Mars in the Mist

The weather in Djupivogur was cold and misty and TSH and Diva stayed on the Silver Spirit. The Panorama lounge was only a few degrees warmer than outside and it stayed that way despite several guests (including Diva) and crew reporting the situation. They were told that it was equally cold on the Bridge. If the senior officers cannot keep themselves warm there is not much hope for anyone else.

Concerned about the North Atlantic crossing to Ireland, Diva consulted the Met Office shipping forecast. She has no experience with this information and does not really understand it but 2 large deep red rectangles right in the path of the Silver Spirit did not seem good. She considered informing Captain Ivo, just in case he was not aware of the dangers ahead but TSH advised against this, as he was sure that Captain Ivo would have his own sources. When the Captain spoke to the guests he indicated that the sea would be ‘moderate to rough’, so Diva issued Stugeron and they hoped for the best. The necklace that Diva chose for the evening was likened by one of the crew to one that was found on Titanic – not a good omen on a cruise ship!!  At the time of writing, nothing too bad has been experienced.

Here is a picture of Viking Mars – anchored quite close to Silver Spirit in Djupivogur. This is not a bad photograph, this is exactly how it was. 

Sinking ships

On arrival at the Irish port of Cobh, Captain Jason put the Spirit of Adventure into a manoeuvre called Stop and Spin. This is exactly what it sounds like. The port welcomes cruise ships by encouraging their passengers into the Titanic exhibition and the heritage museum with a section about the Lusitania. TSH and Diva were assigned boarding cards with the names of two of the passengers – one from each ship. They never discovered if they survived but as Irish people in third class it seems unlikely.  

At breakfast, Diva asked for a brown roll to go with her Cumberland sausage. The sausage arrived but the roll came some time later because a waiter had to go to another restaurant for it – 7 decks away! And then they brought two rolls, which was too much for requirements.

The first use of TSH’s camera did not go too well – he had charged the battery at home but forgot to insert it back into the camera.

There have, as usual been timing issues. TSH’s phone decided it was in France and moved its time forward. So the alarm went off very early. It has now been instructed not to do it again.

Spirit of Adventure shows no sign of sinking and the food is excellent and the wine plentiful.

What next?

There are times in the day when the Captain makes routine announcements. Any announcement at another time is either bad news or grist for the mill of uncertainty. 14:50 is not a routine time.

14:50 - Captain announced that the Australian Government has just banned all cruise ships. There are, however 'special arrangements' for ships already en route there. This is the situation for the Silver Spirit. The guests are assured that the senior executive who failed to influence the Philippine authorities is currently abandoning the flesh-pots of Sydney and making his way to Darwen.

'Special arrangements' might mean quarantine. The hope is that this will be on the ship, that the 12 days for which there has been no contact with the outside world will count and that there will be a delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Plenty of food, but nothing much fresh.

Activity on pool deck to keep guests happy - 'Building a Boat'. Could be useful for the breakout party. One guest has declared his favourite film to be 'Titanic'.

Pizza-making tuition later.

Titanic and Marianne

Diva and TSH provide the kiss of death to more excursions. They were notified in the evening that the planned excursion for Bar Harbour was not running so booked another which by the following morning was also cancelled. If the fourth choice does not run it’s back to the shop to spend more on board credit.

On the last day in Canada for Diva and TSH, they were greeted on the quayside of Halifax by a bagpiper and a drummer playing traditional Scottish music. Later, after TSH had seen a train, they enjoyed walking on the boardwalk. They visited the maritime museum to see the exhibit about how the search for bodies from the Titanic was coordinated from Halifax and many of the bodies were buried here. This exercise served Halifax well when they had their own disaster in 1917. Two ships, including an ammunition ship, collided in the harbour, triggering the largest man-made explosion ever (eventually eclipsed by Hiroshima). Many people died and many bodies had to be identified and buried. The US city of Boston helped with organising the aftermath and building new dwellings at a fast rate.  

On the way back to the ship, a busker was singing the Leonard Cohen song ‘So Long Marianne’ (he did not write a So Long Diva and TSH). And it’s the last day.  And Diva is writing a dissertation about Cohen. How spooky is that?

Quite a lot of Irish influence in this part of Canada which is noticeable in the names on signs and some of the music that Diva and TSH have heard. 

Itinerary Change

La Terrazza is back to its old self – calm and relaxing. During dinner there was an announcement from the captain. A massive storm – hurricane level – was forecast and would make the journey to Stornoway ‘uncomfortable’.  And then it would be impossible to go ashore safely. So…. The Whisper would sail to Belfast for the planned stop but then stay overnight to shelter from the worst of the storm. Then it would set off direct for Iceland, through the tail end of the storm and then out of it. So no Stornoway and no stone circle.

Two of the people on board told TSH and Diva that two years ago they did a similar voyage which was supposed to take 4 days at sea to cross to Canada. A storm meant that this missed all the ports except the disembarkation and were at sea for almost 8 days continuously. Please, no.

The Belfast Titanic exhibition is one of the best. Exhibits of the social history of Belfast, building up to the design, build, launch and fit of the Titanic. The voyage detail until that night.  And then the aftermath – search for bodies and the inquiries in UK and US. A 2 to 3 hour unmissable experience, in which you learn quite a bit about Belfast generally.

The extended stay meant there was time to take the shuttle bus into the city and walk around the centre, looking at City Hall, the Opera House and the Waterfront.

Its TSH and Diva’s 12^th wedding anniversary and they are storm –bound in Belfast. As unpredictable as the wedding day when they were clamped.