Westerdam's Captain Goes A Little Crazy With The Horn

[Moriah]

How fun is that??? I've sailed on the Westerdam several times (always out of Seattle) but have never heard this. Maybe it's just a Florida thing. I'll be on her again in March for the first time in the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale and I REALLY HOPE I'll get to experience this in person!! What fun it all is!!

:)

[jtl513]

What do you think? Was this a little excessive? Or just all in good fun?

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I think it's excessive and juvenile. :(

.

Edited November 16, 2014 by jtl513

[IndyDenise]

How fun is that??? I've sailed on the Westerdam several times (always out of Seattle) but have never heard this. Maybe it's just a Florida thing. I'll be on her again in March for the first time in the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale and I REALLY HOPE I'll get to experience this in person!! What fun it all is!!

:)

 

Me too. March 7, 2015. Give me the Horn!!!!!

[hrhdhd]

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I think it's excessive and juvenile. :( .

 

I'll join the minority with you. :cool:

Edited November 16, 2014 by hrhdhd

[Mmtrip]

When the Westerdam left San Diego on October 10th I had to check and see if there was some kind of emergency.....the horn kept going and going.....well over 30 toots after the "normal" 3 for backing out.

David

 

Would love to watch the sail aways that take place here in San Diego but anytime I have pulled up the webcam offered, it's not facing a ship... does it eventually show the cruise ships?

 

Are there a group of people that do a send off, ala- the condo dwellers in FL?

 

I live about 40 minutes from the port, so a little far to drive every time...

 

Also, thanks for the info on the opening of the Embarcadero. Good info as we leave out of the port very soon! Yay!

[bcd2010]

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I think it's excessive and juvenile. :( [/size]

.

 

I'll join the minority with you. :cool:

 

Me, too. Now we'll probably get flamed.

[RedneckBob]

Who gives a toot? :D

[B Russo]

I think it is a lot of fun.:):):)

[Lizzie68]

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I think it's excessive and juvenile. :( [/size]

.

 

 

And that's why it's wonderful that we have choices, and you can just not watch or listen.

[maxout]

And that's why it's wonderful that we have choices, and you can just not watch or listen.

 

Unless of course you're on board at the time. ;) :D

[shrimp56]

That's Westie for ya!

For me it's all good. 3 good toots feels dignified. Westie is exuberance personified.

Both have their place.

[Scrapnana]

I love to hear the horns blowing. It reminds me of past cruises and those yet to come. To me it is just fun.

[MarElz]

Loved it!

[Mumsysailor]

Thanks for the great video. We were watching on the webcam but had difficulties with it keep dropping out last night. So glad to get a fix from the Westie's wonderful horns. :D

[Hooked!]

Thanks for posting the beautiful sunset sail away - I love the playfulness of the 'horn wars'!

 

As I sit here in the great(?) Midwest watching this dreadfully early snow pile up outside, I am counting the days until I am sailing away on the NA in December!

[solocanadian]

I enjoy it since I missed it yesterday. Thanks for posting.:)

[rkacruiser]

I see nothing wrong with what the Westerdam's Captain does with her horns. A sailaway should be maybe the most festive part of a cruise and he contributes to that atmosphere with his horn tooting.

[jtl513]

And that's why it's wonderful that we have choices, and you can just not watch or listen.

After 6 to 8 fun toots I turn the sound off. The amount that the W does is simply childish IMO.

 

Unless of course you're on board at the time. ;) :D

The horn blowing on W is one of the reasons that we chose the Nieuw A for our next cruise.

.

Edited November 16, 2014 by jtl513

[Topsham]

Before you comment on use of ship's horns see the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at sea. Yes, it tradition to sometimes sound three long blasts to greeting to another ship. Anything more than that... such as continuous blowing the horn is not funny at all and in fact is against the Rules. Might be funny for the WESTERDAM.... not funny to anyone who might be trying alert their own vessel for some serious purpose.

 

PART D Sound & Lights

 

 

Rule 34

Manoeuvring and warning signals

 

(a) When vessels are in sight of one another, a power-driven vessel underway, when manoeuvring as authorized or required by these Rules, shall indicate that manoeuvre by the following signals on her whistle:

 

- one short blast to mean "I am altering my course to starboard".

- two short blasts to mean "I am altering my course to port".

- three short blasts to mean "I am operating astern propulsion".

