Early morning sun rise as OCEANA is secured alongside her berth in Cartagena.
I love the early morning light at this time of year - when I first came to sea in September 1983 I was dispatching tours on the dockside and I always loved the morning light when the sun was low in the sky - everything looks different at this time of day.
Hello Once again,
Here we are enjoying a beautiful day in Cartagena. One of my favourite ports of call.
The Shore Excursion Coaches are very plush here and all lined up and ready to set off on another adventure with P&O Cruises....................
It is always great when you can literally step off the gangway and walk into town.......
The best way to travel..........
We all dined together at the Welcome on board Dinner!
Free samples of Licor 43 - a local product!
Oceana's fabulous Medical Team - Lauren, JP, Nia and Julie. You are in good hands! Many people choose P&O Cruises knowing that we have an excellent Medical Team on board all our ships. Peace of mind...........
My staff marching through the Atrium acting as 'passengers' as part of our emergency drill exercise which we carry out on a regular basis.
Oceana is the centre of attention being the only Cruise Ship in port.
Lunching ashore in the good company of Mike Doyle. I first met Mike in 1984 when we were both junior Officers.............on the original ORIANA based in Sydney Australia - operated by P&O Australia. We had a lot of fun cruising the South Pacific.......as you do!
The Shore Excursion Coaches are very plush here and all lined up and ready to set off on another adventure with P&O Cruises....................
It is always great when you can literally step off the gangway and walk into town.......
The best way to travel..........
We all dined together at the Welcome on board Dinner!
Free samples of Licor 43 - a local product!
Oceana's fabulous Medical Team - Lauren, JP, Nia and Julie. You are in good hands! Many people choose P&O Cruises knowing that we have an excellent Medical Team on board all our ships. Peace of mind...........
My staff marching through the Atrium acting as 'passengers' as part of our emergency drill exercise which we carry out on a regular basis.
Oceana is the centre of attention being the only Cruise Ship in port.
Lunching ashore in the good company of Mike Doyle. I first met Mike in 1984 when we were both junior Officers.............on the original ORIANA based in Sydney Australia - operated by P&O Australia. We had a lot of fun cruising the South Pacific.......as you do!Visit Mike's website - http://www.mikedoyle.co.uk/
Lovely views of OCEANA in port from our Restaurant.
The Spanish Flag flies proudly in the wind.
A stylish town......
This is the floating Restaurant where we enjoyed garlic prawns, local ham and fresh fish filleted at the table...........just a simple meal.........
Blue skies all the way for Oceana........
Nunto is our Spa Receptionist - leaving us to go to ORIANA as Salon Manager - I also worked with Nunto on ARCADIA - she has a great sense of humour!
The P&O Cruises House Flag - with you all all the way - the world over..............flying proudly on Oceana's bow..
Farewell to Cartagena for one more time - it's been great.
Palm trees always give a sense of holiday and good times.
Chief Engineer Jeff Talbot with retired Engineer Officer Dennis Tanner - Dennis and I sailed together years ago on Sea Princess which became Victoria (my first ship).
The Spanish Navy were exercising on the harbour.......
James, Jackie and Dennis.
Bye Bye
The Pilot boat approaches Oceana to take off our Pilot.
Passengers love to watch the nautical antics of our operation - it is all about being at sea and being on a ship - not a resort! No one knows the sea better than P&O Cruises - we have been going since 1837......
The boat approaches.............
Alongside with the Pilot ladder out of the Gun port Door.....
And he is off..........
Not the time to take a wrong step! The transfer is over in seconds.........
Our thanks and appreciation to all the local Pilots who look after us so well all over the world.
Home in time for tea!
All for now, have great week whatever you get up to. I will be back soon with more action from the Mediterranean.........
Lovely views of OCEANA in port from our Restaurant.
The Spanish Flag flies proudly in the wind.
A stylish town......
This is the floating Restaurant where we enjoyed garlic prawns, local ham and fresh fish filleted at the table...........just a simple meal.........
Blue skies all the way for Oceana........
Nunto is our Spa Receptionist - leaving us to go to ORIANA as Salon Manager - I also worked with Nunto on ARCADIA - she has a great sense of humour!
The P&O Cruises House Flag - with you all all the way - the world over..............flying proudly on Oceana's bow..
Farewell to Cartagena for one more time - it's been great.
Palm trees always give a sense of holiday and good times.
Chief Engineer Jeff Talbot with retired Engineer Officer Dennis Tanner - Dennis and I sailed together years ago on Sea Princess which became Victoria (my first ship).
The Spanish Navy were exercising on the harbour.......
James, Jackie and Dennis.
