Sometimes new can be just like old..
Dear readers…
As you know we are well into the cruise on the NAUTICA that left last Saturday from Hong Kong and lands 16 days later in Bangkok. I truly have lost all track of time. Never have the Scottish lady and I been so pampered and looked after as we have on the OCEANA Cruise Lines and in particular this ship.
Built in France in 2000 she is a medium size carrying 684 passengers and 400 crew.
By comparison, KEEWATIN carried 288 passengers and 86 crew. The crew are really well trained and the attention to detail is incredible. At 1.77 Guest to staff ratio she has to be one of the finest on the seas. Nautica is 593.7 feet long to Keewatin’s 350. Nautica is 83.5 feet wide to Keewatin’s 43.8 and Nautica weighs in at 30,277 tons to Keewatin’s 3,856. However there are some comparisons that are comparable. Dinning service is first class, but not done in the French style as on Keewatin. The menu on Nautica is far more expansive than the relatively few choices on Keewatin, but Keewatin had a full four course meal to Nautica’s three. However there are five different places to eat a meal on Nautica. Both ships emphasized service, class and customer appeal.
Both worked tirelessly at staff training and management. Both have extensive oak and mahogany trim and side boards. Both have real silver utensils and Edgewood china. Both have tasteful decorations but Keewatin has extensive stain glass and hand painted windows. There are none on Nautica. Both cruise at between 16 and 20 knots. BOTH ARE THE BEST IN THEIR CLASS IN THEIR ERA…
Nautica is on of seven similar ships built at the same time. Keewatin was one of two.
While I have been away I have finished the Governance Manual for the foundation that will take over the management of Keewatin once she is home and ready for the public. I have also completed a three year marketing strategy which will be the foundation for planning her operational future. The legal work is proceeding on setting up the not for profit corporation. The good people of Douglas Michigan are holding a public meeting on the dredging application that RJ Peterson has applied for so we can finish the exit trench in Lake Kalamazoo so Keewatin can make it to the big lake, Michigan. That takes place February 22 and we are expecting no problems getting approval as all requirements have been met. A Towing company has been chosen and we are proceeding with the creation of architectural drawings and plans based on her construction so we can meet with Transport Canada upon my return. The volunteer organization is also coming together in Port McNicoll as is a town choir to be featured at her arrival June 23rd. Parking, traffic management, catering and other logistics are all in the works so that March will be a very busy time.
Scott Garrett has everything in hand and is doing a great of holding the fort while I meander through the South China Sea on this fantastic, modern version of Keewatin.
If there is any other news that comes up I will publish another blog before my March 6th return. Otherwise I am locking up the brief case until then..
AHOY THERE…
