Saga Pearl II

The last Liner for August arrived today, the Saga Pearl II. It's hard to believe that in a previous life she spent her time sailing between South Africa and Europe under the name Astoria. She was acquired by Saga in 2009 and now carries under 500 guests in a traditional, British style. With Bordeaux harbour in the background the Condor Liberation passes the liner on her journey north to Poole.

With the warm weather many guests took advantage of the outside decks to make the most of these late summer days. It doesn't look too crowded and only one crew member on the lower deck enjoys the quiet moments before the evening starts.

Saga Pearl II left at tea time bound for St Marys in the Scilly Isles where she should arrive at sunrise tomorrow morning. Blue seas, blue skies, blue funnel is the picture as Saga Pearl II leaves the anchorage.

Hamburg

The summer weather brought on the urge for a visit to Herm which coincided with the arrival of the German Liner Hamburg on her way from El Ferrol, on the north west coast of Spain, to Honfleur in Normandy. With the sun shining from a cloudless sky and calm seas guests had good conditions for the short tender ride to St Peter Port. Behind the trees is Les Cotils, shortly to host one of the displays from the Chelsea Flower Show and only a 20 minute walk from the landing pontoon.

The first ferry to Herm always carries a good mixture of cargo; luggage for guests at the White House hotel, necessities for the running of guest accommodation, camping supplies for the visitors camping on one of the island's two campsites and the wine for tonight's dinner.

The Hamburg carrying just over 400 guests is one of those liners that can visit smaller destinations. In September 2014 she made a Great Lakes cruise, the first by a liner for many years. Milwaukee welcomed the liner commenting how she brought tourism money to the city. One of her destinations was Sarnia, the Roman name for Guernsey, with a local blogger reporting how she caught the eye of motorists on her way south to Detroit. Different surroundings today with the many German guests enjoying the sun-drenched island.

Caribbean Princess

Let's hope the next 10 days bring better weather for the guests on board the Caribbean Princess than what today had to offer. On one of her regular cruises around the British Isles, I don't think guests on board had the best of Guernsey on their short visit in this unseasonal weather

Even the decks of Condor Liberation look empty as she arrives from Poole on her way south to Jersey. The approaches from the sea show off St Peter Port at its finest as you can appreciate the town rising from the harbour towards the heartland of the Island.

On the back of the Visit Guernsey helper it says " Great Things Happen in Guernsey", not too sure how many guests agreed today! Many of them took advantage of coach tours of the Island which were departing and returning very close to the liner pontoon. An advantage in this weather.

AIDAvita & Marco Polo

One regular visitor and one  new arrival when the AIDAvita and Marco Polo arrived in St Peter Port this morning. The AIDAvita left Miami on the 7th April on her positioning cruise back to Germany for the summer. She arrived early this morning from Falmouth. She was built in 2002 and will spend the summer with Keil as her home port.

The changing face of tourism in Guernsey as Condor Liberation leaves for the south on her journey to Jersey with the more traditional visitor, whilst the two liners bring ashore three times the capacity of the ferry but for a shorter stay. Condor Liberation provides fast ferry connections between Poole and the Channel Islands.

The Marco Polo is a regular visitor to the Island and arrived this morning from the Isles of Scilly and spent the day in Guernsey before departing for Honfleur. She will be back in Tilbury on Monday and will spend most of the summer cruising from the more northerly ports of England. In the far background is the Normandy coast, with the closer sunny beaches of Herm beckoning to locals.