A different sort of send-off:
March 2009. Aboard the
Westerdam, calling at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. Remember that that's the Dutch side of St. Martin/Sint Maarten.
Also recognize that the ship is registered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
So, a Dutch ship in a Dutch port.
On our departure we were escorted for several miles by a Dutch Navy destroyer and Dutch Navy armed helicopter. That ship's crew were lined up all along rails, in dress uniforms (so far as I could tell).
Many guests aboard our ship didn't understand why the escort until the Captain (an Englishman!) came on the intercom and explained! I wondered what the passengers on the other cruise ships in harbor thought!
SWR
