10. Suez Canal transit - part one

We have a number of extra special highlights on our trip, and this is the first of them; a transit of the Suez Canal. At present we are at anchor in Port Said, at the entrance to the northern end of the Canal, but as the sunset was early at 5.30 pm, it's not easy to see very much, nor indeed to take any meaningful photographs.

We will remain at anchor until at least 4am, at which time the convoy should have gathered and the transit can commence. However, the actual starting time will not be known until the last moment as although passenger ships usually head the convoy, any warships requiring passage will take precedence. Therefore, we might only enter the canal proper as late as 8.30am and the transit should take between 10 and 12 hours.

Our captain has also informed us that this will be Emerald Princess's maiden Suez Canal transit, and as such, the Authorities will require more paperwork and inspections than usual in order to verify the competence of the officers and crew, and the seaworthiness of the ship....neither of which should, we hope, be in doubt! Indeed, the pilots have now come aboard and are required to conduct various sea trials of the ship. Therefore the captain has apologised in advance for any spilt cocktails during tight turns and has promised to do his best to stop the pilots treating the ship like a destroyer.

Part two will follow tomorrow once we are under way.