Piraeus for Athens

Meet Paul Clasby - Arcadia's Chief Engineer.

Greetings from Greece!

No blog yesterday however if you were looking at the webcam you will have noticed that we were in the Ionian Sea which was frolicsome with a jaunty force 7 to 8. To view the webcam click on to http://www.pocruises.com/

Sally Sagoe was very keen to know who won the Golden Globes! We were very pleased for Kate Winslett. What about Slumdog Millionaire winning all the awards? Perhaps we will have the movie Slumblog Millionaire!! Martin Bell was packed out for another lecture yesterday and I got mentioned in dispatches - it is something when you are known by an International War Correspondent.

All is well here on board Arcadia and we are now in our second port of call on this Grand Voyage.

Piraeus is a very important port for me as it was my first ever foreign port when on the 22nd of September 1983 I flew into Athens to join my first ship - Sea Princess. Sea Princess was a much loved favourite and started her life as the Swedish American Liner the Kungsholm (SP?) and then became Sea Princess, Victoria and now the Mona Lisa! She was the only ship I have ever been on which was designed with a dedicated fur store for the passengers. Imagine my excitement flying to Athens and seeing the big white ship along side in Piraeus. I walked up the gangway around 4pm and by 6.30pm I was in business at the Shore Excursions Desk selling tours - well I was supposed to be selling however we had a group of Americans join that day who were delayed therefore I refunded them their 'Athens by Night' tour and gave away all my float - much to the displeasure of the Senior Assistant Purser at the time. In those days (the olden days as my niece would say!!) everything on board was paid for in cash. Today we are cash free and all your charges are signed for and get posted to your board account. The only exception being stamps at the Reception.

I wonder who will take over Waterford Wedgwood? It would be terrible to see a prestige brand such as this disappear - where will we get replacements from?? I am told that Sarah Kennedy gave Arcadia a mention on her morning Radio 2 programme yesterday! Thank you Sarah - we love you!

It is good to know that we have a blog following in Australia and a special G'DAY to all the Cusick and Kerr Clan in Western Australia - we will be visiting you soon on this Grand Voyage.

Where would be without our dedicated Technical Department headed up by our CEO Paul Clasby? Paul and I have worked together many times and below you will see Paul with his two right hand men, Paul Cooper - Staff Electro Technical Officer - SETO for short and Peter Redding - Staff Chief Engineer. For you regular passengers you will notice that the title of Chief Technical Officer - CTO - has gone and we have now reverted to Chief Engineer (as it was in the beginning). Also the Staff Engineer's title is now Staff Chief Engineer.


Peter Redding, Paul Clasby and Paul Cooper.


Just like the Bridge the Engine Control Room - the ECR as we know it - is manned 24/7. Pictured here is Ian George - 3rd Engineer and Alasdair Wishart - Cadet Engineer. As with all departments on board there is tremendous comradeship and dedication. One of the perks of my job is that I learn new things all the time whether it be in the Hotel, Engine or Deck areas.

Arcadia will be sailing at 6pm for Port Said in Egypt where lots of people will be on tour to the Pyrmaids, then we transit the Suez Canal and cruise down to Sharm El Sheikh. From there we are Mumbai bound. I can't wait to catch a break and bask in the hot sun to catch up on my Vitamin D.


Enjoy your day.
James.


'Sometimes a ton of compliments can't make up for one bad criticism'