The Suez Canal - Picture Gallery

The P&O Cruises House Flag - flying the flag around the World

Good Day Everyone,

We finally stated our convoy from Port Said in the early hours of the morning. All is well and it has been a very good day for sight seeing and transiting the Suez Canal.

Carl and his F&B Team were making the most of the viewing and hosted a BBQ on deck. You can see in the background of the photo our Glass Dome which is invaluable to us as we never loose the use of the Neptune Pool area - should the weather conditions change we simply close the dome!






Fresh Fruit cut to order.

House complete with shed!

Now we are really going places on this Grand Voyage...........

Lot's of cargo ships to admire - I am glad I am on a passenger ship - everyone to their own profession.

Local people lined the streets at Suez with a friendly wave to Arcadia. I wonder who trims all those perfect hedges?

The Crew get an opportunity to take in the moment when on their breaks. Anyone recognise Theo - Bar Tender?

Arcadia is leaving the Suez Canal.

And so we are on our way to Sharm El Sheik - looking forward to this as I do not recall being there before. The sun did come out again.
The Orchid Bar which is forward of the funnel.

My Thanks to our Port Presenter Graham Howell for some information on the Canal -

The canal was opened in 1869 and allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without the need to navigate around Africa. The canal is 119 miles long and is a single lane canal but with 4 passing places both north and south of the Great Bitter Lake.
It was in 1854 and 1856 that French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps obtained a concession from Said Pasha to create a company to construct a canal open to ships of all nations. The eventual construction took some 11 years to complete.
The canal allows passage of ships up to 150,000 tons displacement and there are plans to enlarge the canal to allow supertankers to pass.
On a typical day three convoys transit the canal, two southbound and one northbound and it is interesting to note that by 1955 two thirds of Europe's oil passed through the canal.

Thanks also to Carl for his help with the pictures as I had a busy morning tied up in my office. I am thankful that my Office has windows so I can always see where we are - on some ships the EP's office is inboard. I much prefer to have daylight. Most of our Hotel Offices here have daylight which is a bonus for all.

Friday again -where do the weeks go? - enjoy your weekend! If you have time to surf then you could visit -

http://www.bestblogsatssea.com/

http://www.pocruises.com/

At 5.00pm today I am making my way to The Palladium Theatre to catch up with Sally Sagoe and The Headliners Theatre Company to wish them well for their premier performance of LIVE'N SWINGING. Looking forward to seeing this new show tonight! I have just met Donna our new Shop Manager who was on the final voyage of the QE2 - there were some stories to tell!!

Best wishes,

James.

As long as WE have memories, Yesterday Will remain,
As long as WE have hope, Tomorrow Will wait,
As long as WE have friendship, Everyday is beautiful....