Bye Bye
The Pilot boat approaches Oceana to take off our Pilot.
Passengers love to watch the nautical antics of our operation - it is all about being at sea and being on a ship - not a resort! No one knows the sea better than P&O Cruises - we have been going since 1837......
The boat approaches.............
Alongside with the Pilot ladder out of the Gun port Door.....
And he is off..........
Not the time to take a wrong step! The transfer is over in seconds.........
Our thanks and appreciation to all the local Pilots who look after us so well all over the world.
Home in time for tea!All for now, have great week whatever you get up to. I will be back soon with more action from the Mediterranean.........
Best wishes,
James.
A stumble may prevent a fall - Thomas Fuller
Posts
8 comments:
Hi James
Just looked at the web cam and the sea looks calm with a beautiful sky, see you are in Gib tomorrow, then Cartagena not long after. Sure beats the humdrum life of living ashore.
Lovely update about Cartagena, with some lovely shots, it looks a lovely place.
Regards to all on Oceana, we are going for a beautiful 25c tomorrow.
Geoff Witts Perth
Hello James
We still follow your blog, as always it is very informative. I notice from the 'Autumn' Portunus Club Magazine, that you are due to start your leave this week, I also notice that John Hanvey (Chief Engineer) should be on now, if so and your not to busy, would you give him our regards, we met John so many years ago, he lives not far from us about 7 miles away. If you tell him I coached his daughter 'Netball' I think he will remember. Hope you are keeping well and you have a good leave.
Judith and Colin Atkins
Have a lovely time on leave James. You know where we are if you want a base for West Wales. Freddie Lloyd is down with us next week for a few days.Should be interesting as freddie is very knowledgeable on so many topics.
Cartagena looks fabulous, I can see why it's your favourite port.
Look forward to catching up with you after your leave.
Norma
Hello James
Long time no speak!
Well our weeks cruise on Ventura is now a distant memory and I'm catching up on ironing. As Tom and I went away on the 4th Sept, DD came home on the 5th! She brought a colleague home with her too whom we have had staying with us for the past couple of weeks. She's headed back to Southampton now for a couple of days, so trying to do some catching up. You probably know who she is, but I won't put it on here. She is waiting to find out which ship she is going to be on as an assistant admin manager but she worked in a completely different department before. I really hope we catch up again soon, because she is a lovely lady and we got on like a house on fire. Part of me is hoping she's heading for Aurora.
I've loved catching up with all the instalments since I was last here. Lovely to see Ian Fraser onboard. He's a blast from our past! As is Hughie Taylor. Gosh someone has posted a video on you tube of one of the cruises we were on and it features my BIL playing deck quoits and I'm sure that I've seen Tom in some of it. It was on Canberra! In fact I'm going to ask the guy to copy it to CD for me so I can look at it properly as our internet is just rubbish!
Well got a busy few weeks ahead of me. Off up to London on Wednesday this week. Down to Southampton to pick up the commercial manager on Artemis to bring back here (Nat's best friend NK)! Then on Friday 1st Oct it's Natalie's birthday and my Mum & Dad's 50th wedding anniversary. So a busy couple of weeks ahead for me.
I feel like the worlds worst blogger as I've not been posting everyday.
Anyway, I hope to sign in again soon. In the meantime James, take care xx
Elaine (aurorabore)
Fabulous set of shots with this entry James. Not been to Cartagena yet but it looks lovely so hope P&O keep it on the itineraries for a while yet.
Enjoy your leave James,
Andrew & Tony
aka Brightonbreezy
Hi James
Love the photos of the pilot getting off Oceana we have spent a lot of time on various cruises watching this operation, they have it down to a fine art dont they. Have been to Cartagena once a few years ago had a fantastic time there enjoyed the tour we did to an historic site there, its worth doing if they still do it.
Only 13 weeks (and counting) until we embark Artemis for our Christmas
and New Year cruise.
Ros
Hello Purser , Hope you remember me myself Kunal Onkar worked with you on Oceana during my first Contract then we met again on Arcadia twice at reception (PSA). I had a wonderful experience with P&O but major credit to you. If one need to learn how to be a professional then thats you are. Thank you very much for making my contract so memorable & unforgettable. Wish you all the best wishes at present i have quite P&O & working as a General Manager for a Hotel Property in India. Please do keep us posted with your updated blogs. God Bless & Loads of Love
xxx
Kunal Onkar
Good morning James, we are on Oceana on 16th October and our friends (Ray and Linda Prichard) are on 2nd October. Please ensure that they do not smash the ship up, in order that we may embark on a gleaming white vessel on the 16th October.
Philip Gordon.
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