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.

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,

Marina

The Marina arrived at St Peter Port this morning having sailed from Dover last night. She left Stockholm two weeks ago, and she will arrive in Civitavecchia in three weeks time. Guests could have joined the liner in Amsterdam, and some will leave in Barcelona rather than continue on to Italy. The weather was kind for the whole stay with the sun shining for the afternoon.  The anchor is not dropped yet as the Marina comes up to the anchorage, with the Golden Spur, St Peter Port pilot boat, close to the spot.

The cliff paths to the south of St Peter Port pass through Fort George and its fortifications. The soldiers from the fort use to bath at a bay called Soldiers Bay, but access was closed off for many years due to rocks falling and other safety issues. You can still reach it though judging by these two bathers enjoying the solitude of the area. Hidden in the other side of the cliffs  is a tunnel, used by the occupying forces in World War Two, which is now an aquarium.

The low spring tide shows up the many rocks highlighting the dangers that local mariners have when navigating these waters. No one on the balconies of the Marina, no doubt all enjoying the day ashore. Next port of call is Concarneau, a walled town with a delightful small ferry on the south west coast of Brittany. These destinations demonstrate the ability of this Oceania Cruise small luxury liner to visit different ports that the larger liners bypass.

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.

Celebrity Infinity

Another cruise heading for the Irish Sea saw the Celebrity Infinity staying until 4.00pm, quite a long day's stay given the latest fashion for half day visits. Sark Shipping supplied two of their ferries to act as tenders thus keeping down the queues of guest wishing to return early to the ship. The old, narrow streets on the south side of St Peter Port gives glimpses of the liner at anchor.

With the anchor aweigh and the Guernsey pilot on board, the Golden Spur leads the Celebrity Infinity towards the Lower Heads buoy off Guernsey's south east corner , on her way to the next port of call, Cobh, in Southern Ireland.

The Celebrity Infinity built in 2001, can carry 2,500 guests and is one of the Millennium Class ships of Celebrity Cruises. She will be in Guernsey for two more visits this summer and will re-position to the Caribbean in October, as well as visiting the Antarctic early in 2015

Deutschland, Costa Pacifica, Azmara Journey, Queen Elizabeth 2, Boudicca

It's that time of year when for two months the liners head for warmer climes rather than Guernsey. The months of May and August tend to be the busiest with July being very quiet. Tomorrow will see the Caribbean Princess arrive from Southampton with over 3,000 guests aboard. With the Sea Front shut to traffic and replaced by Street Restaurants and a Market, as well as a Charity Hill Climb, it should be busy, just the weather though!!

In the meantime here are some favorites from past years;

We all remember the London Olympics in 2012 but the "host ship" for Germany, the Deutschland moored at Canary Wharf was quite a star herself but never quite made the headlines.

The Costa Pacifica is led to her anchorage by the St Peter Port pilot boat the Golden Spur on a early summer morning in May 2011. I've only seen this angle once, trying to repeat it many times but boat and liner do not line up.

Again in early summer, May 2008 the Azmara Journey lights up off the Castle Breakwater as the sun sets after a long day visit for their guests.

And the favorite of many guests of Cunard the QE2 with La Vallette bathing pools in the foreground coming up on the southern anchorage off  Fermain Bay. It was a calm day for the tenders on the extra long trip.

Also a calm day for the Boudicca in August 2007 as a early morning yachtsman departs for his journey across Channel Island waters.