ZUIDERDAM IN PORT EVERGLADES MONDAY 30 MARCH 2020

[Copper10-8]

Third day in a row for the appearance of a dam ship in Ft. Lauderdale/Port Everglades! HAL's first and thus lead Vista-class ship Zuiderdam will be making her presence known on Monday, March 30, 2020 in order to take on fuel, water and stores, as well as coordinate a small amount of crew turnover. She is due in at 0630 hrs local and going to berth 26. Prelim departure is scheduled for 3:30 PM local!

 

Also in port tomorrow on an unusually busy cruise ship day in these uncertain times are Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Sky, yes, the same ship that suffered an engine failure off the coast of Norway one year ago, arriving at 0530 hrs local, and assigned to berth 21, RCI's Independence OTS, arriving at 0630 hrs. local and assigned berth 18, the "classically lined" Celebrity Edge from Celebrity Cruises, arriving at 0700 hrs, and going to berth 25, and finally, CCL's Carnival Sunshine, also arriving at 0700 hrs, and assigned berth 04

 

The webcams can be found at:

 

https://www.portevergladeswebcam.com/

 

https://www.ftlauderdalewebcam.com

 

 

 

[1ANGELCAT]

Thanks John, it’s going to be tough looking at Zuiderdam and knowing I won’t be boarding her April 19th. 
 

[panoramaofthepast]

We got off Zuiderdam on March 18, the last group of passengers she had before the shut down. The crew was outstanding and were making the best of the situation, but you could tell they were anxious. 

[ski ww]

Zuiderdam about 7 miles out third in line.

[puppycanducruise]

Good morning.

[VMax1700]

Good morning from the east side of the big pond.

 

[rafinmd]

Very close.

 

Roy

[puppycanducruise]

There she is.  She looks great.  Riding high on the water.

[ski ww]

Zuiderdam arriving.

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for the picture.

[VintageGeo]

Beautiful sight. Hope to someday soon see it from a much nearer distance. 🙂

 

George

 

[VMax1700]

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for the picture.

[summer slope]

Wonderful closeup on the FtLauderdale webcam.

[VintageGeo]

Interesting, if somewhat depressing, sign of the times: masks being worn on the bridge of the Edge.

 

[rafinmd]

For the webcam fans, USNS Comfort is approaching New York...

 

 

I believe she's headed for Pier 90.  She should show up first on the NY Harbor cam:

 

NYHarborWebcam.com

 

and as she approaches the dock at the port cam:

 

PortNYWebcam.com

 

Roy

[Himself]

Thanks for the report John and thanks for the picture Sky and my dear Hibernian from County Cork.

I appreciate the post and the pictures.  It is too bad  the Zuiderdam is blocked by the Bloody EDGE. I Zuiderdam is the first ship I sailed in its Innagural season.

[Scrapnana]

John,

Do you have an idea of what percentage of the normal crew are being kept on while the ships are out of commission?

 

Before we got off of Amsterdam, the scuttlebutt was that a number of crew would be sent home from Durban.  Of course, that was before so many flights were cancelled and borders closed.

[mamaofami]

Thanks for the report this morning, John. Our last cruise was on Zuiderdam in September to celebrate our 60th anniversary. Fond memories. We also won a free cruise on Zuiderdam playing bingo years ago.

[3rdGenCunarder]

4 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

There she is.  She looks great.  Riding high on the water.

 

Because she isn't full of passengers who have been stuffing themselves at the Lido for a week or more? 😜

 

So good to see her. She's my favorite HAL ship.

[puppycanducruise]

We have a cruise booked on her for May. ☹️  Oh well, maybe next year.

[Copper10-8]

2 hours ago, Scrapnana said:

John,

Do you have an idea of what percentage of the normal crew are being kept on while the ships are out of commission?

 

Before we got off of Amsterdam, the scuttlebutt was that a number of crew would be sent home from Durban.  Of course, that was before so many flights were cancelled and borders closed.

 

I believe the plan is to have crew, like those working in the entertainment dept. incl. groups like the BB King all-stars and Rolling Stone Rock Room band, who have both pax and crew status, as well as the concessionaires (casino, shoppies, Steiners, photo, art, etc.) sent home when possible. Those folks are a just small percentage of the total crew however 

[Vict0riann]

I see the USNS Comfort in NY, with the red crosses on her.  Hope she can help out.  

[Copper10-8]

18 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

I see the USNS Comfort in NY, with the red crosses on her.  Hope she can help out.  

 

Took some pics yesterday of her sister, USNS Mercy, berthed at the cruise terminal of the port of L.A. (San Pedro)

 

[Vic The Parrot]

So where is Zuiderdam going afterwards? Are the HAL ships joining the Princess fleet over at Great Isaac Cay?