.......idle jottings continued

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

gcmv,

 

Hate to sound like a broken record, but have you been to the Galapagos yet? I noticed the Xpedition had several brands of gin available, gratis.

 

Ragnar "Boobie Lover" D.

[Jim Avery]

gcmv,

 

Hate to sound like a broken record, but have you been to the Galapagos yet? I noticed the Xpedition had several brands of gin available, gratis.

 

Ragnar "Boobie Lover" D.

 

Hello BL. I think I will save a bunch by going to the local Foo-Foo gin bar and sampling all of them then hallucinating I am in the Galapagos. :eek::D

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Ha-ha, we are about to head down to our local mexican restaurant for their afternoon happy hour and crispy tacos. The place is a hidden gem in San Clemente, totally old-school Mexican cuisine. Even the name is old-school, "La Siesta". And their logo is a totally un-PC drawing of a large-nosed man with a big mustache, in a sombrero, taking a nap under a palm tree.... Great food and margs. We have had them cater parties at our house!

 

Really, can a 3* restaurant even hold a candle to a great mexican place?

[MACT]

Dear Lord Hum of Poshland

 

I have been sitting patiently on the naughty step you ordered me to a couple of weeks back quite rightly for making a very cheeky remark, a cheep laugh during SD1's hours, nay days, now weeks of need. The poor old derrier is a tad numb.

 

I wish you a merry crossing, though have been thinking about the poor fellow passengers with growing feelings of terror dawning on them that they are trapped in a little boat, surrounded by ocean, no escape from His Lordship's ever more eccentic behaviour unless being left marooned on a piece of rock in the middle of the Atlantic...and they pay good money for this folly?

 

Talking about another little piece for rock in the Atlantic...a friend is currently on another little boat steaming towards St Helena as it had to been requisitioned from its recent retirement back into service. Why? Well, the new airport which cost the British taxpayer over £ 300m and counting is still inoperative due to the calculations of wind sheer for a landing plane were found to be wrong! What should have been a business trip lasting a week is now five, depending on the weather. Oh, guess who is paying his now much bigger fee for the work involved...that's right, the very generous British taxpayer!!

 

That's you Lord Hum, we need you back in Blighty asap, buying and quaffing yet more champagne and fine wines with the resultant large amounts of duty and VAT flowing onto the Exchequer...to pay for yet more wind sheer tests on a bleak piece of rock sticking out of the Atlantic.

 

Fair winds and calm seas to all.

[Jim Avery]

Bon Voyage to SD II crossers. Behave Mr. Hum. Ok, that might be asking too much.:D

[ho-hum]

Sorry chums, there will be no anything from Hum !

The internet onboard SDII is next to useless.

Totally un-acceptable.

Sorry chums.

This short message will go in about an hour from now !!

[ho-hum]

And so we begin boarding having spewed out of various cramped taxis onto a wet puddly forecourt in front of the cruise terminal building: no style whatsoever but functional. Why do buildings like these offer no joy, grandeur, style ?

Function rules.

But the heart goes hungry.

Hum's view, is that State buildings are commissioned by committees and every moron on that committee become doyens of taste.

Poppy cock !

We need dictators, royalty or at least ruling families.

Hum noted quite a few things "dumbed down" for us tooorists.

Hum's favourite Catalan fish restaurant served salmon teriyaki !

Hum will not be returning there.

 

Lots of "oooh there's such and such"

There are so many "regulars".

This "happy gang" of wonderful characters interspersed with one or two "villains" comprising of those who we have taken to have slighted us in the most oblique manner but which time, paranoia and in-security has festered into outrageous enmity.

And then they say "well hello Hum how nice to see you".

And Hum is undone: from zero to hero, they are propelled instantly as Hum chides himself for being so un-characteristically, mean spirited.

Keep your negativity to jocular banter between good chums Hum.

 

Everyone looks great.

