Cruise Ship Astronomy and Astrophotography

By Gregory I. Redfern

Enrich your next sea vacation with this fun how-to guide to observing and doing astrophotography on water. Collecting together the author’s five decades of astrophotography and teaching experience, this book shares all the practical information you will need to start on your own astronomy adventure.
Part I is full of practical advice on what to pack, the best ways to enjoy the night sky from your cruise ship observatory, specific astronomical objects and events to look out for, and myriad other useful tips. Part II gives you a crash course on astrophotography at sea, teaching you the nitty-gritty details of taking pictures of the night sky. Proof that it can be done is provided by the many amazing color astrophotographs taken by the author while following the steps laid out in this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Springer
• Release date: Dec 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9783030009588

Book preview

Part ICruise Ship Astronomy

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018

Gregory I. RedfernCruise Ship Astronomy and AstrophotographyThe Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Serieshttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00958-8_1

1. Cruise Considerations and What to Pack Astronomy-Wise

Gregory I. Redfern¹  

(1)

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador , Ruckersville, VA, USA

Gregory I. Redfern

Why Cruise?

Cruising , as most call it, is a travel industry segment that is growing by leaps and bounds, as exhibited by the large number of cruise ships on order by the cruise lines. New ships are being built in order to meet cruise ship passenger growth that is projected to keep increasing in the coming years.

What is it about cruising that is causing all of this to happen?

Cruising is unique in that it combines time at sea with ports of call. Of course you can fly, go by car or bus, take a train or do a combination of some or all of these transportation modes to multiple or singular destinations. For each place to be visited you have to reserve lodging, obtain meals, possibly secure professional tour guides and hire reliable transportation to see all of the sights your destination(s) have to offer. You can work with a travel agent and tour companies or do it yourself to put all of the pieces of your vacation puzzle together. That is a lot of work! Some people thrive on the logistics of vacation planning and the ultimate freedom of choice it offers. Others, most probably the majority of travelers today, do not want that kind of hassle. One-stop shopping for your travel needs and desires is where cruising shines.

Many guests have commented that the main reasons they cruise are comfort and convenience. Some have said, I don’t like to fly, and added that the cost of first class or business airfare to go across the Atlantic, for instance, is comparable to booking on a cruise line that will take them across the Atlantic. They have the time to spare in taking the slower mode of transportation, so they would much rather spend time on a cruise ship than fly. To them it is much more relaxing and enjoyable. There was also the consideration of the guest’s health and mobility in their travel choices. Guests who need assistance with mobility or have health issues commented that it was much easier to cruise than to fly. Wheelchairs, electric scooters, walkers and portable oxygen supplies can be regularly seen on cruise ships.

The convenience and comfort aspects also come to the fore when you realize that in booking a cruise you can have all of your vacation logistics taken care of. All cruise ships depart from a port, usually from a designated cruise terminal that is part of the port, to begin and end their voyage. Some of these ports in the United States have parking available, like an airport, as you can drive there and leave your car parked or take a cab or other public transportation to the cruise terminal. Some of the cruises out of these ports are round trip; that is, they depart and return to the terminal. Others depart and cruise to other destinations.

If you have to fly to reach your ship’s departure port the cruise lines or your travel agent should be able to help you with these airline arrangements, including shore transportation from the airport to the ship and from the ship to the airport.

Choosing a Cruise Line

The number of cruise lines to choose from is extensive and somewhat comparable to your choices of major airlines, rail lines, and bus companies. The author’s personal experience so far extends only to Azamara Club Voyages, Cunard, Holland America Lines, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Sea Dream Yacht Club and Windstar Cruises Line. What is shared in this book comes from the experiences with these cruise lines and is probably typical of what occurs on most cruise lines.

If you do a Google search on Cruise Line Listing you get 3,680,000 results! You will see links to the listings of the current and defunct cruise lines (many of them morphed into other cruise lines), which seems pretty accurate although we obviously did not check them all due to the sheer number of them.

If you view the listings in the Appendix of this book you will notice that there are River Cruise Lines also. Having never been on one of these types of cruises limits commentary to only what has been shared by some of those who have sailed on this type of cruise. These vessels sail on some of the major rivers around the world and are comfortable and enjoyable. If you go on one of these cruises what you will learn in this book should be applicable for the most part. After all, it is a vessel underway on water, just much, much smaller than the oceangoing cruise ships. Also, the distance you traveled, number of decks and the farthest height above the water will be different from oceangoing cruise ships.

To settle on a specific cruise line is like trying to decide which car to purchase as a first time buyer. They all perform the same basic functions they were designed to do. It becomes a matter of personal preferences as to style, cost, available options and for a car, how it feels during the test drive. Well, the same selection process applies to picking a cruise line. But to take a test drive of a specific cruise line is a little more complicated and involves some cost.

