Transiting the Kiel Canal

To leave the Baltic Sea and go to Amsterdam, we sailed the Kiel Canal. See wiki page for info about the Kiel Canal https://g.co/kgs/e1DLxb9. Only the smaller ships can get through due to bridge clearance. Ronnie was in the hot tub on the top deck this morning when we sailed under a bridge. He said that for a few minutes he wasn't so sure the Insignia was going to meet the clearance requirement! Apparently only the smaller cruise ships can use this route. 

 

red line connects Baltic and North seas

 

By taking a "cut through" on the canal, it saved a lot of miles and travel time. And that also would explain why when sailing past the different towns, the locals would stop what they were doing, come outside, wave and take pictures of the ship. I told Ronnie that it seemed strange that they would behave like that because I assumed they were used to seeing ships all the time. Probably so, but cruise ships - not so much.

one of many stopping to wave

people stepping outside their doors to wave as we sail by

 

The canal travels through rich farm land. As farm as the eye could see we saw corn growing. The canal is narrow, but a pilot navigated us through many miles of twists and turns (the canal follows the Kiel river.)

 

rich farm land

quite narrow in places

 The canal is crossed by ferry or giant land bridges for trains, trucks and cars.

a bridge across Kiel Canal

cars waiting for ferry to take them across

 

We also saw large dredging operations where the canal is being widened, as well as fish farms. Many times we saw "exits" off the canal to towns or residential areas. 

 

dredging to widen canal

fish farming along the Kiel

cruising past towns

and more towns

locals coming to watch as Insignia enters the locks

entering the locks

passengers in lounge watch as we enter the locks too

Besides the regularly scheduled activities offered on sea days, some people entertain themselves by playing cards, bridge, working puzzles, reading, doing handwork, playing indoor golf and such.

   

putt putt in the lounge

usually 4 or 5 puzzles going

 

 

 

 

Ronnie working on his laptop

Since we didn't spring for a balcony cabin this time, we don't get nearly as good internet service as we might otherwise get, so we find ourselves going up to the Horizon lounge to use our computers. It's on the front of the ship and surrounded by windows on 3 sides, so it's a nice place to watch the world go by. It's also where tea is served every afternoon, live music is played in the afternoon and at night (I especially enjoy sax and piano) and there is always self serve coffee drinks and tea. 

Tomorrow we will wake in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The forecast says a chance of showers with low of 60 and high of 71. Perhaps it will be a good museum day? If we don't have a ship excursion, we usually just wing it and decide the night before how we want to spend the day. Perhaps the Van Gogh Museum? We'll see.

Photo credits: thanks to Ronnie for sharing some of his photos for my post today.