Overview of two around-the-world voyages

Received already a few enquiries and follow-ups to my last two posts.  One woman wrote: “With great interest we read your ‘dream come true’ experience, landing two full around the world voyages in the 1970’s on the venerable Royal Viking Line. My parents were on the ‘Royal Viking Sea’ in 1975 world cruise.  They’re both deceased now, but I remember when they talked about the unforgettable journey on a beautiful Norwegian owned ship.  Maybe you could tell us about the adventures, ambience, ports of call, food, entertainment, and your classes aboard those opulent ships, now no longer to be seen on the seven seas?” 

Well, we’ll gladly post some memories of those long-ago days.  We’ll divide them into separate blog posts, otherwise it would be too long in one go to read.  Writing this also helps me re-visit those experiences, opening the doors to the hinterland of memory. Let me make it clear, however, I am not singing the praises of the “1%” here. We’re proud of having been part of it, considering we lived on a shoestring budget ourselves when we stepped on board.  All I am doing now is recording my ‘dream come true’ memoirs. Remember I was still only the guest artist and lecturer, and N was my assistant and volunteered to perform in several musicals. 

The ships, “Royal Viking Sky” and “Royal Viking Sea” had passenger capacity of 536 but for these inaugural world cruises there were only 250 on the first, and 320 on the second, to give passengers more space. This gave us the feeling of being on a yacht/cruise ship. The moment Natasha and I were aboard, I said in awe “This is a floating work of art!”  Large windows, contemporary art on walls and sculptures in wood, metal and glass. Light everywhere, be it daylight or after sundown, romantic subdued lighting in bars and restaurants. There was a theatre for films and musicals and concerts.  Professional singers and dancers, but often passengers volunteered for some of the chorus.  Natasha was in “South Pacific”, “The King and I” and “My Fair Lady”, amongst others. 

King Neptune ceremony while crossing the Equator, for the ‘pollywogs’ initiated by the ‘shellbacks’ and Captain and King Neptune himself.  

Mermaid Natasha assisting at Crossing of Equator ceremony

Captain Alf Morner, right, Master of Ceremonies

There was a pianist who performed on a grand piano. Also a small orchestra who played pre-lunch, cocktail hour pre-dinner.  A professional dance couple who performed and gave dance classes. In most ports of call, entertainment was provided from shore.  Authentic cultural performances, dances, drum sessions and singers. 

here was even a very professional fashion show when we were in Bombay (Mumbai), as well as classic dancers from Kerala. In Bali, a gamelan orchestra performed, with classic Balinese dancers. In South America, Carioca (Rio) and Carneval (Rio).  Bahia gave us their cultural rhythmic dances.  Buenos Aires, lasso gauchos, and tango.  In Honolulu, Hula. In South Africa, drummers, singers and Zulu dancers. You get the idea.  Not manicured, but all original.

American Express handled the shore excursions for "Sky" in 1974;  for "Sea" in 1975 it was Thomas Cook.  Natasha and I volunteered to be guides.  We had to make sure no one got “lost”. These excursions took us to a Voodoo ceremony in Haiti, a visit to the ‘mud people’ of New Guinea. 

In Singapore there was a street where you could see black, wooden grouped coffins, with very elderly people waiting to exit planet Earth.  (Yes, that was part of the shore excursion itinerary, walking among the open coffins!) Everything was organized in a standard of excellence style.  Not only were the two ships floating works of art, but the culinary and stateroom service was 5-star.Next we’ll tackle the cuisine and menus for both luncheon and dinner. We kept dozens of them. The covers are works of art.

Dinner Menu Cover, details of a Norwegian tapestry, circa 1650, Oslow Museum of Applied Art

How I Became a Member of the Circumnavigators Club

In my previous post we mentioned we’d elaborate on the question someone asked about “How I became a member of the international Circumnavigators Club?”  We need to set the clock back to 1975, aboard the “Royal Viking Sea”.. I was Guest Artist & Lecturer, just as I had been the previous year in 1974 aboard sister ship “Royal Viking Sky”.  

 Henri with Antique Figurehead from Bow of Ship

Magnificent vessels. Both voyages were inaugural around-the-world cruises. THE “Crown Jewel” of travel. Because of the success of our program in 1974 we were invited to participate the following year. Total number of passengers for each voyage was 325. Total crew: 175.   

