mv Celebrity Century - November 2014 - Post 2

Approaching Port Lincoln wharf.

Alongside - gangway being put in place.

Old tugs from Geelong (L) and Melbourne (R).

This is great white territory!

A bulkie waiting to load wheat on the other side of the pier.

Sailing from Port Lincoln.

The ship had great musicians - this rock group on deck, a pianist / singer in the atrium and a classical trio in one of the show lounges.

The compass binnacle was in an unusual location - at the aft end of the signal deck. It had to be accessed via an internal vertical ladder and a steel hatch cover.

The ship issued me with a temporary crew pass for my time on board.

The very affable and competent Greek ship's Master and me.

mv Celebrity Century - November 2014 - Post 1

Just after I returned from my latest Dawn Princess cruises, I was asked to perform a compass adjustment aboard the cruise ship Celebrity Century. I negotiated with the ship's marine superintendent in Miami to perform this adjustment while accommodated in a pilot's cabin from Melbourne on 13th November to Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Sydney on 19th November (end of cruise).
I particularly liked this relatively small (only 71,545 gross tonnes!), older ship (built in 1995) which is serving her last season with Celebrity before being delivered to a Chinese travel company in April 2015. The estimated sale price was USD $157 million. The ship, though showing her age, was very comfortable with a homely feel, good food and great live music and pleasant staff.

Some of the crew relaxing on the foredeck just before sailing from Melbourne.

The Port Phillip Sea Pilot Captain Tim Fitzgerald took the ship out.

The Staff Captain undocking the ship.

Underway from Station Pier.

A lovely evening glass of red in one of the lounges.

 

Alongside in Adelaide.

Departure Adelaide.

The bridge team on departure Adelaide (L-R) the helmsman (out of shot), the First Officer, the Adelaide Port Pilot, the Captain and the Staff Captain.