Log of the Cruise – Greenock 31th May 2014

	(The following log features extracts from the Ship’s Official Log Book, with the entries recorded by the Officer of the Watch on the Navigational Bridge - British Isles with Ruby Princess May 23 to June 4, 2013)  At 03:00 we entered Firth Clyde, commencing our final approach to Greenock. We picked up the local Pilot at 04:58. With the pilot onboard, speed was increased as we proceeded towards our berth 16 nm from the pilot boarding position. We maneuvered alongside the pier at 06:54, all our lines were fast shortly after and gangways ready.  On departure from Greenock we were serenaded by a pipe band and a large dancing creature with a Kilt on. The pipers played longer than expected due to our delayed departure. Departure was delayed due to 2 passenger busses carrying more than 80 passengers returning to the ship. After letting go all of our lines at 18:13 we began to thrust off the berth, once clear we put the engines ahead and started making headway in a westerly direction, shortly after altering to the south. Once clear of Great Cumbrea, on our Portside, at 19:55 we disembarked the Pilot and continued southward passing, once again, the Isle of Arron on the starboard side. Once clear of Arron we set a southwesterly course through the Irish Sea, towards Dublin. Weather experienced during the day: Sky: Partly Cloudy Skies; Wind: South Westerly Beaufort Force 3 Temperature: 19ºC/66ºF; Barometric Pressure: 1023,7 mb Sunrise: 04:41; Sunset: 21:51
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Greenock - Panoramic View from Ruby Princess

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Glasgow - City Center (Ruby Princess Excursion)

	Um passeio pelo centro da cidade, numa das ruas mais movimentadas da cidade onde podemos apreciar multi-culturas, ouvir musica variada e peças de teatro. Um espectáculo em cada esquina!  Uma mistura de sons arrepiantes, nem sabemos para onde olhar.
	
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Glasgow - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Park (Ruby Princess Excursion)

	A excursão incluía uma visita, mais prolongada, ao museu Kelvin Art Gallery. Nós como "maus alunos" que somos fugimos e fomos passear ao parque. E ainda bem que o fizemos, por ser sábado à tarde, estava repleto de famílias a aproveitar um belo dia de sol! Um cheirinho do que é viver em Glasgow.
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Glasgow - Cathedral (Ruby Princess Excursion)

	Glasgow é uma cidade muito cosmopolita, muito versátil e singular. Visitamos a Cathedral bastante bonita e que vale a pena a visita.
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Greenock - Glasgow by BUS (Ruby Princess Excursion)

	A caminho de Glasgow desde o porto de Greenock, vemos uma beleza singular com, mais uma vez, aquela neblina matinal especial.
	
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Log of the Cruise – At Sea 28th May 2014

	(The following log features extracts from the Ship’s Official Log Book, with the entries recorded by the Officer of the Watch on the Navigational Bridge - British Isles with Ruby Princess May 23 to June 4, 2013)  During the night Ruby Princess transited the Pentland Firth experiencing currents up to 5 knots adverse. On exiting the Pentland Firth, we set a westerly course coasting the north coast of Scotland. This morning Ruby Princess rounded Cape Wrath and entered into the Minch’s at 05:30. Maintaining our southerly heading we entered The Sea of the Hebrides as 07:00, keeping the Outer Hebrides on our starboard side and the Isle of Skye on our port. We continued through the Sea of the Hebrides until we made it to North Channel at 15:00, where we set a south easterly course into the Irish Sea. At 21:30 we passed the Isle of Man to port and set course for the Mersey River and our next port of call Liverpool. Weather experienced during the day: Sky: Partly Cloudy Skies; Wind: North Easterly Beaufort Force 3 Temperature: 15ºC/59ºF; Barometric Pressure: 1019,5 mb Sunrise: 04:37; Sunset: 21:35
	
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Log of the Cruise – Invergordon 27th May 2014

	(The following log features extracts from the Ship’s Official Log Book, with the entries recorded by the Officer of the Watch on the Navigational Bridge - British Isles with Ruby Princess May 23 to June 4, 2013)  Throughout the early hours of the morning we transited the Moray Firth, embarking the local pilot as we entered the Cromarty Firth at 06:44. During our arrival to Invergordon thick fog was encountered. The bridge team contacted the harbor authorities and confirmed the port was open and that Ruby Princess could make way into the port and come alongside the pier. The Commodore and the bridge team deemed the approach safe and made way towards the berth. Internationally, some ports close and stop all port operations in restricted visibility, making approaching ships divert to an alternative anchorage or standby in the harbor approaches. A distance of 8 miles was travelled from the pilot station to our berth, navigating clear of the anchorage oil rings, some being repaired and others being dismantled. We eventually arrived at our berth at 07:50, confirming visibility of 80m/260ft, and all was ready by 08:11 for passenger operation to commence.  Once it was confirmed that all souls where onboard and departure checks completed we slipped the mooring lines and were all let go by 18:07. With help of our pilot, we navigated clear of Cromarty Firth, disembarking him at 18:37 we then set an easterly courses transiting Moray Firth. At 22:00 Ruby Princess re-entered the North Sea we set a northerly course following the east coast of Scotland towards the Pentland Firth. Weather experienced during the day: Sky: Mostly Cloudy Skies; Wind: North Easterly Beaufort Force 2 Temperature: 13ºC/55ºF; Barometric Pressure: 1020,8 mb Sunrise: 04:31; Sunset: 21:56
	
