We had a special treat today. We had a personal tour of the control room and engine room. But first I have to go back about a week. 

Last week we were invited to dinner with some of the cruise staff and officers. One of our dinner companions was the Chief Engineer, a nice young Italian officer. During dinner I mentioned that since 9-11 not many opportunities arose for tours of other than the kitchen and occasionally the ship’s bridge. I also mentioned that we would really like to see the engine room on this ship, but we also knew that was probably unlikely. Well, our new best friend, Giovanni Santafemia, the Chief Engineer, assured us that he could probably make that happen. Fast forward to today and at 10:30 this morning we were met by Lucian, the Romanian Second Engineer, and whisked below decks to the control room and the engine rooms.

Bonnie and her new best friend, Lucian

The first thing that struck us – after getting used to the noise and heat – was that one could find not a scrap of paper, dirty rag, or anything that remotely looked like trash or debris in any of the hallways, passageways, or rooms through which we toured. The expression “you could eat off the floors” came to mind…

We first had a tour of the control room and Lucian explained that the ship keeps three different water supplies: guest water; technical water; and, laundry water. 

The control room - not exactly Star Wars, but a long way from Capt. Ahab...

The main control panel - see that little red button: it makes the ship go...

Guest water is what comes out of the faucets, showers, toilets, and any place a guest might have need for water. Technical water is what is used as coolant, for refrigeration and air conditioning, and any place the ship might need water. Finally, laundry water is, well, for the ship’s laundry…

There are two eight-cylinder, turbo-diesel engines and four diesel generators, along with four diesel-powered air conditioning plants. Each vertical portion of the ship can be sealed off if there is a problem. They seal the section off vertically so that there is never one entire deck that is out of commission. This method also affects the fewest passengers and crew operations at any time. 

Looking down at one of the diesel engines from the catwalk - unbelievably loud, even with earplugs. 

On the motor level - heat noise, close quarters - what a way to cruise...

Generators and coolers for the ship's air conditioning systems. 

Fortunately, we have not had any issues thus far that might cause a part of the ship to be sealed, but almost every port day there is a crew drill to simulate some type of emergency or other. They take this stuff very seriously.

Day after the day after tomorrow we land in Tonga. We also lose a day when we cross the international date line.

Stay tuned...