You can try to find a cruise that is only a few days in length so you can test your sea legs and find out if cruising is for you. But even before taking the test cruise you are still left with the question, Which cruise line is for me? Let’s take a look at how you might want to go about selecting a cruise line. We’ll discuss first the common considerations and then add in those with an astronomical flavor.

Truth be told, you may want to just find a travel agent who can help you. Nowadays you can even book cruises by going through your airline’s points program, nationwide membership and financial organizations and even the large wholesale membership retail warehouses. They all advertise cruises and cost savings for members.

Even if you book your cruise using any of the foregoing methods it pays to do some research on your own. You don’t have to, as each of the just mentioned entities will assist you, but it will help you out in the long run. Besides, at some point you are going to have to get into the details of your cruise online and/or in hard copy. There is no way around it unless you have a full time consigliore or personal assistant to help you. Don’t laugh; you could see this on a cruise!

If you are on your own, your first step in looking for a cruise line could be as simple as asking friends and relatives that you know have taken cruises what their experiences were like. Ask them about the cost, accommodations, food, entertainment, the overall atmosphere and ambiance on board, how they were treated by the crew, and don’t forget to inquire about the quality of the offered shore excursions. People form pretty strong opinions about cruise lines, just like they do about cars in terms of whether they are great or lemons.

If you are able to gain such information this might steer you to check out some of the popular cruise lines further. If you weren’t able to have such input it’s OK, as everyone should take this next step anyway – go online. Surfing the Internet to check out the cruise lines is highly recommended for several reasons. Just as there are critics and reviews of car manufacturers and their individual models, so there are reviews of cruise lines and even individual ships. You can read online various cruise critical reviews as well as travel oriented and mainstream media (including the travel sections of major newspapers) stories about cruising, specific voyages and ships, Top 10 lists, etc. Such information is available as printed media as well.

Here are a couple of other things to consider at the start of your selection search. First and foremost is, What size ship do I want to be on? Do you want to be on a big ship, which is generally considered to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 80,000 to 100,000 tons or more? There are cruise ships now afloat that are in the 200,000-plus tons class! That is twice the tonnage of a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and comparable in length. These mega-ships also have many decks and are quite a distance above the water on their topmost deck. When you go big you will share your cruise with from 2,000 to 6,000-plus passengers. These big ships also offer a lot of amenities that smaller ships cannot, such as ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, large sport complexes that may include wave surfing, water slides, simulated skydiving, and zip line rides, to name a few. Some of these ships also offer a ride that carries you out over the water and above the ship as well as extensive outdoor entertainment facilities. These ships can also have different themed decks that mimic life from different countries and in some cases cities. They really are amazing vessels.

There are ships that are moderate sized, in the 30,000- to 60,000-ton range that might have approximately 700 to 1,500 passengers. They might not have all of the bells and whistles of the bigger ships, but they can go to ports and places their bigger sisters cannot. They do not cut corners just because they are smaller, though, and have a big following of loyal cruisers who think smaller is better. In this class of ship you have a better chance of getting to know other passengers and members of the crew. Activities such as bridge, bingo, cooking classes, etc., have smaller groups as well.

Speaking of smaller, there are several cruise lines that have ships (they really call them luxury yachts) in the 4,000- to 10,000-ton class and carry approximately 100 to 300 passengers. These luxury yachts really are the ultimate in getting to know your fellow guests, the crew and the sea on a very up close and personal level. They really can go places where no other ships can, such as coves and bays in islands or secluded anchorages where the rich and famous hang out. Some of these vessels have a deployable sea well on the stern that can be opened to allow access to swimming/snorkeling in the ocean, jet skis, and sunbathing on your own personal inflatable if weather and safety considerations allow it. Life onboard these vessels is sumptuous, and the sea feels enchantingly close when you are up on deck.

OK. So you have thought about what size of ship and resulting shipboard environment you might like. Now you can get into the nitty-gritty of your online search. You can simply search by inputting small, medium, or large cruise ship into your favorite search engine, and the search results will come back listing cruise lines that have that type of ship. You will also get more reviews and articles about these selected cruise lines. It is pretty amazing as to what you can get online. Another way to focus your search for that cruise line made just for you is to search by destination. You can input a country, region of the world or even specific cities and add by cruise ship to get results by cruise line.

One other suggestion to help in your search for a cruise is to input astronomy themed cruises, which resulted in 766,000 listings! Make this part of your search, as the postings are updated by the cruise lines as they add new cruises. A new comet, upcoming solar and lunar eclipses, and the aurora are favorites for astronomy-themed cruises.

