Monday 2 September 2013

Saga Sapphire


The Saga Sapphire sailed from Falmouth late last night and arrived in Guernsey for a half day stay. She spent her time in Guernsey anchored off Castle Cornet giving her guests a short tender ride to St Peter Port. Saga Sapphire joined the Saga fleet in May 2012 after her refurbishment in Palmero and was the first to appear in the new livery of Saga. The liner was launched in 1981 and became the MS Europa before undergoing many name changes before being transferred to Saga in 2011.


On departure for Dover, the Saga Sapphire headed south, with the Commodore Clipper in the background  passing the Casquets off Alderney, the most northerly of the Channel Islands. The beaches on the north coast of Herm still look inviting even in these early days of September.


With Herm and Jethou forming a background these islands can be added to the list that Saga Sapphire has sailed by on this cruise including the Isle of Man, Isle of Mull, Orkney, and Skye on her Celtic Britain and Ireland cruise.




Sunday 1 September 2013

Aurora, Crystal Serenity


The Aurora lived up to her name as the Roman "Goddess of Dawn" when she arrived in Guernsey to a beautiful sunrise, having sailed overnight from Southampton. She spent the day on the more easterly anchorage before leaving for Zeebrugge. Her guests made the most of the weather and took in a local Food Festival held in St Peter Port over the weekend.


She was closely followed by the Crystal Serenity having sailed from Portland in Dorset. Not many guests were on deck except for the early morning joggers making the most of the quiet deck space as she arrived at the closer anchorage to St Peter Port.


This Sunday in Guernsey was a pleasant day with everyone making the most of the last summer weekend before the schools go back. There was no rest for the crew of the Valiant heading north  for Poole who spent a short time in Guernsey having arrived from Jersey on a regular cargo run. The island forming a backdrop is Jethou.  This privately owned island has a rare public opening later in the month.


Guests of the Crystal Serenity could be forgiven thinking that they had changed ship as they boarded their tenders overshadowed by the Commodore Goodwill.  Unusually it spent Sunday in Guernsey, rather than her normal Jersey to Portsmouth sailing. The Crystal Serenity left for Dover late afternoon but will return on Tuesday on a cruise heading to Southern Europe.