In the classic days of ocean crossings, the sail away was an event.  After partying on the ship guests would heed the call “All ashore that’s going ashore” and line the pier.  Travelers threw paper streamers from the ship and folks on the pier caught the ends and held on, rolling them out as the ship pulled away, finally the streamers snapped, breaking the ship’s bonds to the shore.

No more streamers, but Shimizu knows how to send off a ship.  Both the Port Authority and the weather Gods. 

For our 6 pm sail away a group of students did a dance performance, not traditional, more pop.

While they were performing, we had a magnificent sunset that spread vibrant colors along about a 300-degree arc along the horizon.

 This included a colorful backdrop to Mt. Fuji.  I have experience photographing volcanoes at sunset.

The Ferris Wheel at the Dream Plaza Mall did its LED display against the backdrop of the sunset.

Folks along the dock turned on their cell phone flashlights and started waving.  Then we looked up and people on their apartment balconies were waving as well, along with people on the terrace of the Dream Plaza mall, and folks on a tall ship with lit up masts sailing into the harbor.

With the waving came calls of bye-bye and a fireworks display to salute our leaving.

This got me wondering how many shops Shimizu gets a season.  Looking at the calendar 9 this month and 10 in October before it falls off to 4 in November.  Visits pick up back in March, and through the season range between 9 and 14 calls a month.  I reckon about 80 cruise ship calls a year.  Do they all get such a sendoff?  We sailed off into a gale and fairly heavy seas. Is I write this we are rockin’.

Tomorrow was scheduled to be a sea day, and it mostly will be, but we will get into Osaka about 17 hours early, at 3:30 PM.  By morning the seas will be calmer and by the time we get to Osaka, good weather, partly cloudy and high of only around 82.

Our ship is under the command of our staff captain Luncan.  All the Holland America Captains have been called to a conference in Seattle.  Ours says he will rejoin to us in Hiroshima in 5 days.  This is Luncan’s first time in command on his own.  In his sail out announcement he said that he hoped he would make his time with us memorable.  I hope not too memorable.