, then went for afternoon tea in the Great Outdoors Bar, enjoying the sunshine and watching ship movements out on the water.

NCL logo on the funnel

Part of the United States Library

The beautiful model of the United States

Norwegian Jade life ring


Late afternoon meant it was time to change for dinner and the evening's entertainment; we went for the first half of the Show because we wanted to be on deck for the 8 o'clock departure from Southampton. A glass of something deliciously sparkling appeared as if by magic in front of me, and then it was time to head to the Grand Pacific Dining Room for dinner. The surroundings really were lovely, but there were so many venues all over the ship to choose for dinner. This evening we were placed at the small window table again and as well as a delicious meal, I do remember that I enjoyed Cherries Jubilee for dessert.

Then it was time to head back to the Spinnaker Bar and enjoy the music and dancing as we sailed out into the English Channel. This evening the clocks will go forward, and then tomorrow we have a sea day, before we arrive in Hamburg on Sunday morning. There are lots more lovely things to see and do here on NORWEGIAN JADE.

Ships seen: Norwegian Jade, Navigator of the Seas, Silver Whisper, Silver Explorer, Aurora, Ocean Scene, Hythe Scene (the Hythe ferry), Marina, Red Jet 4, tugs ZP Boxer and Smit Tiger, Red Jet 3, Red Jet 5, Red Osprey, Red Falcon, Red Eagle Calshot, Orion Highway, Wightlink ferries St. Clare and Wight Sun or Sky

To be continued...