Agents and Officials!

Arcadia's famous Glass Lift Towers - Ideal for a bird's eye view of the port area!

Good Day from sunny Grand Canaria.

A big day here with blue skies and the outside air temperature is 21 degrees Celsius!

The Portunus Parties went very well last evening and many people telling me how much they enjoyed the over night in Madeira and that we should have more of there in premier ports such as Madeira - or a least one a Cruise. When the ship is in overnight the time boundaries are removed and you feel as if you are actually on holiday in that country instead of say 0900/1700 hours. You have the best of both worlds as you have your Hotel with you - parked in the Harbour! The Headliners Theatre Company performed their Premier 'I Write the Songs' - it just gets better - they got a standing ovation. The costumes, the staging, lighting and sound with the live Arcadia Orchestra on the stage - it was truly entertaining - where else do you get a seven peice Ochestra these days? Also a very glamorous production in keeping with what we offer but with a modern twist in the colour of the outfits and the design.

At the induction this morning where I among other subjects explain the ship's toilet system to the new joiners - the special chemical that has to be put down the WC each day to keep the system running and that they only use the company supplied toilet paper as it is specially selected to work along with our sewage treatment system. Some toilet papers are made from recycled wood and others from paper apparently so that makes all the difference! You learn something new everyday!

One of the more interesting parts of my job is that I get to meet the local Officials on the ship's arrival, made up of Customs, Immigration Officers accompanied by the ship's agent or agents and any other else from the Lord Mayor, Port Health Officials to the Head of State should they descend on us. It is a requirement that clearance is granted from the Local Authorities before any passenger or crew member can go ashore. We meet in the Conference Room which is adjacent to my Office and once the ship is clear the Captain makes his broadcast regarding the same. Following this I take the Agent to meet with the Captain - this can be on the Bridge or in the Captain's Office where more pleasantries are exchanged and any business relating to the day discussed. This way I always know what the latest goings on are in the Ports and how business is going for them locally.

Victor our Agent asked me to sign a postcard of the Arcadia for his friends in a local radio station in the north of the Country when they have a radio station the same as Victor's family name - Valdivielso - so here is a picture to prove it.

While I was down on the dockside the aft storing door was open and there was Mike Lee our Environmental Officer and Orla Berrill our Hotel Stores Manager seeing some garbage off the ship. Orla and her team of 10 look after some 250 tonnes of food and drink a cruise to keep all our passengers and ship's company fed and watered. This is approximately 20 tonnes a day - now that is a big supermarket sweep! And they do it so well, much credit to Orla and her team. You see the friendly wave - there is so much camaraderie on the ship which congers up a wonderful team spirit which is hard to replicate anywhere else I have worked but on ships!

After the induction I had a selection of Cabins, Staterooms and Suites to check on Australia Deck as part of our Spring Clean Rounds of the vessel and this is an opportunity for me to speak directly with the Cabin Stewards and also to see the fabric of the vessel and how things are wearing never mind just checking for dust! It also keeps you fit as Arcadia is 285 Meters long and 32 Meters wide - just the right size to squeeze through the Panama Canal.

Have a great day!

James.

You never have to choose between work and enjoyment you can do both.