Teaching art on board ships was unheard of those days.  Now, under the banner of Enrichment Programs, most cruise lines have incorporated it.  I literally dreamed the whole thing up.  On a cold and miserable November day in Toronto, when I had just been rejected for a Canada Council grant. Out of the blue I had a vision of us aboard a ship in sunny, tropical waters where I was teaching art in a floating art studio.  The moment I told Natasha about my vision, she put together an impressive program proposal with my CV written in her calligraphy, with photos of my artwork, which we mailed to all the major cruise lines. The first to respond was Italian Line, offering a 30-day Mediterranean cruise.  But that meant we’d be back in cold Toronto mid-winter.  So (if you can imagine), we turned it down. We didn’t hear from the other liners.   

Then one Sunday afternoon Natasha’s  father, who every weekend bought the Sunday New York Times, telephoned. He’d just seen an ad from a company called “Royal Viking Line”, for a world cruise.  “Did you send them a proposal?” he asked. We had never heard of Royal Viking Line.  But on Monday morning we express mailed a package to their head office in San Francisco.  

And the rest is history. It was a “dream come true”.  Best of all, they agreed to my proposal:  the time-honoured barter system, i.e. in exchange for my expertise and qualifications as an artist and lecturer, and my experience as a first class steward o/b Holland America ships in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, we received full, first-class passenger status.  Also, Royal Viking Line agreed to provide all the art supplies for a 4 ½ month voyage which involved creative exploration in five different media. Plus our airfare. What more could you ask for? 

Towards the end of the cruise, we held an exhibition of the passengers’ artwork.  Some of the students had never painted before and did nice work. The Norwegian captain proclaimed it a magnificent show and “A job well done”. Approach by Circumnavigator Club members. Now, let’s fast-forward to the second around-the-world cruise in 1975 aboard sister ship “Royal Viking Sea”. We were invited back because of the success of our earlier voyage in 1974. Aboard ship were a few members of the Circumnavigators Club, amongst them the Past-President.  Three days before arriving in New York at the very end of the cruise, we were approached by these Club members.  They said I qualified for membership (at that time there were no women members so Natasha couldn’t join), now that we’d done a complete circumnavigation, crossing every meridian longitude in one direction. (They didn’t know about our circumnavigation the year before, so by this time I was “doubly-qualified”.) I was given an application form and the Past-President said, “Henri, think it over. We’ll be glad to propose and second your application, should you decide to join us.”  My application was accepted. Less than one month later, we received in our mailbox a handsome certificate, signed and dated May 22, 1975, complete with gold seal, black and green ribbons. 

And that’s how I became a member of the illustrious Circumnavigators Club – all because of a dream that became reality from a combination of a grant rejection, a cold Toronto November, and my vision.We termed our program enrichment for the passengers and ourselves. Nowadays, all cruise lines have Enrichment Programs with guest speakers on any subject imaginable.  There are now agents handling for a fee the placement of entertainers, lecturers and art instructors.  Gone is the good old “barter system” we experienced so many years ago on two world cruises – ‘The Crown Jewel of Travel’.

More about the Circumnavigators Club

“How come you’re member of the same club as astronaut Chris Hadfield, are you an astronaut?”  That’s the question I received from someone in Holland.  No, I am not an astronaut.  Although all of us are space travellers!   There is a nonprofit organization, the International Circumnavigators Club, with headquarters in New York. It was founded in 1902 by three people who’d circumnavigated the globe by ship.  They were the founders of this Club which has had through the years some illustrious members.  Buffalo Bill Cody, Houdini, John Philip Sousa, Sir Edmund Hilary, Thor Heyerdahl, Captain Jacques Cousteau, Picard, the baloonist, and many more.  

One of the qualifications for membership is to have circumnavigated the world, crossing all meridians longitude in one direction. The early members had travelled by boat or  ship.  Air travel changed all that.  Then when the space age began, several astronauts also became eligible and Honorary Members.  Eleven years ago, I proposed astronaut Chris Hadfield for an Honorary Membership. This was accepted unanimously by the Board.  Hence, Chris and I belong to the same Club.

