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...

COSTA CLASSICA 11th April 2013 Piraeus

Wednesday 10th April 2013
Clocks advanced 1 hour last night, so we are now on Greek time ready for our arrival in Piraeus tomorrow. I woke to a very calm sea, with the sun just coming up through distant mist. Breakfast was taken on the aft deck, in lovely air, and a single swallow flew around the stern for a couple of minutes, and then wasn't seen again. I presume we were near enough to land as we head north for it to venture out to the ship.

The day was casual, until it was time to put on the ‘posh frock’ ready for the Captain’s Gala night cocktail party, and Gala Dinner.

Thursday 11th April 2013
Today we arrive early in one of my favourite ports: Piraeus, the port for Athens in Greece. I was awake at 6 and through the porthole I could see a Blue Star Line ferry rather close and heading into the port,

One I saw but didn't photograph

Athens

so I dressed quickly and went on deck,

Another early bird

In the distance

In the distance

Also seen

and for the next hour and a half enjoyed seeing all the comings and goings into the Great Harbour, as we sailed in and berthed. Breakfast was taken on the aft deck, enjoying the ships and the sunrise over the surrounding mountains suddenly flooding the harbour with light.

Early sun

Jet Ferry 1

Lato

Blue Horizon

Theofilos

Helas Liberty

Blue Star Naxos

Blue Star Ithaki

Posidon Hellas

Costa Magica

Costa Classica

We could see the little cruise ship MINERVA further along the quay, so we set off in the warm sunshine, and our footsteps took us right beside MINERVA.

Minerva

This was an opportunity not to be missed, so I walked up the gangway. At the top someone emerged from the dark interior and so I did my nice smiley English female thing, and explained that I was a passenger on the COSTA CLASSICA, and how pleased we were to see their lovely ship. The security man immediately said it was not possible to visit, so I explained that I quite understood, but would it please be possible to have a couple of picture postcards. He led me across to Reception so the English-speaking Purser immediately took two postcards from a nearby rack and gave them to me; I thanked him, we shook hands and all was well with my little world as I went back down the gangway.

Kefalonia appeared on the other side of the harbour

Then we walked through the cruise terminal, heading for the original Epirotiki Shipping Line building. My travelling companion as a small boy used to write to them each year from Cape Town and from Canada asking for ship postcards and new brochures. These were always sent, and received with great happiness.

The Epirotiki building

Today we ventured into Reception at the offices and met a welcoming man who suggested we wait a moment, because here was Mr Andreas Potamianos himself arriving for work. Stunned silence on our part, and big smiles, and then we were introduced and invited to take the lift with him up to the penthouse that is his office suite on the top floor. We did this very happily, and entered a fantastic set of rooms, with fabulous views over the Great Harbour. He asked if we would like coffee or tea, and this was soon brought. My companion explained that as a small boy in Cape Town and then in Canada he would write each year to the Epirotiki offices asking for the latest brochures. Mr Potamianos then immediately wanted to know ‘Did we send them?’ and was happy that the answer was ‘Yes, thank you’.

We chatted, took a few photos, admired his memorabilia and the ship photos all around his rooms, including him with many recognisably famous people. He gave my friend a big shipping book, and I was given a book about Greek islands with many pictures of Epirotiki ships in it. What an honour to meet the man. It seems he is busy with some non-shipping related business, although his company does handle bookings for Pullmantur. His cousin was the late Mr Potamianos who owned FUNCHAL, whom we met on the quayside in Lisbon in September 2010 after disembarking from her (see my blog piece entitled FUNCHAL). We finally said our goodbyes and thanks and left the unforgettable eyrie above the harbour.

We found the Louis Cruises Lines offices nearby and obtained some brochures there, and then walked to see Costas at the not-to-be-missed Telstar Newsagents – Booksellers, at 57 Akti Miaouli. This proved to be a long visit, with much discussion about the Tradewinds publication and my companion’s lengthy article in the latest issue. We bought books and postcards, and I showed him my article in his bookshop copy of Ferry & Cruise Ship Annual 2013 about the Norwegian Hurtigruten vessel NORDSTJERNEN, and he was going to take that home to read.

The walk back through the Harbour meant we could go and see AGIOS GEORGIOS on behalf of one particular ferry friend,

Agios Georgios

The port side of Saint George

Diagoras

Aqua Jewel

Ionian Star

Ionian Star

Phivos

and the chance to look at COSTA MAGICA and the Pilot harbour further along the quay.

Evening ferries

I had lunch on board, ready for sailing at 3 p.m. but I found that so ignominious: we went out stern first from the Great Harbour - I couldn't believe it. When we arrived this morning we could have gone in and turned in the wide turning circle, with the Pilot on board avoiding the other traffic, just as MSC FANTASIA did. Ah well, one of life's little mysteries.

Goodbye to Piraeus

What a wonderful day in Piraeus.

Ships seen: Blue Star Patmos, Neptune Thelisis, Gallia from Monrovia, Hellenic's Flying No. 18, GA Ferries Jet Ferry 1, ANEK's Lato, Blue Horizon, Theofilos from Nel Lines, MSC Fantasia, Hellas Liberty, Blue Star Naxos, Agios Georgios in all her glory, Blue Star Ithaki, Posidon Hellas, Konstantis, Costa Magica, and the ships far away in lay up that we saw entering Piraeus Great Harbour, and many little local craft coming and going from the nearby islands

To be continued....