That was unexpected, Saga Sapphire should have gone to Jersey today, but as a first port of call from Southampton she arrived in Guernsey early this morning. In the normal way, three days of beautiful spring weather led to the dull morning as the pilot boat, led the Saga Sapphire headed for the anchorage.
What made this visit special for Guernsey was the fact that the tenders were the first to use the new arrangement for coming ashore, not by the inter island ferries, but on the southern side of the harbour at the end of the Albert Pier, giving a very short walk into town. Hopefully when the season starts in earnest the reception facilities should have improved to avoid guests queuing to get off the pontoon.
Being a Sunday in Guernsey, and not in the season, shops were shut in town, but guests had the opportunity to see the end of a military parade. This had marched from the site of the Guernsey Militia barracks in the middle of the island to St Peter Port, to commemorate Guernsey men leaving in 1915 to join the Royal Irish Regiment to fight in the Great War.
