Friday, May 24, 2024

Sailing into the Mediterranean

Straits of Gilbraltar

At last we enter the Mediterranean past the Straits of Gilbraltar. We arrive in this beautiful sea after sailing the long way from Dubai, around Africa. We had expected to enter via the Suez Canal, but that was not to be. We’re not disappointed, the detour gave us an unforgettable safari. We’re on the home stretch now, with a few more exciting ports in store.

The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow passage connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively separating Europe from Africa. It lies between the southern tip of Spain (near Gibraltar) and Morocco. At its narrowest point, it spans 13 kilometers (about 8.1 miles). The strait’s depth ranges from 980 to 2,950 feet. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, foreign vessels and aircraft have the freedom to navigate and cross the strait continuously. One of the most captivating natural phenomena is the convergence of tides from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This meeting point creates powerful currents and dramatic tidal changes, so Captain Carl and his crew on the bridge have their work cut out for them. The Strait of Gibraltar is a melting pot of cultures. It connects Europe (Spain and Gibraltar) with Africa (Morocco and Ceuta). Ferries cross between the two continents daily covering the 8.1 mile stretch in as little as 35 minutes.

Straits of Gilbratar, Europe on the left, Africa on the right

Gibraltar — looks like a big rock!

While Onward was sailing around Arica, the crew apparently had a lot of time on their hands with so few guests, about 100 who stayed onboard. They kept busy creating works of art with recycled materials — very imaginative and impressive use of used items such as paper! We were awed at the craftsmanship and creativity. Azamara crew has been incredibly determined to entertain and amuse the guests with many diversions, activities and surprises during the repositioning cruise around Africa.

Brunch is always popular, the culinary team put on quite a show and extensive selection of delicious dishes, including a kitchen sink frozen sweets!

Onward Bandmaster, Tina Marie Lorusso, has been on cruise ships since 1998. Her contribution to the crew recycled materials art show was a lovely handmade paper journal. Her musical and leadership skill is evident at every show and onboard occasion. We’re lucky to have live music!