Grand Cayman
What's interesting here is not the place, but the way the ships hold off it. It's always busy here - today there were seven ships in - and in order to save space in the bay the ships don't swing freely at their anchors but use thrusters to maintain their position and alignment. It's the same effect as using two anchors fore and aft, but without having to lay another anchor astern of the ship. The ships are spaced far enough apart that if one broke down it could swing safely, but not the two ship-lengths that would be needed if everyone was just swinging. The disadvantage is that with bow thrusters running all day, my cabin is made virtually uninhabitable!
Tomorrow we're in Ocho Rios, where I'll try to meet up with one of the shoppies on Imagination, a carnival ship which should be in with us.
posted by Simon Monday, December 29, 2003