Marco Polo

With the Marco Polo up for sale we won't see this unique cruise liner in Guernsey waters for much longer. Her classic ocean liner looks are a rare sight these days. Entering service in 1965 as the Aleksandr Puskin, with her ice strengthened hull, she sailed on the Leningrad - Montreal route and is now a frequent visitor to these waters.

On a Springtime Gardens cruise from Bristol, she left St Peter Port early evening, bound for Honfleur and a sail up the Seine to Rouen. As she set course for Normandy guests will have had a closer look at the nuclear power station at Flamanville illuminated by the setting sun.

Le Soleal

It's the time of year for an annual visit by a French Cruise Liner. Le Soleal arrived just after midday from Portsmouth for a short half day visit. Still a sunny day, but a cold wind for its guests.

As she came up to anchor some guests were already taking photos.

Le Soleal departed early evening, unusually taking the inshore route to the south,  bound for the Scilly Isles. The Golden Spur, having taken the Pilot off, heads back to St Peter Port.

Astoria

The Astoria arrived at St Peter Port this morning from Ijmuiden after a change of itinerary, she was due to arrive later in the week. She left at tea time heading for Falmouth.

A familiary shape in Guernsey waters, the Astoria has visited in recent years as the Azores, being renamed in 2016. She is one of the few original North Atlantic liners still in service.

AIDAvita

AIDAvita arrives in St Peter Port, first visitor of the year 21st March 2017, left Miami 5th March, on to Hamburg 24th March.

Many Titles for this photo, St Peter Port pilot boat, Golden Spur,  under the watchful eye of etc etc etc!!

By the time departure time  came for Dover guests were able to enjoy the spring sun, though with coats on.

One guest is determined to get a photo of the anchor coming up,

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.

Oriana & Voyager

As the end of August looms and the colder months get closer so a trip to Herm on these last sunny days is called for. The bonus was the view from Herm of the Oriana and the Voyager. Oriana dropped anchor first on a British Isles cruise. St Peter Port was the first port of call with some guests making the most of their long day in Guernsey to take a trip to the smaller island. In the image Herm Trident passes the Oriana on her short trip to Herm.

The Voyager arrived mid morning coming from Ostend. She picked up the Guernsey Pilot off the Lower Heads buoy before sailing towards the anchorage, seen here passing between the Island of Jethou and St Martins Point on Guernsey. Voyager, one of the smaller liners visiting this year, carries just over 500 guests but is still well traveled, spending Christmas and New Year in the Far East.

Although the last to arrive the guests on board Voyager had a shorter tender ride into St Peter Port, and here she is coming up to anchor with the Pilot boat marking the position. She left just before the Oriana at tea time and is heading south for Vigo.

Britannia

Britannia was in town today where guests enjoyed another sunny summer's day. Arriving a little later than normal the tenders were soon running to the harbour. The liner pontoon in St Peter Port, bringing guests to the heart of the town, is proving beneficial, but it maybe a bit small for the larger liner tenders. This guest, making the most of the photo opportunity, gets one of the empty tenders heading back to Britannia.

A photo opportunity for another guest, this time on the bridge deck level,  getting her last photos of Guernsey before Britannia sets sail. Only two more visits due here for Britannia before she heads away from Northern Europe for warmer climes. The Union Jack colours look particularly striking in this shot.

St Peter Port is the last call for Britannia as she heads back to Southampton after a two week cruise to the Mediterranean. One of the last tenders heads back to the liner, as the island of Herm in the background prepares for a busy weekend and the forecast good weather.

Astor

Astor was back in St Peter Port on another sunny August day. Her days at sea might have been a bit different if she had started on her intended sailings between Cape Town and Southampton, but before being completed she was sold to a another shipping company. With her current owners she does sail into Cape Town occasionally, and April next year will see her spend two days there. In the foreground is the pier at Salarie Corner, with the Island of Sark in the background.

Astor left at tea time bound for Honfleur and then on to Zeebrugge. The seas off St Peter Port look empty for August even though the sun is still shining. October will see her heading westbound across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal and onto Auckland. The sea off St Peter Port will look even emptier then!

Sirena & Celebrity Silhouette

Oceania Cruises new ship, Sirena, arrived in St Peter Port this morning from Le Havre. Christened in Barcelona in April this year, after being extensively refurbished, she is on a rare visit north of the Mediterranean. Originally entering service with Renaissance Cruises in 1999,  she became part of the Princess Cruises fleet in 2002. This morning with blue skies and sea, the approaches to St Peter Port Harbour were busy, not only with tenders from the Sirena, but also from the Celebrity Silhouette.

With a capacity four times greater than the Sirena, the Celebrity Silhouette did rather overshadow the smaller liner. However her cruises are not as adventurous, heading for her home port of Fort Lauderdale during our winter months. Sirena, before she returns to Barcelona next July, will have crossed the Atlantic, crossed the Pacific twice and had cruises out of Sydney.

The Celebrity Silhouette, behind the Sirena, left late afternoon bound for Cobh. She is on a Round Britain Cruise and will be back in Amsterdam in 12 days time. Sirena is heading south to Bordeaux and on to Barcelona, before crossing the Atlantic in late September. In this image the Guernsey pilot boat is off the stern of the Celebrity Silhouette, with the Sark Venture returning from the liner acting as a tender. The French ferry Granville is leaving St Peter Port bound for St Helier, Jersey.

