Sunday 5 June 2016

Hanseatic

Not the publicity images you normally see of Hapag-Lloyd's Hanseatic, which are normally in the Antarctic or the waters of the Arctic. On a calm Sunday evening, as all the boaters return from their weekend in Herm or one of the other Channel Islands, this small Liner sits at anchor as her guests enjoy an evening ashore in St Peter Port. She will leave as darkness falls bound for Alderney, having spent time in Sark and Herm.

Hanseatic

With just under 200 guests to cater for the pontoon at St Peter Port was not crowded for the tender departures back to the Hanseatic. With a high tide there was no problem of sloping pontoons to get on board.

Liner Pontoon

She is on a Islands cruise having started with 6 days cruising the islands of the Azores.  She then sailed for La Coruna before heading for the Channel Islands. She has visited all the major ones and after leaving Honfleur will head for Hamburg. In August she will sail the Northeast Passage crossing from Europe into Asia, Christmas will find her in her true home of Antarctica. But on this Sunday night she was in more peaceful seas.

Guernsey


Saturday 4 June 2016

Queen Victoria

One of the world's most recognisable cruise lines arrived today in the shape of the Queen Victoria. Just before 8 am as St Peter Port was coming alive the liner dropped anchor. Tenders were already being swung out ready for the guests to enjoy the delights of Guernsey at the weekend. St Peter Port is the final port of call on her cruise from Spain and Portugal. The last port of call was Vigo, one of the world's largest fishing ports.

Queen Victoria, Guernsey

Maybe there was a fishing contest at the end of the Castle Breakwater as the Queen Victoria leaves for her return to Southampton. A favorite spot in the summer, it is hard to believe that in the winter the waves will break over the lighthouse.


The same weather pattern continued as for the last few days, the Liners leave and the sun comes out. Locals and tourists alike came out to enjoy the lack of wind and welcome sun. Bordeaux Harbour is made even more attractive by the high tide and calm seas, a lovely place to sit and enjoy the view, shame about the digger.

Guernsey, Bordeaux Harbour





Friday 3 June 2016

Sea Cloud II

Today it was the turn of the luxury sailing ship Sea Cloud II to pay one of her regular visits to St Peter Port. Summer seems very slow in coming to the Island at the moment with grey days and after the liners go, sunny nights, or at least for the last few days. The Castle Walk is the way that many guests take en route to Castle Cornet, though at the moment the walk way is shut for some storm repairs, rather strange to leave it till the time of year when more people use it.


Sea Cloud II entered service in 2001. As a guest on board you no doubt learn the names of the 3 masts and 24 sails which the ship has. She was only here for a half day visit and left the anchorage at lunch time heading for Honfleur. Sailing up the west coast of Guernsey she should arrive early tomorrow morning.


Thursday 2 June 2016

Caribbean Princes

Caribbean Princess was back today on a British Isles Cruise. Away from Southampton last night she spent most of the day anchored off St Peter Port. There should not have been too many problems with tenders as both a Sark ferry and a Herm ferry were used as well as the liners own.


With the sun shining on the Islands as Caribbean Princess left for Cobh the guests on board had a good view of the southern end of Jethou and the Island of Sark before they sailed along the South coast and into the Western Channel. One of the ports of call will be Kirkwall where Scapa Flow and St Magnus Cathedral can be visited. 100 years since the Battle of Jutland was recently remembered there.


Once clear of the pilotage zone the St Peter Port pilots prepare to disembark onto the Golden Spur. From their balconies and from the lower deck guests have a good view of this hazardous operation. No Captain would want to risk their ship in the treacherous waters and tides that surround Guernsey without a local pilot.


Wednesday 1 June 2016

Crystal Symphony

Busy week for Guernsey with liners visiting everyday. This Wednesday it was the turn of the Crystal Symphony on her way north from Lisbon to London. Built in Finland she entered service in 1995 and caters for just under a 1,000 guests. She was given a major refurbishment in 2008, with a smaller one in 2012.


Many of the guests took the tours provided leaving parts of St Peter Port looking very empty. This is Mill St on the outskirts of town, where the shops seem to peter out, leading to residential areas. This street is home to many small shops that cannot afford High St rents, including Ben Le Prevost's Chocolate shop and art galleries. The cobbled street is a fine feature.


Crystal Symphony had THV Patricia for company at the anchorage on one of her regular visits to the Channel Islands. The liner will be on the other side of the world in six months as she cruises the waters of the southern oceans visiting Australia and New Zealand. Crystal Symphony departed just after tea time heading south for St Malo where many guests will visit Mont St Michel or enjoy the creperies Intra Muros.