Caribbean Princess

The last day of June 2013, half way through the year and a thick early morning fog was present on Guernsey as the Caribbean Princess arrived after its overnight journey from Southampton. Additional commercial ferries were chartered to aid moving over 3,000 guests ashore for a short half day visit, and a Sark Ferry awaits alongside.

As tender operations got into gear the fog lifted to give good visibility when the fast ferry Condor Express arrived in Guernsey after her early cross channel journey from Poole.

The Castle Breakwater gives a good view of the liner and tender operations as the Trident leaves on its short 20 minute trip to Herm where there was a Charity Cricket Match today. The Caribbean Princess left Guernsey early this afternoon bound for Cobh, one of the old major Irish transatlantic ports.

Deutschland, Costa Pacifica, Azmara Journey, Queen Elizabeth 2, Boudicca

It's that time of year when for two months the liners head for warmer climes rather than Guernsey. The months of May and August tend to be the busiest with July being very quiet. Tomorrow will see the Caribbean Princess arrive from Southampton with over 3,000 guests aboard. With the Sea Front shut to traffic and replaced by Street Restaurants and a Market, as well as a Charity Hill Climb, it should be busy, just the weather though!!

In the meantime here are some favorites from past years;

We all remember the London Olympics in 2012 but the "host ship" for Germany, the Deutschland moored at Canary Wharf was quite a star herself but never quite made the headlines.

The Costa Pacifica is led to her anchorage by the St Peter Port pilot boat the Golden Spur on a early summer morning in May 2011. I've only seen this angle once, trying to repeat it many times but boat and liner do not line up.

Again in early summer, May 2008 the Azmara Journey lights up off the Castle Breakwater as the sun sets after a long day visit for their guests.

And the favorite of many guests of Cunard the QE2 with La Vallette bathing pools in the foreground coming up on the southern anchorage off  Fermain Bay. It was a calm day for the tenders on the extra long trip.

Also a calm day for the Boudicca in August 2007 as a early morning yachtsman departs for his journey across Channel Island waters.

Royal Princess, Hanseatic, Celebrity Eclipse, Hythe Ferry

Been away for almost a month and at the start of our holiday spent some time on the Solent to see the Royal Princess inaugural visit to Southampton for its naming ceremony. For the journey up the Solent it rained, and rained, sunny before, sunny after but not for that 40 minutes.

The rest of our time in England was sunny, as it was when we left St Peter Port with the Hanseatic at the anchorage on a visit from St Malo with just under 200 guests aboard. Good to see the liners from the "sea" side of Guernsey.

The day the Royal Princess arrived, Southampton had 4 others liners in port producing a queue to depart.
As they departed the ships' whistles acknowledgement of each other was good to listen to with the Royal Princess winning, although the deep tone of the Queen Mary was special.

As the liners departed there was much waving between the thousands of guests on board each one, some off on a 2 week cruise, one of the liners off to Guernsey and Zeebruge.
The Hythe Pier was a ideal viewing spot jutting out into the Solent with its oldest Pier Train in the world. The pier was opened in 1881.

The Hythe foot ferry into Southampton is the daily commute for many people producing a different view to that which most workers see on the daily ride. The 15 minute ride produces one of the best views of shipping in the Port of Southampton