Lunch on the boardwalk
The boardwalk was even busier then before. We walked along with all the crowds back towards Pier 23. We came to a restaurant, Sea Smoke, with lots of tables outside and decided that we would stop and have some lunch. Once we were seated the temperature dropped and we started shivering. We requested to our server to move inside to keep warm. The restaurant inside was busy. The upside was that we did have plenty of time to enjoy our last drinks in Canada.
Leaving Halifax
Back at the Pier 23 terminals we went in to have another look at the stalls in the halls.
The buildings outside the pick up point were being used to host a defence conference and exhibition. Behind the building the Canadian Navy ship that I had watched from the citadel was now docked. Our transfer back to Sapphire Princess was on a regular coach this time rather than a route master bus.
Once back onboard we needed to have a rest after all that walking and we lay down to watch another movie on the ship’s excellent AV system.
For once we were able to go straight into dinner. We were placed on a table for six but only one other couple joined us. We heard about the couple’s last cruise and the drinks packages that were available. They were pleased to be sharing with us as we were enjoying the cruise. It seems that they had had to share with passengers who were complaining about the ship.
After dinner, we managed to get a seat in the theatre to watch Jeff Stevenson, a comedian.
Back in the cabin we found the form about leaving the ship in Southampton on our bed. This was our last evening in North America and now we had our transit over the Atlantic to look forward to.
From the Cruise Log
Halifax, Nova Scotia, CA — Tuesday 1st October 2019
During the night, Sapphire Princess made various easterly and north-easterly courses around the southern tip of Nova Scotia as she made Halifax. Around midnight, Sapphire Princess was making good an average speed of 17 knots, or 19.7 mph, as a result of a strong westbound current on the southern coast of Nova Scotia. However, as she paralleled the eastern coast, the current reduced until she was eventually making a speed of more than 21 knots or 24.3mph.
At 8am, Sapphire Princess engaged manoeuvre mode on her engines and made her final approach to Halifax from the south east. After picking up the local pilot at 08:16, she entered Halifax harbor and completed a swing, bringing the bow to starboard. She berthed starboard side to quay at Pier No.31, with mooring operations taking 15 minutes between 09:20 and 09:35.
A total of 3 gangways were in operation, on Decks 4, 5 and 6 Midships. Sapphire Princess remained quietly alongside in calm conditions throughout the day, until all passengers and crew were back onboard. After boarding the local pilot and disconnecting the gangways, Sapphire Princess began unmooring at 19:10. In less than 5 minutes all lines were back onboard and Sapphire Princess started to thrust gently off the berth and put her engines ahead. Once clear of the dock, she altered her course to the southwest and made her way back out from Halifax harbor.
The pilot was disembarked at 19:55 and Sapphire Princess re-entered the western North Atlantic Ocean on an easterly heading, commencing eastbound Trans-Atlantic crossing towards her final destination of Southampton.
Noon Position: Alongside in Halifax
Wind: Light Airs, variable direction. Force 2
Sky: Overcast skies
Seas: Calm Rippled
Pressure: 1019 hPa
Air Temperature: 14°C/66°F
Our sea days over the Atlantic and then back to Southampton.