MBP&O2/O

This was attached to an email ...

Ss sent me one when I made the initial query.

Yup ... that $60pp is a taking into account my previous cruises. Noy paying that for a buffet lunch 🤭

Bit of a difference in latitude in those two 🙂 I have been around Tahiti and the immediate area in December, the weather was in the main very good, and I have seen dreadful weather in the North Pacific in January .... in similar latitudes to Hawaii. You pay your money and hope for the best

Silversea say 'yes' .... at $60pp if we want lunch.

Keep an eye on https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/ Good source of accurate berthing information

I wonder if they will allow previous customers, with a confirmed booking, to visit a ship in port? We have one for next year and the Silver Dawn is popping in to our local port a couple of months earlier. It would be nice to have a browse.

Agree, and in those days ... minimal creature comforts, minimal 'fresh food. Obviously no Internet and computers. BP said they would try and get you home in six months but don't count on it.🫡 Having said that they supplied a box of three, three reel films of dubious quality🙂

We saw barge pushes. They looked to have the hydrodynamics of a house brick. I raise my hat to the pusher skippers. Very skillful.

What size of ship can now access the Mississippi, and how far? On the last oil tanker I sailed on we went to St. James, Louisiana...somewhere between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. We were 44,000 dwt, and fully laden, and that seemed quite large enough for me thank you very much 😀 Fascinating journey though!

Another thing I fell foul of was a well known UK Company who 'sold on' your email address AFTER you had placed an order. Read the small print was a lesson learned. I have never used that company since.

I tend to use all zeros.....if the form accepts the correct number of digits then great .... if it doesn't then I won't submit the form😏

No ... I meant the tanker was not a patch on the Avocets speed of 22.7 .... The tanker was pretty regular but with the clean bits it improved. Even with steaming bonnets on back to front that would be pushing it 😄 Having said that I sailed on one (British Courage) that was built with RAS in mind, and it is alleged that when they put the pedal to the metal... so to speak... it was capable of 22+ .... and the rattling could be heard in space. Mmm Thinks of a vibration problem on Strathmuir which had a prop balance issue .... 🙄

A big no to theatre, trivia, gyms, spa, shared tables, fixed time dining, Nor do I have time for Mr & Mrs Entitled and their friends the Demanders 😉

Surprisingly not! It was a reasonably new, 22000dwt oil tanker. We had discharged a full cargo of AvGas/JP4 and Kerosene around the Tahiti area / islands and we were in ballast. Recent drydock so a clean bottom etc. Not a patch on the Wild Avocet .... 22.7kts from Chiba to Los Angeles 🙂🙂

The hour a day wasn't an issue. We changed at 0200 and adjusted watchkeeping accordingly. What did cause confusion was throwing a Date Line crossing into the mix ... at the same time as a one hour clock flog 🤔 The first time I did that we ended up jumping from 25 December to 27 December ... missing Boxing Day completely. We were also steaming at a speed which couldn't cope with a one hour flogging and ended up with 'noon' at 1400 😄 Not often that the 8x12 3/O got morning star sights dropped on him! 🤣

We tried to do so, but several places didn't even open until 11:00am ....... too late for my coffee and pastries😄

We were in AK this year and many shops had a 'Local Owner' sign in the window and they were asking you to support local business.

Another good Star Viewing App is STELLARIUM.

For the Brits ... think Benidorm and Mel in the thong 😵‍💫

.... and if they close the gate 30mins before departure?🤔😵‍💫

Which is what I do. Easy peasy. I cannot recollect ever going 'casual' on an evening on SS .... even after an eleven hour excursio.n

If a vessel issues a distress call, the AMVER system notes any vessel(s) in the vicinity and sends a message to the vessel regarding the distress. Upon receipt, the Master is obligated to respond, in accordance with the laws of the sea. Could have done with that when I was a lad 😁 I have asked USCG Guam for info regarding a distress call but pleas and deaf ears etc .....

A UK vest .... with the fashion police😁 in hot pursuit. At least he is wearing a jacket.🙄

I'm sure I read somewhere that a specific type of detergent has to be used. OTC ones can affect the water filtration results. I stand to be corrected.