SOVEREIGN 24th September 2016 (part 5)

Tuesday 27th September 2016
Today we arrived in Naples, with volcanic Vesuvius looming over the bay in the early morning light. We spent a long while on deck as we headed towards the port and our berth, and enjoyed watching all the early morning ferry arrivals and departures. I was delighted to see the little LAURANA, which I enjoyed sailing on with my ferry friends in June 2015. We also saw the ROSA D'ABUNDO, which I sailed on from Ischia back to Naples on another occasion.

Rosa D'Abundo sailed past us

The Pilot came to board Sovereign

Naples ahead of us all

The lovely Laurana

Fauno heading out of Naples

Laurana and us heading into Naples

Moby Zaza over on the far side; she was built in 1982 as the Olau Britannia, came to Moby in June 2016 but suffered a fire in August 2016. Here she is a month later in Naples yards.

That was close!

Distant view across the bay to the working yards

Nearing the berth we could see the usual laid-up vessels, including Patrizia

Norwegian Epic looming over the maritime station

Capri is still there

Dimonios with the volcano behind

The wonderful Maritime Station


Two of us in our group wanted to enjoy another style of ship today, and decided to take a fast craft to the nearby island of Ischia.

Ferry port seen through the window of the Airone Jet to Ischia


Because we had to rush to buy tickets and then get to the vessel, there were few empty seats left and I sat with a Canadian lady from Vancouver Island; she and her son are travelling on NORWEGIAN EPIC and we both enjoyed talking about where we came from. Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, about 30 kms (19 miles) from the city of Naples. We sailed there on the AIRONE JET, which took about 45 minutes, and was very comfortable and spacious inside. There is a tiny entrance to the island, which opens out to a pretty little harbour for the ferries and fishing boats alike. Once on the quayside we could watch AIRONE JET embark just a few passengers, turn and leave, and suddenly all was calm and quiet again.

At Ischia

Airone Jet leaving

Macaiva arrived and turned


The small conventional ferry MACAIVA arrived, with passengers disembarking and embarking, and then she was gone, sailing gracefully out from the harbour. The fishing vessels and pleasure craft were reflected in the clear waters as we strolled around the little bay.

Adeona


Then the conventional ferry ADEONA arrived, turned and put her stern ramp down; passengers and vehicles disembarked and then she was silent, with a few hours of layover until her return trip to Naples. We intended to get this sailing after a satisfactory lunch in a local restaurant, and that is what we did.

On board Adeona


We left the island about 2 o'clock, and soon found comfy seats on a shaded outside deck, to enjoy the sail back to Naples. The hot sun shone under a cloudless blue sky, the calm sea sparkled and all was well with my world. We could see the nearby popular island of Procida, various ferries taking people to their destinations, we could see a castle-like hotel on a headland, lighthouses in prominent rocky places, and simply enjoy the sensation of gliding through the water on ADEONA.

BENITO BUONO sailed towards us and passed, DRIADE did the same, and in turn we passed the rather slow-sailing DON PEPPINO, which I discovered was built in 1964 at 495 gross tons with the name of MALMO. She appears to be wearing well, sailing for Gestur. ROSA D'ABUNDO came towards us and offered her lovely profile for photos, and about an hour and a half after leaving Ischia we were heading back into the ferry port in Naples. As we berthed I noticed another ferry in the corner, named QUIRINO, belonging to Medmar. It had been such a satisfying day out.

Leaving Ischia port

We could just see the tiny harbour entrance, left of the flag at the stern

Benito Buono

Driade

Don Peppino, built in 1964

Rosa D'Abundo

Quirino of Medmar


We caught the shuttle bus which met our ferry, taking us back to the Maritime Station terminal, where we made time to look at the Totem Della Pace. This was built last year, 2015, to mark the 150th anniversary of the amalgamation of the Port Captains and the Coast Guards. The base of the Totem also includes another plaque informing us that an Urn behind the plaque contained the relics of an unknown migrant dead in the sea, in search of dignity, freedom and peace lost in his country. This moving inscription made us so grateful once again for our own dignity, freedom and peace in our countries.

Totem Della Pace

Totem Della Pace

Urn of the unknown migrant

Totem viewed from the Maritime Station


Back on the ship I could have a relaxing cup of tea and notice that CARTOUR GAMMA was berthed fairly near us in the harbour.

A poster picture I saw in the Maritime Station - I wonder when the photo was taken...


Darkness had almost fallen by the time we sailed away but dinner and conversation made a good end to our visit to Naples.


