Celestyal Nefeli 12th May 2017, Part 2

Saturday 13th May 2017
I set my phone alarm and discovered from the View from the Bridge on the television that we had already arrived in the caldera at Santorini. It was such an astonishing sight, knowing we were tied up inside the middle of a volcano and could take a tender ashore after breakfast.

The excursion passengers left the ship first and then at 10.30 a.m. the rest of us could take one of the local tenders the short distance to the shore.

This is our itinerary on Celestyal Nefeli from Lavrion

Norwegian Spirit in the caldera at Santorini

Westerdam of Holland America Line

The ferry port was some distance across the caldera

Seajets at the ferry port

Sea water, from the tender

Celestyal Nefeli at Santorini


The busy quayside seems to have been extended and there are obvious signs that the walkways under the mountainside will be expanded round the headland in the future. We enjoyed walking around and then talking with a man from New York; we all talked about Santorini and then had an amusing short discussion about the UK's vote to leave the European Union and the USA's vote for President Trump.

We went to see where the donkeys are located at the foot of the zig-zag path to the town of Thira way up high; in fact we could smell them before we reached the place where people can get into the saddle for the ascent. I have never been on the donkeys but have walked up using the wide steps cut into the rock beside the donkey walk. It was slightly hazardous at the time and the smell of the animals and their droppings was ever-present. Visitors to Thira are now advised to take the newly-built cable car up to the town and of course this offers wonderful views out over the caldera.

Donkeys


I bought some local postcards which showed ships that called here in the past, and my travelling companion was able to identify the vessels for me, including ROMILDA.

Postcard 1,
Left to right: local tourist ferry, Apollon of Epirotiki stern onto the quayside then foreground an original R (Renaissance) ship; photo probably taken in the 1980s, photo copyright Haitalis, 13 Astrous Str. Athens

Postcard 2
Left to right: an original R ship, Apollon of Epirotiki stern onto the quayside, a small local vessel, then Windstar or Windspirit? photo probably taken in the 1980s, copyright Haitalis, Athens

Postcard 3
Top: Marco Polo; below left: Sea Goddess II ?; below right: unknown R-ship 2nd batch (rounded funnel); top left-hand: tiny fast ferry coming in from Crete; photo taken in the 1990s copyright Haitalis, Athens

Postcard 4
GA Ferries Romilda, built in 1974, sailing into Santorini probably in the early 1990s; copyright photo by Marmatakis Brothers, Galagado Akrotiri, Chania


We went to a local cafe for coffee, saw occasional ferries calling at their quayside in another part of the caldera, and watched other local tenders going to and from NORWEGIAN SPIRIT and WESTERDAM which were anchored in the caldera. We were also surprised and happy to see the little NEARCHOS, which we had visited in Lavrion yesterday, sailing neatly and fast into the ferry port with her so-recognisable Knud E Hansen profile. That Chief Engineer had obviously done a superb job on her engines.

Nearchos of Creta Cargo Lines

Celestyal Nefeli from another angle

Deck Plan of Celestyal Nefeli

Thalassa Bar and parasols



Back on board I enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine before lunch at the outdoor Thalassa Bar and lido buffet before settling in a shaded steamer chair for an afternoon rest. Later we could see various ships arriving and departing from the ferry port and the tenders taking passengers back to their cruise ships in the caldera. All these big ships cannot anchor because of the enormous water depth, so the engines are constantly working to keep them in position, usually tied up to an allocated and fixed buoy.

Nissos Rodos of Hellenic Seaways leaving the ferry port



Tonight is 'White Night' on board for anyone who wants to wear white clothing, and many did. We didn't know about this so I wore pink. We had sailed from Santorini by this time but the ship took us on a tour around the caldera so we could enjoy the different views from the Deck 5 Eros Bar; we noticed the little NEARCHOS had returned to the port and was sailing parallel to us for a while but soon speeded up and headed out to the other islands on her itinerary. What a delight to see her again; I liked that my friend photographed and sent a picture of her to our maritime author friend Dr Bruce Peter, who wrote the authorised book about Knud E Hanson.

Lovely lines

Stern view of Nearchos


Dinner was enjoyable, and this time we were placed with an American couple and again the conversation was most interesting and topical. This evening the show was a trip around the world in musicals, and we all enjoyed the music and dancing/acrobatics. Tonight we sail for Izmir in Turkey, a distance of 188 nautical miles.



Ships seen at Santorini:
Celestyal Nefeli (Celestyal Cruises), Norwegian Spirit (NCL), Westerdam (HAL), Nearchos of Creta Cargo Lines, Blue Star 2, Champion Jet 1, Champion Jet 2, Nissos Rodos


To be continued...

LOUIS AURA (ex-ORIENT QUEEN) Part 7

Thursday 19th September 2013 (continued)
We approached the volcanic island of Santorini about 4 p.m. under clear blue skies, and had our first view of the caldera soon after. It is such an amazing sight to approach by sea, with sheer rock faces showing the various solidified strata.