 

(b) Any vessel may supplement the whistle signals prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule by light signals, repeated as appropriate, whilst the manoeuvre is being carried out:

 

(i) these light signals shall have the following significance:

 

- one flash to mean "I am altering my course to starboard"

- two flashes to mean "I am altering my course to port".

- three flashes to mean "I am operating astern propulsion".

 

(ii) the duration of each flash shall be about one second, the interval between flashes shall be about one second, and the interval between successive signals shall be not less than ten seconds;

 

(iii) the light used for this signal shall, if fitted, be an all-round white light, visible at a minimum range of 5 miles, and shall comply with the provisions of Annex I to these Regulations.

 

© When in sight of one another in a narrow channel or fairway.

 

(i) a vessel intending to overtake another shall in compliance with Rule 9(e)(i) indicate her intention by the following signals on her whistle:

 

- two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast to mean "I intend to overtake you on your starboard side".

- two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts to mean "I intend to overtake you on your port side".

 

(ii) the vessel about to be overtaken when acting in accordance with Rule 9(e)(i) shall indicate her agreement by the following signal on her whistle:

 

- one prolonged, one short, one prolonged and one short blast, in that order.

 

(d) When vessels in sight of one another are approaching each other and from any cause either vessel fails to understand the intentions or actions of the other, or is in doubt whether sufficient action is being taken by the other to avoid collision, the vessel in doubt shall immediately indicate such doubt by giving at least five short and rapid blasts on the whistle. Such signal may be supplemented by a light signal of at least five short and rapid flashes.

 

A vessel nearing a bend or an area of a channel or fairway where other vessels may be obscured by an intervening obstruction shall sound one prolonged blast. Such signal shall be answered with a prolonged blast by any approaching vessel that may be within hearing around the bend or behind the intervening obstruction.

 

(f) If whistles are fitted on a vessel at a distance apart of more than 100 metres, one whistle only shall be used for giving manoeuvring and warning signals.

[rkacruiser]

So, Topsham, what the new Princess sisters do with their horn when they depart is inappropriate as well?

[Topsham]

So, Topsham, what the new Princess sisters do with their horn when they depart is inappropriate as well?

 

 

Absoloutely. It is wrong use of sound appliance. I didn't make up these rules... they are the International regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. It is for ALL VESSELS on waters... including inland regulations by Coast Guard.

 

 

Put it this way.... say you were sitting on the runway on a Jumbo 747... and there way a way of sounding a horn. Would you want the pilot of that 747 sitting there with 300 passengers getting ready take off and the pilot blowing his horn every 2 second? Do you think he might just be slightly distracted by the noise? The WESTERDAM leaves the dock and then through the Cut.... for that horn blowing every two seconds for at least ten minutes. Do you think you want EVERYONE on the bridge.... Captain, Chief Officer another two bridge officer, a quartermaster add a few others... as well as the pilot... think MIGHT being distracted? Are you worried that a ship almost 1000 feet can easily run aground on the rocks because someone did not hear an order? If I was owner of HAL I would be damned worry.... I could loose a $700 million worth of ship. COSTA CONCORDIA was lost for the same kind of silliness.

 

Blow three blast and say farewell when the ship sails. It is classy and everyone likes it. More than that is looking for trouble. Keep the music on the after deck for sailaway... with the cruise staff to do that.

[Folk Singer]

I've done a fair amount of cruising, heard a few horn wars between ships, but I've never heard a cruise ship's Captain lay on the horn button like the Westerdam's Captain did today on the way out of Ft. Lauderdale!

 

Here's a video I shot that captures it pretty well...

 

[YOUTUBE]4s-jQuu89rQ[/YOUTUBE]

 

That wasn't even all of it. I didn't have the camera recording for the beginning of his horn blast session. Once I realized he was going to do more than the usual few toots... I started recording.

 

What do you think? Was this a little excessive? Or just all in good fun?

 

 

all in good fun.

[Topsham]

OK you think it is fun. If you were driving around a roundabout and you had a car going around blaring his horns. Funny? More like tragic.

[Lizzie68]

OK you think it is fun. If you were driving around a roundabout and you had a car going around blaring his horns. Funny? More like tragic.

 

It's no good complaining to those who enjoy it. Perhaps you should take it up with the captain or with Holland America.

[rkacruiser]

Topsham,

 

Thank you for your reply to my question. I respect your experience as well as your artistic ability.