Seven days since boarding. Time for writing.
Shortly before noon today, Amber was 2785 GPS miles from Toronto, 2584 from Newark and travelling about 14 knots. We're roughly north of the Azores and have had a smooth Atlantic crossing.
CMA CGM styles itself 'The French Line', successor to the company that that launched liners such as the Paris, Isle de France, Normandie, Liberté and France. The ships' public rooms, accommodation and food were fabled for their luxury, so let's look at conditions on their container-carrying successor.
Amber's passageways have some superb CMA CGM posters (wishfully) suggesting a romantic quality to container ships.
There's an elevator, but, with a heavier diet than usual, I walk. Five decks above the main deck and down a spotless (mopped every day) passageway is my cabin.
As it's a French company, there's a Matisse reproduction and I've put a world map over my desk. A small fridge is conveniently to the side.
Plenty of storage and a compact sofa in the corner. My window opens, but soot and noise from exhaust fans mean it'll likely remain shut.
A previous passenger - there've been few - took care of all the irritating squeaks and rattles.
In the far corner, bathroom with good shower. In the ‘old days’ crews had saltwater showers, but here there's ample freshwater.
On the same deck - and past the laundry room - is the passenger lounge. There's a television, radio, CD player, fridge, chess board and cupboard with books.
Just outside the lounge is a small deck and folding chairs where I often read.
The officers' mess is four decks down. No chimes before meals as on the old Blue Star container ships, but food is substantial, usually well-cooked and reasonably varied. Coffee, tea and cookies - sometimes muffins or Filipino sweet rice - are served mid-morning and afternoon.
Beef Stroganoff.
And seafood stir fry.
This is cook ('cookie') Fred Villanueva who first went to sea on the QE2. He's on Amber until March and, other than senior officers, the most essential person on board.
Eduardo Espera is messman and also tidies cabins. He was to have disembarked in New York, but the hurricane prevented a change of crews. So, after more than nine months on board, he finally gets off in Morocco. Eduardo's decidedly serious about having his picture taken.
The recreation room has another Matisse and exercycle. I pedal away looking past some safety equipment onto the water.
Next to the rec room is a plunge pool. In the Atlantic it's sometimes used for drying laundry, but I'm hoping it will be filled through the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Home from home for nine weeks, three oceans, six seas, five gulfs and two canals, give or take.