Memories of the last voyage come flooding back to Hum and surprisingly Hum recalls most fellow guests's health issues which surprised them as much as it surprised Hum. This near obsession with another's health is odd but poor health or injury does drag on one's spirit, as you all recall when Hum was taken down with "Man Cold".

Oh thank you for asking how Hum was by the way !

Not !!!

 

But very sadly there are absences of those that passed away amongst passengers and crew too (does anyone remember June: no not the month, the Philippine waiter. A lovely, lively guy).

Hum is stunned into silence on the news whilst the hubbub is all around and the "gaggle" of guests is shuffling onwards to security whilst the recent news is being absorbed 'tween fresh encounters with chums.

It is very odd.

Sad then joy and the question "what to do" ?

We are checked in at ship security which includes mostly hugging and staring at Hum's girth in amazement at the evident increase in the pronounced bulge.

4/5 months gone people would be thinking if Hum were a her.

 

Up the gangway into the melee, scrum.......call it what you like.

A lot of excited commotion as we inch our way forward to handshakes, towels and champagne whilst all the time excited fellow guests meet up with old chums and there are introductions going on everywhere halting the flow 'tween glasses being dropped, champagne being spilled by the over animated greetings.

 

Finally we are processed !

 

Dump stuff in cabin and pass out into Reception (no not in the drunken sense), Hum sees the frenzy, the commotion in the Main Salon and dips quickly up to the TOYB for peace and quiet and to meet the bar guy and have a drink in relative peace whilst other guests follow mounting the stairs in dribs and drabs where Hum greets them in a more restrained manner.

 

Fast forward 45 minutes later and the assembly resembles a "rave".

Much laughter, animated encounters, dancing, jostling etc etc...

Immediately there is an amazing vibe all around as more crew are pressed into serve drinks being consumed in "gusto".

 

Hum is having a ball !

We are all having a ball !

Yet the one hallmark of our encounters is the genuine affection we have for one another which the intervening year apart has merely strengthened.

 

"Oh boy, it's so good to see you"

And you

 

We adjourn for life boat drill and most actually listen......a respectful, responsible bunch.

Then over.

Hum busies himself like a deranged school monitor ensuring straggling orange belts are gathered so as fellow guests do not trip over them.

Hum is kind.

Maybe it's an age thing or is it becoming less self-centred.

But when someone replies that they can look after themselves perfectly adequately without any help from Hum.

Hum wishes the "old trout break her neck falling down the stairs" !

Normal service resumes.

Silly old bat !

Mutter, mutter....

 

Back to TOYB and those remaining there for a final drink before cocktails are now raising the noise levels from boisterous to "bonker-tastic" !

 

Well that's all your gonna get today.

 

But of course miss you Lady V and Colonel Clint and of course the rests of yous.

 

Internet has been down.

Yeah tell Hum about it !

Hence delay.

 

Hum's voyage feels so much better now SDI is back.

Still a bit nervous.

God bless SDI and her crew and all her guests.

Hum knows there may be some who wont or dont care to hear this but very well handled shoreside management.

Great respect to you all.

And to the Owner and family too.

Must have been a really hard time for them.

Hum will raise a glass to them, several in fact !

 

Cancel that !

Internet very poor !

But not as bad as Hum last reported.......not by much though.

There has been a "correction" in the market and Hum needs to sell but due to poor service, it is taking too long to sell and losses are accumulating.

Might have to move in with Jim and sell the "pile" in Poshland.

[Jim Avery]

Come on over. I have special rental rates for Ex-pat Brits. We take Dollars, Pounds, or Pesos. No Euros! Added bonus, I can provide employment at the family tequila still. Green Card? You don't need no steenkin green card! :D

[vandrefalk]

Are you saying that Jun passed away??? What happened??

 

So sad not to be with you all -- but hope you will post as often as you can. Will be following your progress.via Marine Traffic!

 

Who is Captain, Hotman, chef, md,etc?

