Friday 31 July 2015

Saga Pearl II

Mid morning at Salarie Pier and the Saga Pearl II rests quietly at anchor. The pier is easy to get to as the steps have been repaired to access it from the walkway. No boats leaving the Marina, but by tea time the locals will be heading to Herm and Sark for the weekend, or the nearby French coast.


Starlight Circus early this morning, Guernsey's very own circus which has been appearing at the old aerodrome at L'Eree for many many years. Those Guests from the liner taking the Guernsey Vaeux will see the circus as they pass, but the diminutive box office will not be open yet.


Saga Pear ll is on her last visit of the year and arrived this morning from Southampton. Formerly the Astoria she was also a visitor to Guernsey under that name before under going her refurbishment for Saga. Castle Cornet in the foreground is a favorite with guests from liners as well as being popular with locals especially for the KPMG Castle Nights, when they take their picnics and listen to the music



Wednesday 29 July 2015

Mein Schiff 1

Mein Schiff 1 left Hamburg on the 18th July and after cruising  the North Coast of Scotland and the Irish Sea, she arrived in Guernsey early this morning. She was previously the Celebrity Galaxy and was transferred to TUI in 2009. At a undisclosed date in the future she will transfer to Thompson Cruises in the United Kingdom. She left St Peter Port for Southampton this evening and in the background of the image is the Island of Alderney, only visited by the smallest Cruise Liners, but well worth a visit.


Not too sure if any of the guests of the Mein Schiff 1 were in the water at Vazon Bay this afternoon where even with a strong westerly wind the beach saw plenty of activity. In the winter the sea will break over the sea wall and the roadway creating a very different picture.


As the Mein Schiff 1 passed St Martins Point the St Peter Port Lifeboat sailed close by on her way back to harbour. Once again the calm seas of the east coast contrast with those of the west coast earlier. By the end of 2015 Mein Schiff 1 will be in completely different waters cruising out of Singapore to Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.


Tuesday 28 July 2015

Hebridean Princess

The Hebridean Princess was an unusual visitor today actually coming into St Peter Port Harbour to berth alongside. She arrived early afternoon after the St Malo ferry had departed which enabled her to use that berth. The Hebridean Princess left St Helier late morning. as part of her "Footloose to the Channel Isles" cruise from Portland in Dorset. On her approach to St Peter Port guests had the opportunity for a view of Herm, one of the islands not on the cruise.


Originally built as a ferry she is at home in the north cruising the Islands for Hebridean Island Cruises. With "All Inclusive cruises" a headline for the company the free internet and "no tipping policy" is a change from some other lines. In the background as she enters St Peter Port is the Grossherzogin Elisa a 1909-built ship going through many changes in her life before her current role as a sail training vessel.


The Berlitz Cruising Guide tells us that the liner has a "Scottish Country House ambience" which is enhanced by the flowers at the stern. The Queen chartered the ship for her 80th birthday celebrations giving the Hebridean Princess a unique heritage.


Bit different to last night with the Prinsendam illuminated outside St Peter Port. Hebridean Princess quietly alongside in St Peter Port, no sound of engines tonight to send guests asleep. Castle Cornet not illuminated yet, it was 9.30 the night before.


Monday 27 July 2015

Prinsendam

Looking out to the west this morning it looked unlikely that the Prinsendam would be staying but the wind direction and the shelter that St Peter Port anchorages provide made the day's visit possible. This view looking South West from St Martins Point shows the seas that were running early this morning.


Once the St Peter Port pilot was on board, the pilot boat Golden Spur headed towards the anchorage and calmer seas. The spotlight of sun shining on the sea illuminates the pilot boat against the grey sea out to the east.


Passing down the east coast between the islands the liner now has calm waters and contrasts clearly with the green cliffs St Martins. The Prinsendam has been on an "Irish and Scottish Explorer" cruise from the Netherlands and arrived from Ilfracombe  just after 7.00 am.  It will be past midnight before she leaves Guernsey for Ijmuiden arriving there early on Wednesday morning.


With her early morning departure Guernsey enjoyed the rare sight of the Prinsendam with lights ablaze off St Peter Port. Castle Cornet in the foreground has music nights during the summer due to the generosity of a local finance house.


Saturday 25 July 2015

Magellan & Celebrity Silhouette

Squeezed between a wet Friday and a predicted rainy day tomorrow the sun shone brightly for guests on the Magellan and the Celebrity Silhouette today. The Magellan arrived first, rounding St Martins Point just before 7.00 am with visiting yachts keeping her company. The good view of the North coast of Jersey in the distance was enjoyed by only one guest on deck though. The flagship of Cruise & Maritime Voyages from early in 2015, and renamed from 'Grand Holiday' she has had quite a history. She served as accommodation for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as well as a Hotel Ship during the February 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.


The day provided perfect weather for the Rocquaine Regatta on the west coast of Guernsey. Some guests may have seen the raft race as they visited Guernsey Pearl during their tours of the Island. The festivities will continue late into the night, long after the liners have departed.


The Celebrity Silhouette had a very full day in Guernsey not leaving until mid evening for her final destination of Amsterdam. She has been on a 12 Night cruise of the British Isles from the Netherlands calling at Dover and ports in Scotland and Ireland. What a shame it was not another ship in their fleet, the Celebrity Reflection, in Guernsey today; it would have lived up to its name with the glorious evening light.


Wednesday 22 July 2015

Crystal Serenity & Minerva

Back from the mountains and not a liner was in sight. Lake Geneva however was the scene for the beautifully restored side-wheel paddle steamers of the CGN Fleet that operate a regular passenger service criss-crossing the lake. The condition which these boats are kept in, the smart uniforms of the crew and the beautiful setting, all contribute to the experience of the Belle Epoque Fleet.


Proudly flying the Swiss Flag, the S/S Rhone leaves Yvoire on the last steamer service of the day heading back to Geneva. She is the last Paddle-Wheeler built in Switzerland in 1927 with a capacity of 850 passengers.


Two liners visited Guernsey today, with the shortest tender ride being given to the Crystal Serenity. The full day visit of the liner gave guests plenty of time to enjoy all that Guernsey has to offer as the weather remained mainly sunny. Crystal Serenity left Barcelona on the 5th July and will finish her cruise in Dover on Saturday morning.


The waters off St Peter Port saw a lot of activity today with the Minerva anchored further out and HMS Northumberland on navigational exercises as well as numerous visiting yachts. The Minerva is on a 30 day "Grand Island Vistas" cruise visiting the Azores, Madeira before finishing her cruise in Civitavecchia (Rome) in the middle of August.