StormyWildcat

44 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Congrats on successfully finishing your maritime officer training and good luck on your first contract at sea, hopefully in the near future

Thank you! The entire maritime industry is in chaos right now but I know I will get out there one day. Hope you are staying well.

Seven years ago a trip on the Maasdam changed my life forever. I just finished almost five years of maritime officer training. We were supposed to take two trips on the Maasdam to celebrate my graduation, but they were cancelled due to the pandemic. I was looking forward to starting work once cruises started back up and hoped I would fulfill my dream of being a bridge officer on the Maasdam. That dream has shattered, along with a piece of my heart. Since I cannot have her, I wish I could at least touch her beautiful bell one more time. I know I will still go on to be a bridge officer somewhere but that piece of my heart that belonged to Maasdam will never be the same.

Until my cruise to Alaska last month (on the Maasdam of course), it had been a while since I had cruised. Maritime Academy has taken up all of my time! I will finally be testing for my license in January. Some friends have asked me to join them for the April 3rd Maasdam cruise to Mexico and I was wondering who the Captain will be. In the past six years I have sailed eight times on the Maasdam and not once sailed with Captain Arno Jutten! I was hoping to meet him but I know that is right around the time the Captain usually rotates on the Maasdam. Also, right after graduation on May 2nd my family will be joining me for Maasdam's May 4th sailing to Alaska and was wondering if Captain Ryan Whitaker will be returning, I had a very enjoyable conversation with him on my trip. I do miss sailing with Captain Ane Jan Smit, he still holds a special place in my heart as the man who inspired me to turn my life around and go to Maritime school! Thank you for all your hard work and information, Copper John! I know so many people are thankful for your insight. (Hoping to join Holland America myself once I get my license and Dutch endorsement.)

Evenin' Stormy;

Maasdam's current captains are Capt. Arno Jutten and Capt. Bas van Dreumel. The latter is scheduled to be MADM's Master when you will be onboard. All the best with your studies!

Thank you. I am doing well so far. Looking forward to the break (and being on a ship where I don't have to work, even for 9 days)! Maasdam will always be special to me, as is Captain Smit. I look forward to meeting Captian Bas van Dreumel.

Morning butterfly house;

 

Capt Ane Jan Smit - great guy, moving over from Maasdam

CD unk as of yet

Captain Ane Jan Smit is a great guy. He is my inspiration to attend maritime school. I have sailed with him 6 times now and got to know him quite well. I was sad to hear he was leaving the Maasdam. Do you know who will be the new Captain on the Maasdam? I am making one more trip on the ship that started this journey for me and it will be strange without him.

I wish I was able to keep in touch with him and when I have completed school and earned my license, I want to share that with him, for he is the reason I am where I am. Maybe one day I can sail as an officer with him. I will be sailing this fall for four months and am hoping to be the first deck cadet from my school to earn a berth on one of the few US cruise ships. Once I graduate I am hoping to work for HAL.

Until then I won't get to cruise very much. After August I won't have any free time at all until May 2019, so this trip on the Maasdam could be my farewell. Though I am sad that Captain Ane Jan Smit won't be there, I hope to get to talk to the new Captain. I will be sailing the end of May for her firsr trip back to Canada & New England. Who can I expect to meet?

I am here! Taking a break from my Navigation homework to see Maasdam sail away. No sound for me either.

Ah! Always good to see (and hear) Maasdam. It was a nice break from my maritime studies to catch her on webcam. Thank you to those who make it possible.

Was it Captain Ane Jan Smit I heard on the radio?

For my fellow sail-away addicts...

 

 

 

 

summerslope posted this on our roll call thread. It explains why we have been not hearing our usual wonderful toots.

 

The complainer is a real Scrooge. You live near a port and can't stand to hear the ships' horns?:confused::confused: Bah, humbug!

What you said "you live near a port and can't stand to hear the ship's horns?"

Seriously, what is wrong with people. Ships make horn noises, deal with it. 99% of the people who live there look forward to cruise ship sail away. It must be someone new to the area. Maybe we should have all the ships make as much noise as possible and make the grouches leave. *evil grin*

This is my first sailaway in a long time. Been super busy with maritime school!! I have been busy learning what all the horn signals are.

I had to tune in to see my beloved Maasdam. As a job well done gift from my hubby, we are going on a 14 day Alaska cruise on the Maasdam in May before I have to report to the academy ship in June.

Anyone know who is Captain on Maasdam right now? I heard Ms. Catherine Williams earlier. She remains a role model for me.

best of luck in Maritime School..

Thank you!

gotta keep the Maasdam going strong before she leaves for the west coast next April.. we'll be on her this October for the 25th time and it'll push us over 500 actual cruise days sailing her.. gonna miss her leaving the east coast..