Vandrefalk

[ho-hum]

Dear Lord Hum of Poshland

 

I have been sitting patiently on the naughty step you ordered me to a couple of weeks back quite rightly for making a very cheeky remark, a cheep laugh during SD1's hours, nay days, now weeks of need. The poor old derrier is a tad numb.

 

I wish you a merry crossing, though have been thinking about the poor fellow passengers with growing feelings of terror dawning on them that they are trapped in a little boat, surrounded by ocean, no escape from His Lordship's ever more eccentic behaviour unless being left marooned on a piece of rock in the middle of the Atlantic...and they pay good money for this folly?

 

That's you Lord Hum, we need you back in Blighty asap, buying and quaffing yet more champagne and fine wines with the resultant large amounts of duty and VAT flowing onto the Exchequer...to pay for yet more wind sheer tests on a bleak piece of rock sticking out of the Atlantic.

 

Fair winds and calm seas to all.

 

Oh MACT, no one listens to Hum !

Admonitions are routinely ignored and are delivered theatrically with never any earnestness.

And besides any true chiding is forgotten immediately they are uttered.

But your polite grovelling did warm Hum's cold heart.

Nay, Hum is just not like that.

 

The British government spending on blindingly obvious meteorological phenomena is almost as dumb as America sending astronauts to the moon and finding rocks.

Quelle surprise !

We found rocks !

 

We need to build up the coffers for the proverbial will soon be hitting the fan Hum thinks.

 

Thankyou for your kind words.

Hum would enjoy the crossing more if he could have basic internet access !

Fortunately Hum was able to place several orders in the early morning hours to sell as response to the minor "correction" in certain markets.

Phew !!!!!

Otherwise the xing is a delight and the weather, whilst not blazing sunshine is invigorating but with a balmy wind.

[ho-hum]

Are you saying that Jun passed away??? What happened??

 

So sad not to be with you all -- but hope you will post as often as you can. Will be following your progress.via Marine Traffic!

 

Who is Captain, Hotman, chef, md,etc?

Vandrefalk

 

Yes, June (died in his sleep).

Crew previously posted Lady V a while back (at length).

[vandrefalk]

Don't know how I missed it -- do you remember where it was?

Vandrefalk

[ho-hum]

Don't know how I missed it -- do you remember where it was?

Vandrefalk

 

Come now, the internet is really bad, it will take an age for H to find.....Captain Remi, HM Jamie

[Jim Avery]

Come now, the internet is really bad,

 

A likely excuse......You are just having too much fun to bother with us "left behinds".

[ho-hum]

Life onboard soon settles into familiar routines.

The "old timers" know "the ropes" and positions, alliances, favourite activities, quiet corners, first snifter of the day and perhaps most importantly, nap times are pretty well established, certainly by day 2/3.

A few "xing virgins" are onboard and everything is a bit new and their only "hurdle" to overcome is simply allowing themselves to R. E. L. A. X. X. X. X

All the regulars knew to expect choppy waters out from Gibraltar which we passed in the dark with low cloud around 7.00am a morning ago (no there was nothing to see as one or two early birds reported later at breakfast making those that stayed in bed feel jolly smug: Hum being one).

We were riding the waves: going with the flow......quite literally riding along on the crest of a wave.

They reached 3.0-3.5 metres for a short time but absolutely no discomfort was experienced: if you were sailing the other way, it would have been a different matter of course and several passing tankers were observed with waves crashing up and over the pointy front end (bow).

The waves off the blunt end (rear) were at deck height (at their peaks): a phenomena Hum had never witnessed before nor had quite a few others it seemed as a few fellow guests milled around to take photos like this one here (well that plan had to be dropped because the internet is so abysmal-pathetic-poor).

 

Hum missed trivia due to a very long and boozy lunch with "Bloody Mary's" before: Hum remembers at least 3 (it was probably more !).

Wines accompanied lunch of course.

