BAI4

More importantly you’ve got the LSA; lifeboats, rafts and the FRC to check and lower to the water periodically.

I can’t speak confidently for Pont-Aven, but certainly not 80 (that would be around 50% of the entire ships company) 🙈 Bretagne’s Les Abers had a compliment of around 10 in high season - 10% of the ship’s hotel crew in high season.

Seafarers ey, why let the truth get in the way of the a good story 😉 I’m guilty of it when I’m home...”ah we had 100 knots on the beam” (okay maybe 20 knots on the port bow, but shhhhh)

I don’t think that the HRA in question has any specific rules or regulations allowing AIS to be turned off. Anyone know for sure? SOLAS Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) states that all vessels with AIS fitted (which passenger ships must) shall maintain its operation at all times. When I passed through in January, I wasn’t aware of any such extraordinary regs. That said, SOLAS not applying to navy ships - they turn there’s on and off like light switches ha!

I had no idea they were called that, interesting choice of name! Did a bit of research to see what they were - and low and behold they do still exist and come on board. Selling cheap souvenirs: magnets, postcards, little ornaments etc. We confined them to a tender lounge; stop them doing some “shopping” of their own 😉

The HRA is currently up to 15'N (I think, although it recently reduced, so I might be wrong) – last January, we had a RDV with an armed response team around 16'N. But you're right, David, I guess it all depends on the company chosen. It hasn't changed all that much today, scarlton 😂

It’s one thing being woken up by an alarm you set, to get up and go for work. And another being rudely awaken in the middle of a deep sleep. I’m not sure training comes into it at this point – although I’m only talking from personal experience. I suppose where training does come into it, is being trained to identify the alert signal, coded announcement or even here that ‘bing bong’ at 3am...you’re woken up by that and one thing and one thing only kicks in – adrenaline.

Oops - I love a double post 🤦🏼‍♂️

Indeed - after technical stops and dry docking, and in severe cases of disruption. But never routinely. The UK would be a more likely option. However as I say, under the current crewing model, France is the only viable, long term and sensible option.

I can’t see them footing the bill to bus or fly the crew down to Spain - nor the crew wanting to be bussed, or to fly. Them making their own way is out of the question. Safe to say it’ll be a French port.

Whistling is bad luck at sea too – as the saying goes; "you'll whistle up a storm". The number of times I've been told off for that by the old guard 🤦🏼‍♂️

Unless you have an exemption from flag.

Bretagne’s tannoy system was very old, had less functionality to select zones etc. It was operated by a pedal and the sound quality wasn’t always the clearest. The new system - which is used on Armorique, Normandie, MSM, Bretagne and Barfleur - is must more suited to requirements, you can add prerecorded announcements, be more selective with zones etc. Wow, what a pointless nugget of information that is for a Wednesday 😂

News just out for those who haven't seen or heard! https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/brittany-ferries-confirms-fourth-new-cruise-ferry-post-brexit/

I'd highly recommend Le Bouche à Oreille on the Chausée du Sillon - it's about a 15 minute walk along the seafront away from Intra Muros but the food is fantastic, the service amazing and price very reasonable. It feels a much more authentic, different to those in the tourist hub. Bon ap !