Santorini island (Thira)

Heading into the caldera

Rock strata

Astonishing view

Santorini island (Thira in Greek) was formed long ago by volcanic explosions, which continued infrequently, although the last one was in 1950. In 1956 however there was an earthquake which affected the island yet again. The capital of the island is Fira, which is built right on the top of the island, with white-painted buildings appearing to perch precariously in their location 300 metres (980 feet) up. The inhabited island on the port side as we approached showed the volcanic rock thrown up,

Volcanic lava

and the water was clear and deep all around us. Ships do not anchor here, but must keep moving at a very gentle engine speed, to counteract the water depth and currents. The caldera is 400 metres deep (about 1300 feet).

The ferry port

The ferry port

The tender port

The tender port

There are two ports here – one for the ferries at Athinios, as traffic can ascend and descend the road from here up through seven hairpin bends to the island road at the top. The tenders from visiting cruise ships can come alongside at the other small quayside below the town of Fira, and visitors can then walk up the zig-zag road to the top, take a donkey ride up there, or choose to use the cable car. I once walked up the path, but now consider the price of 4 Euros well spent!

The tender port

Another view

Excursion passengers

Our ship was soon in position and the first local tenders appeared alongside. Passengers going on excursions had to disembark first and take the tender to the ferry port, giving access to the coaches waiting on the small quayside. My friend set off in the tender, so I could photograph him photographing me; he was doing a visit along the mountain road to the small town of Oia.

Photographer photographed

On the Bridge

View from the excursion tender

I waited for non-excursion passengers to be allowed ashore and we all went in another local tender. The water is not tranquil and one can only guess at the vast depths below.

Non-excursion passengers

Our tender took us to the other quayside for cruise ship passengers, and from there we could queue for the cable cars. Each car holds eight people so we were soon at the top and able to view the bay below. It is the most incredible sight, with various cruise ships looking quite small as they maintain their positions in the water. The tenders keep transporting passengers to and from their ships, the occasional ferry arrives or departs, the sea glitters in the sunshine, and the white-painted buildings along the top of the island all gleam and hide their secrets. The buildings here in the capital Fira are all built so closely together that people cannot be seen at a distance, and then they appear from a cobbled lane or small turning to face the sea and enjoy the views. The cafes and restaurants were all full, but many of us simply walked along the lanes to enjoy the air and scenery from the heights.

A ferry approaching the port

And another one left

View across the island

I hadn’t visited the beaches on the south coast, nor many of the other sights on the island, but what a good reason to plan a return visit one day.

By early evening I was ready to take the cable car down from Fira and get a local tender back home.

Waiting to get on a local tender

Nearly home

The air and light had been wonderful but watching the moon rise over the island of Santorini behind Fira was lovely too, and I enjoyed seeing the lights of other ships in the vicinity as we sailed away before 9 p.m.

Moon over Santorini

View from the Bridge


Ships seen: Wind Star, Blue Star vessel, Louis Olympia, Master Jet, green ferry, Celebrity Equinox, Garbis tender, local tender 28 and tender 27


To be continued….

LOUIS AURA (ex-ORIENT QUEEN) Part 6

Thursday 19th September 2013
We have two ports of call today, and the first one at Heraklion, on the island of Crete, meant we were up on the Bridge before sunrise. I see that my first photograph was taken at 6.28 a.m. as we approached our berth; we are to be back on board by 11 a.m. ready to sail for our next port visit in Santorini this afternoon and evening.


Louis Olympia and Louis Aura

On the front of our ship

After sunrise and breakfast we had an appointment to keep at a nearby berth: we had an 8.30 a.m. visit to LOUIS OLYMPIA (built in 1982). We were made welcome as we boarded the ship, and I remembered sailing on her for a long weekend when she was THOMSON DESTINY. (See blog entry for THOMSON DESTINY in December 2011)

Festos Palace

We were given a rapid tour of the ship, and I noticed that nothing major had seemed to change.

Pool & Sky Bar

View from the Sky Bar

Can-Can Lounge

Clipper Bar

Murals in the Oklahoma Bar

Seven Seas Restaurant

The Sky Bar was popular and well used, and we were given coffee in the attractive Clipper Bar whilst Crew Lifeboat Drill was held. I remembered the beautiful jewel-coloured original door handles remaining on the ship, and the wonderful piece of glass artwork in the Reception area, all of which I could happily have lived with!

Ruby-coloured glass

Wonderful glass artwork in Reception

Another angle and colour

Sapphire glass

Our visit ended and we were then free to walk along the harbour quaysides to photograph the ferries that were nearby. I saw them only on 1st September with my ferry friends but I enjoyed seeing High Speed 5 embark her last passengers and sail from Heraklion with a great whoosh of churning water.

Blue Star 1

High Speed 5

Golden Blaze

Masterjet

High Speed 5 leaving

English Channel Hoverspeed sisters together

Laid up and faded Golden Prince

Starward bell (1968)

Louis Aura in Heraklion, taken from Louis Olympia

Soon we were back on board and up to the Bridge for departure, this time heading for the volcanic island of Santorini and the caldera.

Ships seen: Louis Olympia, Festos Palace, High Speed 5, Golden Blaze, Masterjets, Blue Star 1, and the faded oldie ‘Golden Prince’


To be continued….