A lovely Verdicchio reduced to $30 was particularly nice as an accompaniment to a Spaghetti Vongole (Hum had a second bowl: delicious).

Consciousness returned an hour after trivia commenced.

It was the worst attended trivia ever !

Hum was not alone then.

The team Hum would be in, is not the smartest.

They lost.

Bigly.

Big bigly.

 

A day or so later and the rhythms of boat life ease a notch or two down to very relaxed levels. The morning weather starts blustery with cloud but aaahhhh the air is gentle and soporific caressing face and neck. An hour later as the sun rises, the grey cloud will disperse just enough for a weak white sun to warm us and we divest ourselves of surplus clothing.

 

Breakfast ensues and the early excited conversation drifts into easy talk of nothing in particular with longer and longer silences until breakfast orders are delivered and eager excitement for the gifts from the busy kitchen are eyed in delight and just have to be commented on for some reason.

Certainly there is no talk of what's happening in the US right now (said that too soon ! Damn stupid woman's email server and an FBI investigation was making the rounds at dinner).

Topics of any conversation are chosen from the lower shelves not the hot contentious topics on the mid-shelf though occasionally we indulge and discuss salacious topics on the top shelf out of reach from the innocents amongst us, not that Hum is in this crowd of "choir boys".

How agreeable we are all becoming.

Bland ? No, not at all.

Content.

 

People often ask three things about xings:

- what the heck do you DO ALL DAY ?

- isn't it bleak being alone on a vast ocean, cut off from activity ?

- aren't you worried about a ship failure of some kind or encountering a giant squid or iceberg even: pirates perhaps ?

 

Now there are many onboard who would say, "don't say a word Hum, we like it small: don't you go a gettin' more onboard".

Fair point, fair point, Hum feels the same way but it would be a shame if those inclined to do one (a xing) were discouraged by not knowing the facts.

Well Hum's view of the facts.

 

So.

The day has a beginning and an end and most enjoy the slow relaxed rhythm aided with an additional hour at regular intervals on the journey.

If you are the kind that wants/needs a litany of distractions to fill your avaricious minds then don't come: you will HATE it ! And more importantly you are likely to disturb the ship psyche with your neurotic need for entertainment: fellow passengers will "run a mile" from you too, so there.

 

Of course in the early days a young Hum used to bring mounds of articles, news snippets, notes, books......a whole pack of stuff to read, have time to study, contemplate but invariably it sat there mocking Hum at his lack of earnestness to enlighten the darkest corners of his un-explored consciousness. Once you are relaxed and centred, after a few days onboard Hum looked at the pile as "froth" as not important at all and the urge to know about stuff had disappeared. The neurotic anxiety had stilled and the impetus for entertainment and self-improvement had completely gone: even lectures, where all you had to do was sit, sip a drink and hear some earnest fellow do all the work seems so pointless (but many do, of course and proclaim to enjoy it. If they start talking about it, then Hum disappears).

Besides how could Hum ever improve on this !

An intellectual giant.

A William Buckley Junior but smarter.

Hum simply reflects on how wonderful he is and admires himself so.......aaaahh "I do love you so Hum" and I you Hum....aaaahhhhh.

So perfect for one another.

 

Being at sea is an intimate experience for Hum and many others. Hum was expressing the self same sentiments to a chum and he too felt exactly the same way....which was nice.

To have another feel the same way about an intimate experience is gladdening for some reason: drops merging with the ocean perhaps.

A closeness to the elements (except earth/land of course) is wonderful.

We are 70% water and so is the earth (Hum's making all this up of course, so "smart arces" desist from correcting H).

Everything is simple.

You sleep, eat, drink, chat, have T I M E .......to idle, jot, "perchance to dream", appreciate, to be with Blondie (at one of her happiest times....there are so many being with Hummy baby) and to be with dear, dear chums. Hum often thinks of them when not onboard with them too of course.

