Day 8: High Spirits not High Seas…
Well… we’re not in Florida yet, but that won’t stop our Midshipmen from enjoying a sunny day. The end of the work day rush is always a beautiful sight, as chairs are set up and the cornhole boards brought out. I reckon there will be plenty of practicing for this weekend’s upcoming cornhole and ping-pong tournaments.
As nice as our evenings are, we can’t discredit the work we put in during the day. Alpha worked on the many maintenance tasks popping up around the ship. Bravo had their second “Training” day, which saw them operating the windless and tying stoppers. Charlie scrubbed the bathroom in the berthing, a job only the bravest can handle. Delta stood watch over our beautiful ship, still anchored in Searsport.
We were pleased to receive a visit from Mrs. MacArthur, who made the journey out on the Pentagoet this morning. The midshipmen made sure to wish her a “Happy Birthday!” when passing by. Joining her arrival were the welders for the broken safety railing, who’s work will bring us one step closer to departure. Later that afternoon, Mrs. MacArthur departed back to Castine, along with the Commandant of Midshipmen.
The Aft 01 Lounge will be hosting a “Game Night” tonight at 1900, all are welcome. Afterwards, the midshipmen can grab a Coney Island Hot Dog from the galley starting at 2000. Rainy weather is forecasted for the next few days, but we won’t let it break our spirits. Fair Winds and Following Seas to all!
Post By: 4/C Joseph Cole, MTO Charlie Company





Latest 2025 Summer TSSOM Cruise
- Cruise Return to Portland and LivestreamThe Kennedy will arrive in Portland, Maine, on July 14, 2025, at the Portland Ocean Terminal. Arrival time at the dock is estimated between 9:30 and 10:00 am. This marks the final stop of the 2025 Summer Training Cruise, and students will disembark on Tuesday, July 15. Please join us in welcoming everyone back after […]
- A Day in Belfast IrelandHello! Belfast Ireland is unique in that all of the second class Maine students came here our freshman cruise, and while I thought that would be a negative… I was so wrong! I thought I had exhausted things to do freshman year, and I was wrong again. I had heard about some people doing a […]
- Stronger Ties FormedCadets aboard the TS Kennedy spent the past 10 days underway, sailing between New York City and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Students enjoyed calm seas for most of the leg but were stuck under overcast skies, much to the chagrin of the upper-class deck cadets who are actively trying to complete their celestial navigation project. This […]
- Running Smooth in Belfast: A Cruise Check-In from the Cadet Chief EngineerI’m Jacob Nowalsky, the cruise Lead Engine Cadet from Maine, and Maine’s Cadet Chief Engineer. Things have been going pretty well onboard! After being in port in Galveston, everyone was excited to finally get to sea, and now that we’re wrapping up our 2nd leg and are here in Belfast, people are fully into the […]
- Switching to the Engine RoomOur second leg of our Summer Sea Term 2025 cruise has been really fun! During this leg to Belfast from New York, we saw a lot of whales, flying fish, and other marine life. We also recently just hit our halfway point, which means Maine Maritime cadets switched deck/engine focuses on cruise. From 5 May […]
- From Celestial Navigation to Food Grinding: Embracing Every RoleAs we’ve embarked on our journey aboard the Kennedy, it’s been a great experience watching everyone settle into shipboard life. As a junior, I’ve been focusing on celestial navigation, taking on senior-level watches, and experiencing significant personal growth as a leader. These experiences have helped unite the Maine and Texas communities on board. A few […]