Day 13 Saturday 30th March: the Red Sea and call at Jeddah Saudi Arabia
We allowed ourselves a late start to the day went to Cafe Jardin for breakfast. I had poached eggs on muffins with Hollandaise sauce. Not quite as warm as I would’ve liked them but nevertheless very tasty.
Details of the port call in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
At 10 am the Captain announced that Oceana was now on a new course and was sailing to the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. There was a seriously ill passenger in the medical centre and his only hope was to be taken to a major hospital as soon as possible.
The Captain outlined the actions that would be required for the ship to enter Jeddah. Negotiations had been taking place overnight at the highest levels to put in place this unusual port call.
When Oceana reached the Saudi Arabian waters all bars, shops and the casino would have to be closed. Passengers were requested not to drink alcohol at all. In order to comply with the recommended dress code we were all asked to cover up and to remain covered until Oceana left Saudi waters. In addition we were asked not to take any pictures once in the port.
Later in the morning
I went to the next art talk in the night club. Next to night club’s back entrance is the cardroom. This was to be the designated designated room for the Saudi officials when on board. Behind the art gallery manager we could see all the activity preparing the room.
Was the art talk was over I walked back to our cabin. The bars I passed were all shuttered and had had their displays covered with sheets. The doors to the Promenade were having their glass covered again. Signs like this were appearing along the corridors explaining again what was expected from all the passengers.
The timetable of the approach to Jeddah was at Oceana into the Saudi waters at 11:15 am and would enter the port at around 12:30 pm.
We had a quick lunch before the ship neared the coast. I had a delicious vegetable curry followed by a jelly.
Afternoon at the port of Jeddah
We were on our port side balcony watching the coast get closer and closer.
We wondered just what would happen when Oceana arrived in the port. Then we put our cameras and smartphones away for the duration.
As Oceana neared the port we could see small security boats around the ship. Before the harbour entrance we could see you sandbanks that were visible above the sea and seemed to stretch quite a way towards the port’s sea wall. Oceana’s path to the port entrance was in the narrow channel through the sandbanks. Ahead of us to the port side of the harbour entrance was a tall tower. I guessed this was the control tower for the commercial port.
Oceana went straight in and docked at the quay just inside the port. From our balcony we watched the ship tie up and drop one of the gangways.
Down on the dock cars and SUVs arrived. From these vehicles we could see an Army officer, policemen and an official in Arab dress. Some of the arrivaks came onboard the ship. Then an ambulance arrived and the folks from it also went onboard.
There now was a semi-circle of officials and ship’s officers at the end of the gangplank. We watched as people went backwards and forwards around the ambulance. We could see the official now had passports and a stack of papers in a clipboard.
The ambulance left and another arrived. There appeared to be discussions taking place with a member of the ship’s company doing translations.
The quay that Oceana was docked at had a way station and there was a continuous stream of artic trucks queuing to be weighed. As each one arrived the flock of pigeons were disturbed in the large concrete open area.
A pick-up truck arrived and suitcases were loaded into the back. Our Captain was now on the quayside talking to the officials there. Then we watched the patient being taken into the second ambulance along with his partner. The ambulance left at about 3:10 pm in a convoy with the police cars and the army vehicle.
We watch the convoy make its way out of the port and into the city.
Oceana stayed at the dock and we watched more artics being weighed while the ship waiting to be cleared to leave.
The ropes were finally let go and Oceana left at 3.50 pm. We stayed on our balcony and watched as the ship threaded its way past the sandbanks and out to the open sea again.
Looking back to the shore I could see a row of Saudi navy ships in a different part of port.