 

Hum is "dark": he expects large quantities of "dooh-dooh" to happen, anytime, any where, it is just quantity and force of jettisoned "dooh-dooh" that is un-certain.

Scenarios of disaster are not un-common to Hum to contemplate and indeed expect.

Jesuit priests are most likely to blame, having painted pictures of gruesome spectacles because of sinful thoughts especially during hormonal spurts in Hum's early boyhood.

As it happens the crew are currently doing a drill: a drill they do once a week and woe betide them if they don't attend or perform their duties correctly.

Simply put, Hum trusts them to look after us and he has confidence in their professionalism and abilities. They are long serving, they know the ship inside out, they care for us, for one another. No, Hum knows he (and more importantly Blondie and the less able amongst us) will be well cared for.

As for giant squids, pirates and icebergs ...... wouldn't it be jolly fun besides with (self-proclaimed) heroic characters onboard like Commander Courageous, Hum has no fear and relishes such an encounter to witness him in action (provided his lumbago does not hamper his "Kapows", "Splats" delivered to the opponent).

 

So the internet has improved from abysmal, to pathetic and finally to the dizzying heights of "poor" but good enough to send this missive (but sorry Lady V, Hum is not able to troll through back pages to find past postings.....if someone else can find Hum's reply to a Commander Courageous request for a list of crew then kindly do so but for Hum it would take hours and he is on his hols. So not that un-reasonable to pass on, just this once. Hum would do most things for Lady V, hope she understands. Of course she will, she is so lovely).

[ho-hum]

A likely excuse......You are just having too much fun to bother with us "left behinds".

 

So much for your support !

Besides are not Hum's posts offering you something of the onboard experience ?

Where is the gratitude ?

Just where ?

Hum thinks a bit of grovelling is due him to post some more.

Verily.

Great mounds of grovelling.

[ho-hum]

So to be fair, the Communications Officer has taken matters in hand and contacted the ruddy provider and he has not only restored internet to barely acceptable, it is now up to "basic" !

 

Well done sir.

 

Hum will try a photo of the waves at the rear deck. Yes it will be a small attachment only.

No sorry.

Oh it did it.

Upside down but it at least it worked !

Edited October 29, 2016 by ho-hum

[Jim Avery]

So much for your support !

Besides are not Hum's posts offering you something of the onboard experience ?

Where is the gratitude ?

Just where ?

Hum thinks a bit of grovelling is due him to post some more.

Verily.

Great mounds of grovelling.

 

That was an easy lob for you, the "left behinds" bit. Thought you would for sure bring up the "right behinds" which were left untouched, so to speak. But we all approve your efforts to describe your voyage. And please, please, please good sir continue to enlighten us. Sounds like a good start.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

ho-hum, you are off to a great start to your trip report! Much more like the "old days". Has your newfound TV stardom affected the dynamic on board?

 

(PS - looks like the sycophants were reading your posts at the same time.)

Edited October 29, 2016 by Ragnar Danneskjold

[COCOYOTE]

In less than a few minutes, Funchal will be just another memory of a voyage that has to aptly and wonderfully been described by Mr. Hum in delightful detail. Then, the best part of the voyage begins: 10 days at sea. Just now, three blasts of the ships horn provides notice of our departure; souls in deep restful sleep were rudely awakened. The ship is in motion, the guests at the rails, here we come St. Thomas.

[vandrefalk]

.....if someone else can find Hum's reply to a Commander Courageous request for a list of crew then kindly do so but for Hum it would take hours and he is on his hols. So not that un-reasonable to pass on, just this once. Hum would do most things for Lady V, hope she understands. Of course she will, she is so lovely).

 

My dear Hum, I completely understand ;)

I did find Commander Courageous's request for crew info (it was on the crossing thread), and your response, but no mention of June. It's so sad -- he was such a delight.

 

Hope the internet continues to operate fairly well, as we are travelling vicariously with you. I have to say I was really looking forward to seeing Gibralter as we sailed past, so am somewhat perversely pleased that there was nothing to see!