Ships seen: Norwegian Epic, Dimonios (Tirrenia), Raffaele Rubattino, Capri (the old yacht-like vessel still laid up in the working side of the harbour), Moby ZaZa, Patrizia (still laid up on the other side of the harbour), Fauno (Caremar), Rosa D'Abundo, Laurana, SNAV Lazio, SNAV Antares, Tui Discovery, Benito Buono (the ex Hamlet), Airone Jet, Adeona (Caremar), Naiade, Cartour Gamma, Quirino (Medmar), Don Peppino


To be continued...

COSTA DIADEMA 1st November 2014 Part 8

Part 8

Thursday 6th November 2014
Today is my first-ever birthday at sea. I opened my cards from loved ones at home (I had special dispensation to be away…), my cabin steward made a funny hanging towel animal with a little note once he had seen my cabin, and prepared to enjoy the half day here in Naples, Italy. I could see lots of ships of all kinds, so today’s list should be lengthy despite the early morning damp air as we berthed. Vesuvius loomed over the bay with the usual ash cloud over it.

Rhapsody, ex Napoleon Bonaparte, viewed as we approached the Naples Maritime Station berth

Norwegian Spirit was already in port

Laid up lovelies I could see

Another view of Rhapsody through the early morning mist

Galesus the tug was in attendance

Going astern beside the Maritime Station, which allowed us to see lots of ships in the port

Marmorica of Toremar

Aida Vita in dry dock

Another view of Rhapsody, ex Napoleon Bonaparte

I could see dents in the hull midships

raffaele rubattino

SNAV Sardegna was already in port

Croazia Jet in the middle

More laid-up lovelies; I am now informed that the ALA is the former Clyde vessel MAID OF SKELMORLIE, built in 1953

Patrizia laid up

Rosa d'Abundo (ex Angelina Lauro b. 1981) sailed past


After a short walk to a nearby ferry terminal, we watched a few arrivals there.

Fauno, a local ferry, came in fast


We then returned to COSTA DIADEMA for coffee in the Chocolate House. The Chocolate Fountain in the glass case seemed not to be working still, and maybe the white-overalled engineers standing around it with screwdrivers yesterday had found a little problem. Ah well, the staff were able to provide fruit portions dipped in delicious chocolate and the most yummy and squishy macaroons in various colours so the coffee break was very satisfactory.

Trinacria

Macaiva of Gestur

Dimonios

An interesting line-up

Another unknown

What's that in the corner?

Palermo, I think. No, I'm informed this is Falerno, built in 1965, but laid up since 2011.

Super Flyte?

What is this?
The black-hulled ship laid up by the CROAZIA JET is the CAPRI. She was built in 1962 as the passenger and cargo ship BASILUZZO for the Eolian islands. She went to Greece as the CITY OF ANDROS with her sister VULCANELLO which became the CITY OF POROS. The CITY OF ANDROS eventually returned to Italy as the small cruise ship CITALIA, then CAPRI, registered in Madeira.

More unknowns

Teseo, something unknown, and Ievoli Sky

Two more unknowns

Driade arriving at speed

Salerno Jet arriving


Photos, lunch and a quiet time on deck prepared us for departure from Naples at 2.40 (late) under a navy-blue coloured sky. We raced away from the port at 21.8 knots, listing slightly with the swell and watching the mist become closer and cold, as we headed for Genoa.

By 6.00 p.m. our pre-dinner drinks on our favourite Deck 5 aft Bar were accompanied by a dramatic thunderstorm. There was sheet lightning all around the ship and the most torrential rain which bounced up from the deck and poured down from overhead gutters. The outside lights flickered and went out a few times and when we could no longer hear ourselves talk we retreated inside. That was all rather dramatic we thought.

A meal in the Pizza Bar was enjoyable, especially with gifts of Champagne, and a specially designed print of the COSTA DIADEMA by Roberto Bixio, issued for her Maiden Season 2014, and the company of good friends.

I returned late to my cabin to find a birthday card signed by the Captain, and a birthday cake with candle on the dressing table. What a kind thought from Costa, although too late to share with my companions.

Birthday cake


Ships seen: Rhapsody (the ex-Napoleon Bonaparte), Raffaele Rubattino, SNAV Sardegna of GNV, Norwegian Spirit, Ala next to Patrizia (old and laid up), Rosa d’Abundo (the ex-Angelina Lauro of 1981), Marmorica (old, laid up, of Toremar), Teseo in dry dock, Aida Vita in dry dock, Dimonios of Tirrenia, Trinacria of TTT Lines, Macaiva of Gestur laid up, Fauno of Caremar, Sindaco Malvito V, Ievoli sky next to Teseo, ARV 2 (ex-Diana 2, ex Meloodia), Agata of Medmar an ex-Tallink ship, Isola de Capri of Medmar, Adiona something of Toremar, Myriam laid up, Croazia Jet and various unidentified others


To be concluded...