Day 20 Thursday 3rd October 2019: Atlantic Ocean
We were awake at 9 am and went upstairs to the Buffet for another quick breakfast.
I wanted to attend a meeting with a member of the photographic team in the Wheelhouse Bar. When I arrived there were about another 12 or 13 people with the ship’s photographer.
Around us other passengers were chatting and playing games at the other tables. This did make conversation very difficult. I did have a conversation with a passenger who was a member of Exeter photography club. He told me about their programme and how many members had achieved distinctions. As the bar became busier and busier we went outside onto the Promenade Deck for a short discussion and demonstrate how the ship’s photographers take images using flash for weddings on this deck.
Next we all went to the Atrium(Piazza) to have a look at some of the different angles that could be used to take images of the staircases and of the lifts.
The Wave Bar
I found the most interesting part of the morning was when we went to the stern to the Club Fusion. The stairs tok us down to a bar that I never even knew existed. This was the Wave Bar. This bar is now no longer used but has a very interesting decor as well as the spiral staircase. There were great views through portholes out to the stern of the ship.
This is another location that ship’s photographers use when they are taking images after a wedding on board. We were told that the stairs from Club Fusion were often closed especially in bad weather – like today. So we were lucky to be down there.
A couple of us stayed behind to see what images we could take in this interesting space.
For lunch I had yet another pizza in the Atrium. Back in our cabin we watched a movie and I spent some time outside taking pictures with my second hand Tamron lens.
Evening and in the Theatre with Diane Cousins
Our evening meal was in the Pacific Moon restaurant where I started with my cheese and melon then took over followed by Rocky Road ice cream.
We went even earlier to the theatre to wait for Diane Cousins. Her performance did not start until 10:15 pm and was scheduled as a comedy musical show time.
The ship’s clock would go forward another hour overnight. We were also told that there would be no more free laundry for Elite guests.
From the Cruise Log
At Sea — Thursday 3rd October 2019
Throughout the early hours of the morning, Sapphire Princess maintained her easterly course, proceeding at an average speed of 18kts or 21 mph, as she continued across the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. At approximately 06:30, Sapphire Princess made her closest point of approach to the shipwreck of RMS Titanic, passing 144 NM North of infamous ocean liner’s final position of 41°43’32″N 049°56’49″W.
At around 07:45, she passed over Kettle Canyon, which marks the eastern edge of the Grand Banks along Sapphire Princess’ track. Thereafter she entered deeper water, with the depth below the keel in her noon position being approximately 3,600 metres or 11,811 feet. During the course of the day, Hurricane Lorenzo passed northbound over Sapphire Princess’ track, well clear ahead over the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.
Despite Sapphire Princess relatively distant proximity to Hurricane Lorenzo, the sea state and meteorological conditions in the North Atlantic were deteriorating as Sapphire Princess started to experience rougher seas and a moderate swell from her port quarter. Overnight, Sapphire Princess continued along an easterly course along her Great Circle route bound for Southampton.
Noon Position: Latitude: 43° 51.5′ N • Longitude: 047° 24.5’W
Wind: WNW’ly Gale, Force 8
Sky: Cloudy skies with passing showers (7/8 cloud cover)
Seas: Rough seas +Long Moderate WSW’ly / WNW’ly swell
Pressure: 997hPa
Air Temperature: 12°C/54°F