 

Will have to look at another crossing, but not sure I want to tempt fate again by scheduling one during hurricane season!

 

Vandrefalk

[ho-hum]

Madeira.

First port of call and maybe, just maybe, not the last.

Aha !

Again a grey start but the waters have calmed to wave heights barely 0.5m high.

The air remains lovely and temperatures reach a peak of around 24C by the time Captain Remi gives his noon report.

 

"This is the Captain from the bridge, good afternoon ladies and gentle......men (he elongates this appellation: no, no idea why. Dramatic effect maybe. They all do it: Steinar, Lund, Willassen when he was here. Maybe it's a tradition. Maybe it's a Norwegian thing. Breaks up the ever ending dullness. Shall Hum continue ?). Our position is 35 minutes blah blah, sea temperature is 22C and air temperature is 24C. Nearest land is Morocco, 200 miles away. We are sailing at 10 knots and hope to arrive at noon tomorrow. I wish you a pleasant day and enjoyable lunch"

 

Hum imagines the Captain sitting in his vest and underpants in his room with an open beer, bleary eyed from the previous night's excesses !

It is imagined this way by Hum due to the Captain's laconic style in delivering information. As Hum said before: every Captain Hum has sailed with gives the report in this manner.

Padding out information and delivering it mostly monotone except for the "gentle.....men" part.

 

Of course it is a scandalous suggestion and totally not true, Hum a tually happened to witness our Captain scurrying along the deck outside the senior crew deck (deck 5) with his arm around the shoulder of the Hotel Manager in a comradely and accessible and supportive manner.

It was nice to see and Hum's growing respect for our Captain increased a tad more.

Our Hotel Manager has a lot on his shoulders (not just the Captain's supportive arm).

There are a lot of Club Members.

They are two waiters down (separate issues and nothing to do with the ship).

They have to be prepared for a USPH inspection and there is probably extra cleaning: certainly there are more inspections.

And there are one or two other things going on (classified. Sorry you don't have security clearance BUT for the premium service, this is available after subscriptions are arranged).

And yet, he (HM) passes around, enquiring about the welfare of his guests in a familiar ease.

Our maitre d' has been pressed into additional waiting duties which he bears with aplomb though "schmoozing" time has been rationed: such a shame, he is one of the most accomplished "schmoozers" and extremely handsome, well spoken, impeccably mannered and refined but with an ease about him.

Total class.

 

Where do they find their personnel ?

A lady in Oslo called Ursula is the seer of souls or was, she has recently retired but a new chap sounds promising but will he have her uncanny ability to select "good 'uns" and occasionally "great ones".

Hum asks himself, how is it that Crystal, with all their corporate intelligence, not be able to select even a half decent crew for waiting and bar positions (other positions are excellent) for their one small ship (Esprit) when this lady can find such talent or burgeoning talent.

Hum has always been impressed by this ability: it is a remarkable talent.

 

Some people go on SD voyages to visit itineraries, Hum and Blondie go on SD voyages to visit amazing crew personnel !

Our lives have been enriched so much by them and memories of former crew will forever remain with us (fortunately we remain in contact with a few in their next incarnation: we are the one's feeling privileged).

 

What shall we do in Madeira ?

 

Some want tea at Reids (famous for Winston Churchill as a guest) but they will have to wear a jacket and maybe even take a tie too. It is gloriously British or it was, Hum visited over 20 years ago. Madeira had always been a favourite with a certain class of British, now even the Dutch go there. Popular with the Baron's countrymen too as they hike along the "levadas" (irrigation channels that abound the island) in regimented lines, always donned with outdoor gear in this year's "Bavarian Hiking Ware".

 

Of course there are dozens of restaurants, mostly seafood (famous for the "Espada" fish: pretty tasteless if the truth be told. Best in a stew with tomatoes). But a former Portugese waiter told Hum about a famous preparation for steak. That with a robust Douro from the mainland would be brilliant.

