Days 122 thru 124: Crossing the Red Sea

Wednesday, 10 May 2017
At Sea — Red Sea … En Route to Aqaba

Stats @ Ship’s Time 8:00p (AST) … UTC 5:00p (10 May)
Temp: 82.2F (27.9C)
Position: 27.27.73N / 34.45.60E

Get outside.  Watch the sunrise.  Watch the sunset.
How does that make you feel?  Does it make you feel big or tiny?
Because there’s something good about feeling both.
~ Amy Grant ~

Another three-in-one post will serve to tell the brief story of the days we spent crossing the Red Sea to reach Jordan, where we will call on Aqaba tomorrow.

Day 1 found us going through Bab-el-Mandeb — which translates as the Gate of Tears.  It is appropriately named as far as many-a shipping company is concerned.  After all, crying and screaming, they have at times had to ransom their ships from pirates.  This narrow strait, which separates Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula from Djibouti and Eritrea on the Horn of Africa, is the riskiest area in the High Risk Area.  Piracy is rampant here … and has been for many years.  The activity is far less than it used to be, but after no attacks last year, there have apparently been three already this year.  Whether the pirates were successful in boarding the ships or not is something I need to research … when I get home and have the time to do so.

Screenshot from the NavChannel … showing our route from Salalah
through this morning.  We’ll be through Bab-el-Mandeb by noon.

I spent much of the early part of the day writing in the library, skipping lunch since we had a dinner date with fellow passengers.  In the afternoon, despite the high temp, I braved the veranda to spend time outdoors.  Though there were whitecaps on the water, the breeze that generated them didn’t reach me on the secluded veranda, so I was especially grateful that the shade was plentiful.

Dinner was with Benedict & Turid and the Gelmans.  It was quite a nice affair.  With travel as a common interest, conversations amongst passengers tend to flow smoothly … tonight was no exception.

Day 2 came with an extra hour of sleep since we gained an hour to put us on an equal footing with Jordan time-wise.  I spent much of the day writing in the library … even when the veranda was in the shade.  It was simply too hot and humid to sit outside.

Finally out of the HRA (map is posted here), our routine day at sea saw the offloading of the extra armaments brought aboard for our transit through risky waters.  This was done by rendezvousing with one of the navy vessels that patrol these waters.  CD Ray alerted us in advance so that we would not be alarmed by the sight of a zodiac zipping across the water towards Insignia.  The retired SEALS who joined the ship as part of the security measures will remain onboard until we reach Aqaba.

I have no photos of the weapons transfer via zodiac … didn’t think it was a good
idea to photograph it.  So, how about a photo of NCL Joy sailing by instead.  The
latest pride and joy to join the NCL fleet, the ship will be home-ported in
Shanghai and Beijing and will be doing regular cruises in the Asian market.

Day 3 — today — the last day of our Red Sea crossing.  I started my day on the veranda when I woke up at 4:30a for some reason and couldn’t go back to sleep.  I love early hours on the veranda when the temps are comfortable … and this morning there was a light breeze wafting across the deck, too.  The whitecaps of day 1 disappeared yesterday … and the sea remained calm today as well.

We celebrated nearing the end of the crossing with a brilliant sunset that portends a delightful day ashore tomorrow … even if it is bound to be HOT!

Tomorrow is one of the long-awaited days of our RTW voyage!

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