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Inverness - Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness

	Uma manhã de nevoeiro intenso intenso, fortifica a ideia do mistico lago de Loch Ness e do seu "monstro" Nessie. Se existe ou não, quando se chega ao Castelo de Urquart realmente não interessa a ninguém. Até os menos crédulos acreditam que existe ali qualquer coisa.  Um belo castelo em ruinas com um verde estonteante com o lago de fundo! Algo a não perder, nem que seja uma vez na vida!
	
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Invergordon - Inverness by BUS

	Uma breve passagem pelas Higlands, incluindo a cidade de Inverness, deixa a querer parar e ver mais. Infelizmente desta vez não deu! Ficam apenas algumas imagens tiradas em andamento.
	
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Invergordon - Walking Tour

	Invergordon é a cidade-porto de entrada para Inverness / Lock Ness, mas vale a pena tirar uma hora e passear pela sua rua principal e ver os morais nas casas e as sua flores.
	
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Log of the Cruise – South Queensferry 26th May 2014

	(The following log features extracts from the Ship’s Official Log Book, with the entries recorded by the Officer of the Watch on the Navigational Bridge - British Isles with Ruby Princess May 23 to June 4, 2013)  During the night at 02:00 the ships clocks set back 1 hour to UK time. The Ruby Princess entered the Firth of Forth early this morning and began following westerly courses towards South Queensferry. Our local pilot boarded at 05:22. He assisted us in our navigation towards the anchorage position, just east of the iconic Forth Railway Bridge. During our stay in South Queensferry it is mandatory that the ship keep one local pilot onboard throughout the day to assist maintaining the ship position. We were safely anchored by 06:42, and with six ships tenders and one shore tender in the water we commenced our tendering service.  Once all passengers and crew where safely back onboard at 17:07 Ruby Princess commenced heaving her port anchor. At 19:10 Ruby Princess encountered a problem with the winch that is used to raise tender 19 out of the water, heaving of the anchor was suspended. A hydraulic seal failed under pressure. This problem was quickly remedied by the ships engineers and Ruby Princess began to heave her starboard anchor once more at 19:50. With pilot already onboard we retraced our track back out of the buoyed channel of the Forth, disembarking the pilot at 20:55, leaving the Bass Rock on the Firth of Forth, where we then set a northerly heading at 23:00, entering once again the North Sea, to commence our coastal passage along the east coast of Scotland. Weather experienced during the day: Sky: Overcast Skies; Wind: East North Easterly Beaufort Force 3 Temperature: 14ºC/57ºF; Barometric Pressure: 1018,5 mb Sunrise: 04:43; Sunset: 21:38
	
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Edinburgh - Walking Tour

	É sempre diferente passar um dia numa cidade com os olhos de quem lá vive e trabalha. Foi num misto de nostalgia e saudade que reencontramos os nossos primos e com eles passeamos por uma grande parte de Edimburgo (parece que ficou, ainda, muito por ver...fica para a próxima!).  Desta vez foi uma passagem pela Royal Mile, Old Town, Princes Street Gardens e Calton Hill.  Com os vídeos e as fotos acompanhem a beleza singular e verde desta cidade.
	
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South Queensferry - Arrival and Sailway (with Ruby Princess)

	Por não ter porto de suporte para navios deste tamanho, o Ruby Princess fica ancorado e temos que ir para terra por tender (mais conhecidos pelos barcos salva-vidas).  É sempre uma viagem bonita ir se distanciando do navio e se conseguirmos ir na parte de cima melhor ainda (neste dia não deu, estava muito frio e ainda era muito cedo).   O que nos chama logo a atenção é a belíssima ponte vermelha (Forth Bridge) e no meio da neblina que se fazia sentir naquela manhã, ainda mais bonita se tornava.   Porto de entrada de Edimburgo, pouco ou nada vimos desta cidade. Fica só o registo de algumas imagens na chegada e na partida. No final do dia o sol deu o ar da sua graça e mostrou-nos um lindo por do sol.
	
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