Hum had it and the wine: superb.

 

On the previous visit (two years ago) we arrived a month or so after torrential rains which had dis-lodged huge boulders from the hills and which were seemingly mostly deposited on the main roundabout from the port to the town of Funchal.

Now we are visiting after terrible fires had ravaged the upper settlements of the capital: again more devastation.

Hum hopes that suspicious locals and practitioners of the "Black Arts" don't suggest that Hum is the cause of these acts of God. Hum would respond he hardly knows the man (God that is), he never takes Hum's calls and for all Hum knows Jim hasn't reported ever being "smitten" despite regular supplications (especially following his recent suggestion of being too busy for you dearest of chums. Outrageous).

 

Madeira is a tourism success phenomena but with all successes there is a price to pay: just too many of us (tourists, that is). This once quiet, unique backwater has been discovered and the white painted concrete block houses creep ever upwards to the hills overlooking Funchal displacing the many vineyards that once were there and were worked by locals. Now the sons and daughters hire out scooters in the capital and the old ways are declining.

 

"Progress" on the island has largely been due to European Union grants and up until recently Hum and the rest of his fellow islanders, ruddy well paid for it !

And are the Portuguese grateful ?

Bah !

Not a ruddy jot.

They want loans to be extended and to pay less interest.

These deluded Socialist mayors in near on every town and city commissioned huge concrete structures for purposes of prestige.

The social payments sky rocketed for all sorts of deranged causes "black, wimmin, anorexic, lesbians with issues of self-esteem, single parents with sociopath sprogs that are cruel to pets".......well yes Hum made it all up but Hum's sure a group like that exists !

No wonder countries like Portugal, Spain and Greece were military dictatorships a while ago. Couldn't organise a proverbial in a winery !

 

Hum looks up.

What another ramble bordering on rant.

Ooops sorry.

And you with better things to do.

Besides Hum must check what everybody wants to do in Madeira....in sight now.

 

Oh and the weather was glorious.

Only ship in port but the cobbled, pedestrianised streets were busy but not too so.

Hum had lunch with a chum (Blondie was not feeling "tickety-booh": better now, thanks for asking) and we discussed in detail the significant life events concerning his change in business direction over two bottles of fabulous wine.

[TrapperZimmy]

I gather, ho-hum, that this is your first sailing with Capt. Remi. I know that you and Blondie will fall in love with him. Our first trip with him was in the Tahitian Islands on the Paul Gauguin. We met him again when his first trip with SD was on the SD1 sailing through the Panama Canal - the trip when the crankshaft blew. He handled that crisis marvelously, and all passengers were left happy campers. We've seen him several more times, including our trip through the Norwegian Fjords. Because he is a licensed pilot, he took us through those narrow passages himself.

 

His best trait, though, is his interest in the passengers. He loves to mingle and he's a great guy to know.

 

Enjoy your trip and give our love to Blondie.

[Jim Avery]

Another vote here for Captain Remi. In DW's words "he's a hottie". I prefer to think of him as the Captain that did a great job handling SD I with one engine out. :eek::D

[vandrefalk]

Encore for Remi!! We were on board when the engine went (actually having dinner with Capt Bjarne when we heard the noise!). It was Remi's very first cruise with SD and Bjarne was really happy to get off in Curacao and leave it to him :D Capt Remi handled every thing beautifully and as others say is very personable and friendly with the guests. And I'm with Lois -- he wears a uniform quite nicely :)

 

When we were with him in Santorini last fall, he said it was the first time in something like 10 years he'd gotten to go ashore, but since we were the only vessel there that day, we got an anchorage (seems the water is too deep to anchor, so must keep engines running, meaning captain and first officer must stay aboard). He's also been known to fish off the stern!

 

OK -- speaking of Madiera, how many of you remember this (delightful) song from the Limelighters?

Hope the link works!

Vandrefalk