At Sea - 23/24 January

[Michele Monro]

Monday 23 January

I have to say I enjoy the sea days as much as the ports and we have been lucky with the seas. There was a 50% off clothing sale in the Piccadilly, which I shouldn't have gone to, but I blame Beth who kept telling me that everything I tried on looked good. I'm so weak, led astray by another shopaholic! I attended the water colour class and ended up entering 11 photos into the Camera Club Competition. Guess what my photo came 3rd. Not bad for a novice. I've had lots of people come up and say how much they enjoyed my talk and several have said it made them cry and that I'm so brave. All I want to do is keep the legacy dad left behind burning brightly. Talking on the cruise ships gives me a whole new audience

I went to hear a presentation by Commander Martin Ewence OBE who joined the Navy in 1978 and has spent most of his career at sea serving in all key watch-keeping, navigation, warfare and command positions. He returned last June from being Chief of Staff to NATO's counter-piracy squadron operating in the Somali Basin since December 2010. He gave a talk on the Navy's Anti-Piracy Response. Two things were reassuring, all of the ships attacked in the last few years have all been merchant vessels and all of them were doing less than 18 knots per hour. We're traveling at 22 kph. They shut decks 8 and 9 from 6.00pm the night before last because we were passing through the most dangerous area.

I've set up a comfortable routine now and usually go to my cabin at about 7.00pm and chill for the night. I love having the balcony and leave the door open all day so that there is lots of fresh air coming through. I have to say I hate air-conditioning but at least Arcadia isn't too bad, not like the American ships which have it going at full blast in all the public areas. They say it is to kill germs but I think the air-con units just spread everyone else's germs to your part of the ship.

Tuesday 24 January

Although cloudy the temperature has gone up to 19 degrees, you can't ask for more than that. Leon rang this morning thanking me for my talk and telling me I've gone on the Guest Questionnaire forms so now all I can do is wait to see how I've scored. Apparently the scores won't be in until about the 29 January so everything is crossed.

We are still in the danger area with regards to Somali Pirates. Last year they seized 4 ships in January, 18 fewer that the 26 captured in the two previous years. They also attempted unsuccessfully an attack on 52 other vessels, 16 fewer than the year before. As of 16 January 2011 the pirates were holding 5 large ships with about 155 hostages. The numbers are less because of the Combined Task Force 150, a multinational coalition task force which have taken on the role of fighting Somali piracy by establishing a Maritime Security Patrol area within the Gulf of Aden. because we are in the transit corridor there is a convoy of destroyers helping us secure safe passage. Arcadia has also blocked all lower entrances, deployed their own security team. We also have long range acoustic devices which will deafen anyone in the immediate area (us as well I presume), and water hoses are rigged on three decks and we're dark at night.

It was very heartening to see several of our security ships overlooking our safe passage. At about 2.30pm we sighted USS Halsey, which is an Arleigh Burke-Class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. It is operational in conducting maritime security, counterterrorism and seeking to disrupt violent extremists. It was launched in January 2004 from its home in San Diego, California. It is 9,300 tons, 509 ft in length with a 66 ft beam and a 31 ft draft. Importantly it has 4 General Electric LM2500 - 30 gas turbines, 2 shafts with a speed of 30+ knots. There are 383 officers and enlisted personnel and the good news is that it's armament has a 1x32 cell, 1x64 cell MK 41 vertical launch systems, 96xRIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 tomahawk missiles so it can blow quite a bit out of the water. It also has 1x 5/62 mm, 2x25mm, 4x12.7mm guns and 2x MK 46 triple torpedo tubes. It also carries 2 x SH-60 Sea Hawk Helicopters, one of which was launched as we approached and it circled around us as a salute. USS Halsey also gave us a fast pass as a means of saying hello, proudly displaying its American flag. Our funnels let off several loud blasts in appreciation, in fact I would have thought any pirates for miles around would have heard it.

It was quite something and I'm hoping to get a photograph up tomorrow. Of course I didn't have the video camera with me at the time but that is the story of my life. I did take a couple of minutes footage on my camera but I am having so much trouble uploading the Bloggie footage, I dread attempting it with another camera. The clocks went forward again last night so we are now 4 hours ahead of England and I will catch up again once we get to Dubai. I am really looking forward to visiting this vast rich city but there are others who are looking forward to it just so they can get off. I shouldn't think the couple who I mentioned at the beginning of the trip will ever even look at a cruise brochure again. In fact he will probably be relieved to get in the plane. It is sad. I on the other hand are loving it and I cannot believe that nearly three weeks have gone. I count my blessings that I was able to do this trip at this time in my life.

Till next time.
Be safe
xx

[mariana44]

It al sounds blissful---apart from the Pirates !!!

Glad you are getting some positve feedback from your presentations. I should think nearly everyone would know the name and voice of Matt Monro, so I can just imagine how interesting it must be for everyone-in fact, I wish I was there myself !!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Great to read how the trip is progressing Michele and shopping is on the agenda. You can't beat a bit of retail therapy specially when sales are about.
Well done on coming third in the photo water colour class.
It must feel reassuring to have someone like Commander Martin Ewence on board while sailing through those troubled waters. Regardless of this I think I would have asked the ships captain if he could double the travelling speed to 44 knots PH
As far as air conditioning is concerned, I hate it too. In theatres whatever is often flushed through it makes me cough.
Well I expect the couple you mentionrd earlier will be pleased when they step off shore, ( that's if she hasn't throttled him before they dock)
Enjoy your visit in Dubai and make the most of the sunshine. We are not sure what weather to expect from one day to another here in the UK
it's mild right now, but snow could be on the way
Keep up the good work with your talks

[Marian]

It all sounds lovely Michele, and well done coming in third in the photo contest. You seem very at home in aboard ship, and making some lasting friends.

[paul jh]

So glad to hear you are enjoying your world cruise, Michele. I'm reading all the reports. Jordan and Egypt sounded interesting. I loved Eilat when I was there many years ago. Thanks for all the details in the reports.

It sounds nice to have the balcony open at night. But I have to keep the door closed while I'm sleeping .... fear of sleepwalking in the middle of the night. And I'm one of those Americans who loves strong and cold air conditioning.

I'm sure your talks are well received and you did have an excellent turnout. I think I'll be booking the upcoming Fred. Olsen cruise!