The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007 - (Page 42)

of days gone by A Gentlemen’s cruise To The Opening Of The kieler kanal By Captain Albert Schoonderbeek the opening of the kiel kanal was a major affair in the 1890s. For Europe, it had an importance not unlike the opening of the Panama Canal had for the United States in 1914. The digging of the canal gave ships the option to move from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea without having to sail around Denmark. To create a short route for commercial shipping was the official explanation by the German government for the project. What was not announced — but turned out to be convenient — was that the canal would make it possible to get the German Imperial War fleet quickly from the Baltic to the North Sea (and vice versa). This secondary reason made it an occurrence that all governments in Europe took a close interest in. The Official name for the Kieler Kanal was Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal, and after Germany became a republic, the canal was known as the North-Ost See Kanal. Since its inception, however, most call it the Kieler Canal after the major town that is located at the eastern entrance. Most governments send war ships to represent their country, but some shipping companies sent their ships independently of what their respective government was doing. The Castle Line, which sailed to South Africa, sent the Tantallon Castle (5,000 tons, 500 passengers) with passengers that included the high society of commerce, politics and arts — and the ex Prime Minister Lord Gladstone. After calling at Hamburg, which included a banquet at city hall, the ship visited Copenhagen. In the Danish capital, the ship was inspected by the King and Queen, before it left for the Kiel side entrance of the Kieler Canal, on the Baltic side. The German Emperor Wilhelm II himself opened the canal, named after his father. First, he laid the final stone of the canal, and then his yacht led the whole armada through the canal. So many ships had to go through, that the Tantallon Castle had to wait until late in the evening before it was her turn. Approximately 50,000 people attended the opening; either on the ships or sitting on the temporarily erected stands on the locks, or standing along the canal. 2 Avid Cruiser FALL 2007 It had been the intention to return back to England after the canal, but everyone was having such a good time that the ship went up the coast again for a call at Gothenburg. While there, word arrived from London that the government had been defeated in Parliament. As there were quite a number of politicians on board, this news created quite a stir. This was the government from which Lord Gladstone had resigned the previous year. The ship returned after a day at sea to England and stopped at the entrance of the river Thames, giving those who were in a political hurry the chance to get back to London quickly. the tantallon castle of 1891 the ladies on board the ‘Gentlemen’ on board. In the center, with his hat on, is Lord Gladstone; next to him with the white whiskers is Sir Donald currie owner of the ship. the other gentlemen were nearly all involved in politics in some way or the other. Note: Although Lord Gladstone had retired the year before as Prime minister of Great Britain, upon returning home he a few difficult moments. Queen Victoria had heard that he had been on a cruise, without asking her leave. Under the rules he was supposed to do this, even after being retired from office, as the ship left British territorial waters. Her Majesty was not amused. Albert Schoonderbeek is master of Holland America Line’s Veendam. For a full version of this article and to follow along on his daily-updated blog, visit www.avidcruiser.com/albert http://www.avidcruiser.com/albert

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007

The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007 Contents The Poop Deck Cruising, Back to Back At The Piazza SeaDream Yacht Club Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager The ‘New’ Crystal Symphony Bay of FUNdy Long Weekend Getaway Silversea Cruises: Silver Whisper Cruising Southeast Asia ‘Awesome’ Alaska Sacred Moments In South Georgia Two Years With A Princess Of Days Gone By

The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007

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