I wish I could say I've spent that much time with her but in two years I cruised on her 5 times for 55 days. But it was the experience I had that makes her special to me. Part of my soul does belong there with her. I too will miss her here on the east coast, but I am heading off to maritime school and won't be able to visit her anyway. But as I said to her in April, “There are no good-byes, where ever you'll be, you'll be in my heart.” I am who I am and where I am because of her and Captain Ane Smit.

I must step in and say there are some who know Maasdam equally as well..... Captain Smit was Chief Officer (as the rank was then known) to Captain Henk Draper. Captain Draper was Master of Maasdam for a great many years. He knows every tiny corner of every square inch of Maasdam. :)

 

How exciting for Captain Smit to have inspired you to go to Maritme School. Wishing you much success and happiness as you prepare for your new career. :) Hope to see you on Maadam one day.

 

I've loved Maasdam since I was present at her Inaugural Party when she stopped in Boston fresh from Fincantieri. Have loved that ship since she first sailed.

 

How awesome to have been there for that!! And I'm sure that there are other Captains who know her just as well, it was more a nod to his commitment to her than anyone else's shortcomings. No offense to any others. Also a 'tip of the hat' to the man I admire and respect. :) I am very excited about my future career, who knows maybe one day you will see me there!

As someone who loves Maasdam and has sailed her over 30 cruises, it hurts me whenever I hear there is something amiss with her. Happy she is now underway and hope all aboard have a great cruise. Captain Smit is outstanding and good to know he is Master on Maasdam to see her well repaired.

 

Nice HAL is offering an open bar. Enjoy.

 

I am always glad to find people who love Maasdam. :)

I am glad to know Captain Smit is Master, no one knows her better than he does and he will make sure all is well. :)

As I said, he is the reason I am heading to Maritime school next month. Good man, good Captain.

Captain on board is Captain Ane Jan Smit. Hotel Director is Francois Birarda. They have had a long last 24 hours!

 

 

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Thank you for the update. I thought Captain Smit was supposed to be off a couple weeks ago. Anyway, things can always change. I told him when I left he better take good care of my ship... he has some splainin to do! Hahaha. A long story short, it is because of him I am where I am today, heading to maritime school next month.

So, Captain Smit is still there? When I talked to him I thought he said he was off two weeks ago... interesting turn of events. I'm going to have to go kick his butt now. *winks* Tell him Courtney and the stuffed cats are coming for him. hahaha. No, he knows I am starting maritime school in a couple of weeks and won't be back on board Maasdam for a long while.

 

 

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MAASDAM

• Status:
  Underway using Engine
  
• Speed/Course:
  11.0kn / 96°
  
• Destination:
  HALIFAX
  

Those are good words to hear!!! (I won't take them for granted ever again)

Bon Voyage, hope the rest of the trip is uneventful! Have fun!

Good news indeed! I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip. I will be watching the Halifax webcams tomorrow to see my girl! Glad you are finally getting underway.

Huh. We are still here, haven't moved. Apparently Lloyds is here inspecting. Hopefully not long now. I will let you know.

Laurie

He probably just saw that Maasdam was not at the pier and figured she was on her way out, did not realize Maasdam has been in that same spot for what 20 hours now? Hopefully you will be moving soon. :) I will be glad to know My Girl is 'feeling better' and back underway. THEN you can have a bon voyage the rest of the trip.

I want to thank everyone for the updates, especially Rancher Dave and chengkp75 for more technical updates. Maasdam is my favorite ship, I love her more than I do most humans. My life was changed forever on board Maasdam nearly two years ago, a part of my soul will forever be there with her. So, hearing she has a major problem really hurt me.

Also, because of my experience on Maasdam, I am also now a Deck Cadet preparing to start my Maritime schooling next month, so this fascinated me on a professional level. With that being said, I hope they have gotten everything all fixed up and my girl will be back to frolicking in the waves soon. I am glad to hear that Captain (I know Captain Smit was due off two weeks ago, which would put Captain Jutten in command, I believe, correct me if I'm wrong) and Crew have been helpful and that everyone has remained happy and comfortable and confident in the work being done.

Anyone get a screen capture? I have not been online until now and missed it!

Here comes my girl.

Are you serious? Smoke alarm on the bridge . . . is that the Maasdam?

Oh no, I hope not!

Haven't heard Catherine's voice on bridge today, so was wondering if she was still aboard.

Yes, she is. I think she has been doing more of the steering lately and Captain Smit manning the radio. Sad I missed hearing his (as cruise director Jeremy called it) dulcet tones. Haha.

We are on the jetty along the starboard side with my <3 Maasdam banner. Saying one final goodbye to my girl, Maasdam, before I head to maritime school. Captain Smit, Ms. Catherine Williams and the rest of the bridge waved to me when I was over there earlier.

Anyone who wants to keep in touch I am on facebook and will be posting my maritime adventures. Also available on email. Who knows, maybe in a couple years I will be on the bridge for sail away!

Muster scheduled for 5:15

They had CDC sanitization. I don't know what time they are scheduled, I have heard 5, 6, 7...