Back onboard Sapphire Princess
The queues are gone down by the time we return to the jetty. We were stopped from sitting outside on the tender on our way back to the ship. The trip back was indeed very bumpy and was made more uncomfortable by being squashed again inside the tender.
The sail away from Rockport was sunny and we enjoyed being out on the Deck 7. The Breakwater Lighthouse was indeed special.
Gareth Gates in the Theatre
As we went down the staircase, passengers were streaming into the theatre at 7 pm for the 8 pm show by Gareth Gates. Our evening started with a drink in Crooners Bar (after yet another short wait for seats.)
Once in the restaurant we were on a table for eight with just one empty space. The meal (or was it the options I chose?) was not great. I started with an American prawn cocktail (my staple starter), then Singapore chicken satay, then country chicken (this was the menu option that was available every night) which was indeed dry and lacking in any taste and then as a treat I had pecan butterscotch pie. The lady to my left hand the satay as a main which was an option that I should have chosen.
We are excused ourselves as our table companions were settling down for coffee and we set off for the theatre at 9:25 pm. The the late show started at 10:15 pm and we start along with the full theatre waiting for Gareth Gates’ show to start.
He was excellent and very personable and I enjoyed every minute.
The ship’s clocks went forward overnight.
From the Cruise Log
Rockland, Maine, USA – 29th September 2019
Overnight, Sapphire Princess steered a north-easterly course of 066° at an average speed of 18kts or 20.7mph as she made her way towards the pilot boarding station south of Penobscot Bay. At 06:25 she boarded the local pilots and made her approach to the anchorage position east of Rockland harbour. The starboard anchor was let go at 07:53, and after eight minutes more than 150m of chain had been lowered into the water and Sapphire Princess was held safely at anchor.
By 08:19, the port side forward and midships pontoons had been rigged and all 6 ship*s water shuttles were in the water. All preparations had been made shoreside and onboard by 08:42, at which time guests could proceed ashore. Sapphire Princess lay quietly at her anchorage throughout the day, until all guests and crew had been accounted for at 16:58. The last water shuttle was secured above the promenade deck at 17:03, and the starboard anchor was aweigh by 17:23. Sapphire Princess departed Rockland and disembarked the local pilot at 18:42, setting an initial course of 077° towards her next port of call, Saint John.
Noon Position: At Anchor off Rockland
Wind: Fresh N’ly breeze Force 5 3
Sky: Sunny skies (1/8 cloud cover)
Seas: Smooth Seas, Negligible swell
Pressure: 1024 hPa
Air Temperature: 18°C/64°F
Next day St John , Canada