I hope this answers your question.  The Club’s constitution stipulates only 1,000 individuals can ever become members at any given time.   Thus it signals the restrictions and requirements of membership.  How I became a member in 1975 is another story.  Maybe in the near future, we could elaborate on this some more.  Here is the link to the Club’s website.

More re: Chris Hadfield's talk we organized at Vcr Planetarium and presentation of Meteorite pin created by Andrew Costen

It seems the subject of “Chris Hadfield” has not ended here on my blog. Several people now have asked about the presentation astronaut Chris Hadfield gave at the Vancouver Planetarium  on Nov. 1, 2002, we referred to in the earlier post, the occasion when Chris became an Honorary Member of the international Circumnavigators Club. Myself, I’m now a Senior member (at 83) of the Club, but back in 1975 I was one of the youngest members. 

The visit all began when Natasha had the idea to ask the Canadian Space Agency if Chris Hadfield could possibly come to Vancouver for a talk, after I’d suggested to the board of the Circumnavigators Club that we invite him to become an Honorary Member.  This was approved. In those days, Chris was Director of Operations at the Russian space centre in Star City.  He was scheduled to be in Canada for a short period, and we were very lucky to have him come out especially for this 

presentation. The talk and presentation of his Certificate took place November 1^st, 2002. We included music by John Philip Sousa, the ‘March King”, a Circumnavigators Club member, who in years gone by composed a special march for the Club. The president, Al Morasso and his wife flew out especially from New Jersey for the event.

In addition to his Certificate, we presented Chris with a special pin custom-designed by our good friend Andrew Costen, a master goldsmith based in Vancouver, co-owner of Costen-Catbalue.  

Meteorite Pin created for Chris Hadfield by master goldsmith Andrew Costen

The pin is made from a meteorite, platinum and gold and suggests a speedy journey through space. Chris Hadfield received the gift from Andrew with surprise and joy.

He gave a spellbinding, illustrated talk about Mars.  Chris emphasized and shared evidence of water presence on the ‘red planet’, already 11 years ago. Some 250 audience members were privileged to have been in the presence of someone who had been ‘up there’. Chris’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject has no end it seemed.  After his presentation he made himself available for a lengthy Q & A session, before heading back to Star City in Russia.

Hope this answers your questions about the subject of this memorable evening with Col. Chris Hadfield some 11 years ago at the Vancouver Planetarium. 

Mars

Astronaut Chris Hadfield, currently aboard the International Space Station, said it is likely "inevitable" people will go to Mars. Here's a new rap:

Up and up we go

High amongst the Stars

Mission now we'll be going to Mars

We grow 1 cm a month while in space

This phenomena would lead 

it seems

to a future new race 

of "Space Globetrotter teams".

Henri van Bentum   

 

Washing Hands in Space

Colonel Chris Hadfield, astronaut, space troubadour, and mentor ‘par excellence’, currently aboard the Int’l Space Station, was asked a question by one of the school children who participated in a live feed to the ISS, “How do you wash your hands in space?”  

So Chris demonstrated, you can watch the video on YouTube here, squeezing a “blob” of water containing a small amount of soap.  Not only does he have to squeeze a small amount out of a plastic baggie, but needs to catch it and at the same time catch the baggie, otherwise it would float away like a balloon inside the Station. 
This reminded me of an episode years ago (pre-Ghadaffi era) when I was stranded in a sandstorm in Libya, en route to Leptis Magna.   

We were given shelter by nomads in a tent. At that time I had a watercolour set with me, and to show my gratitude for their hospitality, wanted to do a portrait of one of the young daughters.

 I needed water of course, so I went and took some from the camel- stomach-container, which held this precious commodity. When they noticed what I did, I was in big trouble.  A furious father made it clear the precious water was for their survival. I was lucky they did not put us back in the sandstorm.  I should have known better.  Ignorance or stupidity? 

Our ability to communicate somewhat in French saved me, not to speak of my extremely guilty feeling and expression, and ‘pardon, pardon, pardon’. 

Thought of sharing this experience which shook me into awareness after seeing the demonstration by Chris of hand washing, with a very minimum of water, way up there in the Int’l Space Station.