Minerva

The Minerva returns to St Peter Port at the start of her Celtic Traditions cruise. This will include a visit to Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Tattoo and Fringe Festival, hopefully with seats already booked. She spent the day at anchor with the weather clearing during the morning to give blue skies, good weather to enjoy your balcony for the few guests remaining on board.

From the high ground surrounding St Peter Port there are good views of the other Islands in the Bailwick as well as the liner anchorages . This view point is close to Candie Gardens and Cambridge Park within Les Cotils where you will find a small cafe and gardens.

The view to the north is over the housing on the outskirts of St Peter Port up to L'Ancresse Common at the extreme north of the Island. With the many trees in sight it's hard to believe this area is one of the most densely populated in Guernsey.

Queen Elizabeth

The St Peter Port Pilot is shortly to board the Queen Elizabeth as she comes around the south east corner of Guernsey on a grey Saturday morning. There's a stiff westerly wind blowing judging by the flag on Castle Cornet which many of the liners guests will visit today.

The waters outside of St Peter Port harbour are surprisingly empty on this July day as the Queen Elizabeth makes her way up to the anchorage. She is on a cruise out of Southampton visiting Guernsey and Bruges. Sunday will be spent at sea before she heads for Zeebruge, the port for Bruges.

Shortly before dropping anchor, tenders are already being swung out ready to get the shore party ashore promptly. The liner also used two local ferries as tenders to ease congestion for the transfers to the landing pontoon in the heart of St Peter Port. Not many early risers amongst the Cunard guests to enjoy their arrival.

Europa 2

A short morning visit for the Europa 2 before heading to Sark for the afternoon. On entering service in 2013 she was named the Number 1 Cruise Liner in the world by the Berlitz Cruising Guide. The liner, built in St Nazaire, is an all-suite and all-balcony ship carrying just over 500 guests. It's the variation in the different types of liners that anchor off St Peter Port that make it so interesting, unlike ports that have the "weekly" turnaround.

Shortly after arriving tenders were running the short distance to the harbour with its landing area almost in the heart of St Peter Port. Jersey, in the background, is the largest of the Channel Islands.

The summer season is now well underway in Guernsey and with the recent good weather the beaches are busy and beach kiosks and cafes in St Peter Port are bustling. This one above the old harbour is visible from the liner landing area, and when seated here you have clear views of your liner, the harbour and other Channel Islands.

With the Guernsey Pilot just taken off the Europa 2 after her afternoon in Sark she sails down the south coast of Guernsey in glorious evening sunlight bound for Falmouth.

Caribbean Princess & Azamara Quest

Today and yesterday have seen two liners visit on cruises around the British Isles. The Caribbean Princess arrived yesterday at the start of her cruise and left mid afternoon bound for Cobh, passing the Azamara Quest at the end of her cruise having arrived from the same port. With the heat haze still coming off the land after the previous day's record temperatures the Caribbean Princess provides a contrast with the cliffs of the south coast of Guernsey and the Island of Sark.

The Azamara Quest is a very different liner from the Caribbean Princess catering for the destinations that the larger liner cannot visit. With only a quarter of the number of guests the line attracts the boutique liner afficianado who appreciate the more intimate ship. She left early evening bound for Southampton where her next cruise will head to St Petersburg.

Summer in Guernsey attracts many different type of boat, and on the anchorage tonight, as the Azamara Quest left,  was the Regina Maris, a sailing ship built in 1970.  According to her website she accommodates over 30 students, and spends a lot of time off the coast of Africa as a sailing training ship, home porting in Amsterdam.

Prinsendam

The hot summer days continue in Guernsey with the sun shining all day long. With high temperatures long into the evening inviting the Prinsendam's guests out on deck to enjoy the views, the liner made an unusual sight lit up at anchor off St Peter Port.

For a Monday night St Peter Port was busy with everybody enjoying the summer weather. No fisherman on the Castle Breakwater, but a visiting yachtsman enters St Peter Port harbour at the end of his journey.

The Holland American liner Prinsendam is a regular visitor to St Peter Port and, like last year, she stayed overnight before departing early on Tuesday for Ijmuiden in the Netherlands. She has been on a Round Britain cruise calling, unusually, at Ilfracombe and Portland, as well as the more common northerly ports. The liner entered service in 1988 as the Royal Viking Sun and was acquired by the Holland American Line in 2002.  Carrying under a 1,000 guests she is one of the smallest ships that the line has in service.

Britannia

Guernsey puts on its Sunday Best for the Britannia today when she arrived on one of the best days of the year so far. With a Motor Sport event along St Peter Port's seafront, inviting beaches and the glorious coastline guests on board would have been spoiled for choice. The sea was calm for tender operations and many locals took the opportunity to take their boats to sea this Sunday.

The Britannia left Southampton last night and Guernsey is her first port of call as she heads down to the north coast of Spain. Guests on board will have the opportunity to get ashore in France when the liner stops at La Rochelle, but the close proximity of the French coast to the Channel Islands was made obvious by the site of Cap de la Hague nuclear processing plant, clearly visible on the horizon.

 Just after tea time a few locals fishing off St Martins Point may have had a shock as the Britannia came past heading south leaving for La Coruna.  For a minute she caught the sun and shone and sparkled, a perfect end to her visit to Guernsey. The Island of Sark is in the background, and some of the guests may have visited the finals of the Sheep Racing  on the island this weekend!

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.

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.