At some point you will hopefully have narrowed down your search to where you have an idea or two as to which cruise line(s) you are interested in. This is where you focus your search as to destinations, length of voyage, cost and overall details of a particular cruise by going to the website of the cruise line(s) you are interested in. Each cruise line’s website will introduce you to their brand and provide details on the company, their ships and their destinations. They really want to sell you on booking with them and provide online chat and telephone numbers for you to connect with a representative.

Most of the cruise line websites are beautifully designed, as it is their bread and butter in reaching out to the traveling public in order to compete for passengers. Each of them allows you to search for cruises by either destination, length of voyage, cost, individual ship or whatever combination of these search items you wish to use. Your search will produce voyages that you can click on to get more details.

The basic format for describing an individual cruise is usually called an itinerary, and it gives you the port from which the cruise departs and the ship’s anticipated schedule at sea and ports of call over the days and nights of the voyage. There usually is an accompanying map that shows the ship’s intended course over the entire cruise. Anticipated and intended apply to the ship’s itinerary because world events, weather, shipboard medical emergencies and other situations can arise that demand a change in the schedule. Ship’s captains are responsible for everything that happens on their ships, and they always must make their decisions based on the safety of the ship and all aboard her.

How many days and of course nights at sea will the voyage encompass? This is the first of your astronomically related questions that you want to consider in choosing a cruise. Some voyages are ports of call intensive, with few days at sea, while others are repositioning voyages that cross the Atlantic or the Pacific. If you want to get that maximum number of days and nights at sea these types of voyages are what you are looking for. Most cruise line websites will have repositioning cruises listed as well as the longer world or grand voyages .

Shore Excursions

Here is another astronomically significant factor for you to consider. What shore excursions are included in the voyage? The itinerary will have a section on shore excursions offered as part of the cruise which you can click on and get a description as to what it entails. These excursions usually will cost you extra.

Are there any astronomy-themed shore excursions that are part of your cruise? If there are any world renowned astronomical- or space-themed attractions they may be listed as shore excursions provided by the ship. They may be well worth the price, as to get there on your own would be a huge hassle (Figs. 1.1 and 1.2).

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Fig. 1.1

Mayan astronomical ruins at Iximche. (Image by the author)

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Fig. 1.2

Observatories atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. (Image by the author)

Ship Tip

Almost all cruise ships have a stated policy that if one of their shore excursions should be late in returning to the ship on a day when the ship is leaving port, the ship will wait. This is NOT a guaranteed policy if you make shore excursion arrangements on your own. You need to inquire with the Shore Excursions office to see what the ship’s policy is regarding personal shore excursions.

Using the itinerary you can also conduct online research that might reveal observatories, historical landmarks, planetariums, museums, archaeological or geological features with an astronomical or space theme located at each port of call, ones that are not part of a listed shore excursion and which you might want to pursue on your own (Figs. 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5).

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Fig. 1.3

One of Tycho Brahe’s observatories in Copenhagen, Denmark. You might consider visiting this on your cruise to Scandinavia. (Image by the author)

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Fig. 1.4

Astronomical clock in Messina, Italy, also possible to visit on a cruise to Italy. (Image by the author)

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Fig. 1.5

Beautiful statue of Orion and his faithful big dog Sirius in Messina, Italy, also possible to see as an excursion on an Italian cruise. (Image by the author)

Some of these places you might know about already, but for each voyage you should do online research by searching using the area/city name and adding astronomical interests. You should get a listing that you can pursue and decide what to see at that port of call. You want to find out how far this attraction is from the ship, as you need to determine if you can you walk there or whether you need a taxi or a guide. Be mindful of the earlier shore tip in your planning and allow plenty of time to get back to the ship if it is a port departure day.

While ashore and before you embark on the ship the cruise line representative or your travel agent might be able to help you make travel arrangements if needed. When on board the ship Guest Relations, Shore Excursions or the consigliore might be able to help you also.

Once you are aboard and underway on your cruise the ship will provide shore excursion and port information and possibly destination lectures as well that will provide many details on the ports you will be visiting. This is an excellent information resource, and it is highly recommended that you attend each of these events. When the ship pulls into port there may even be local representatives to help answer questions and provide maps and guidebooks.

One other check you want to make when shopping for a cruise is whether there are any significant astronomical events taking place during the voyage. This is a lesson you don’t want to learn the hard way. During this author’s second cruise as a lecturer, he was surprised to find that he would be smack in the middle of an almost total solar eclipse! With no direct solar viewing capability, he still was able to improvise, as you will learn about in Chap. 10, Eclipses.

The easiest way to do this check is to refer to the astronomical publications and software described later in this chapter. The most significant events will involve eclipses, major meteor showers and perhaps a newly discovered and visible comet. You can also use these tools to find out what planets and constellations will be visible on prospective cruises to help you in your choices.

