Day 3 Palermo
Saturday, 2 June Day 30 Daily Log Voyage # 0307
SHIP'S LOG Today is our last day in Palermo, it is overcast and raining, not a good day for sightseeing but it is a good day to walk through a museum or two. We have new neighbors as the cruise ships come marching into port one right after another. The Queen Elizabeth II was the second to arrive. She consumed most of the harbor as she was backed into her slip. Yesterday many of our students found the car and motor scooter rental agents. I admire their courage to drive in these tight and seemingly chaotic roads. I am sure their interest is in getting out of the city and into the countryside. One group ventured to Mt Etna which remains an active volcano while others went exploring in the wine country. Travel is one the greatest educators available, I am sure the parents will see something a little different in their children, they will not only be a little smarter but they will be far wiser about the world and it's people. I will feature pictures of our students in port throughout the daily pages once they send me their pictures Today marks the half way mark of our cruise, 30 days down 30 to go "It's hump day" Wade Family Establishes Web Site: The family of Captain Larry Wade has established a web site through CaringBridge® (www.caringbridge.org), a free, nonprofit web service that connects family and friends to share information, love and support during a health crisis, treatment, and recovery. The family has requested that Maine Maritime Academy share the address of their site with the community. Family authors wrote in their introduction on the site: "This website has been created to help keep our friends and family informed about our Dad's progress. Be sure to read the latest in the journal, view the photo gallery, and drop us a line in the guestbook. As soon as we can, we will read guest book entries to him, and know that everyone's thoughts and prayers will help him on his road to recovery." Friends are invited to visit the CaringBridge® web site for Captain Larry Wade at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larrywade Check out our Question and Answer page.
Daily Cruise Statistics
Position at 1200 Local Time (LT) Zone Description +2 hours Along side Noon to noon (or Departure to Noon or Noon to Arrival): Distance: N miles Time run: hrs min Average Speed. Kts Total passage distance: N miles (to date) Total passage Time: 00 Days Hours Minutes Total Average Speed: Kts ETA We have arrived
Today's Activities
Cruise Company Rotation LINK Daily in port Routine today Work and training are conducted until about noon when liberty is announced
Weather
Wind: Light winds Sea: in port Swell: nil Sky: Cloudy Light Rain Temperature: 72 Air Sea Synopsis:


PHOTO's
Room and Personnel inspection prior to arrival Today is cloudy and rainy but that isn't stopping the cruise ships from coming QE2 is the second out of three to arrive this morning Over a million people means a lot of cars in a small area
Notes:
Gibraltar Info: Palermo Info: Split Info: Halifax Info: Rockland/Castine Excursion: Rockland to Castine the day we arrive back at our home berth (30 June) has been designated as a possible "excursion day". The U.S. Coast Guard has granted us a permit to take extra persons on board above our vessels certification. To do this we have to have certain lifesaving procedures and equipment on board. Accordingly the numbers we can take are strictly limited. We, of necessity, have limited our guests to 2 persons per upper class student on cruise (immediate family members only) plus official MMA invitees and crew member guests. We can not offer more because we do not have the lifesaving capability. Also this is always a tentative adventure which, because of weather, security, operational difficulties etc. may be cancelled up to the last moment. The security issue is becoming a big item in how we offer and execute these excursions, so for those who are planning to attend please be patient with the necessary safety and security procedures.
Tally
*Cruise mileages:* Castine to Gibraltar Gibraltar to Palermo Palermo to Split Split to Halifax Halifax to Rockland / Castine TOTAL Cruise Mileage:	3889.5 Nautical Miles 4460 Nautical Miles (Estimated) 280 Nautical Miles (Estimated)