What to Pack

After you do your research, considerations and final analysis, what will it be? Cruise or no cruise? If you decide to go and book your passage, the next thing becomes what to pack. Every cruiser must be always mindful of what goes into the luggage due to airline baggage/weight limitations (always verify these with your airlines!) as well as the limited closet/storage space aboard ship – especially if there are two of you sharing a stateroom. The cruise lines’ web pages offer tips on what to bring for your cruise and provide their Onboard Attire Policy, which can be a combination of tuxedo/business suit/evening gown for a few formal nights to shorts and tees during the day with business casual after 6 p.m. It is important to adhere to the ship’s stated attire policy, as if you do not you may be turned away from certain venues on board the ship.

Of course, it’s up to you to decide what to pack for your normal travel items, but there are some astronomy/astrophotography essentials to take with you. The good news is that they do not take up much space and are not very expensive to purchase. A suggested list of what to pack is provided below, and each item is highlighted as to its intended use – astronomy or astrophotography. It is recommended that the list be followed for your first cruise to make sure you have the necessary basics. As you spend more at sea time and gain experience you can modify what you pack according to your requirements.

OK, now that you have decided on what cruise you are going to take, what do you want to bring along? I say want as opposed to need, as technically, all you really require to stargaze at sea is one, if not preferably two, functioning eyeballs along with any corrective vision devices such as contacts or eyeglasses.

Ship Tip

Always carry an extra set of eyeglasses as part of your carry-on bag along with your camera, computer and medicines. You never know when the primary pair may go to Davy Jones’ Locker or be damaged beyond use. Make sure the prescription for the backup pair is current also. Nothing is worse – other than no pair at all – than a pair of glasses/contacts that are several prescriptions removed from your current one. Carry them in a hard shell case.

In order of priority as determined by usefulness and ease of packing, here is what you should plan to carry with you when going to sea for stargazing and astrophotography. The two activities are mutual in their equipment requirements in many instances, but there are some exceptions. We have broken them down here by category: ‘S/A’ for stargazing & astrophotography, ‘S’ for stargazing only and ‘A’ for astrophotography only. What camera gear to pack, which is dependent on the type of camera you intend to use, is covered in Chap. 14.

Carry-on Baggage Compliant Backpack (S/A)

Medications, spare eyeglasses, computer and accessories, tripod, camera, lenses, astronomy gear and travel documents should be packed in a carry-on compliant computer/camera backpack designed to protect these items. This can be carried also on an aircraft, as it will fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. NOTE: You really do not want to check these items as baggage on any mode of transportation, as they could get lost, stolen and damaged, so this item is essential.

For this requirement you might want to consider the Airport Essentials Backpack available from a company called Think Tank Photo. It is their smallest model, but it will carry everything and still fit under the airline seat. Nowadays there is no guarantee of an overhead bin for storage space, so you have to assume you will have to stow your backpack under the airline seat in front of you. On the ship you can grab it and go topside for your astrophotography sessions. It is very convenient, as you might need to negotiate ladders and heavy doors with both hands free. The backpack also protects gear while traveling and when it is set down on deck. This backpack can also carry a tablet, has a rain flap, chest and waist straps (helps distribute the load) and a horizontal and vertical carrying handle (durable nylon). On one side it can also store a tripod using a mesh pocket to hold some of the leg/footpad and two straps to secure the folded up tripod. SAFETY NOTE: You want to secure your tripod so that it has no dangerous protrusions – especially the large bolt where the tripod head is attached – that could injure you or a bystander. Consult your tripod User’s Manual to learn how to properly and safely fold up your tripod. Also read the backpack’s User Manual for safety and protecting your expensive gear. Be sure to tuck in all of the backpack’s straps to get them out of the way so they don’t catch on anything before you go on a plane – I do this while waiting to board. Do yourself a favor and buy a backpack that has all of these features. You will thank yourself every time you go on a cruise that you did.

A Quality Red/White LED Headband Unit (S/A)

This is so useful ashore and at sea . You can use it as a regular hand-held LED unit as well as place it on your forehead when you need both hands free. You can use it in red mode to illuminate any hotel/stateroom without having to turn on the lights and disturb anyone else in the room. The red light preserves night vision and illuminates everything quite well.

For use in astrophotography it qualifies as Rule #8 of Redfern’s Rules of Astrophotography; see Chap. 15 for more on this.

It can also be used in an emergency such as a power outage or – heaven forbid – a smoke involved situation with the bright white LED to illuminate your way to safety in an aircraft, hotel, and onboard ship. That extra illumination can really help. That is why we say quality LED. Don’t choose poorly when buying this unit